Capos

[Roland]

I'll have to be honest, I don't like to buy a lot of stuff. I've a couple cast off capos that people have given me over the years that seem to work but they are the clamp on style with squeeze handles. The only one I bought myself is a D'Addario NS for $20. I bought it because I don't like a bunch of stuff clamped on my guitar and I don't ever need to do any fast capoing, so I went looking for something small that would fit in my pocket comfortably. A friend had one and let me try it. The D'Addario NS fits in my pocket and it does the job. It isn't expensive and it is pretty simple to use. For me that about covers it for capo criteria.

 

[hearth_man]

Oh man, I forgot about the elastic band types. I actually had a couple of them years ago. Maybe some of the easiest to use.



West

Even though cheap and low tech these elastic capos can work very well!

 

[Maguchi]

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?

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

Kyser makes some good stuff. Left to right, regular capo raises all 6 strings equally. The SC Shortcut raises only 2nd 3rd and 4th strings, so it gives you open A (EAEAC#E) on the 2nd fret in standard tuning. Or you can reverse the capo and it will raise only the 3rd, 4th and 5th strings. On the 2nd fret from standard tuning that would be EBEABE from which you could detune the 3rd string a half step to G# which gives you Open E. The last one, the DD or Drop D capo is self explanatory. It raises all the the strings except for the 6th string which gives you a drop E version of the drop D tuning.

 

[chazmo]

Thalia Capos has gotten a bunch of business from me in recent years, more for their other swag than for their capos. Although I do own two of their capos because they're super cool guitar jewelry. I have inlaid Guild truss rod covers. I have a bunch of rings (for my fingers) which are super cool because they're made of indestructible tungsten -- don't worry, I take them off my left hand when I play.

I never liked the Kysers because they weren't adjustable and, like all springs, they wear out over time.

I've had a bunch of those elastic and strap-based capos over the years. Funny that you think the elastic ones were easy to use, Jim, as I always found them frustrating... The only problem I ever had with the clamp-strap was that the straps were too narrow and could bite into the wood/finish. I'm not sure if I ever actually had that problem, and maybe it was perception only.

As a primarily 12-string player and infrequent capo-ist (is that a word? ) the biggest frustration is that (full) capos drive the low strings out of tune. The Thalia has an adapter for the pads which I haaven't tried but which they claim helps to mitigate that.

Anyway, definitely a fun topic, West. I'll have to dig up my "collection" and show them off too. Mine's very similar to yours!

 

[GGJaguar]

The Thalia has an adapter for the pads which I haaven't tried but which they claim helps to mitigate that.

My G7th Heritage 12-string capo has pad like that.

 

[GGJaguar]

I never liked the Kysers because they weren't adjustable and, like all springs, they wear out over time.

I always found they pulled the strings out of tune if the weren't applied carefully. Now I only use them for set ups and string changes. They are really convenient for that work.

 

[walrus]

And, of course...



walrus

 

[chazmo]

And, of course...



walrus

What's that one, walrus!

 

[Sats]

Any love for Hamilton?

Came with a purchase, and have liked it.

 

[West R Lee]

Thalia Capos has gotten a bunch of business from me in recent years, more for their other swag than for their capos. Although I do own two of their capos because they're super cool guitar jewelry. I have inlaid Guild truss rod covers. I have a bunch of rings (for my fingers) which are super cool because they're made of indestructible tungsten -- don't worry, I take them off my left hand when I play.

I never liked the Kysers because they weren't adjustable and, like all springs, they wear out over time.

I've had a bunch of those elastic and strap-based capos over the years. Funny that you think the elastic ones were easy to use, Jim, as I always found them frustrating... The only problem I ever had with the clamp-strap was that the straps were too narrow and could bite into the wood/finish. I'm not sure if I ever actually had that problem, and maybe it was perception only.

As a primarily 12-string player and infrequent capo-ist (is that a word? ) the biggest frustration is that (full) capos drive the low strings out of tune. The Thalia has an adapter for the pads which I haaven't tried but which they claim helps to mitigate that.

Anyway, definitely a fun topic, West. I'll have to dig up my "collection" and show them off too. Mine's very similar to yours!

And those inserts with the Thalias both compensate for radius, and can make a partial capo or two if I recall. I do like my Thalia, and I may be the only one who's ever noticed this, but to me, mine slightly changes the sound of the guitar to a slightly more metallic sound. Not bad, just different.

West

 

[West R Lee]

My G7th Heritage 12-string capo has pad like that.

I've got an old G7th pictured earlier in the thread GG. The G7th "Cradle Capo" similar to your have gotten pretty expensive as well. I recently priced one at $239 I think. They make great capos for sure, but I don't care for the gear type clamping mechanism in the model I've got. They are attractive capos for sure.

West

 

[West R Lee]

Any love for Hamilton?

Came with a purchase, and have liked it.

This is the first I've seen/heard of one. And hey, if it works for you.

 

[GGJaguar]

They make great capos for sure, but I don't care for the gear type clamping mechanism in the model I've got.

I used it once or twice just to see how the compensated pad worked on the 12 string guitar. I only use Shubb, but the reality, I don't use a capo very often now that I'm not playing in a group anymore.

 

[walrus]

What's that one, walrus!

https://shop.guildguitars.com/produ...ectric-guitar-capo-612-string/?v=7516fd43adaa

Like most everything in the Guild Store, out of stock...

walrus

 

[fronobulax]

https://shop.guildguitars.com/produ...ectric-guitar-capo-612-string/?v=7516fd43adaa

Like most everything in the Guild Store, out of stock...

walrus

Restocking with these

 

[hearth_man]

Any love for Hamilton?

Came with a purchase, and have liked it.

I used to have one years ago. My concern was always that you cannot adjust the tension. So for some necks shapes I felt uncomfortable using it. But it did work well on some guitars.

 

[HeyMikey]

Last year I got one of these as a d’addario string & capo combo promotion. I liked it so much I got another. They are inexpensive, fast on/off and work great. I used them every day.

NS Artist Capo - Black, Adjustable Tension - Sweetwater

Looking for Guitar Capos? Sweetwater has 0% Financing, FREE Shipping, and FREE Sweetwater Support for Guitar Capos!

www.sweetwater.com

 

[RBSinTo]

I neither want nor need a capo that costs as much as a guitar.
The music stores I patronize sell capos with blow-back clip feed, gauges that indicate the string tension in PSI, or are nuclear-powered, but I just need one that allows me to change the pitch of the strings, so I got one of those squeezy handle spring-loaded guys, and it works like a champ. One and done, and never buy another capo again.
RBSinTo

 

[davismanLV]

This is the stash of capos, except for two MORE Shubbs which are currently installed on guitars. Shubbs are fast, light, easy, small, adjustable and just perfect for me. Kysers have a spring that would clip a motorcycle to a fence, it's that strong! Which is why they tend to change the pitch. Way too much. The others are just silly things that have collected. I can't even imagine a capo that costs over $100!!

 

[GGJaguar]

This is the stash of capos, except for two MORE Shubbs which are currently installed on guitars. Shubbs are fast, light, easy, small, adjustable and just perfect for me. Kysers have a spring that would clip a motorcycle to a fence, it's that strong! Which is why they tend to change the pitch. Way too much. The others are just silly things that have collected. I can't even imagine a capo that costs over $100!!

Do you keep the capos in that bowl? If not it would make a very nice capo bowl.