The Shubb can hang on the nut. Also, you can hold it between your middle and ring fingers on your fretting hand with the lever in your palm and you just squeeze it on the neck. Once you know the intricacies, it takes no effort to use.
Well said, I’ve never had a issue with the shubb. Also I’ve never used a capo that I didn’t have to adjust a bit in order for it to not buzz and for it to be in tune. The kyser is good but large and is easy to bump or nudge if you get overzealous in your playing.
@@TheGuitarsquatch couldn’t agree more. I have at least two of the shubb ones. I have 2 kyser. One that puts the grip on top and one that has it on the bottom. I have a Thalia that is quite nice and expensive and has interchangeable inserts for radius. At the end of the day I use the shubb for its ease and light weight ness. I rarely use the Thalia and the kyser ones I use for setup stuff.
I was here to say the same. I hate the Keyser, it has put every guitar I've tried it on so far out of tune, even after doing the Tommy Emmanuel trick. Shubb works flawlessly all the time. No buzzing, no having to retune after putting it on. That's on 12 & 16 inch radius btw.
Kyser better than the SHUBB? I can't believe that. To me the Kyser puts the guitar out of tune everytime whilst the SHUBB once adjusted is simply amazing!! Also the Heritage has a technology, where the Capo adjusts its radius automatically to the fretboard so this capo has the benefit that it fits all of your guitars, which really works.
Keyser's in my opinion are horrible for my personal use. The pressure across the back of the neck is uneven which pulls the guitar out of tune. I completely agree with you.
I switched to a Shubb years ago. A buddy of mine was still using a Kyser until recently. Every time we played a song requiring a capo, we would have to stall while he retuned. Once the song was done and the capo was removed, we would stall yet again while he retuned. Way too much pressure from the Kyser. I recommended the Shubb. He finally switched, and it solved this issue completely. 💯
I barely ever play with a capo, but I do use one extensively doing repair work. They are an essential tool for setting up a guitar. I use one a countless amount of times in one work day. The only one that has stood the test of time, in my shop, being used for setups and repair work, is the Shubb. I have had others and they do not do the job. NEVER store your capo on your headstock if you have a nitrocellulose finished guitar as it will eat the finish.
I’ve had the same Shubb for 20 years and I swear by it. I lost it for a few months and got the new one with the wheel, which I don’t like nearly as much. I’ve never liked Kysers and only use them for the convenience.
I'm gonna stick up for the Shubb that I have: I needed a better capo for my 12-string Martin (my Kyser wasn't cutting it), and the Shubb lets every string ring out with excellent clarity; it only took a minute to dial in. Also: I don't have any trouble attaching it to my headstock when I'm not using it (admittedly, this may not work on every guitar depending on the difference between the neck thickness and the headstock thickness). I think the criticism of yours that I agreed with the most is that moving the Shubb is a two-handed job. Another thing connected to that problem is that it makes an audible "Thonk" when it clasps into place. I still think it's a terrific capo for my 12-string though.
Fair comment (reasonably contented Shubb owner here). The Paige was somewhat two handed and a little bit fiddly to clamp cleanly too, but that came in the top two! Storage seemed the most influential factor for Jeremy (fair enough if you're a gigging muso, though I find the shubb is compact enough to fit in shirt/trouser pocket). But it's handy to hear others viewpoints.
Kyser does make a 12 string version, I think it has a stronger spring but otherwise is the same as their normal capos. I've had luck with it on my Ibanez 12 string.
If your Shubb makes a 'Thonk' noise when you clamp it on then you've got it set slightly too tight and it will be compressing your thicker strings sufficiently to put them out of tune (sharp). The whole point of a Shubb is that you can adjust it's tension to accommodate the varying thickness of the neck on every individual fret. That's why it has an adjusting screw ... which should be viewed as a 'refinement' ... not a 'nuisance'.
Shubb makes an even more audible thonk when it falls off in mid performance, as I found out to my mortification. I also thought, for a while, that it was the solution to getting steady equal pressure on all strings on a 12 string- sprung capos like the kyser, with harder rubber, just weren’t able to get the octave strings snug enough to prevent buzzing, and the softer rubber and finer adjustability of the shubb definitely helped getting all strings registering on the fret with minimal tuning distortion. Eventually, though, the plastic fulcrum point of the lever on my older Shubb Capo wore to the point where I was having to adjust the tension up further, worsening the tuning issues I was having when capoed, especially in higher positions on the neck. Then eventually it got to the point where, even after regluing the point onto the set screw, it would no longer reliably hold through a full song, even when tensioned up to where I had to retune after applying the capo. I also have a smaller Shubb capo, purchased a bit later, which I use on mandolins and an Irish Bouzouki, and that one has a slightly different mechanism, similar to the one assessed here, with a roller in place of the fulcrum pin on the older ones. So far that one seems to still be working OK, so they may have realized there was a problem and come up with a change intended to fix that. I’ve since bought a Paige style, made by D’Addario, and it’s working OK on my 12 string except for the fact it’s not wide enough to get up past the 4th fret. Waiting on delivery of a Paige that I hope will solve that problem, and might yet go back and buy one of the revamped Shubbs after all.
Literally one of the best working and best sounding capos! It was bad enough that he completely poo pooed it based on functionality.... I get it he doesn't want to use a two-handed capo.... That's fine. But slamming it on tone is just bonkers!!! I haven't used a single capo that was better on an acoustic guitar for tone.
The Shubb is an amazing capo once you are familiar with it! I’ve been using them for nearly 10 years and I have experimented with just about every capo brand when I worked in a music store. Once you dial in the correct tension depending on your guitar, the Shubb capo offers equal tension across the fretboard which clamp style capos have trouble offering. Great video! just offering some additional information 😊.
