Damage by capo: a warning

[Cosmic String Theory]

I had an unpleasant "zinging" noise that seemed to be associated with the first fret on my Taylor 12-string. Long story short, the luthier found such damage to that fret that he had to replace it. The guitar was only 3 years old when I bought it, so that's damage done in a hurry.
He worked out what must have happened. It used to be common practice to tune 12-strings down a half-step or two, and compensate with a capo. It looks as though the previous owner had done that, tightened the capo right up, and left it on. The resultant grooves in the fret made you wonder how it was playable at all.
So, friends, my advice: don't do that.

[TaylorGirl]

I just tune it to standard pitch and forget the capo. That's what Taylor 12-strings are designed for. 

[Cosmic String Theory]

I just tune it to standard pitch and forget the capo. That's what Taylor 12-strings are designed for. 

Yup.

[Edward]

I just tune it to standard pitch and forget the capo. That's what Taylor 12-strings are designed for. 

Yup yup!

And when I do use a capo on the 12er, I take it off afterward.  Cool how that works ...just sayin.  Happy Sunday, all!

Edward

[TaylorGirl]

I just tune it to standard pitch and forget the capo. That's what Taylor 12-strings are designed for. 

Yup yup!

And when I do use a capo on the 12er, I take it off afterward.  Cool how that works ...just sayin.  Happy Sunday, all!

Edward

Agreed. They are quite handy devices to put on and take off. 

[donlyn]

I tune my 12 string guitars down a semitone to D#. And I mostly play them in D#.

A while back I tuned my 355 to DADGAD intervals, which means all four 'E' strings are in C# now! And the course of 'B' strings are in G# (of course). 

And I still have my Newport 12 string Capo with the compensated pad if I need to be in some variation of 'standard'. And no, it does not live on the neck.

Don