I bought a Quickdraw sliding capo for my guitar a year or so ago, and from the start found it to be brilliant, especially at sessions when you can't plan for what's coming next. However, after a short time I noticed some sharp string indentations from the unwound strings, on the frets where I had either placed or moved the capo. Because of this I stopped using it and had to get a fret dress done. I've started using it again over the last few months, and once again I need to get those frets dressed, and am thinking once again of consigning it to the cupboard and going back to a trusty Shubb!
Has anyone else experienced this with the Quickdraw? I don't think I have it too tight, as even the slightest bit looser and I get strings buzzing, especially at the lower frets. The guitar is a Lowden so it can't be down to poor quality fret wire. An email to the Quickdraw company way back drew no response whatsoever - great!
Play all teh keys without a capo !
I had similar issues with quickdraw - hard to inititally put on, and buzzing around the first few frets regardless of guitar.
Only yesterday I bought one for the bouzouki and had terrible trouble getting it tight enough to stop strings buzzing. Finally, I had to resort to a pliers. I'm actually dreading the thought of changing strings and getting the capo back on. So if you come across anyone at a session with a pliers on the table beside his pint, it's me.
If you're noticing significant fret wear in just a few months, I would guess either you're playing twelve hours a day or the fret wire is indeed too soft. Fret wear can appear deeper than it really is because a polished concave surface is formed.
Or maybe the capo is actually tighter than you think. Are you placing it nearly on top of the fret? When it's that close, nearly all of the force goes into pressing down on the fret, whereas, if you place it farther back from the fret, a lot of the force goes into stretching the strings (and pulling them slightly out of tune). In the former case, there's not much room for fine tuning of the pressure and you will always err on the side of too much pressure just to avoid string rattling.
Place close to but not on frets, .... what guage strings? Heavies? Is the wear affecting the sound? Try different fretwire when it finally comes down to changing them, see if they can use something stronger.
The wear isn't that significant - nothing that a quick fret polish wouldn't sort out - but it's still rather worrying. Last night at a gig I noticed that when playing with a capo (even a Shubb) at a fret where there is such wear, the open strings are not getting a clean break off the fret and are giving off a metallic buzz. I use gauge 10 strings, by the way.
It's the nature of this particular capo that often you don't have time (i.e. a quick change) to make sure it's placed correctly, but I usually make sure it is just behind the fret, as with any capo. It is a little difficult to attach, but mine isn't too bad, to the extent that I always remove it after a night's playing.
By the way, I'm not a 'play the same shapes at different capo positions for different keys' type of player. I like having the various options for chord voicings that it gives - especially at a gig when I want to give more variety.
I once saw Na Dorsa do a gig, with Paul Meehan on guitar. He was able to move his Shubb capo as if it was a sliding one - don't know how he managed that!
I bought quickdraw capo some time ago and used it a lot, still using it - I didn't notice fretwear on my guitar, but indeed apart from the fact that you can quickly draw it from one position to another, which is very handy especially during gigs, it is not so much a miracle at all. Inconsistent sound of strings, buzzing on the first two frets, as well as tedious putting it on a guitar neck. Whenever I can, I use my good old Shubb, resorting to Quickdraw only in times of need and laziness.
I've never tried the Quickdraw. I'd always been a Shubb guy. But last year I picked up a Kaiser and my Shubb has been buried in my case ever since. You can't slap the Kaiser capo on as fast as the Quickdraw slide, but it is much faster than digging around in your pocket and using both hands to apply your Shubb. Plus I've seen guys keep their right hand going on a drone string while they grab the Kaiser off their peghead and slap it on the neck in one motion with the left hand without missing a beat.
Personally, I've quit trying to capo between moving sets and just play without a capo most of the time. But on the occassions that I prefer to use a capo, I'll use it until I'm done playing and take it off when when the tune(s) is finished (i.e., no changing on the fly).
There's an art to getting a quickdraw set up properly and once you do I find it has very few problems regarding tuning, fret-wear, buzzing etc., sometimes you have to do a little readjusting after you put on new strings and the like but generally it's fine.
Perhaps the problems some of you are having are down to the way your guitars are set up or something like that.
As for playing in all keys without a capo, of course that's an option but with the quickdraw you still have that option with the addition of being able to quickly move the capo to any position. The capo in a certain position gives a sound that you really can't recreate without a capo.
I'm not endorsed by quickdraw nor do I have shares in the company but I honestly think a lot of the complaints about it are made by people who just haven't got it or their guitar set up properly.
From what I hear, the G7 capos (available for guitar, banjo and bouzouki) are very good. You simply place them on and squeeze them tight enough then there is a quick release switch on top to get it off.