I own a couple of these. As the neck of the guitar gets thicker as you move to the higher positions, simple physics demands that the capo will get tighter, ie, considerably more pressure. My experience is that it will pull the guitar out of tune. There is no one setting for all positions. I honestly wonder how good your ability is to know if the guitar is in tune or not.
@@guitarista666People who do not know how to tune their guitars should not have a capo or a guitar! The Shubb Applying the correct tension to the proper fret does not take a fraction of a second unless you have some sort of mental capacity limiting disability In which case I would suggest open tunings
@@jeffhunter9311 So I suppose you think people who are just beginning to learn guitar and haven't learned to tune them yet, should have their guitars and capos forcibly removed from them by goons like you. I own two Shubbs and if you think you can change position and check to see if it's in tune in a fraction of a second. then you're the one with the mental incapacity and probably a tin ear thrown to boot.
@@guitarista666 You're absolutely funny If you could only play guitar as well as you make people laugh Keep practicing you'll get it in tune Learn what a pentatonic skill is and then maybe you can work your way up to sweep arpeggios But don't get frustrated May take you many many years
I used Kyser capos for 2+ decades, but just recently changed over to the D’Addario Artist. I love the adjustable spring tension so I don’t have to worry about pulling out of tune. It changes keys about as easy as the Kyser, and I can clamp it on the headstock when playing a song in standard/open tuning.
Shubb fine tune capo is the best for me. It’s like fine jewelry for your guitar. Grip is adjustable. I don’t know why Sweetwater doesn’t carry that one.
Keyser is for songwriters who apparently can't hear an out of tune guitar. Paige has been perfect, and perfectly adjustable, AND perfectly storable around the nut. Game over.
Another Shubb defender here. One of the differences between the new and old shubb is the wheel. This allows you to turn the screw and adjust the tension without having to take the capo off. It makes it so easy to get the tension just right.
I just clip the shubb on r headstock of the guitar! It works perfectly in one direction and not so well the other... I really like the shubb Because they just work! And the amount of pressure is perfectly negotiated with the screw. Yes it requires two hands! It's one of the best tone capos! It completely conforms to the fret you're putting it on! Only downside is it requires two hands... What does an upside considering how much control you have of the pressure! You're snubbing the shubb! It's one of the capos I would most highly recommend to people!
D'addario makes the best semi budget cradle capo, just better than the Paige in general aside from aesthetics. While on the topic of cradle capo, there is a skill curve with them. As you learn the little quirks of a cradle capo on a guitar, most players will find that they are the best system for the vast majority of live situations. I also feel like you aren't giving the schubb the credit it deserves. While it can be a total pain to use and definitely should never come on stage with someone, they absolutely shine in the context of a studio session where you are doing take upon take of a song where even a high end cradle capo just can't. Schubbs hold tune and stay quiet better than any other capo I've ever used hand down. This is coming from someone that has used a g7th cradle, owns a Paige pro, half a dozen Kaiser's, 3 flavours of schubb, the aforementioned D'addario cradle as well as some vintage and otherwise off capos.
@@oreganik1924theybare both good. The Thalia is way heavier/thicker. Thalia looks muchs nicer, but not sure it works any better than the Shubb. (I still use both)
I personally use a Shubb capo it's a well built capo, maybe you said it's a fair quality capo because they gave you the nickelplated one (C1), there's a stainless steel variant (S1) which I happen to have, it works perfectly for me. Also, I may disagree with you on the storage feature because I personally think that storing the capo on the guitar may affect the finish, so I'd prefer the Shubb so that I have a reason to remove the capo and store it either in my pocket or in the guitar case.
Shubb is hands down my winner. The only con is that as you said it lives no where apart from the guitar. It takes more setting up but when you do it's the best sounding. The kyser is great and fixes the problems that the shubb has and the shubb fixes the flexibility issues of the kyser. I think Jeremy is rating the shubb way too low. He didn't really set it up. It doesn't need to be set up for each fret just from guitar to guitar. But the cost is such that each guitar case you own should have one in it.
I like the yoke style capos because the spread the tension evenly from E to E. Also, a suggestion if I may, if you use the clap on style it is better to place it on the fretboard from the bottom side to the low E because it will give the right tension on the E and B (plain) strings better. ~Billy
The first capo I had (1971) was a wide elastic band that had grommets to fasten the pin end of a soft plastic bar. The grommets would pop out eventually after use. Thanks for not wasting time reviewing that style. I generally use the Kyser since it is so simple. I do own a Shubb which works great now that I have it adjusted. But I lose track of where I put it when I'm not using it. I was curious about the Spider and now, after seeing this, I may hold off on getting one. Thanks for the capo review.
I've been using Shubb capos for over 30 years. I always carry one for each guitar for gigs to avoid constant adjustments. I can attach and remove a Shubb with just one hand. My experience with all capos, including Shubb, is that placement is crucial. Even a slight difference of 2-3mm back from the fret can creating buzzing and raise the pitch to much. I've not AB's capos in a while. I'm curious about Kyser capos and will give one a try, but my memory is skeptical about its ability to handle 12-gauge strings on an acoustic without buzzing. Also Shubb wins on portability as being small and for most people I think easier to fit in a pocket than a Kyser.
I am a grandpa and I still have the capo I bought in the early '70s. I have two actually and rarely use them. I simply change keys. I recently saw some like mine on the Concert for Bangladesh DVD. I enjoy your work. If ever in kc area please visit my church. Bring the family.
