Single String Capoing: By Leif Erich
Just to set the record straight: I invented 'Integrated Single String Capoing' and received the first ever patent issued by the US Patent office for such a system. Integrated single string capoing is a system of capoing devices that are integrated into the design of the neck, therefore requiring no straps or bars.
My system is a fully functional system of subminiature capos that secure any string to any fret, independent of the others, with no straps around the neck. Publicly it was to become known as the 'Chromatic Capoing System.' No secret was made about my invention and pictures of it were published in numerous magazines and newspapers. From this I was contacted by people from countries as far away as Australia who had read about it. Since I have also toured in Europe and Japan (amongst other places) my system has been seen far and wide.
Just ask the countless rock stars, guitar makers and the heads of most major guitar manufactures and their research and development departments who have examined my system, played it, borrowed a prototype and used it on their albums guitar including: Ned Steinberger, Leo Fender, Reeves Gabrels, Steve Klein, Michael Hedges, Dweezil Zappa, Steve Vai, Tim Reynolds, Buck Dahrma, Allen Holdsworth, Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, Chet Atkins, Hoyt Axtin, John Mcglaughlin, David Crosby, Henry Juskawitz (One time CEO and owner of Gibson) and others far too numerous to mention.
The black and white photo is from a magazine. In these pictures one can clearly see the full capoing system on all of my guitars including my 10
string (5 octave) classical. The white guitar (which I built) and the other, a Steinberger prototype that was done when Steinberger/ Gibson was considering the capoing system as a product. Ned gave me the raw parts and the machining was done at the Tobias bass factory.
