Capo info

danishbacon · February 2023

I'm looking to buy a good quality capo for an acoustic with 15 3/4" radius and 44mm (1 3/4") nut width. I started looking online but it's a bit of a whirlwind in terms of options. I currently have one of the cheapo clothespin looking things that feels like it's going to damage the neck if my thumb slips when I'm installing it. It also gets a bit in the way of playing.

I've spotted some shubb ones that look clean and the G7th seem to be well regarded. Any advice, help, suggestions are appreciated

Thanks!

danishbacon · March 2023

Image: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71i1g3A7EiL._AC_SX425_.jpg

malcolmkindness · March 2023

Shubb make the simplest, most functional capo, at a reasonable price.

ElectricXII · March 2023

Shubb +1

Mellish · March 2023

Shubb's are good, so are the G7fh"s. Both have adjustable tension.

Paige are also good, and Elliott - well, great quality, but hugely expensive.

Kyser? They do the job but tension wise they are what they are.

TheBigDipper · March 2023

I've got a couple of G7s and like them. Easy to put on and not very intrusive when playing. Best I've ever owned but I've never tried a Shubb.

TheMadMick · March 2023

And another for Shubb.

My mate puts his on "backwards" with the mechanism towards his fretting hand and still has no bother with it.

Grampa · March 2023

Got a G7th when I started learning electric, recently bought an acoustic and it works just as well on that.

Soupman · March 2023

+ another 1 for Shubb. Simple engineering principle, adjustable tension. The rubber barre is replaceable. They also do one for totally flat fretboards.

ICBM · March 2023

malcolmkindness said:

Kyser make the simplest, most functional capo, at a reasonable price.

FTFY

They don’t even seem to mind different fingerboard radii - I use mine on various acoustics and electrics, perfect on every one.

The key is to fit them exactly along the back of the fret crown, which is simple when you get used to doing it.

NB, the cheap lookalike Kyser copies are *not* as good. I tried one.

Jaycee · March 2023

Another Kyser user here

bertie · March 2023

Shubb or the G7 Nashville (quite impressed with it so far) works like the kayser but doesnt look like it was designed by Laurence Llewelyn Bowen.

dchwhite · March 2023

I found the Dunlop one easiest to use, but I think the best-LOOKING one (obviously the most important thing) is the Fender Dragon. It's a bit fiddly compared to the Dunlop but has cleaner lines.

bertie · March 2023

dchwhite said:

but I think the best-LOOKING one

is a Thalia

malcolmkindness · March 2023

ICBM said:

malcolmkindness said:

Kyser make the simplest, most functional capo, at a reasonable price.

FTFY

They don’t even seem to mind different fingerboard radii - I use mine on various acoustics and electrics, perfect on every one.

The key is to fit them exactly along the back of the fret crown, which is simple when you get used to doing it.

NB, the cheap lookalike Kyser copies are *not* as good. I tried one.

I didn't say Kyser, I said Shubb!

crunchman · March 2023

I don't get the love for Shubb. I sold all my Shubbs when I discovered G7th. The Shubbs mess with the tuning something chronic. You might be able to fix it by using the adjustment screw, but if you want to move a couple of frets up, where the neck is thicker, you have to fiddle with the screw again. G7th are much better. Just squeeze the right amount when you put it on.

I've not tried the Kyser, so I can't comment on those.

bertie · March 2023

crunchman said:

I don't get the love for Shubb. I sold all my Shubbs when I discovered G7th. The Shubbs mess with the tuning something chronic.

a) no they dont really, they just need a modicum of adjustment if the neck "profile" changes greatly (some dont) and placed properly close to the fret wire (not in the middle of the "space" - so not an issue when at home, but not so "on a gig"

b) the "classic" G7th doesnt clamp well on all necks - Ive had real problems with them on "thinner" necks The nashville I got the other week, Ive found is much better than the performance ones - quite surprised TBH as Im not a fan of sprung ones.

dchwhite · March 2023

bertie said:

dchwhite said:

but I think the best-LOOKING one

is a Thalia

Those are quite something - very nice.

For a different artistic interpretation:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354101106115

brucegill · March 2023

crunchman said:

I don't get the love for Shubb. I sold all my Shubbs when I discovered G7th. The Shubbs mess with the tuning something chronic. You might be able to fix it by using the adjustment screw, but if you want to move a couple of frets up, where the neck is thicker, you have to fiddle with the screw again. G7th are much better. Just squeeze the right amount when you put it on.

I've not tried the Kyser, so I can't comment on those.