I use the Shubb capo because it’s cheap and does a very good job. It lives wrapped around my guitar nut which also acts as a string wrap to cancel my strings from ringing during recordings.
I immediately felt he need to defend the Shubb and was then pleased to look at other comments and notice many Shubbies! I just keep it in my pocket or on top of my amp when gigging. At home it spends its time sitting on some flat surface near where I play or on the guitar that I used last, which is not perfect, but I have so many guitars that storage will always be an issue. For me Kysers always pull my guitar out of tune so they are worse than useless. Paige is my second favorite but they are more liable to pop off if I bump into it while playing and I have had issues the the slickness of the sleeve that slips over the metal bar that lays on the strings - it scoots around too easily versus the softer, stickier sleeve on the Shubbs. As for tone, I was very unpleasantly surprised when I got a very light weight aluminum Shubb and it sucks the tone right out of your guitar, so go with brass (my favorite) or stainless steel.
Hey Jeremy, I've used both the Kyser and the shubb extensively over a period of years and have found the following: the Kyser has too much tension and does pull the guitar out of tune - which takes a bit of fiddling to correct. I would not leave it clipped to the headstock for fear of damage to the finish from the rubber bits. It does clip quite handily to a mike cable and as I/band mates have set up and torn down the gear, it never gets left behind. As for the Shubb, well the best in my view as it does not pull the guitar out of tune if you tension it correctly (even when moving back and forth between a Martin OM-21 and a Gibson J-45). The little time it takes to adjust from one neck to the other is talk time with the audience. Never a bad thing! Also, the Shubb slips easily into my vest pocket, or the rear pocket on my jeans when not in use. In fact, for one of my songs I use two capos; one on the second fret and a drop D type on another. With the Shubb capos, no tuning problems at all. With the Kysers, well more fiddling and tuning to get it right. I've recorded with both and find the Kyser affects the tone making it sound a bit, well, pinched. The Shubb on the other hand is firm and secure without tuning issues. Just saying...
Other than storage, the Shubb has been my go to for a while now. I like being able to adjust the tension. I keep a Keyser in the case for a backup though. If you are solo acoustic the Keyser is plenty, but if you are in a duo, we always found that the ones that you can adjust the tension stay in tune with each other.
I use Shubb partial capos. Necks have different widths, thickness, string spacing and tension, so I have a capo settup and adjusted for each guitar with the rubber part trimmed to fit between the open strings without deadening them. I play both above and below the capo and the lower profile Shubb provides the most clearance. Here's a tip: as the rubber sleeve ages it will begin slipping off the arm. Using a hack saw, cut 1/16" deep slots across the arm, top and bottom, every 1/4" or so and that will help the rubber sleeve stay put. This may be more of an issue with partial capos.
50 odd years ago, when I took up the guitar, we always pronounced it as ‘Cappo’. Now everyone seems to say ‘cApo’. I live in the north of England…maybe it was in the accent.
But might I add, may John Prine Rest In Peace. A victim of Covid but luckily we have his work for all time! The Singing Mailman, u just can’t beat his lyrics, his humor and his life experiences. I wish he were still with us!
Thank you for your video and comparisons As many commented here the Shubb is in my opinion the best. But you have to get familiar how to use it properly. Unlike the Kyser which to me looks like a big appendage on the neck of the guitar. I do however use a Kyser partial or half capo on some songs I've written. Otherwise the Shubb is very clean looking and can be precisely adjusted so you don't sharpen the strings. When playing I just hang it on my pocket when not using it. You can also adjust it to clip on the headstock.
I tried a Thalia capo, also expensive. Works similar to Kyser . Lots of custom styles available. They also supply a number of pads for different radii finger boards. I only wish they found a better , more visible, way to denote the radii. Agree the Spyder is a waste of money. There is a YT video with Tommy Emmanuel talking about his Kyser capo. I believe he said to use your palm and depress the strings at the sound hole as you place the capo on. Supposedly that reduces the stretching to out of tune.
I use the Paige with a hanging type stand. I move it up the neck four or five fretts. Not really an issue. I also use the Keyser. It's easier and quicker to move.
This is a great review thanks. Things I look for is, Pressure/Tension: Does it add too much pressure/tension and go out of tune as neck gets thicker at 7th and 12th fret. Radius: can one capo work on more than one guitar. Adjustable tenson: how easy are they to adjust nessessary as neck gets thicker. Keyser and similar capos can't adjust tension. At the 7th and 12th fret they put too much pressure on the strings and go out of tune, fixed radius won't work on some guitars. Capos I have used Shub: as its easy to adjust, light. FIts in pocket, or on music stand, can adjust to clamp on headstock. Easy to make a holder that clamps onto the mic stand. G7th Performance capo, that's the first g7th you showed, ithe rubber adjusts to different radius fretboard easily, and easy to adjust tension. Agree are a bit heavy. Spider: is fun, adjust to string width, can adjust tension slightly though not much, never found dead strings like you showed, may need to returne the strings slightly. There are a few different capos by D'Addario I may try that adjust and clamp on easily.
Kyser also lets you play “drop D” tuning style songs in E without having to tune the low E string down. Just clamp to the second fret omitting string 6.
Another Dunlop fan here. I’ve had several Shubbs (all residing in that black hole where lost Shubbs go) and two Kysers (one broke and the other was “permanently borrowed”). When I bought my 12-string it came with a Dunlop and I loved it. Bought a second for flat/classical fretboards and have been using them both for years. I’m one of those people who appreciates the beauty of headstocks so I never put capos there and remove a tuner once I’m done with it, but if you do put a Dunlop on temporarily, most of it is hidden behind the headstock and not sticking up like an antenna.