I have a G7 capo. It works fine, but would be hard to attach with just one hand. My favotire is a Victor with a little knob for adjusting the pressure. I also have a Planet Waves that's similar to the Victor.
those quickdraws are rel hit and miss kinda yokes! plus! the tighter you put them on, thus making it work better, the more strain is put on the strings if you leave it past the nut, giving tuning problems! ive converted to a schubb myself, and am quickly getting the hang of changing it with just my left hand, its easy to use, and doesnt put strings out of tune like a kaiser or other grip capo will, and they're very inobtrusive little things they are./....
Shubb are THE capo. Of course, being a maestro, I can play the mandolin without one, but not the guitar, as I only know 4 chords, so everything is in G, and then move the capo.
I can also play any key on the bodhran without a capo.
I have and use a Quickdraw, Shubb, Kyser and a G7. I like them all for different reasons. I mainly use the Kyser on my acoustics (the Quickdraw I use on my Strat). I flip between the Shubb and G7 for electric guitar gigs, though I favoring the G7 now that I used a bunch... All capos cause fret wear because the fret in front of the capo becomes the nut. ALL the open string vibration is on that fret so it takes a beating. If the fret wire is soft it's going to wear faster. It's the nature of the beast.
When it works well it is very very good and when it doesn't it is horrid.
Been using a Quick draw on 'zouk (tuned g-d-a-d with octaves on the g and d courses). Have always needed pliers (or the pliers option of one of those multi function camper tools, like a Leathermajn) to tighten tte beast.
Originally it worked well and was really great for on-the-fly changes, such as in the middle of a set - really slick, but now it cannot cope with the octave G and D strings (don't know why) no matter how much I tighten it.
So I gave up and am now using a Shubb originally bought for my guitar. Works a treat but needs two hands - i've a Kyser on my mandolin and that works well and can be moved while playing with one hand and I suppose I might get one for my zouk, though there are recommendations on the Web for Dunlop capos.
It is a subject that irritates me ever so slightly as it is a straight forward thing either a capo works or it doesn't.
If I've spent £15 on one and it doesn't cut the mustard perhaps I should be marching back to the retailer!
Ciao
Didge
Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
Hi all
I bought a Quickdraw sliding capo for my guitar a year or so ago, and from the start found it to be brilliant, especially at sessions when you can't plan for what's coming next. However, after a short time I noticed some sharp string indentations from the unwound strings, on the frets where I had either placed or moved the capo. Because of this I stopped using it and had to get a fret dress done. I've started using it again over the last few months, and once again I need to get those frets dressed, and am thinking once again of consigning it to the cupboard and going back to a trusty Shubb!
Has anyone else experienced this with the Quickdraw? I don't think I have it too tight, as even the slightest bit looser and I get strings buzzing, especially at the lower frets. The guitar is a Lowden so it can't be down to poor quality fret wire. An email to the Quickdraw company way back drew no response whatsoever - great!
Any thoughts and experiences welcomed.
Thanks
Mike
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Mike C
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
Play all teh keys without a capo !
I had similar issues with quickdraw - hard to inititally put on, and buzzing around the first few frets regardless of guitar.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by BegF
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
Only yesterday I bought one for the bouzouki and had terrible trouble getting it tight enough to stop strings buzzing. Finally, I had to resort to a pliers. I'm actually dreading the thought of changing strings and getting the capo back on. So if you come across anyone at a session with a pliers on the table beside his pint, it's me.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by molaoch
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
If you're noticing significant fret wear in just a few months, I would guess either you're playing twelve hours a day or the fret wire is indeed too soft. Fret wear can appear deeper than it really is because a polished concave surface is formed.
Or maybe the capo is actually tighter than you think. Are you placing it nearly on top of the fret? When it's that close, nearly all of the force goes into pressing down on the fret, whereas, if you place it farther back from the fret, a lot of the force goes into stretching the strings (and pulling them slightly out of tune). In the former case, there's not much room for fine tuning of the pressure and you will always err on the side of too much pressure just to avoid string rattling.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
Place close to but not on frets, .... what guage strings? Heavies? Is the wear affecting the sound? Try different fretwire when it finally comes down to changing them, see if they can use something stronger.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by irisnevins
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
The wear isn't that significant - nothing that a quick fret polish wouldn't sort out - but it's still rather worrying. Last night at a gig I noticed that when playing with a capo (even a Shubb) at a fret where there is such wear, the open strings are not getting a clean break off the fret and are giving off a metallic buzz. I use gauge 10 strings, by the way.
It's the nature of this particular capo that often you don't have time (i.e. a quick change) to make sure it's placed correctly, but I usually make sure it is just behind the fret, as with any capo. It is a little difficult to attach, but mine isn't too bad, to the extent that I always remove it after a night's playing.
By the way, I'm not a 'play the same shapes at different capo positions for different keys' type of player. I like having the various options for chord voicings that it gives - especially at a gig when I want to give more variety.
I once saw Na Dorsa do a gig, with Paul Meehan on guitar. He was able to move his Shubb capo as if it was a sliding one - don't know how he managed that!