I think it just shows were all different. I’ve never like G7, no matter how many times I tried.

bertie · March 2023

dchwhite said:

For a different artistic interpretation:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354101106115

yep, that's certainly "different"

BillDL · March 2023

For functionality, accuracy, ease of use, low profile, and reasonable price I use the "Planet Waves (d'Addario) NS Capo Lite". It sells for anywhere between £10 and £15. I have most of the other types including Shubb and Kyser but I prefer the Planet Waves NS Lite and have several of them in different cases/gig bags so I always have one handy.

bertie · March 2023

BillDL said:

For functionality, accuracy, ease of use, low profile, and reasonable price I use the "Planet Waves (d'Addario) NS Capo Lite". It sells for anywhere between £10 and £15. I have most of the other types including Shubb and Kyser but I prefer the Planet Waves NS Lite and have several of them in different cases/gig bags so I always have one handy.

is that the one with the little tension wheel ? pretty sure I have one somewhere, couldnt get on with it

BillDL · March 2023

Yes @bertie ;; This one, although I think the image is of the straight, not curved, one for flat fretboards.

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/51636c0f97ef039be8f0e6119b838ece490c04dada61fad614

drofluf · March 2023

G7 here, I’ve also got a Shubb -there’s nothing wrong with it but the G7 is my go to.

ICBM · March 2023

malcolmkindness said:

I didn't say Kyser, I said Shubb!

I know you did, but you must have *meant* Kyser because you said simplest and most functional

.

crunchman said:

I don't get the love for Shubb.

Me neither. Fiddly and awkward, needs two hands and constant adjusting between different fret positions if the neck has any significant taper. I put up with them for years because I'd always been told they were 'the best', but when I accidentally acquired a Kyser (which I'd never heard of until then) I couldn't believe how much simpler and better it was! Gave away my Shubbs.

crunchman said:

G7th are much better. Just squeeze the right amount when you put it on.

Personally I didn't like the G7th either - I found it harder to set exactly right, still needs two hands to take it off, and possibly worst of all it's just such a slippery thing it flew out of my hand several times - really what you don't want on stage.

But, each to their own. I do understand that there are people who don't like the Kyser, although I can't really understand why. For me it's the perfect zero-fuss capo, it doesn't have a single thing wrong with it, and it even looks good clipped to the end of the headstock.

Stuckfast · March 2023

I'm not wild about either the Shubb or the G7 capos. Every time you move the Shubb up or down the neck you have to adjust the fit, otherwise they send the strings sharp or don't capo properly. And I always find it hard to get the right degree of pressure from the G7, there's nothing tangible to tell you whether it's clamping tightly enough or too tightly. Both of them also end up gettling lost all the time because you can't easily keep them attached to the guitar when not in use (I once found a Shubb capo in the street).

So, for me, the Paige capo is by far the best. BUT it's important to get the right model for your neck.

Roland · March 2023

Stuckfast said:

… (I once found a Shubb capo in the street)...

Me too

bertie · March 2023

ICBM said:
I know you did, but you must have *meant* Kyser because you said simplest and most unnecessarily ornate and stupid looking >

FTFY

tho now after some time with the G7 Nashville, I do agree the "mechanism" works well

Soupman · March 2023

Stuckfast said:
Every time you move the Shubb up or down the neck you have to adjust the fit, otherwise they send the strings sharp or don't capo properly.

Maybe the neck profile makes a difference?
Agreed - if I move the Shubb up from the 2nd fret to the 5th I usually have to adjust the tension wheel half a turn but I don't find that a problem.
The thing I like about the Shubb is that it never makes my strings sharp!

Horses for courses. I'm sure most capo varieties function well enough, it's just down to personal preferences.
I have a friend who uses one of those old original folksy capos - you know those D shaped ones with a swingarm top bar and a wadge of felt on the underside, knurled nut adjuster. When I say most function well enough......this could be the exception. It must work for him though!

@danishbacon ;; just go for one. It's not like laying out mega money on a new guitar. (Unless you go for a Thalia!)

thermionic · March 2023

The great thing about Kyser capos is that they be used, at a pinch, instead of a ratchet bar clamp for small woodworking tasks.

usedtobe · March 2023

I’ve got a Shubb that I’ve had ages, and a Thalia I bought as a treat, for myself. Thalia, all day long, for me, but I still use, and like, the Shubb.. Had a G7 and didn’t like it - gave it away.. Had a Kyser-alike and it was shite.. either gave it away or binned it..

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