West R Lee
Venerated Member
I'm always wanting to try a new capo for whatever reason. Some people collect cars, others stamps........I like capos. For whatever reason, I've always preferred what most refer to as a "cradle" capo, or one that actually clamps around the neck, with support on both sides, and generally a screw adjustment to control pressure on the neck.
Left to right are an Elliott (all the rage and very expensive), a Thalia (gift from my wife who thought it was pretty), a D'Addario cradle capo, an old "Fretspanner", and a G7th.
As most of you know, capos come in a variety of fretboard radius or radii to match fretboard radius. The Thalia comes with interchangeable inserts to accommodate varying radii for use with a variety of guitars, and also with partial capo inserts. The Elliott was ordered to match the radius of 3 of my guitars.
I'm well aware that some will simply say, "buy a $10 Shubb". And yes, I hear what you're saying. But my observation is this. Money or reputation do not make the capo, fit does. The capo in the middle, the D'Addario, is probably best suited to all of my guitars, regardless of radius. Strangely, the Elliott was twice the price of the D'Addario. The D'Addario seems to be just flexible enough to accommodate all of my guitars, regardless of radius. The Thalia is the most unique in accommodating various radii, and seems to work fine with all of my guitars, though an insert change is required when switching from a couple of guitars to another. The Thalia also seems to add an almost metallic sound to whichever guitar it is on. So though in my view, the Thalia distorts sound a bit, it's not really unpleasant, simply different. The old Fretspanner, second from right is old and worn, but it offers not one, but two pads which contact the fretboard, offering sort of a double hold on the strings. Though worn, I can't bring myself to throw anything, including the Fretspanner away. The G7th, on the far right is probably my least favorite, though a very popular capo. I simply don't care for the gear clamping method it uses.
As expensive as the Elliott was (gift from Mrs. West), G7th makes a cradle capo at the identical price of around $150, though I now see Elliott now run over $200. So I guess my point is that they all offer something just a bit different, but price doesn't correspond with performance in my view. In fact, though I own an Elliott, and they are made here in Texas, I don't fully understand the mystique, price or reputation of Elliott, when compared to say a D'Addario for half the price?
Thoughts? Other than go buy a $10 Dunlop?
West
Left to right are an Elliott (all the rage and very expensive), a Thalia (gift from my wife who thought it was pretty), a D'Addario cradle capo, an old "Fretspanner", and a G7th.
As most of you know, capos come in a variety of fretboard radius or radii to match fretboard radius. The Thalia comes with interchangeable inserts to accommodate varying radii for use with a variety of guitars, and also with partial capo inserts. The Elliott was ordered to match the radius of 3 of my guitars.
I'm well aware that some will simply say, "buy a $10 Shubb". And yes, I hear what you're saying. But my observation is this. Money or reputation do not make the capo, fit does. The capo in the middle, the D'Addario, is probably best suited to all of my guitars, regardless of radius. Strangely, the Elliott was twice the price of the D'Addario. The D'Addario seems to be just flexible enough to accommodate all of my guitars, regardless of radius. The Thalia is the most unique in accommodating various radii, and seems to work fine with all of my guitars, though an insert change is required when switching from a couple of guitars to another. The Thalia also seems to add an almost metallic sound to whichever guitar it is on. So though in my view, the Thalia distorts sound a bit, it's not really unpleasant, simply different. The old Fretspanner, second from right is old and worn, but it offers not one, but two pads which contact the fretboard, offering sort of a double hold on the strings. Though worn, I can't bring myself to throw anything, including the Fretspanner away. The G7th, on the far right is probably my least favorite, though a very popular capo. I simply don't care for the gear clamping method it uses.
As expensive as the Elliott was (gift from Mrs. West), G7th makes a cradle capo at the identical price of around $150, though I now see Elliott now run over $200. So I guess my point is that they all offer something just a bit different, but price doesn't correspond with performance in my view. In fact, though I own an Elliott, and they are made here in Texas, I don't fully understand the mystique, price or reputation of Elliott, when compared to say a D'Addario for half the price?
G7th Heritage Capo Style 1 Standard Width - Gold | eBay
This beautiful hand-polished steel capo fits perfectly at the nut position of your wider neck guitars and slides up and down the neck easily with just a twist of the adjusting knob on the back. It gives you the maximum tuning stability with the minimum possible tension.
www.ebay.com
Thoughts? Other than go buy a $10 Dunlop?
West
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