Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've read that cheaper guitar stands can damage the finish on Rickenbacker guitars. I'm now wondering if the same thing is true for certain capos? I've been using a capo on my 340 and the other day, when I removed it, a chunk of finish from the back of the neck came off with it! For whatever reason the finish really stuck hard to the rubbery cushion material that made contact with it. Needless to say I was pretty non-plussed. Any insight into this problem, and any advice on getting a new, "quality" capo, would be greatly appreciated.
Also, since the chip is superficial (i.e. not down to the wood), is there anything that can be used to touch up the area so that my thumb doesn't fall into a crater every time it passes the third fret??
Thanks,
Chris

If it is as superficial as you say, I woudl not try to backfill the crater.

If it were my problem I woudl get some superfine grit sand paper (1000-1500) and smooth it out a little bit. then buff back to a shine.

If it were still a problem for me I would either have someone reshoot the back of the entire neck, or stip the finish alltogether...

Just my opinion
JP

Thanks Josh - I'll give the sand paper a try. The chip isn't quite through to the wood, but just the way the finish came off it left a very rough textured shallow hole that's pretty distracting when playing barre chords.

Yikes! Just curious . . . what capo were you using? I'd like to avoid a similar incident.

It was a Jim Dunlop capo - not sure of the exact model but I think it was one specifically made for use on electric guitars. I don't mean to unnecessarily malign this brand of capos...after all, I'm still not sure how it happened...it just seemed like the finish bonded fast to the capo's rear cushion since I couldn't even scrape off the stuck piece of finish with my thumbnail afterwards...very strange...
Anyways, I've bought a new Kyser capo and it seems to be working well so far.

I really like the Kyser capo, I have a black one, looks real nice and never had problems with it, I never left it on my 370 for extended periods but I've done it on my other guitars without any problems, sometimes it leaves a bit of a oily type residue on your fretboard or something like that, it's hard to describe but you can remove it with your finger... But it never happened on the 370 so whatever

I agree the Kyser capo does the trick.
I just dropped off a Strat to get some work done to it yesterday and pointed out to the luthier guy a tiny little gouge in the back of the neck.
It's only maybe 1/8" x 1/4" but man - everytime I do a bar chord on the 3rd fret it's there. SO annoying...it shouldn't matter, but it does.
He told me I was being overly anal, so I told him to play me something in G. After about one minute he said, 'We should probably fill that in' LOL.
I should get it back tomorrow or Saturday, so I'll let you know how he did it.
I'm guessing super glue - Luthiers best friend.

Yeah, I'm starting to like the Kyser quite a bit the more I play with it on. Wish I'd bought it in the first place! I've got the black 12-string model capo so it has a nice, strong clamp to it - no bending strings or induced fret buzz at all. Works really well on my 360/12CW when I'm trying (but usually failing!) to be Johnny Marr....

I like the Shubb capo, you can dial in just the right amount of tension in order to fret cleanly without pulling the strings quite so sharp.

Chris - I try to be Johnny Marr all the time!
Just last night I was trying to keep up with 'The Headmaster Ritual' on my 360V - I play that song a couple times a week. Keeps me limber...

I agree with Big g. The tension on the Kyser is not as evenly distributed as it is on the Shubb. I cannot use the Kyser with my band--it pulls the strings a few cents sharper than the Shubb.

BTW, I noticed on the Shubb website that they make one especially for 12 string guitars and others with a wider board. Never see it in stock around here, probably would have to order it. They really are better for not only intonation but the finish.

Hey Spencer - glad to see someone else is firing off some Johnny Marr riffs! His playing style is actually what got me interested in getting a capo in the first place.
"Hatful of Hollow" did for me what I'm sure McGuinn's and Harrison's work did for some of the guys here who grew up in the '60's!

Another vote here for the Shubb - not quite as cool as the Kyser (you can't have it hanging off your headstock when you're not using it in quite the same way) but a beautifully elegant bit of design. Bit like a Ric, really...