Capos |
Buying guide |
Spring Capos
Stage capos -> fast set-up and fast release. Minor impact on intonation.
Kysers ($20)
The quick-change capo, available for steel –strings and for classical guitars
G7 Nashville Capo ($30)
Compared to other spring capos, the Nashville's unique pivot point – behind the guitar neck, rather than to the side – and softer spring make it much more comfortable to use, and help to eliminate tuning problems.
Studio Capos
Shubb Capo Noir ($25): one of the best capos for pure intonation. Easy to set, it can be considered for stage also (but won’t stay on your headstock…) Available for steel –strings and for classical guitars.
Planet Wave NS Capo pro ($20) : Very easy to use and great intonation. A cheaper alternative to the capo noir.
Dunlop toggle capo ($8) I have been using that capo for years and it’s still in one of my guitar case. Easy to place, it is certainly not the best for live situation and does not give the perfect intonation for recording. Yet, it’s a great beginner’s capo and works great for first chords of Simon and Garfunkel’s songs.
G7th Performance capo ($45 in steel string, $48 in 12-strings) . The Performance Capo's revolutionary new mechanism allows ultra-precise placement and clamping – without pulling the strings of your instrument out of tune.
The capo is easily squeezed into place with one hand, and released using the lever on the back. When not in use, it stores neatly on the end of your instrument's headstock.
The perfect choice for both stage and studio applications.
Special Capos
John Pearse Ol’ reliable capo for banjo ($40). The vintage look and the ease of use make the John Pearse capo a great choice for banjo players.
Planet Wave NS Trio Capo ($22): Similar to the NS Capo, it can be use as a partial capo but also as a capo for Mandolins, Banjos and even for Ukes!
Shubb partial capo ($25) : partial capo for strings 1-3 or 2-4. The Shubb quality for some open tuning creativity. Those wouldn’t fit for other instruments than steel string guitars.
Spider Capo ($35) – My favorite. Set the capo on any of the 6 strings, combine with a partial capo if need be and go with some open tunings you would hardly get without serious gauge mixing on your string set. Don’t be afraid by the name and the look, it’s a great capo!
The Harmonic Capo ($40) – To tell the truth, I don’t have used that capo to its full capacity. You need to check first that your neck heel will allow the capo to go on the 12th fret where it will be the more useful. I spent some time on both acoustic and electric guitars and decided that it finally worked better on electric guitars. It needs some practice to be installed but offers access to new musical ideas.
