| 100% | CAPO | 4 | Tool that is clamped onto a guitar's neck to shorten the strings and raise the pitch |
| 36% | CAPO | 4 | Tool that raises a guitar's pitch |
| 34% | MOUSELEMUR | 10 | A species unique to Madagascar that is the world's smallest primate and one of the smallest mammals in the world: 2 wds. |
| 31% | CAPO | 4 | Clamp that transposes a guitar's pitch |
| 30% | STEPS | 5 | Courthouse ___, entrance to the courthouse that is often a site for protests and rallies |
| 30% | DROPIT | 6 | "That'll be enough of that subject" ... and a hint to solving the answers to starred clues |
| 30% | DOLLS | 5 | Island of the ___, Mexican forest island that is home to strung-up dolls and ghost stories |
| 30% | LEMUR | 5 | Primate with large eyes and a long tail that is endemic to the island of Madagascar |
| 30% | ORANGE | 6 | Juicy and vibrant citrus product that will add a tangy twist to the dessert at 37d |
| 30% | MAC | 3 | ___ and cheese, a casserole baked in oven that is considered to be a comfort food in the US |
| 29% | CLOSEBUTNOCIGAR | 15 | "Not quite!," and what can be said about a letter string in the answer to each starred clue |
| 29% | VISE | 4 | Tool that clamps things to a workbench |
| 29% | APE | 3 | Word that means to imitate someone and is also the name of a primate |
| 29% | QUILL | 5 | Writing tool made from a bird's feather, that preceded the pencil and pen |
| 29% | STIRUPDRAMA | 11 | Create tension in a group, and a direction that was followed when forming the answer to each starred clue? |
| 29% | HERO | 4 | *Person who saves the day... and a word you may use to describe those being celebrated in this puzzle |
| 28% | NUDE | 4 | Second single from Radiohead's album in 18a, that had a different title originally and was supposed to be part of the album "OK Computer" |
| 28% | WHATARACKET | 11 | "Boy, is that loud!" ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 25-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 28% | TAPIRS | 6 | Large animals that look a little pig-like, are related to rhinos and live in the Amazon |
| 28% | TEAK | 4 | Plant whose name becomes that of a meat product when an s is added to the beginning |
| 28% | FLOSS | 5 | American invention that is essentially a string and always a dentist's suggestion |
| 28% | ENE | 3 | Dir. that's to the right and a little up on a map |
| 28% | SLICER | 6 | Rival Electric ___, vintage appliance to cut meats and save a trip to the deli that could be spotted in a '70s kitchen |
| 28% | MISSING | 7 | "I'll Be ___ You," 1997 Puff Daddy and Faith Evans song that was a tribute to rapper The Notorious B.I.G. |
| 28% | CLIMBING | 8 | Sport ___, sport that will debut in the 2020 Olympics and requires contestants to ascend a steep wall with their hands and feet |
| 28% | CGA | 3 | IBM's first PC card from 1981 that was to become a computer display standard instead of merely black and white (abbr.) |
| 28% | YOUREMISSINGOUT | 15 | "That's a lost opportunity," and what can be said to the writer of four clues in this puzzle |
| 28% | FURNITUREASSEMBLY | 17 | Ikea task, and a task that can be applied to the sets of circled letters in this puzzle |
| 28% | TOTALECLIPSE | 12 | Event across the U.S. on 4/8/24 ... and, with 57-Across, 1983 Bonnie Tyler hit that would be apt to play during a 46-Across |
| 28% | WARM | 4 | The ___ Up, athletic-wear line that is a collaboration between actress Jessica Simpson and Macy's |