I’ve been using a Shubb for awhile and really like it. I find the Kyser to be too big and puts too much pressure on the strings. I tried the Paige which was also good just not a fan of having it attached to my guitar when not in use 🤷🏻♂️
I play shows on a regular basis I own Taylor, Martin and Gibson acoustics I own probably 50 capos I like experimenting for years I primarily used the Kyser But it is notorious for pulling guitars out of tune The Shubb Does not hinder your tone And allows you to apply the proper amount of tension to your strings effortlessly as far as losing it I'm kind of a fanatic about my equipment I throw it back in the case even after several rounds of free drinks I've never lost one
I can highly recommend the Paige Clik Capo, which is basically the Paige you reviewed with an additional click feature that makes using it faster. You'll have to use it close to the frets, however. Also, I am able to hang my acoustic with the Paige on a Hercules stand. Very happy with mine and I've had the Shubb, G7 and Kayser - already lost some of them, so the capo on the nut is a big plus!
I really like the paige and the shubb. The shubb just takes some time to get the tension right. I don't even have to think about it now. I generally never leave the paige on the guitars neck. There are several reasons why. Firstly, because it doesnt hang well on a stand or wall hanger. Secondly, if you tighten it above the nut, it will pull the guitar out of tune if it's too tight. If it's too loose, it wont stay in place. I dont mind the few seconds it take to install and remove it. I did have a paige essentially rust apart and break. Still, I like them enough that I bought another one. I did receive an Elliot for a Christmas present and while I can say it is very nice, I honestly like the paige better. The Elliot doesnt seem to be as intuitive and pulls the guitar out of tune a bit more than the paige. Perhaps its user error? And by the way, 100% of the time, I have pockets to put a capo in. "Storage" is never an issue.
I don't use a capo often on my classical guitar but when I bought mine, I automatically picked up a capo as well. I just recently read that a classical should have a capo specifically designed for the wide neck and nylon strings. So, I've just ordered one, a Shubb. It isn't here yet but I'm looking forward to trying it Even if it doesn't work out, no big deal. I don't use one often and it was very affordable.
Capo's drive me crazy sometimes, lol. They're great for playing open chords, but once you start playing higher up on the fretboard, then you have to count up in order to play a proper chord or note. Ie: if you have a capo the 2nd fret, then the 6th fret becomes the 8th fret, and the 11th fret becomes the 13th fret etc....
I use a Kyser Quick Change Capo for my 6 string guitars. No issues. Easy removal and quick change work fine. I have a Shubb 12 string C Series Capo for my 1979 Guild F212XL. The Kyser will not hold down all the strings sufficiently on the Guild, even a 12 string Kyser fails. The Shubb is perfect.
I use the G7 art one and love it, found spring loaded ones get weaker in time , however a lot of guitarists here in Ireland use the kyser type especially in trad sessions where you might have a few key changes in a set of tunes then it's easy to move the capo up or down the frets with one hand quickly without missing a beat . But never had a problem or complaint with my G7th
Want to know something crazy. I have been paying 39 years and when I first started I had a capo and had no clue what is was for. It had some elastic that went around the neck and I never could get it tight once I knew what it was for. But until last week, after losing that other one someplace 39 years ago. I have never touched one again, until last week. I ordered one off ebay. It was like 6 bucks and much like the Kyser one in this video, but made of aluminum. Its working great on my electric guitars. I have no acoustics since about 2004. But I am liking it. Then I seen Johanson, or Johnson who plays shovels and stuff a while back using it backwards to have open string on top and bottom. So now I have to get one of these Kysers. What's crazy, is I should have gotten one sooner. 39 years and missing out. 🤦♂🤦♂
You can absolutely store the Shubb on the headstock. Just adjust the screw higher than you normally would and clamp it to the headstock. You have to adjust the screw all the time when you use the Shubb. I tune to D standard so I'm always using capo. I go back and forth between Shubb and Kyser depending on my needs. Great video!
Hey Jeremy, great video. I had a old cheap capo when I first got my acoustic to learn bluegrass and wasn't happy with it. So being a guitar player for 26 years, I went with the heritage G7 just because it look well constructed. It did break on me but it was still under warranty. It is really nice, I cant compare to other capos but its the only one I think I would buy. But now after watching I want to try others as well.
Another brilliant video Jeremy! My goto capo is the Jim Dunlop Trigger. I love that they do slightly different models to match specific guitar neck ie electric, classical, flat etc. They have always been super reliable. My one criticism is that if the internal rubbers wear, it can cause damage to your guitar neck. I feel that this happens when the metal / trigger part still has loads of life left in it. It's a shame Dunlop don't do replacement parts. I also have a G7th (the cheaper one) which was really buzzy at first. I found that it's great now that it's bedded in a bit. I does fall off the headstock when being stored though!
Great video. Thought I would say something about the spyder capo. Yeah it can be annoying to work with and I would never use it on stage. But in a private setting or in recording it can actually be alot of fun to play with. The trick I found was to look at the 4 tabs that rest on your fret board take the 2 closest to the body of guitar and straddle them right over the fret itself. Changing the position in that way allows for the toggles to press firmly on the low strings but you'll notice the toggles stay slightly angled because you right against the fret and on your high strings the toggles will be vertical putting proper tension on all strings. Yeah its gimmicky but if you still have it. I hope this helps you enjoy it more
On the capos that you are storing above the nut...On some headstocks that my not work. Seagulls definitely have that problem and it is a bit awkward on my Taylor GS Mini. I love the way the Shubb fits on my Pono Octave Mandolin.
