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, anyone who wishes to verify this fact need only go to the US Patent website and look it up. 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 first design was called the 'Fixed fingering device'and dates back to school shop class where I began building my first guitars. These designs yielded the basic concepts which I used until I further improved the system and received another patent called the 'Improved Fixed Fingering Device'.
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.
I usually don't talk about my system all that much. It is just a tool I use and I don't think listeners in general are that interested in the details of my guitars. Lately though, I started getting a bunch of emails from people telling me that someone else has designed a single string capoing system and are calling it a 'New concept' or a 'Revolutionary new device'. Their system differs a little from mine, they use bulky magnets to hold the strings to a steel fretboard but bears a striking resemblence to it in many ways and they talk about mine in they're patent application. Basically, they state all the reasons they feel that their system is not an infringement upon my patents. They also make some erroneous references which the examiner apparently overlooked. I was critical of them at first but really I just wish they'd stop trying to take credit for something they simply didn't invent.
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 and/or borrowed a prototype 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 Juskaweitz (One time CEO and owner of Gibson), the head of Ibanez USA, Yamaha guitar development (YGD), Kaman (Ovation), BC Rich and others 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.
