This was the product that got it all started
for Shubb back in 1974, and to this day it’s STILL the only fifth string capo
worth putting on a banjo. It operates on a lever principle, not a spring, so it
provides sufficient pressure to fret the string without muting the tone. It
slides on a slim, dovetailed bar that mounts flush to the neck, making it
sturdy and unobtrusive.
Regular length bar (5.75″ with two point mount)
Originally, Shubb’s fifth string capo bar was
eight inches long, and attached to the banjo neck with three mounting screws. A
few years ago they remodeled the bar, a change which they had long considered. Rick
Shubb personally never capos the fifth string any higher than the tenth fret
(this would go along with the regular capo being at the fifth fret). So for his
own banjo, he made a custom bar which was much shorter (5.75″). This shorter
bar is now the standard size. Besides taking up less space on the neck (for you
fellow thumb-wrappers), it offers the additional advantage of using only TWO
mounting screws instead of three.
If you want to be able to capo your 5th string
all the way up to the thirteenth fret, the original eight inch, three-screw bar
is still available. The price is the same.
Installation
Shubb strongly recommend that you have a luthier or repair person install your
fifth string capo. Most places that work on instruments can mount it for you in
just a few minutes. Or if you are handy with small tools, and not shy about
working on your banjo, you could install it yourself. In either case, the Shubb
Company is not responsible for the quality or consequences of the installation
process.
Installation instructions are provided in the
package.