I generally agree with these opinions. Good video.👍 Fwiw: I owned the G7th heavy capo without noticing the weight, but yes, it does pull my D28 out of tune when I switch to different fret positions (same thing with Thalia, but less so). Despite the company's claim to the contrary I wore out the pad in just a couple years. I own the Spider Capo and I've played it live for appearances when I play only one song, so setting it up for good tone and storing it was never a problem under those limited circumstances (it's a fun creative tool).
The spider capo is awesome. Cool if you get two of them, too. You can get in all kinds of crazy tunings! I think it's a great tool for alternate tunings.
If you are recording - use a Shubb. If you are a performing singer/player live in front of an audience, use a Kyser. The Kyser applies too much pressure and can cause the strings to "bend," and result in less accurate intonation. It also can interfere with your fretting hand with certain chords BUT it's very quick and nobody wants to watch you futzing around with a capo. In a live set, the intonation issues will not be particularly noticeable. Oh, yeah...DON"T clamp it to the neck, that's way too geek-looking. That's what pockets are for! ;)
You need to use can you play a B7 easily as a criteria. The Colorado Capo wins hands down in the challenge on chording. Try that on each of those. I like the shubb best of yours because it’s small and fits in my pocket easily. I hate clamping them to my head stock.
#2 The clampy G7 that is kind of expensive works well on a 12 string whereas the others do not. The only problem is loosing it because it doesn't clamp on the head stock.
My dad bought me a silver Kyser capo in 2001 when i was 11 years old from Mr.E's music in Bedford Texas and i used that Capo for a little over a decade. Then in my mid 20s i got another cause my dog got ahold of the capo and chewed off the back rubber. Ive used that 2nd Gold (only color they had that day lol) since then but i recently decided to pick up a Daddario NS capo just to try it out. I honestly think the Kyser capos sound excellent and the tuning "issue" people say they have i think is more a people not understanding how guitar intonation works issue a lot of the time (not every time but many of those complaints i attribute to that). The Daddario wont be here for a few weeks cause x mas but we'll see when it gets here if i prefer it to my old trysty Kysers.
The best test is playing licks that end with an open string. If that last note is as bright, loud, and sustains equal to no capo, you've found your capo. Play the classic Bluegrass run that starts on the low E string G and ends on the open G string. If the G string passes the test, I've found all the other strings will too.
I'm so happy to see that Kyser won. They are a family owned business, located in Canton Texas (about 50 miles from where I live). Home grown and Texas made!
Speed of putting it on is important. I love my Shubb and stick it through the strap hole at the head to store it The Khyser is OK if it is adjusted properly. The G7 will get lost and hard on and off. The Paige is a pain on and off and no place to put it. The Dunlop elastic capos work well and make nice party favors. I used to carry extras for parties and festivals. Your prices are insane, I can get any of those for a few bucks,
Love my Paige capos. When I slightly loosen it and it slides down the neck I hang it on the wall. Never loose it. I think that bumps it above the Kyser😎
To rank the Kyser above the Shubb is astounding. Anybody buying their first capo reading this, stay away from the Kyser. It will always mess up your tuning because it is not adjustable. My Shubb C1 is light years better than my Kyser.
The problem with Nickel type capos in the old days was the thread on the screw was so fine it could actually force it's way through the padding and into the back of you guitar neck - I've several insttuments that bear the scars from this. It was especailly bad for doing this on 12 strings when trying to clamp down the thin octave strings. Hopefully the modern ones do NOT have this quirk.
I have a drawer full of worn out junk capos, bought a UGY Sherpa capo on ebay for 8$ and love it. Its aluminum but looks wood grain and has a pin puller end.
I use a Hercules Guitar stand and the Paige works fine with it. You CAN place the Shubb on the headstock but it is a two hand operation. Shubb also makes a very nice capo that is like the Paige and the G7th. Of all the choices, Kyser is the capo that pulls my guitars out of tune the most. Another thing about the Kyser is that if your guitar has a Nitro Lacquer finish, the rubber on the capo can cause a chemical reaction to the guitar's finish and darken it where the capo is placed. I like to use a capo to cover only 5 strings when I'm in Drop D tuning at the second fret. The capo leaves the bass E string open. You cant do this with a Paige or the newer G7th capos. All in all, my go to is the Shubb all day long.
The G7th Nashville capo is a better alternative to the Kyser and in the same price range. I’ve had great performance out of mine. The spring keeps its tension and it doesn’t knock my guitars out of tune.
That’s the beauty of what Jeremy does. We don’t have to agree or disagree. But here we have a knowledgeable good musician who has experience and his videos are fun to watch. Look what John Prine used on his old Martin and Gibson, even in most recent videos.
A few that were missed: Thalia, a very nice clamp that has a changeable radius for different fret board radius. Taylor makes a nice one for Taylor fret boards. I try to get a capo for each guitar fret board radios...or each Brand acoustic guitar.
"The Shubb just isn't a good Option!" Oh Jeremy, your reputation has just plummeted! Bad Boy! I still use the first Shubb C1 I bought when they were first available in the UK. I have NEVER lost one (or a pick -which might say something creepy about me - but I look after my gear!) Also,I've never gigged in pants without pockets (C'mon!) They are cheap enough to have one "set" for each guitar. which means I must have about a dozen, including two for 12 strings, and one or two in my toolbox and gigging bag, along with spare strings etc. I always go for the basic C! with the delrin tip. NO Capo will perform perfectly everywhere. it is about the camber of your fretboard and the thickness of strings, and fret height and condition. oh, and yes you can most certainly put them on with one hand! Sorry pal, Thumbs down!
