19th Century Capo

Comment by CURTIS PAYNE on July 23, 2017 at 8:38pm

thanks I plan on getting one will it work on guitar as well? 

Comment by Tom Berghan on July 23, 2017 at 10:34pm

It is actually for a guitar but works equally well for a banjo.  Go to my photos, I have posted a page from Justin Holland Guitar Method 1888 that shows the same capo design.  Also his instructions for the "capotasto."  The design may go back as far as the appearance of six string "Romantic Guitar" itself, which about 1780, give or take.

Comment by Mark Weems on July 25, 2017 at 8:30pm

I have one that I bought one for my period Ashborn guitar but I'll use it for my banjo as well. Mine is made of ebony.

Comment by CURTIS PAYNE on July 25, 2017 at 10:08pm

thanks going to order one. 

Comment by Tom Berghan on July 26, 2017 at 12:26am

It's not a huge deal but it works slightly better if you replace the black nylon tension string with one of your old gut strings if you have one. The gut has a little spring in it. It will stretch a wee bit under high tension and the result is it will tighten better and hold (it has friction- it's gut). It also looks better. Pretty sure the capotastos in the 1800s did not use nylon! ;-)

Comment by Tom Berghan on July 26, 2017 at 12:47am

By the way, if you want to buy one online search for "cejilla," (what Flamenco guitarists call them) rosewood or ebony. There are a few makers available.

Comment