Shubb Capo Issues

[Gabe I.]

I recently acquired my first octave mandolin, and I bought a regular Shubb guitar capo to go with it. I've been having some issues with it however, as the capo is slightly curved to accommodate a guitar's radiused fingerboard, and my fingerboard is not radiused. This causes the middle strings(D and A) to buzz when the G and E string are held down well, and it causes the G and E string to be pulled sharp when I tighten it enough to stop the D and A string from buzzing. Is there a possible solution for this while keeping the capo?
Thanks for your time,
Gabe

[Phil Goodson]

It might be possible to push a small piece of wood (mid section of a round toothpick) under the rubber sleeve and under where the 2 middle strings sit. Might have to whittle on it a little to get the thickness perfect.
I wouldn't resort to trying to bend the capo with force for fear of breaking it.
Obvious answer is replacing the capo with a flat one.

[nmiller]

Shubb makes capos for classical guitars with flat boards. Their banjo/mandolin capos are made for either flat or radiused boards, but they might be too narrow for an OM.

[allenhopkins]

+1 on the above; get a classical/nylon string guitar capo. For less than $20, I wouldn't try jiggering a curved capo to make it fit a flat fretboard.

[zoukboy]

Or just pull the rubber sleeve off and straighten the steel core in a vise. Works like a charm. Also make sure your fretboard really is flat before you do.

[jerrycobbs]

I got a D'Addario Planet Waves Banjo/Mandolin Capo for my Eastman OM and it's working great. The Eastman has a 12" radius fretboard but it's not presenting any problems with the capo.

[John Kelly]

You can always retune your instrument after putting the capo on; many players will do this anyway. Many capos will put the guitar out of pitch when fitted as they can exert too much pressure. Have you tried checking your tuning after you fit a capo? It can be quite revealing!

[Jeff Mando]

It might be possible to push a small piece of wood (mid section of a round toothpick) under the rubber sleeve and under where the 2 middle strings sit. Might have to whittle on it a little to get the thickness perfect.

"Might have to whittle on a toothpick" sounds like a great title for an existential blues/rockabilly song......

I might have to whittle on a toothpick, but I don't dare go too deep.....
I say, I might have to whittle on a toothpick,
But, I ain't got no time to weep....
Triflin' woman ran off with her Dentist,
Took my gold teeth, my wig hat, and my alligator shoes....
All I got left here is an ol' box of toothpicks, a switchblade knife and these heartbreakin' blues......

(I was thinking in the manner of "I'm sitting here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes?"...)

[michaelpthompson]

I use a Shubb banjo capo on my OM. Works a treat for me.

[Phil Goodson]

"Might have to whittle on a toothpick" sounds like a great title for an existential blues/rockabilly song......

I might have to whittle on a toothpick, but I don't dare go too deep.....
I say, I might have to whittle on a toothpick,
But, I ain't got no time to weep....
Triflin' woman ran off with her Dentist,
Took my gold teeth, my wig hat, and my alligator shoes....
All I got left here is an ol' box of toothpicks, a switchblade knife and these heartbreakin' blues......

(I was thinking in the manner of "I'm sitting here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes?"...)

Jeff,
I hereby give you all and any of my rights to income resulting from writing and performing this song even if I contributed a bit of inspiration.