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Mike C
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
I bought quickdraw capo some time ago and used it a lot, still using it - I didn't notice fretwear on my guitar, but indeed apart from the fact that you can quickly draw it from one position to another, which is very handy especially during gigs, it is not so much a miracle at all. Inconsistent sound of strings, buzzing on the first two frets, as well as tedious putting it on a guitar neck. Whenever I can, I use my good old Shubb, resorting to Quickdraw only in times of need and laziness.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by EastPole
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
Yeah, I still use my Shubb instead of the Quickdraw a lot as it's a far superior, much fuller sound.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Mike C
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
I 'sometimes' still use the Shubb, I should have said...
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Mike C
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
I've never tried the Quickdraw. I'd always been a Shubb guy. But last year I picked up a Kaiser and my Shubb has been buried in my case ever since. You can't slap the Kaiser capo on as fast as the Quickdraw slide, but it is much faster than digging around in your pocket and using both hands to apply your Shubb. Plus I've seen guys keep their right hand going on a drone string while they grab the Kaiser off their peghead and slap it on the neck in one motion with the left hand without missing a beat.
Personally, I've quit trying to capo between moving sets and just play without a capo most of the time. But on the occassions that I prefer to use a capo, I'll use it until I'm done playing and take it off when when the tune(s) is finished (i.e., no changing on the fly).
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by daddae
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
There's an art to getting a quickdraw set up properly and once you do I find it has very few problems regarding tuning, fret-wear, buzzing etc., sometimes you have to do a little readjusting after you put on new strings and the like but generally it's fine.
Perhaps the problems some of you are having are down to the way your guitars are set up or something like that.
As for playing in all keys without a capo, of course that's an option but with the quickdraw you still have that option with the addition of being able to quickly move the capo to any position. The capo in a certain position gives a sound that you really can't recreate without a capo.
I'm not endorsed by quickdraw nor do I have shares in the company but I honestly think a lot of the complaints about it are made by people who just haven't got it or their guitar set up properly.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Worldwide Pants
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
From what I hear, the G7 capos (available for guitar, banjo and bouzouki) are very good. You simply place them on and squeeze them tight enough then there is a quick release switch on top to get it off.
# Posted on March 7th 2008 by camwebby
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
I have a G7 capo. It works fine, but would be hard to attach with just one hand. My favotire is a Victor with a little knob for adjusting the pressure. I also have a Planet Waves that's similar to the Victor.
# Posted on March 8th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
those quickdraws are rel hit and miss kinda yokes! plus! the tighter you put them on, thus making it work better, the more strain is put on the strings if you leave it past the nut, giving tuning problems! ive converted to a schubb myself, and am quickly getting the hang of changing it with just my left hand, its easy to use, and doesnt put strings out of tune like a kaiser or other grip capo will, and they're very inobtrusive little things they are./....
# Posted on March 8th 2008 by fishtyfiddle
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
Shubb are THE capo. Of course, being a maestro, I can play the mandolin without one, but not the guitar, as I only know 4 chords, so everything is in G, and then move the capo.
I can also play any key on the bodhran without a capo.
# Posted on March 8th 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
I have and use a Quickdraw, Shubb, Kyser and a G7. I like them all for different reasons. I mainly use the Kyser on my acoustics (the Quickdraw I use on my Strat). I flip between the Shubb and G7 for electric guitar gigs, though I favoring the G7 now that I used a bunch... All capos cause fret wear because the fret in front of the capo becomes the nut. ALL the open string vibration is on that fret so it takes a beating. If the fret wire is soft it's going to wear faster. It's the nature of the beast.
# Posted on March 8th 2008 by gw
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
"... I favoring the G7 now that I used a bunch..." should read:
...I'm favoring the G7 now that I've used it a bunch...
An edit feature sure would be nice
# Posted on March 8th 2008 by gw
Re: Quickdraw guitar capo's and fretwear
When it works well it is very very good and when it doesn't it is horrid.
Been using a Quick draw on 'zouk (tuned g-d-a-d with octaves on the g and d courses). Have always needed pliers (or the pliers option of one of those multi function camper tools, like a Leathermajn) to tighten tte beast.
Originally it worked well and was really great for on-the-fly changes, such as in the middle of a set - really slick, but now it cannot cope with the octave G and D strings (don't know why) no matter how much I tighten it.
So I gave up and am now using a Shubb originally bought for my guitar. Works a treat but needs two hands - i've a Kyser on my mandolin and that works well and can be moved while playing with one hand and I suppose I might get one for my zouk, though there are recommendations on the Web for Dunlop capos.
It is a subject that irritates me ever so slightly as it is a straight forward thing either a capo works or it doesn't.
If I've spent £15 on one and it doesn't cut the mustard perhaps I should be marching back to the retailer!
Ciao
Didge
# Posted on March 10th 2008 by DidgeLewis