Official Luthiers Forum!

Time to break down and buy a decent capo after almost 40 years of playing.

So what's your favorite and why.

Thanks

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Horton, MI

I like the Kyser (the pink ones benefit Breast Cancer research) and Shubb.
Both are easy to use. The only complaint I have about the Shubb is you have to place it carefully on a wide (1 7/8") neck to catch all 6 strings.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I have several Shubb capos. They allow the user to set the amount of force that is applied to the strings. I also have one of thier partial capos which I love. I almost never take it off the guitar. It creates a pseudo DADGAD tuning.

Schubb. Compact, effective, adjustable. Th G7 also looks nifty although I've never tried it.

I've always liked Shubb capos. Shubb

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Elliott capos, built by Phill Elliott. These "used" to be made by a man named Tom McKinney, but Elliott now makes them exclusively. They are exceptional, and you'll never meet a better man. They are a bit pricey though.

Bill

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

I have several Schubbs and a G7. The Schubbs are lighter, but I like not having to adjust the G7 when going between guitars. Also my Larry parlor neck gets thicker as you go up, so I have to adjust the Schubb if I change position.

I could swear playing a bit better when using my beloved Kyser capo.

I have both the Shubb and the Kyser. The Kyser is great for changing between songs or during a song. The Schubb is low profile and weight but I find it hard to change quickly. And it takes two hands. Or, maybe I'm not coordinated enough.....

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Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

For years my preferred capo was a Paige, but after I picked up my 1922 Gibson L Jr I switched to a Shubb as the Paige would not fit this very comfy Louisville Slugger-esque neck. I still use a Paige on my fretted banjo(s).

Definitely Schubb. I have a G7 and it's OK but I still reach for the Schubb.

Mind you if you want to do the flash Irish accompaniment stuff and change key mid tune, those capos that come with a roller on the back get a lot of use

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I don't remember who made it, but I really like my Johnny Cash model capo. Small and lightweight, tightens with a little worm gear.

And, of course, its black.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Hmmm... I figured it would be between the Shubb and the Kiser. I think I'm leaning towards the Shubb. I'll be using it mostly for open D tuning capoed on the second fret.

Thanks for the quick responses.

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Horton, MI

I too like the Shubb capos, but I wish they were offered in different radii.

I have seen Barry play with one of the partial capos, and it is pretty slick (both the capo and the playing).

I think I've tried all of them over the years, and Kyser is my favorite. But if I'm doing some quick key changes in the song, I'll use the glider capo: http://www.glidercapo.com/

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I have the Kyser, Schubb and a Dunlop... I prefer the Schubb (deluxe)

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Now that is a cool capo!

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Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

Kyser capo all the way...It clips nicely to the headstock when not in use.

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

Shubb all the way for me. It works, it's understated, and looks classy. The Kyser is a great capo and very convienient but it looks like an angry bird landed on your guitar.
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I have three or four of the Dunlop ones laying around or stuck on the headstocks of various guitars. Mechanically the same capo as the Kyser but the handle sticks back toward you rather than out the front of the guitar. I find that grip style more comfortable for me, and 5 second capo changes are nice (especially on those 'I've got a cold so I'm dropping this song down a half step' days)

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Tony Rice uses an old McKinney, right? I heard they are popular among blue grass players and I've been thinking about ordering one, but the price... I have used Shubbs for years, never really liked the Kyser even though I used one for a while in the '80's. This was before I had seen a partial capo, but I found out quick you could use the regular Kyser on only 5 strings and get some of that effect, about the only thing I liked about it.

I guess it's time to invest in a McKinney / Elliott... Which one do you use Bill, and why?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

OK, I'll pile on here. Shubb is my preference, but I have several Kysers I use on occasion.

I was waiting see a Planet Waves, much, much less expensive and much like the G7. I have a Dunlop, and Kyser and some old rubber band looking thing and a old rat trap looking deal. The Planet wave is light, easy to get on and off and inexpensive, fits the bill on all accounts.
Peter LaMorte

i have a shubb and a kyser and the shubb wins hands down. on guitars that i've built with thin and even necks the kyser works fine. but on guitars with thicker necks and those with necks that get progressively thicker between fret 1 and 8 (like my trusty old yamaha that i keep at work), i find that the 'one size fits all' pressure of the kyser can easily detune. and if anything slows down capo changes, it's needing to retune.
the only advantage that i see for the kyser is how handy it is to clip on the headstock.
just my opinion though.
phil

Another vote here for the Shubb. I like that it's not always under tension the way the spring loaded capos like the Kyser are. I had a Kyser slip once as I was removing it from the fretboard and it made a nice little ding in the neck.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice