I dropped my 20-year-old Paige capo yesterday and messed up the little clamp that holds it closed. I'm pretty sure I can fix it with a pair of pliers, but it served as a great excuse to go to the guitar shop and look at new capos. And guitars. And other stuff. So I did. No Larrivees in sight there, but what else is new?
:mad:
They had a few styles of capos available. I had owned a Kyser back in the day so I decided to try another one. I picked up a plain black one and the sales guy told me there were some cool new designs in the back of the pile. I found this blue one and bought it. It's one of the coolest things I've seen in a good while so I wanted to share a pic or two. Looks like blue shell.
Nice looking capo. I know little about capos. Is there a best one out there? Does the type of neck profile determine which one you should buy?
Quote from: William2 on September 01, 2025, 09:59:10 AMNice looking capo. I know little about capos. Is there a best one out there? Does the type of neck profile determine which one you should buy?
Best? No, not really. It's all preference. The Kyser is a good all-around capo. I usually prefer the look of the Paige since it stays on all the time and rolls behind the nut, but I was ready for something different. Neck profiles are so slight in difference that the differences are negligible. You can see from the pics that the Kyser is pretty flat. It will work for anything. They also make them slightly wider for classicals.
Quote from: Silence Dogood on September 01, 2025, 10:14:04 AMBest? No, not really. It's all preference.
This much I agree with.
I have had tons of capos. The only ones that work consistently for me are Shubb.
Ed
Quote from: William2 on September 01, 2025, 09:59:10 AMNice looking capo. I know little about capos. Is there a best one out there? Does the type of neck profile determine which one you should buy?
Neck profile can matter, but the biggest thing is the fret board radius. Most players don't notice capos sending their strings out of tune. That's why most capos are sold in one radius even though guitars aren't. If you don't notice the change in intonation, or don't mind retuning, get a Shubb or other inexpensive type that lets you control the pressure.
I used to get frustrated with having to re-tune my guitar after applying a capo (no matter what capo or guitar) so I went down that rabbit hole and ended up with yoke style capos, in various radius. Essentially, they are shaped to match the fret curvature so no string gets squeezed harder than the others, thus the intonation stays correct. The back tightens at the center so it's equal rather than clamping from the side. I prefer KatsEyez (however he spells it) capos over the absurdly expensive Elliot brand. The guy at Kats made me some custom ones relatively cheap and they were game changers.
Again, if you don't hear the capo squeezing some strings tighter, don't fuss with the expensive ones. Most people will never notice, or they will just retune with the capo on. But, if you're like me and it's a point of frustration, there's options.
Bowie is right on all accounts here. When I said "profile" I really meant fretboard radius. My old Paige would knock my guitar out of tune if I didn't tighten it just right. These clamp-on types like Kyser can absolutely knock your guitar out if you don't put it on straight or close enough to the actual fret. Place it on crooked and in the middle space between frets will knock you out of tune every time.
Thanks for the information, BOWIE. Those Elliott capos are expensive. $230, Ouch! I was watching a young classical guitarist play the Bach BWV998 this morning. It is in the key of Eb but all classical guitarists play it in D. This player had a capo on the first fret putting it in the correct key. I think that is why I got tired of classical guitar. Most of the works are in guitar friendly keys. My only experience with a capo was when I was young. I took flamenco guitar lessons. My capo consisted of a wood block that had a nylon string attached to it and on the other end a violin peg. You wrapped the string around the neck and turned the violin peg into a hole on the top of the wood block.
For me I hate kyser's for that mate I don't need or use them.Most people put the capo right behind the fret which cuts into the fret when it sould be place in between the frets,also its like a vice grip that it can cause damage to the crown.I also hate when not in use they clip it to the headstoke which can/will cause damage.
back to my cave so wait 4 seconds before throwing rocks
That is a cool looking capo. I have a lot of different capos from various makers, including Kaiser, around the house and in guitar cases.
One of the most interesting is a Shubb C7b partial capo which switches a guitar in standard tuning to DADGAD tuning when placed over the 5th, 4th and 3rd strings at the second fret. With this capo in place, you can easily play barre chords up the neck without affecting the rest of the strings. If you place the capo over the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings at the second fret, it switches the guitar to an A chord. Either way, this partial capo opens up lots of new possibilities in your music.
I also have a Kyser partial capo which has a gap over the 6th string and switches the guitar to Dropped D tuning when placed at the second fret.
