Ruinous pile of crap

G7 Performance Capo

For my guitar capo purposes, I use a G7 Performance Capo, which is easy to get on and off of the neck of the guitar, doesn’t get in the way and doesn’t pull the strings out of tune. I actually love this capo so much that when I got my Martin I got a second one (in black instead of silver) so that I could keep one with both guitars.

This capo uses an internal spring and clutch arrangement so that as you squeeze it onto the neck of the guitar it holds only as strongly as you squeeze it down. All pressure is released by sliding the lever on the back.

Besides playing I also use this when I’m restringing my guitar to hold the new string at the nut while I’m fiddling with it at the post; that way I don’t have to worry about also keeping tension on the string to the nut and making sure that it doesn’t skip to the wrong slot.

When not in use I keep the capo stuck to the headstock, as seen in the image for the Wedgie Pick Holder.

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Schaller Strap Locks

When I got the Epiphone guitar I had the strap buttons on it replaced with Schaller strap locks. The flared buttons in the bottom of the image show the original buttons which were so flared that I had difficulty getting a strap either on or off of them.

At the top left is an image of what the buttons look like now, with the top right showing how the strap part of the lock is set up. The U-shaped piece slides over the button and locks in place until the ball end on the front of the strap is lifted up.

Due to the way the locking mechanism works, the strap is still free to swivel around the strap button without binding up.

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Wedgie Pick Holders

I was watching an instructional video at JamPlay one day, when I noticed that the instructor had something black stuck to the strings at the headstock of his guitar with a pick sticking out of it. Intrigued, I did a web search for something that looked like it and eventually ended up at wedgie.com , where I found the Wedgie pick holder.

The Wedgie is made of a soft rubber and easily twists and locks onto the strings coming off of the nut, but without binding them up or impairing tuning or sound. There are two slots for holding picks, so that you always have some picks handy when you need them.

The only downsides to the wedgie as I can see it are:

• If you use a pick thicker than 2.0mm, it will not fit in very well (one of the picks in this picture is a 2.0mm and that works fine)
• If you like to do behind the nut bends, this might get in your way.
• If you use a guitar stand that grips around the neck (like a Hercules), the wedgie might get in the way.

Only the last of these issues has some effect on me, but I solved the problem by sliding the wedgie a little bit farther away from the nut.

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Guitar Picks

I spent a long time during my initial stages of learning to play Guitar by using picks in various shapes, sizes, thickness and composition trying to find one that I really liked the best.

Since that time I have started gravitating quite a bit towards finger style guitar, for which I use no pick at all (not even a thumb pick). However I still use picks for various things while playing, and I still enjoy looking to see what new picks are available to try out.

One problem I have with picks is that my fingers are very dry, which makes a pick fairly hard to hold onto without it slipping out. To some degree I have solved this by using picks that have very rough surfaces, by drilling holes in the picks or by using things to make my fingers more tacky, such as some stuff whose name escapes me that they sell in office supply stores to give you grip when sorting through papers.

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D'Addario Strings

For my purposes I have settled on D'Addario Phosphor Bronze strings in the Light category rating.

I have no particular reason for this except that the first strings I purchased were of this brand because that’s what the guy at the store recommended, and I like the sound and so have had no reason to go out and try different brands, although I’m meaning to do so. Having dry fingers means that strings tend to last a bit longer before needing to be replaced.

I use Light strings because they match the gauge that was on the guitar (the Simon & Patrick) when I bought it.

This picture also shows my Planet Waves peg winder, which makes changing strings easier.

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Foot Stool

Generally I tend to play guitar while sitting on the couch, so that when I try to sit in a regular chair and play I have problems holding the guitar steady without the neck trying to fly away (if you play guitar you’ll know what I’m talking about here).

For me the solution to this (at least initially) was to use a foot stool to raise my leg up more, which mimics the angle that my leg is at when I’m playing on the couch and thus allows me to grip the guitar better.

Also notice that the mechanism for changing the height of the stool, while straight forward, is also evil. As such you should be wary of getting a nasty blister if your finger gets pinched in it.

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Cleaning Supplies

For keeping my Guitars shiny and clean I use some simple cleaning supplies to keep things polished.

This shot shows some Planet Waves Shine spray for polishing the guitar, but I’m using a different variety currently. The name escapes me at the moment but I believe it is also a Dunlop product like the lemon oil is.

Speaking of lemon oil, I’m totally one of those guitarists that uses it on his guitar. I know not everyone agrees with it’s use, or what variety to use, or how often to use it. I use it because the manufacturer said I should. With the size of that bottle, I comfortably predict never having to buy lemon oil again.

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