Flatiron 3MC Capo

[Mandotarian]

I just recently got a Flatiron 3MC Bouzoki and need to get a capo, I was borrowing a buddies the other day and it is practically a necessity with this scale length. Any advice on a good capo or perhaps more importantly, information about capos that wouldnt work on the flatiron?

Thanks!

[otterly2k]

I'm partial to Shubb capos, and they have 2 versions. One for guitar (wider neck) and one for banjos and other narrower necked instruments. That should work well on your 'zouk. I use one on my OM.

[Steve L]

If you have the older pre-truss rod model, most capos will not fit around the neck...it's amazingly clubby. The only thing that really works is the Dunlop elastic model which I believe Donal Lunny still uses.

[Pete Braccio]

I use G7 and Paige capos on a Beard Zouk. Like picks and strings, capos are a matter of personal preference.

[Eddie Sheehy]

I use guitar capos on my zouks/om's except for a Quickdraw sliding capo on my Dio Dinos...

[Mandotarian]

I use guitar capos on my zouks/om's except for a Quickdraw sliding capo on my Dio Dinos...

I was wondering about that, the one I was using the other day was a guitar capo and seemed to work pretty well, although I didn't check intonation with a tuner. I guess like anything I should just try a couple out. I was hoping to get one on my way home today and wouldn't have the zouk with me so hopefully the store has a decent return policy if it isn't the right fit.

If not some guitar playing buddy is going to get a capo as a gift soon

[Mandotarian]

If you have the older pre-truss rod model, most capos will not fit around the neck...it's amazingly clubby. The only thing that really works is the Dunlop elastic model which I believe Donal Lunny still uses.

Mine has a truss rod cover and is from 93. Does that mean the neck on mine is definitely not as clubby as earlier models?

[Steve L]

Mine has a truss rod cover and is from 93. Does that mean the neck on mine is definitely not as clubby as earlier models?

Probably so. I remember playing one or 2 from this period and the neck profile was quite different than mine which is an early 80's model. If you can, I'd take it with you to a music store and try a few capos on the 5th and 7th frets and see how they do. It it will work for you, I really like the Planet Waves NS capo. It won't work on my Flatiron but it does on some other things I have.

[Mandotarian]

I'm partial to Shubb capos, and they have 2 versions. One for guitar (wider neck) and one for banjos and other narrower necked instruments. That should work well on your 'zouk. I use one on my OM.

Alright so I bought the Shubb banjo capo without my flatiron to try it on in the store but was assured I could return it if it did not fit.

Now back at my apartment it works great all the way through the 5th fret but isn't quite wide enough around the 7th fret. I doubt I will capo up that high often but it would be nice to know I can I guess. Is there any disadvantage in stepping up to the wider guitar version? Does having a capo that is too wide mess with intonation or is the only issue that it might get in the way a little more?

Thanks again for the replies

[allenhopkins]

...Is there any disadvantage in stepping up to the wider guitar version? Does having a capo that is too wide mess with intonation or is the only issue that it might get in the way a little more?...

Just be careful that you get a guitar capo for a flat fingerboard. Most steel-string guitars have radiused fingerboards, so the capo bar is slightly curved. Capos for nylon-string guitars have non-curved bars.

I use a Picker's Pal lever capo on my Flatiron 3K, and it has a four-sided rotatable bar so that you can select either "flat" or "curved." It's a bit clunky but it works well.