One final thought. I have three G7th capos made in England and two have broken. Since they have a lifetime warranty, I emailed the company, filled out an online claim form and they replaced both of them, no questions asked.
Quote from: unclrob on September 01, 2025, 11:07:51 PMFor me I hate kyser's for that mate I don't need or use them.Most people put the capo right behind the fret which cuts into the fret when it sould be place in between the frets,also its like a vice grip that it can cause damage to the crown.I also hate when not in use they clip it to the headstoke which can/will cause damage.
back to my cave so wait 4 seconds before throwing rocks
Agreed about the placement of the capo between the frets, and that Kyser spring will put your eye out.
Shubbs are good although they tend to sharpen the 6th string and I generally have to retune just that 6th string, but D'Adarrio (https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProPlusCapo--daddario-pro-plus-capo-black) is my first choice. Quick and easy, very light weight and won't break the bank.
No fans of Paige here at all? I really like them but have to admit I enjoy there being nothing on the guitar behind the nut for a change. Sometimes I'll do string bends behind the nut with harmonics and the Paige gets in the way.
Also have to admit I've always thought a Kyser clipped onto the headstock looks cool. When I was around 20 I started going to church and learning to play with a praise band. The leader always had a capo on his D35 and he became a sort of hero to my young self. I guess where I picked up an affinity for the capo/headstock look.
Another brand that does this is Thalia and they have some pretty cool designs on their website. There is a JCL specific one in the pro shop at Larrivee
Quote from: B0WIE on September 01, 2025, 11:38:20 AMNeck profile can matter, but the biggest thing is the fret board radius. Most players don't notice capos sending their strings out of tune. That's why most capos are sold in one radius even though guitars aren't. If you don't notice the change in intonation, or don't mind retuning, get a Shubb or other inexpensive type that lets you control the pressure.
I used to get frustrated with having to re-tune my guitar after applying a capo (no matter what capo or guitar) so I went down that rabbit hole and ended up with yoke style capos, in various radius. Essentially, they are shaped to match the fret curvature so no string gets squeezed harder than the others, thus the intonation stays correct. The back tightens at the center so it's equal rather than clamping from the side. I prefer KatsEyez (however he spells it) capos over the absurdly expensive Elliot brand. The guy at Kats made me some custom ones relatively cheap and they were game changers.
Again, if you don't hear the capo squeezing some strings tighter, don't fuss with the expensive ones. Most people will never notice, or they will just retune with the capo on. But, if you're like me and it's a point of frustration, there's options.
Quote from: awarsoca on September 02, 2025, 11:41:39 AMAnother brand that does this is Thalia and they have some pretty cool designs on their website. There is a JCL specific one in the pro shop at Larrivee
Do you mean custom? Their inherent design is very different than the yoke style. I'm not a fan of the Thalia, personally. But, I know they're quite popular and I've seen great feedback over the years.
One of the things I really like about the Katz is that they're extremely light and thin. More so than similar style capos. I just checked and they're $120 now, which means they're more than most people will spend so I won't link them here. But, if I lost one of mine I'd replace it without question.
I have a bunch of capos I never use, but my favorite never-used capo is the Larrivee-branded Thalia I got a number of years ago. It came with about 20 inserts, even one for partial capo, but the best part is it came with a copy of the Group of Seven Guitar Project DVD, which I still watch on a regular basis because it is really good.
Mike
I get a kick out of those funky old school capos that look like a wooden dowel with an elastic band around the back. You use one of those and you end up looking like the flying nun. :laughin:
The first capo I ever remember seeing was the old wrap-around (velcro?) fabric types. My mom's hippy friend had one on her guitar, which I was forbidden to touch, and I was baffled at this strange witchcraft. How could cloth hold those strings down (and, why would you want it to)? Looking back, probably not very well. :laughin:
I was wondering why some instrumental players that don't sing use a capo for their playing. I see this a lot with Tommy Emmanuel and some Celtic music players. Second fret seems to be a popular place for the capo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQ2dp5CjV8
Quote from: William2 on September 10, 2025, 04:12:15 PMI was wondering why some instrumental players that don't sing use a capo for their playing. I see this a lot with Tommy Emmanuell and some Celtic music players. Second fret seems to be a popular place for the capo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQ2dp5CjV8
For me, it's the energy of the song. Just like a human voice, the guitar sounds more relaxed in the lower registers and more energetic up high. Sometimes, just two frets creates a different feel.
That said, when I see one two frets up it's often not holding the low E so, sometimes it's just drop D without retuning.
Quote from: William2 on September 10, 2025, 04:12:15 PMI was wondering why some instrumental players that don't sing use a capo for their playing. I see this a lot with Tommy Emmanuel and some Celtic music players. Second fret seems to be a popular place for the capo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQ2dp5CjV8
I just play instrumentals. I capo up to the 4th and the 6th and even the 7th fret because like B0WIE says, that's where the energy for that song is best discharged. I want to hear the... can I say "open strings" chiming. I can get the fingerings down at the nut but the piece just doesn't live and breathe there.
For a very similar reason, I play a baritone guitar because I want that low, sonorous cello-like resonance for some pieces.
Paul McCartney used to play in the bathroom as a kid because it sounded better. :thumb
Quote from: StringPicker6 on September 10, 2025, 05:23:40 PMPaul McCartney used to play in the bathroom as a kid because it sounded better. :thumb
We would all sound better if we played in Paul McCartney's bathroom.
I feel a song coming on...
The frets get closer together as you go up the board, and some things are much easier to play that way. I play some things capo'd at, say, IV, because the stretches and speed just aren't possible for me sans capo.
"Sans capo" would be a good name for a band. Almost as good as "Gas Station Sushi".
Quote from: StringPicker6 on September 10, 2025, 10:17:48 PM"Sans capo" would be a good name for a band. Almost as good as "Gas Station Sushi".
:humour:
I don't know if this was just a regional thing, but when I was a kid starting guitar in Minneapolis, they called capos cheaters LOL.
Quote from: William2 on September 13, 2025, 08:31:02 AMI don't know if this was just a regional thing, but when I was a kid starting guitar in Minneapolis, they called capos cheaters LOL.
I've heard that term for capos.
Kind of derogatory, I've heard electric guitar players use for them.
I never used a capo on electrics and over all, they are far less common on electrics.
We also call reading glasses "cheaters".
😄
"We also call reading glasses "cheaters"." LOL!!!!
As someone who never learned to read music (and still has no desire to learn), knows no theory (and still no desire to learn), etc., I'm happy to cheat.
:guitar
I've never owned a capo. I must be an honest man. :laughin:
The first hit single from my future punk band Sans Capo will be titled "Cheaters", and I will dedicate it to this forum. :nana_guitar
Quote from: Silence Dogood on September 13, 2025, 10:33:31 AMAs someone who never learned to read music (and still has no desire to learn), knows no theory (and still no desire to learn), etc., I'm happy to cheat.
:guitar
I didn't know you wore glasses!
:humour:
Quote from: William2 on September 13, 2025, 11:39:26 AMI've never owned a capo. I must be an honest man. :laughin:
I know someone who has been looking for you.
:humour:
Quote from: Queequeg on September 13, 2025, 01:50:06 PMI didn't know you wore glasses!
:humour: I know someone who has been looking for you.
:humour:
LOL!!!
I definitely wear my sunglasses at night, so I can, so I can... :tongue:
I will say that I used to use a capo a lot more than I do now. I used to love the higher, more chimey sounds when I was capo'd around IV, V, etc. But these days I much prefer the more open sound of my guitar when the capo is not in use. I mostly use one these days when the vox requires it. And sometimes a more fingerstyle piece seems to sound better when the capo is on.
Thanks to this forum for helping me expand my thinking to try new things. It led me to try out a Larrivee 12 string and to add pickups to several of my acoustics. I was reading this month old thread on capos last Tuesday.
On Tuesday I had a little free time on my hands so I stopped by the local Guitar Center to grab some medium Dunlop thumb picks. While there, I also bought a Kyser 12 string capo to use on my Larrivee LV-03 12 string. I've posted about this before but I am amazed at the intonation up the neck on this guitar. I generally use a Shubb 12 string capo but I am impressed with the Kyser. The Beatles classic "Here Comes The Sun" is ideally suited to be finger picked on a 12 string when capoed at the 7th fret.
While I was in the store, I looked at a used Boss Katana 50 MK2 amp that was available at a killer price. My son has the 100 watt model and he returned to the store with me to put it through its paces. It came home with me and with built in reverb and delay effects is ideally suited for my Baker T Pro electric. I also plugged my Forum VI with an Anthem dual source pickup into the amp and liked what I'm hearing. Collectively, I have about $375 invested in this amp and my used Fishman Loudbox Mini.
