General Music Chat

My first capo over 40 years ago was one of those with the woven nylon strap that had grommeted holes to fit over the pin the plastic sleeve was on. It worked on some frets, but not others, being too tight sometimes, too loose other times.
Probably didn't use a capo again until the mid-80s, when I got a spring-loaded one.

Current one I use is a Kyser spring-loaded, it's wide enough to use on my 12-string. It also knocks the guitar out of tune (intonation) due to the incorrect pressure it puts on the strings.

I'm looking at the Shubb C1 or S1 - but it looks really large on the 'behind the neck' section - the arm that presses against the neck PLUS the release arm.

Also looking at the G7th Performance - twice the price, but one-handed operation.

I don't like the type of capo that yo uhave to tighten up wiht a wheel every time you move it - takes too long to make changes.

I got one when I was in high school. It camped down like a vice. Easy to operate. Didn't take up excess space on the back of the neck. Had four sides, to fit any kind of fretboard. I wish I could find it. Nothing they make these days comes close to this thing. The rubber is probably shot, though. If you need a capo, try your index finger. Works for me.

I visited CamdenTown Music in London last year and got an "Aroma" capo that has a tuner built in. The built-in tuner also makes a bigger handle for grabbing the capo and positioning it quickly onstage.

That is a brilliant idea!

I ended up ordering the G7th Performance 2 capo:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... Hwodw5AAdg
I like the one-handed operation (like I can do with my current Kaiser) - the SHubbs are good, but you need two hands to change, and you can't clamp it onto the head stock without readjustng the roller each time.

Got the G7th yesterday, allI can say is WOW! Easy one hand use, and sure enough - it does not throw the guitar out of tune when you put it on. All these years I've been blaming the guitars on going out of tune when moving the capo around - no more! Just put it into place and squeeze down with same pressure you'd use on your index finger in doing a bar chord.

I'll never get another tuner that isn't also a capo....and vice versa.

If you need a capo, try your index finger. Works for me.

that.

i've never been much of a capo guy as i don't like eliminating any part of the neck that i might be able to use.

(yeah, i do get how the capo allows easy transposition and allows you play out of whatever "CAGED" formation you care too.)

glad you guys found something that works for ya.

A capo allows me to instantly play with pianists who like Eb, or woodwind/horn players who like Bb without a lot of mental transposing on the fly.

Not that I couldn't do it otherwise, but it gives me cramps to play in those keys all night and causes unnecessary mental calisthenics....(which is really tough on a Texan! )

And its really all about the sound. A Bb played as an E barred on 6 does not sound the same as a cap on 3 'G'.

Just another tool in the toolbox.