I use my Kyer capo for a book marker that all its useful for. Best Capo I bought is G7 Performance 2 capo. I'll buy G7 Performance 3 capo or G7 Heritage Capo for my Ziricote Nyberg 10 String Irish Cittern
Hey Jeremy, I really really love my D'Addario Artist Capo. It's simple, similar to a Keyser, but you can adjust the tension a bit, easy to store, and affordable. Sounds great too i think.
The problem I see with the Shubb, is the adjustment factor. You're playing on stage in front of a crowded dance floor, everyone's dancing enjoying the song, next song comes up and you need a capo, you reach in your pants or vest pocket, grab the Shubb put it on, then fiddle a few seconds adjusting it and once you've adjusted it properly, back into the next song. Where as with something like the Kyser, you grab it off the headstock, squeeze it, put it on the fret and bam, your playing. No fiddling or adjusting to get it tight enough, or not too tight. For "stage use", I'd want the Kyser. Unless you can afford a guitar tech.
in my experience the kysers dont hold the strings down on my 12 string or baritone. The spring eventually wears out. So i bought a shubb and it holds them down much better. yes there is no where to store it but i still havent lost it yet.
I agree with the Kaiser in this review. I prefer a Taylor capo for Taylor guitars. I like the Thalia capos for some guitars. Storage is a concern with Thalia depending on peg head shape.
The Shubb can hang on the nut. Also, you can hold it between your middle and ring fingers on your fretting hand with the lever in your palm and you just squeeze it on the neck. Once you know the intricacies, it takes no effort to use.
Well said, I’ve never had a issue with the shubb. Also I’ve never used a capo that I didn’t have to adjust a bit in order for it to not buzz and for it to be in tune.
The kyser is good but large and is easy to bump or nudge if you get overzealous in your playing.
@@guyfromnj Another thing is that it's cheap. You can buy multiples if you find adjusting the screw is bothersome.
@@TheGuitarsquatch couldn’t agree more. I have at least two of the shubb ones. I have 2 kyser. One that puts the grip on top and one that has it on the bottom. I have a Thalia that is quite nice and expensive and has interchangeable inserts for radius. At the end of the day I use the shubb for its ease and light weight ness. I rarely use the Thalia and the kyser ones I use for setup stuff.
I was here to say the same. I hate the Keyser, it has put every guitar I've tried it on so far out of tune, even after doing the Tommy Emmanuel trick. Shubb works flawlessly all the time. No buzzing, no having to retune after putting it on. That's on 12 & 16 inch radius btw.
I've had many capos over a period of almost 50 years and my first preference is the Shubb. The worst I've used is the G7th....too bulky and too heavy.
Kyser better than the SHUBB? I can't believe that. To me the Kyser puts the guitar out of tune everytime whilst the SHUBB once adjusted is simply amazing!! Also the Heritage has a technology, where the Capo adjusts its radius automatically to the fretboard so this capo has the benefit that it fits all of your guitars, which really works.
Keyser's in my opinion are horrible for my personal use. The pressure across the back of the neck is uneven which pulls the guitar out of tune. I completely agree with you.
I switched to a Shubb years ago. A buddy of mine was still using a Kyser until recently. Every time we played a song requiring a capo, we would have to stall while he retuned. Once the song was done and the capo was removed, we would stall yet again while he retuned. Way too much pressure from the Kyser. I recommended the Shubb. He finally switched, and it solved this issue completely. 💯
The Heritage, G7th Performance, the first G7th in video, use a similar rubber that flexes to fit different radius'
@ G7th offers both with or without adaption. It is called ART so if you want a Capo that has it, make sure it says ART 👌🏼
I barely ever play with a capo, but I do use one extensively doing repair work. They are an essential tool for setting up a guitar. I use one a countless amount of times in one work day. The only one that has stood the test of time, in my shop, being used for setups and repair work, is the Shubb. I have had others and they do not do the job.
NEVER store your capo on your headstock if you have a nitrocellulose finished guitar as it will eat the finish.
I’ve had the same Shubb for 20 years and I swear by it. I lost it for a few months and got the new one with the wheel, which I don’t like nearly as much. I’ve never liked Kysers and only use them for the convenience.
I'm gonna stick up for the Shubb that I have: I needed a better capo for my 12-string Martin (my Kyser wasn't cutting it), and the Shubb lets every string ring out with excellent clarity; it only took a minute to dial in. Also: I don't have any trouble attaching it to my headstock when I'm not using it (admittedly, this may not work on every guitar depending on the difference between the neck thickness and the headstock thickness).
I think the criticism of yours that I agreed with the most is that moving the Shubb is a two-handed job. Another thing connected to that problem is that it makes an audible "Thonk" when it clasps into place. I still think it's a terrific capo for my 12-string though.
Fair comment (reasonably contented Shubb owner here). The Paige was somewhat two handed and a little bit fiddly to clamp cleanly too, but that came in the top two! Storage seemed the most influential factor for Jeremy (fair enough if you're a gigging muso, though I find the shubb is compact enough to fit in shirt/trouser pocket).
But it's handy to hear others viewpoints.
Kyser does make a 12 string version, I think it has a stronger spring but otherwise is the same as their normal capos. I've had luck with it on my Ibanez 12 string.
If your Shubb makes a 'Thonk' noise when you clamp it on then you've got it set slightly too tight and it will be compressing your thicker strings sufficiently to put them out of tune (sharp). The whole point of a Shubb is that you can adjust it's tension to accommodate the varying thickness of the neck on every individual fret. That's why it has an adjusting screw ... which should be viewed as a 'refinement' ... not a 'nuisance'.
