Capo needed, which one?

[Mr Wolf]

I need to grab myself a capo soon, i am needing it with this acoustic cover project i have going on. The singer/guitarist has a Shubb. Seems solid and reliable. I am thinking of one of those, a Kyser Trigger or a Dunlop Trigger. The sprung trigger ones seem good since theyre quick and can be clamped onto the headstock when not in use. From what i remember ages ago the Kyser ones were alright when i tried a friend's. What do you guys think of these? Any others i should consider? Any potential pitfalls?

Cheers

Jeff

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

I've used a Kyser for years. Works great. Easy on, easy off. I clamp it around my mic stand when not in use. You can just barely see it in my avatar pic...the little dark line off the lower horn of the guitar.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Any of the squeeze type will work well. My preference is a Hamilton Fret spanner. This is a more complicated capo to use because you have to screw it down. Most capos work byclamping the strings to the fingerboard and if the fret height on the guitar is high this can cause the guitar to go out of tune. The Hamilton Fretspanner has a thin piece of rubber that is designed to rest directly on the fret. This way when you clamp it down you are clamping on the fret. The work very well, but can be more difficult to set in place due to the screw down method. They do make a lever model but I have never used it. The Kyser is a good choice also. Quick clamping and if you are careful setting it down they work just fine!

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

I use a Shubb C1s. I like that I can flip it off with my left thumb at anytime and let it fall to the ground, making tuning drops within a track an easy feat

 

[Arkitkt]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

I have a Kyser and a Dunlop. Both work well. Personally, I prefer the Dunlop because it's less obtrusive and can be changed with the fretting hand easier.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

I have a Kyser and a Dunlop. Both work well. Personally, I prefer the Dunlop because it's less obtrusive and can be changed with the fretting hand easier.

Admittedly, that´s something I could never understand... I ´ve never seen someone move a capo up and down the board during a song, so I always questioned what merits there are to those styles. Of course it´s "comfy", but If I´m switching positions between songs anyway it´s kind of a moot point IMO.

 

[Arkitkt]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Admittedly, that´s something I could never understand... I ´ve never seen someone move a capo up and down the board during a song, so I always questioned what merits there are to those styles. Of course it´s "comfy", but If I´m switching positions between songs anyway it´s kind of a moot point IMO.

True dat, I never move the capo up and down the board during a song, either. But I have moved it up and down while changing volume and tone settings between songs. It's no big difference, really. I just find the Dunlop easier to use.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Arkitkt... One thing about the Dunlop which i couldn't help but notice. With the capo extending behind the neck, does it ever get in the way of your forearm when you have the capo higher up the neck, like say 7th fret? I would have thought the Kyser design could possibly be better with having the extended part out front.

Anyways, the way i see it now:

Shubb: it works, solid, cant go wrong.

Kyser and Dunlop: Both solid, but design could possibly make them awkward. Added bonus of headstock clampability. I could have either for the same price. I really wish there was a clear winner!

Jeff

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Shubb. Besides the G7th, it's the best

 

[shaka]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Admittedly, that´s something I could never understand... I ´ve never seen someone move a capo up and down the board during a song, so I always questioned what merits there are to those styles. Of course it´s "comfy", but If I´m switching positions between songs anyway it´s kind of a moot point IMO.

David Wilcox (the american acoustic pop/folk guy) changes mid song. An example would be his song Rusty Old American Dream. In that song he holds a chord with his left and changes the capo with his right to move the key up a half step. It looks pretty cool live and is a neat trick. He also is a pioneer in the art of alternate tunings and custom capos. He will oftentimes use two capos at the same time. most of the time he'll use a regular capo with a custom modified Kyser functioning in the third hand mode two frets up. This gives an approximation of DADGAD while keeping the guitar tuned standard. Another trick he uses is notching out the sixth string part of a kyser capo so that the sixth string passes untouched. By placing this capo two frets up from the nut or another capo he simulates drop D tuning. Really, the guy is a master.

I use Kyser and Schubb. Both work great. If you need a quick changer kyser is my favorite. Keep in mind there is no best capo or rules on how you use them.

Eric

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

I personally like Shubb because I don't need to quick change ever. If you need to change quick, Shubb aint for you.

That said, Shubbs look a ton better and the don't put the guiar out of tune (whereas clamp style capos are known for doing that).

 

[Curly]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Shubb

 

[Arkitkt]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Arkitkt... One thing about the Dunlop which i couldn't help but notice. With the capo extending behind the neck, does it ever get in the way of your forearm when you have the capo higher up the neck, like say 7th fret? I would have thought the Kyser design could possibly be better with having the extended part out front....

well, if you play on the 3rd fret with the capo on the 7th, that could be a problem. The sonic quality might be lacking, though. :laugh2: :laugh2:

Seriously, never had a problem with that.

:beerchug:

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Schubb C1 user here too....

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

Hmm the fact that sprung ones could pull a guitar out of tune is a worry. By the sheer number of recommendations i think ill go for a Shubb. I may snap up a sprung one if i see a real need for one, but for now at least it seems a Shubb will do what i want with no worries.

Thanks for all your advice guys, you all rule

Jeff

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

I love capos and use the Kyser and Dunlop "trigger" capos. I prefer the Dunlop, it's a bit less finicky for my tastes. Trigger capos work absolutely great as long as you take the 2 seconds to make sure the capo is straight and that the strings aren't kinked underneath it.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Capo needed, which one?

I use a bunch of different Capo's... i find all don't work as good on some neck shapes.... for the extra thin necks like my Jacksons i use the spring clamp type.... for most of my other guitars i use a Fender that has a thumb wheel so you can really adjust the tention.... and for the extra thick neck on my Les Paul i use either a Donlop or some other thing i have,,,,