Quote from: teh on October 18, 2025, 06:19:59 AMThanks to this forum for helping me expand my thinking to try new things. It led me to try out a Larrivee 12 string and to add pickups to several of my acoustics. I was reading this month old thread on capos last Tuesday.
On Tuesday I had a little free time on my hands so I stopped by the local Guitar Center to grab some medium Dunlop thumb picks. While there, I also bought a Kyser 12 string capo to use on my Larrivee LV-03 12 string. I've posted about this before but I am amazed at the intonation up the neck on this guitar. I generally use a Shubb 12 string capo but I am impressed with the Kyser. The Beatles classic "Here Comes The Sun" is ideally suited to be finger picked on a 12 string when capoed at the 7th fret.
While I was in the store, I looked at a used Boss Katana 50 MK2 amp that was available at a killer price. My son has the 100 watt model and he returned to the store with me to put it through its paces. It came home with me and with built in reverb and delay effects is ideally suited for my Baker T Pro electric. I also plugged my Forum VI with an Anthem dual source pickup into the amp and liked what I'm hearing. Collectively, I have about $375 invested in this amp and my used Fishman Loudbox Mini.
Quote from: teh on October 18, 2025, 06:19:59 AMThanks to this forum for helping me expand my thinking to try new things. It led me to try out a Larrivee 12 string and to add pickups to several of my acoustics. I was reading this month old thread on capos last Tuesday.
On Tuesday I had a little free time on my hands so I stopped by the local Guitar Center to grab some medium Dunlop thumb picks. While there, I also bought a Kyser 12 string capo to use on my Larrivee LV-03 12 string. I've posted about this before but I am amazed at the intonation up the neck on this guitar. I generally use a Shubb 12 string capo but I am impressed with the Kyser. The Beatles classic "Here Comes The Sun" is ideally suited to be finger picked on a 12 string when capoed at the 7th fret.
While I was in the store, I looked at a used Boss Katana 50 MK2 amp that was available at a killer price. My son has the 100 watt model and he returned to the store with me to put it through its paces. It came home with me and with built in reverb and delay effects is ideally suited for my Baker T Pro electric. I also plugged my Forum VI with an Anthem dual source pickup into the amp and liked what I'm hearing. Collectively, I have about $375 invested in this amp and my used Fishman Loudbox Mini.
I have a Boss Katana 50 that I barely use because I hardly ever play electric, but it's great when the urge strikes. I never could get the fancy software yo work but just use it as an old-school amp. It sounds great to me.
Hi. Wondering about best capo to use to avoid damaging back of the neck of the guitar. I've seen several guitars with small impressions/dents that seems to corespond to where a capo is positioned. Any insights on this? Best type of capo design to avoid the potential damage?
I think the majority of capos have a small rubber pad to protect the back of the neck. The marks and dents you've seen are probably from someone leaning the guitar against a sharp corner.
Quote from: Red Bird on January 14, 2026, 08:43:41 PMHi. Wondering about best capo to use to avoid damaging back of the neck of the guitar. I've seen several guitars with small impressions/dents that seems to corespond to where a capo is positioned. Any insights on this? Best type of capo design to avoid the potential damage?
Taking the capo of after playing is the best way to avoid finish damage. Though, that damage would mostly happen with nitro finished instruments. As mentioned, the capo itself isn't likely to cause damage as they are all padded. Some finished just don't like having rubber contacting them for a long time
I'm a big fan of Kaiser capo's except the steep price for two pieces of metal, a spring and two pieces of rubber. I have one for each of my harem.
I've gone back and forth on exactly where the pad should be placed on the fretboard. Years ago I would have argued heavily that it should be as close to behind the fret as possible so as to avoid bending the string down to the fretboard, but then someone would point out it might dampen the string energy that way.
I recall seeing James Taylor videos where he placed a different brand at an angle to the fret and recently tried that with good result. But bottom line, the entire goal of finding a capo that you can place and not retune is a hopeless goal, I'm gonna check my tuning before I play, especially if I'm recording, so I've given up hoping.
BUT, mainly here to point out that if your Kyser has too much of a vice grip on your neck, the darn thing is adjustable. Try it! It does work. It's why it's made with aluminum so the beaks can be bent to put less tension on the strings.
Sweet! I have a similar Thalia capo. Don't use it, too bulky
Psychedelic....
I like an Elliot, but they cost big $$...