Shubb makes an even more audible thonk when it falls off in mid performance, as I found out to my mortification. I also thought, for a while, that it was the solution to getting steady equal pressure on all strings on a 12 string- sprung capos like the kyser, with harder rubber, just weren’t able to get the octave strings snug enough to prevent buzzing, and the softer rubber and finer adjustability of the shubb definitely helped getting all strings registering on the fret with minimal tuning distortion. Eventually, though, the plastic fulcrum point of the lever on my older Shubb Capo wore to the point where I was having to adjust the tension up further, worsening the tuning issues I was having when capoed, especially in higher positions on the neck. Then eventually it got to the point where, even after regluing the point onto the set screw, it would no longer reliably hold through a full song, even when tensioned up to where I had to retune after applying the capo. I also have a smaller Shubb capo, purchased a bit later, which I use on mandolins and an Irish Bouzouki, and that one has a slightly different mechanism, similar to the one assessed here, with a roller in place of the fulcrum pin on the older ones. So far that one seems to still be working OK, so they may have realized there was a problem and come up with a change intended to fix that.
I’ve since bought a Paige style, made by D’Addario, and it’s working OK on my 12 string except for the fact it’s not wide enough to get up past the 4th fret. Waiting on delivery of a Paige that I hope will solve that problem, and might yet go back and buy one of the revamped Shubbs after all.
Literally one of the best working and best sounding capos! It was bad enough that he completely poo pooed it based on functionality.... I get it he doesn't want to use a two-handed capo.... That's fine. But slamming it on tone is just bonkers!!! I haven't used a single capo that was better on an acoustic guitar for tone.
The Shubb is an amazing capo once you are familiar with it! I’ve been using them for nearly 10 years and I have experimented with just about every capo brand when I worked in a music store.
Once you dial in the correct tension depending on your guitar, the Shubb capo offers equal tension across the fretboard which clamp style capos have trouble offering.
Great video! just offering some additional information 😊.
I own a couple of these. As the neck of the guitar gets thicker as you move to the higher positions,
simple physics demands that the capo will get tighter, ie, considerably more pressure. My experience
is that it will pull the guitar out of tune. There is no one setting for all positions. I honestly wonder
how good your ability is to know if the guitar is in tune or not.
@@guitarista666People who do not know how to tune their guitars should not have a capo or a guitar! The Shubb Applying the correct tension to the proper fret does not take a fraction of a second unless you have some sort of mental capacity limiting disability In which case I would suggest open tunings
@@jeffhunter9311 So I suppose you think people who are just beginning to learn guitar and haven't learned to tune them yet,
should have their guitars and capos forcibly removed from them by goons like you. I own two Shubbs and if you think you can change position and check to see if it's in tune in a fraction of a second. then you're the one with the mental incapacity and probably a tin ear thrown to boot.
@@guitarista666 You're absolutely funny If you could only play guitar as well as you make people laugh Keep practicing you'll get it in tune Learn what a pentatonic skill is and then maybe you can work your way up to sweep arpeggios But don't get frustrated May take you many many years
@@jeffhunter9311 First off, you're a moron if you think you know how well I play. And it's pentatonic scale, not "skill", doofus.
I’m a Shubb fan.I have a pocket when I’m not using it.
I used Kyser capos for 2+ decades, but just recently changed over to the D’Addario Artist. I love the adjustable spring tension so I don’t have to worry about pulling out of tune. It changes keys about as easy as the Kyser, and I can clamp it on the headstock when playing a song in standard/open tuning.
Shubb fine tune capo is the best for me. It’s like fine jewelry for your guitar. Grip is adjustable. I don’t know why Sweetwater doesn’t carry that one.
I also have 2 of the Fine Tunes and they’re pretty much all I use
In my view one of the important features of a good capo is the size. A big capo will hinder the hand more while playing things like a B7 chord.
Keyser is for songwriters who apparently can't hear an out of tune guitar. Paige has been perfect, and perfectly adjustable, AND perfectly storable around the nut. Game over.
Another Shubb defender here. One of the differences between the new and old shubb is the wheel. This allows you to turn the screw and adjust the tension without having to take the capo off. It makes it so easy to get the tension just right.
I just clip the shubb on r headstock of the guitar! It works perfectly in one direction and not so well the other... I really like the shubb Because they just work! And the amount of pressure is perfectly negotiated with the screw. Yes it requires two hands! It's one of the best tone capos! It completely conforms to the fret you're putting it on! Only downside is it requires two hands... What does an upside considering how much control you have of the pressure! You're snubbing the shubb! It's one of the capos I would most highly recommend to people!
D'addario makes the best semi budget cradle capo, just better than the Paige in general aside from aesthetics. While on the topic of cradle capo, there is a skill curve with them. As you learn the little quirks of a cradle capo on a guitar, most players will find that they are the best system for the vast majority of live situations. I also feel like you aren't giving the schubb the credit it deserves. While it can be a total pain to use and definitely should never come on stage with someone, they absolutely shine in the context of a studio session where you are doing take upon take of a song where even a high end cradle capo just can't. Schubbs hold tune and stay quiet better than any other capo I've ever used hand down. This is coming from someone that has used a g7th cradle, owns a Paige pro, half a dozen Kaiser's, 3 flavours of schubb, the aforementioned D'addario cradle as well as some vintage and otherwise off capos.
I own one and really love it. It's so light and easy to use. Definitely worth it.
Used a shubb for years. Received a Thalia for Christmas. Love it.
I'm thinking of getting a Thalia. Your thoughts vs shubb?
