30 grams and tone?

Bob-Dubery

A while back I bought myself a G7th Performance capo (in London, whilst on holiday).

If you've never seen one of these then you can check it out at www.g7th.com

These are supposed to be the stuff. The mechanism does work well. I find I tend to put it on a little too loose, have to give it an extra tweak sometimes. But that's attributable to me, not to the capo.

However, I have a bee in my bonnet. I think that, for my ears, the Shubb sounds better.

Could it be? I sat an alternated them for about 15 minutes this evening. I was playing with the capo at the 2nd fret/

Then I had a look at them.

Then I went an weighed them.

Shubb - 46 grams
G7th - 76 grams

Now I know that there are considerations around headstock mass, that it can effect tone. Could 30 grams make an audible difference in this case?

AlanRatcliffe

Now I know that there are considerations around headstock mass, that it can effect tone. Could 30 grams make an audible difference in this case?

I had never thought about it, but it makes perfect sense that a capo will affect the resonant frequency of a neck. The difference in tone between no capo and a capo would usually be minimal compared to the difference in tone resulting from the different scale length and so not be noticed. But it follows that using different capos at the same position would likely be noticeable - especially by someone with an intimate knowledge of the tonality of a specific guitar or guitar/capo combination.

In short: yeah, I think so. ?

Riaan-Combrink

Interesting thread, 'cause I initially hated using a capo as the guitar then sounded "cheap" to my ear. As time went by and I bought better guitars and capos, this disappeared or was reduced. So I've long held the belief that the relative quality differences between capos (and the guitars you put them on) would affect the tone. But that it may resort in the weight - interesting ?

Bob, those G7 sure are purdy!!! Never seen them before you posted the link. ?

Bob-Dubery

Riaan C wrote Interesting thread, 'cause I initially hated using a capo as the guitar then sounded "cheap" to my ear. As time went by and I bought better guitars and capos, this disappeared or was reduced. So I've long held the belief that the relative quality differences between capos (and the guitars you put them on) would affect the tone. But that it may resort in the weight - interesting ?

There must be other variables. With some designs it can be possible to have either too much pressure or not enough. The material that comes in contact with the strings may have some effect as well. Or maybe I'm convincing myself on an irrational basis that it should have an effect.

Riaan C wrote Bob, those G7 sure are purdy!!! Never seen them before you posted the link. ?

They work well. The beauty of them is that they don't have to be adjusted as a Shubb does, but yet they don't apply too much pressure as some spring-loaded models do. They don't get in the way, despite being larger than the Shubb in most dimensions. They stay put very well, yet the clutch mechanism makes for a very quick release.

They're expensive though... when I bought mine in London (2007) they were twice the price of a Shubb. (considering I'd resisted the tempation of buying a 2nd-hand but very well kept one of these at 1400 pounds, I thought that 25 quid for the G7th was not too outrageous).

I am half-convinced that there is a difference in tone between the Shubb and the G7th. If there really is such a difference, the discrepancy in mass would be seem to be the most plausible explanation. As with many aspects of tone this is subjective. It is certainly not the case that the G7th is causing buzzing or muffled strings.

Bob-Dubery

Riaan C wrote
Bob, those G7 sure are purdy!!! Never seen them before you posted the link. ?

They have quite a "range". On my Morgan, which has widish "finger-style" neck, I can use it at the 9th fret no problem, and it would go even higher (though the question "why" starts to come to mind, and as any C&W player knows there ain't much money past the 5th fret anyway). I think the manufacturers claim that you can go to the 5th fret on a 12-string.

I also find that because of the shape and the way it grips the neck I can do a partial capo thing with it and use it on strings 1 to 5 only, and it still doesn't get in the way too much.