New @ Capo's...J.Bovier Mandolins and Tanglewood Guitars

Here at Capo's we seek to find the best and most exciting instrument brands available. We love to find companies that aren't available just anywhere, and provide our customers a chance to try them out. We especially love to find companies that have an interesting story and keep a hands on approach to building their instruments. We try to support family businesses and bring their quality instruments directly to you, our customers.

That brings us to one of the newest members of the Capo's family, J. Bovier Mandolins. J.Bovier was started by Jeff Coward. Jeff had a passion for mandolins which led him to start J. Bovier Mandolins. He set out to produce a line of mid priced mandolins that offer superior quality and sound.

Jeff worked with the manufacturers to fine tune the prototypes until he had a line of economically priced mandolins that could compete with, and in some cases out perform many higher priced mandolins. Jeff and his son worked together to create an instrument line that is as nice to look at, as it is to play.

You can read the full J. Bovier article at www.jazzmando.com/new/archives/001080.shtml or check out their website www.jbovier.net.

We have also started carrying Tanglewood Guitars. They are the #1 selling brand of guitars in the United Kingdom. Tanglewood strives to create an instrument, that above all else has great playability and tone. They desire to create an instrument for all price points so that every musician can access an instrument of great quality and design. Tanglewood offers quality woods and finishes to suit every taste and budget, and they stand behind each one with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.


To find a Tanglewood Guitar that fits your needs check out their website at www.tanglewoodguitars.com.


If you have never played a J. Bovier Mandolin or a Tanglewood Guitar come by and try one for yourself, you'll be glad you did. We have several styles of J. Bovier Mandolins and Tanglewood Guitars available here at Capo's and more on the way!! Please call or come by to see what's available.

Strings

The strings on your instrument are as important as the notes in the music. They can change the way you play, how it feels and how it sounds. It's important to educate yourself about the proper types of strings and to experiment with different brands to find the one that you like. Not everyone will agree on what is the best type of string, that's an individual choice, but if you know what you are looking for in a set of strings then you can make an educated decision on which brands to try.

Strings are made from different types of metals. The most common being the 80/20 Bronze strings. These are made from 80% nickel and 20% phosphor. These strings deliver the brightest sound. While Phosphor Bronze strings, which are mostly made from a phosphor alloy, deliver a warmer sound. Choosing one of these types of strings depends on the type of sound you are looking for.

In 2009 Red Brand released the Copper Bronze string. This string contains more Copper and produces it's own unique sound.

There are also coated strings which prolong the life of the string. These strings can last 3 times as long as traditional strings. Some people complain that coated strings feel different or have a dull sound compared to traditional strings. Cleartone brand claims to have the thinnest coating on their strings which is said to produce a clearer sound. Most coated string manufacturers only coat 4 strings while Cleartone coats all 6. This could be a good option for people

When should you change your strings? Of course if you break one it should be replaced. If you play everyday you should change your strings once a month, or when the strings start to look or sound worn. Strings that are visibly tarnished or dirty looking should definitely be changed. Old strings can effect the sound of your instrument.

Here at Capo's we seek to educate and provide accurate information to our customers so they can have the best musical experience possible. That's why we offer String Clinics at our store. At a String Clinic we teach you the basics of caring for, changing and choosing your strings. Call or comeby our store to ask about our next String Clinic date.

Capo's Winter Instrument Care

With "winter" in full force, proper instrument care is essential. One of the biggest threats to a healthy instrument is dry heat. This can come from your cozy wood burning stove or that toasty electric heater that sits beside you on those chilly evenings. With so much dry heat in your home during the winter months it's important to protect your instrument from its damaging effects.

To help educate our customers we have compiled a list of helpful tips to get you through the rest of the winter with a healthy and happy banjo, guitar, mandolin or whatever the case may be. The first thing to remember is to keep your instrument away from the heat source. Your guitar may look beautiful propped next to the fireplace but don't be tempted to leave it there, being that close to a heat source will dry out your fingerboard fast!

Along with not keeping it near the fireplace, you shouldn't store your instrument in an attic, closet or basement. Any area where there is poor humidity control is going to be damaging. A good rule of thumb is, if you are comfortable in the room so is your instrument. Also, your instrument should be stored in its case when not in use.

Another good piece of advice is to keep a humidifier in the case with your instrument. This will help maintain a more consistent level of humidity, which is much better for your instrument. We sell humidifiers here at Capo's starting at only $6.00.

One more helpful tip is to detune your strings when you aren't going to be playing for a while. This will relieve some of the pressure from the neck of your instrument, to help avoid cracks.

How do you know if your instrument is being damaged by dry winter heat? Simply run your thumb and forefinger down the sides of your fingerboard. If your frets start to feel sharp that means your fingerboard is too dry and is starting to shrink.

You should inspect your instrument often. Look at it from all angles, keep an eye out for cracks in the wood or signs it may be seperating from the binding. If you notice any of these problems bring it in. If we can catch a problem early it's much easier to fix. We do service most instruments here at Capo's and we would be happy to help with any repairs!