Capo for bass.

Stupid Jerk · #1 03-27-2007, 04:12 PM

When I downtune for the metal I like to go down to C# with a 4 stringer. This is for two reasons: 1) because on my 5-stringer I very rarely hit a note lower than that; 2) When I'm working the 7th/9th frets and above I throw in a lot of open notes for contrast and harmonics... i.e., just hit them with a drawn out, low, open C# outta nowhere after hitting the (detuned) A string on the 7th fret, and so forth. It sounds more weird and evil and f'ed up that way than on a standard tuned 5-stringer.

But then I think... what about taking a 5-stringer and putting some capo-like contraption on the 2nd fret? The benefits come in four: 1) It becomes a short scale!; 2) tighter string spacing than on a 4, which I absolutely prefer... for instance, the 5-string Warwick Corvette $$ has the most perfect string spacing but lots of people don't like it because of how narrow it is; 3) don't have to get massive monster strings that yoink up the neck, i.e. tuning something meant for B up to C#; 4) I have an extra string up top, which is always quite nice. I mean, unless it's a 6 stringer or more... because then it'd be too big for my hands.

So... what are the cons? Will it do anything to diminish tone/intonation, playability, stability, etc. etc. et al.?

I imagine it's been done before, and I think I've seen big monster-sized capos made for bass. And what are my options? I know Bill Dickens uses this thing called "the Budda's Rope" on his big honkin' 7 and 9 stringers.

dragoon419 · #2 03-27-2007, 05:19 PM

I saw Ken Tizzard use a capo on a 6 stringer, so I figured I'd do the same. I use a capo for my fiver, cause there's no point in putting it on a 4 stringer, and it works really well. About the sound, it doesn't diminish any more than it would if you were to fret the note you were placing the capo at. You're scale will be shortened, shifting your harmonics down.

I use a Kyser 6 string guitar capo. It has a lot of power and is rather wide.

crazyfish · #3 03-27-2007, 05:31 PM

The Budda Rope isn't a capo, it's made to raise the action to make plucking strings harder for strength building exercises.

I tried it with a pen instead of the fancy rope on my fender jazz, it worked remarkably well for that purpose.

TheApostlePaul · #4 03-27-2007, 05:47 PM

I use a capo on my Squire Jazz fretless. The reason? Good short scale basses are about a gajillion bucks and I really like this squire. I use a regular $2 Jim Dunlop capo. I am not sure how it would fit on a fiver.

Stupid Jerk · #5 03-27-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragoon419

You're scale will be shortened, shifting your harmonics down.

Is that bad?

I really like the boomy sustainy ring of hitting an open string outta nowhere. I worry that that would be diminished. To my ear, hitting E on a flat-tuned bass (where it's a half step down) where the first fret is fretted is not as sweet as hitting an open E on a standard tuned bass.

So do they even make a capo that'll fit on a five stringer?

Well... I could always drop the B string down to... uhhhhh... *counts on fingers* Ab/G#, likewise detune everything else a whole + half, and not use a capo. That would require some monster strings... Ken Smith 'Metal Masters' it is!

dragoon419 · #6 03-27-2007, 10:38 PM

It's true that the string won't sound the same as if it were open, but sometimes you have to sacrifice. The harmonics won't sound lower, if that's what you're worried about, they'll just be higher (not lower, my bad on that) on your fretboard closer to the bridge and pickups.

As to the capo, a Kyser 6 string guitar capo might as well be made for 5 string bass cause it fits perfectly and has the right amount of pressure to capo my fiver.

WarriorJoe7 · #7 03-27-2007, 10:45 PM

You should read my thread on converting your bass to short scale with a capo...

Convert your bass to short scale

It will change the tone if you downtune but it is subjective if it sounds better. Also the playability is subjective, though most people would like the shorter scale. If you have a good strong capo then stability will be just fine also.

The only con comes when you downtune. If you downtune ALL of the string you have to change your setup and should also redo the intonation. That means you can't just go back and forth. But I bet if you did this on a graphite necked bass ther would be a chance that the setup and intonation would both be just fine. There may be other basses like that with necks that don't move, but most common basses would need a new setup.

Stupid Jerk · #8 03-27-2007, 11:09 PM

I would want to take a standard tuned five stringer (BEADG) and capo it at the second fret so that it would be converted to C# F# B E A. It'd be nice because then I could whip off the capo and play it normal-like. So I would be able to accomplish this without a hitch, I'm hoping?

Taking that into consideration, which of the following (by WarriorJoe7, lifted from the other thread) would still apply?

Quote:

1) Get new strings... heavier guage if you want to keep the tension high.
2) Tune to pitch and readjust the neck bow (the tension will likely change)
3) Adjust your bass saddles
4) reintonate the bass

And from tplyons

Quote:

I use Shubb Capos. I used a 12 string capo for a narrow 5 string bass with no problem.

Would that fit on a Warwick Corvette $$ 5-string? The spacing on that is pretty narrow but the neck is more C-shaped rather than all 'Wizardy' like on an Ibanez or a Pedulla. I'll also check out the one recommended by Dragoon.

Tanx for all da the info!

Now all I wish is that the 5-string version of the Darkstar pickups was out. Anybody know when those are going to be available?

WarriorJoe7 · #9 03-30-2007, 01:59 AM

If you aren't detuning then you can switch back and forth on the fly no problem. You don't have to do any of the 4 steps. It's when you detune that it causes the tension and intonation to change.

So you are safe unless you detune (whether you use a capo or not doesn't matter.)

WarriorJoe7 · #10 03-30-2007, 02:04 AM

Actually I did something with my last band with a warwick that worked nicely (and gave me my ideas.)

I took the warwick and detuned ALL 4 of the strings down a step (D-G-C-F) and then I did a setup (strings, truss, bridge saddles, intonation.) I did this because we did alot of drop D and I still like my strings in 4ths. Then I would use a capo on the 2nd fret to go back to E-A-D-G. About an hour after I had done that (in the middle of a song) I realized that I was now playing the equivalent of a short scale, and it gave me the idea for that thread.