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Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 1:10 am
by LindWeb
Hi there.

I'm so glad I found this forum and it is great to be here! So over the past few days I was lurking around and finally decided to register. Hopefully I can get some help here.

First off, I just started to play Mandolin myself, so please bear with me for the lack of terminology. I'm pretty enthusiastic about it and I was thinking about getting some new equipment.

I currently own a Dean Tennessee Acoustic-Electric Mandolin and some basic stuff like two beginner books, a strap and a tuner. I'm still missing a proper bag and a capo. A bag is not a big deal, but I'm not sure about the capo. I already did some research online and checked out some websites classified adds, but I simply don't know which one to pick. There are so many for sale.

I know there are the ones used for guitars. So can I get one of those? Or do I need a spacial one for Mandolins. I do need some help here.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Greetings.

Linda.

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 1:39 am
by LindWeb
Anybody? Any help? Please!

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 11:45 am
by Nanohedron
Not a whole lot of action on this forum, is there. You might want to try Mandolin Cafe for more comprehensive results:

https://www.mandolincafe.com/

As for mando capos, they do exist:

https://www.elderly.com/accessories/cap ... olin-capos

I'd say just get one and see how it goes for you. I've tried guitar capos that were given high recommendation, but didn't like them. I had to find what worked for me through trial and error. Capos can be kind of personal that way.

I suppose you could try using a guitar capo in a pinch, but the fit probably won't be good, and even if it does fit, it'll look awfully goofy, and people might check to see if your socks match, too. Capoing mandolins is something of a rarity in usual practice. You might want to pursue playing in every key without one.

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 1:19 am
by loess
Linda, I have a Planet Waves NS banjo/mandolin capo and have had success with it on several of my mandolins. Should fit your Dean just fine, I recommend giving it a go.

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 2:23 am
by LindWeb
Alright. Thanks for the replies. So I will check out the other forums as well.

The things is, I was told one can't really use guitar-capo. The neck is different. Anyway, thanks.

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Mon May 01, 2017 5:38 am
by Tor
LindWeb wrote:The things is, I was told one can't really use guitar-capo. The neck is different. Anyway, thanks.
That would be due to the curvature of the fingerboard. You could use a capo made for classical (nylon string) guitar though - they're flat. But they're also slightly wider than steel string guitar capos, so may look even more unwieldy. That Planet Waves capo loess linked to is probably just what you want.

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Tue May 02, 2017 3:37 am
by LindWeb
LindWeb wrote:Hi there.

I'm so glad I found this forum and it is great to be here! So over the past few days I was lurking around and finally decided to register. Hopefully I can get some help here.

First off, I just started to play Mandolin myself, so please bear with me for the lack of terminology. I'm pretty enthusiastic about it and I was thinking about getting some new equipment.

I currently own a Dean Tennessee Acoustic-Electric Mandolin and some basic stuff like two beginner books, a strap and a tuner. I'm still missing a proper bag and a capo. A bag is not a big deal, but I'm not sure about the capo. I already did some research online and checked out some websites classified adds like http://www.for-sale.co.uk/capo-mandoline but I simply don't know which one to pick. There are so many for sale.

I know there are the ones used for guitars. So can I get one of those? Or do I need a spacial one for Mandolins. I do need some help here.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Greetings.

Linda.
So I finally decided on a Planet Waves Capo. Another brand was Shubb. But they were way to bulky.

Anyway, thanks for all the help and support!

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 6:23 pm
by yankees1
[Thread revival. - Mod]

mandolincafe.com

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:56 am
by Greg Connor
[Yet another thread revival. - Mod]

Hi Linda,

Check out Elderly Instruments, https://www.elderly.com/

They have capos specifically for Mandolin and banjo. There are two basic distinctions: radius and flat fretboard.

Lay a ruler or any straight edge across the fretboard of your mandolin to determine if yours is radius or flat.

Greg

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 1:49 pm
by michaelpthompson
I have used a capo made for five-string banjo on my octave mandolin and found it useful. I don't really like to capo my standard mandolin, as it's just so short to start with. I am not that skilled, but I have found I can play most keys without a capo, so it's not as useful as with a banjo or guitar. I just work around it.

Re: Looking for a Capo for my Mandolin

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 3:07 am
by benhall.1
This is a banjo and mandolin capo that looks to me like a modern, lightweight version of something I used to have many, many years ago. £20 in the UK. On the company's site, I found it listed at $24.95 in the States.

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