Capo

[Larry Custer]

Anybody know where I can get a capo for a 10 string pedal steel? Thanks

[Jon Light]

https://charliescapo.com/

[Richard Sinkler]

https://charliescapo.com/

I have one of his dobro capos and it is top notch.

[Mike Bacciarini]

Charlie’s is the only way to go. I got one for my 8-string lap steel and can use it on my Dobro as well. Custom made to your string spacing.... well worth every dollar. These things have some mass and serious sustain!

[Kelcey ONeil]

Out of curiosity, what would be the advantage of using a capo in a PSG?

[Dave Magram]

Out of curiosity, what would be the advantage of using a capo in a PSG?

As I recall, Buddy Emmons is known to have used a capo on PSG.
It enabled him to play in a different key phrases that involved open strings.
I used to have one many years ago--it looked like a 1/2" diameter tone bar.

Re: the OP's question--I don't think the charliescapo.com version would work for a PSG. It looks like it works by clamping down on the strings--which probably wouldn't allow the pedals to raise or lower the strings properly.
Perhaps you can make a PSG capo out of a 1/2" diameter round steel rod as described above.

- Dave

[Kelcey ONeil]

Dave,
I could see it being useful in that way, especially for bar hammer ons and such, using it otherwise would probably be a complication I would think.

[Richard Sinkler]

Out of curiosity, what would be the advantage of using a capo in a PSG?

As I recall, Buddy Emmons is known to have used a capo on PSG.
It enabled him to play in a different key phrases that involved open strings.
I used to have one many years ago--it looked like a 1/2" diameter tone bar.

Re: the OP's question--I don't think the charliescapo.com version would work for a PSG. It looks like it works by clamping down on the strings--which probably wouldn't allow the pedals to raise or lower the strings properly.
Perhaps you can make a PSG capo out of a 1/2" diameter round steel rod as described above.

- Dave

Good point about the pedal changes. I had one of those Steel guitar capos. It was pretty much just a tone bar with 1 flat side to rest on the fret board. Can't remember the diameter. I'm sure any bar manufacturer could make you one. Would probably be pretty costly though.

[Jon Voth]

OK regarding this topic-I remember:

Not that long ago it was discussed-wedge a tone bar UNDER the strings at desired fret to act as a capo.

There was a particular diameter tone bar that would work for most guitars (less than the standard 7/8" bar).

Anyone remember what that was?

[Jerry Overstreet]

I have a 5/8 in. bullet bar 3 3/32 long that will fit under the strings on the Carter. It's really snug. I've used it before on one of the other steels I owned but I don't remember which one or the make. I used it a few times but I was too anal about it marring the fretboard to use it much.

Measure your guitar but 1/2" would be too small for most guitars. You'd need at least a 9/16" diameter.

You can buy stainless steel stock online. Try to find a piece the correct length or have the supplier size it because solid stainless rod is really, really hard.

[It's my belief that an under strings capo would be a lot better than one that clamps onto the strings. I think it would allow the strings to move more freely individually with the pedals than if they were clamped down.]

I first heard about this from Tom Bradshaw's Pedal Steel Guitar Products catalog. It was a Jeff Newman course with Tie a Yellow Ribbon and Friend using the under string capo. The info is here, but it doesn't state what size the bar was.

[James Sission]

Paul Franklin was discussing this on Facebook over the weekend. He recently had Harry Jackson make him a capo to experiment with. Maybe you could call Jackson and ask if it feasible to make you one. Paul had a good deal to say about capo use, but that's another discussion.







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[Lee Rider]

We use capos on StringBenders all the time with no issues.