@@oreganik1924theybare both good. The Thalia is way heavier/thicker. Thalia looks muchs nicer, but not sure it works any better than the Shubb. (I still use both)
I personally use a Shubb capo it's a well built capo, maybe you said it's a fair quality capo because they gave you the nickelplated one (C1), there's a stainless steel variant (S1) which I happen to have, it works perfectly for me.
Also, I may disagree with you on the storage feature because I personally think that storing the capo on the guitar may affect the finish, so I'd prefer the Shubb so that I have a reason to remove the capo and store it either in my pocket or in the guitar case.
FINALLY a video that gave me all the info I both wanted and needed about capos!
Thanks, Dan. I couldn't find anything that just said, "hey, here are a bunch of capos. Which ones are good and which ones are gimmicks?"
Shubb is hands down my winner.
The only con is that as you said it lives no where apart from the guitar. It takes more setting up but when you do it's the best sounding. The kyser is great and fixes the problems that the shubb has and the shubb fixes the flexibility issues of the kyser. I think Jeremy is rating the shubb way too low. He didn't really set it up. It doesn't need to be set up for each fret just from guitar to guitar. But the cost is such that each guitar case you own should have one in it.
Nah Kyser all day ask the king John Mayer
I like the yoke style capos because the spread the tension evenly from E to E. Also, a suggestion if I may, if you use the clap on style it is better to place it on the fretboard from the bottom side to the low E because it will give the right tension on the E and B (plain) strings better. ~Billy
The first capo I had (1971) was a wide elastic band that had grommets to fasten the pin end of a soft plastic bar. The grommets would pop out eventually after use. Thanks for not wasting time reviewing that style. I generally use the Kyser since it is so simple. I do own a Shubb which works great now that I have it adjusted. But I lose track of where I put it when I'm not using it. I was curious about the Spider and now, after seeing this, I may hold off on getting one. Thanks for the capo review.
I love Shubb capos but I have to say it’s tough to beat the ease you get with Kyser.
I've been using Shubb capos for over 30 years. I always carry one for each guitar for gigs to avoid constant adjustments. I can attach and remove a Shubb with just one hand. My experience with all capos, including Shubb, is that placement is crucial. Even a slight difference of 2-3mm back from the fret can creating buzzing and raise the pitch to much. I've not AB's capos in a while. I'm curious about Kyser capos and will give one a try, but my memory is skeptical about its ability to handle 12-gauge strings on an acoustic without buzzing.
Also Shubb wins on portability as being small and for most people I think easier to fit in a pocket than a Kyser.
I am a grandpa and I still have the capo I bought in the early '70s. I have two actually and rarely use them. I simply change keys. I recently saw some like mine on the Concert for Bangladesh DVD.
I enjoy your work. If ever in kc area please visit my church. Bring the family.
I have waited for a video like this, Jeremy delivers ❤
I think you did the spider capo dirty 😂 I don’t know if i would gig with it but I’ve had nothing but good times with it.
I use the Shubb capo because it’s cheap and does a very good job. It lives wrapped around my guitar nut which also acts as a string wrap to cancel my strings from ringing during recordings.
i,ve tried the all,............Shubb the best and can be stored on head stock,in pocket,not a problem
Another vote for the schubb. I've been using them for years and find them very reliable. Honestly don't understand the love for the kyser at all.
I immediately felt he need to defend the Shubb and was then pleased to look at other comments and notice many Shubbies! I just keep it in my pocket or on top of my amp when gigging. At home it spends its time sitting on some flat surface near where I play or on the guitar that I used last, which is not perfect, but I have so many guitars that storage will always be an issue. For me Kysers always pull my guitar out of tune so they are worse than useless. Paige is my second favorite but they are more liable to pop off if I bump into it while playing and I have had issues the the slickness of the sleeve that slips over the metal bar that lays on the strings - it scoots around too easily versus the softer, stickier sleeve on the Shubbs. As for tone, I was very unpleasantly surprised when I got a very light weight aluminum Shubb and it sucks the tone right out of your guitar, so go with brass (my favorite) or stainless steel.
Hey Jeremy, I've used both the Kyser and the shubb extensively over a period of years and have found the following: the Kyser has too much tension and does pull the guitar out of tune - which takes a bit of fiddling to correct. I would not leave it clipped to the headstock for fear of damage to the finish from the rubber bits. It does clip quite handily to a mike cable and as I/band mates have set up and torn down the gear, it never gets left behind. As for the Shubb, well the best in my view as it does not pull the guitar out of tune if you tension it correctly (even when moving back and forth between a Martin OM-21 and a Gibson J-45). The little time it takes to adjust from one neck to the other is talk time with the audience. Never a bad thing! Also, the Shubb slips easily into my vest pocket, or the rear pocket on my jeans when not in use. In fact, for one of my songs I use two capos; one on the second fret and a drop D type on another. With the Shubb capos, no tuning problems at all. With the Kysers, well more fiddling and tuning to get it right. I've recorded with both and find the Kyser affects the tone making it sound a bit, well, pinched. The Shubb on the other hand is firm and secure without tuning issues. Just saying...
Other than storage, the Shubb has been my go to for a while now. I like being able to adjust the tension. I keep a Keyser in the case for a backup though. If you are solo acoustic the Keyser is plenty, but if you are in a duo, we always found that the ones that you can adjust the tension stay in tune with each other.
I use Shubb partial capos. Necks have different widths, thickness, string spacing and tension, so I have a capo settup and adjusted for each guitar with the rubber part trimmed to fit between the open strings without deadening them. I play both above and below the capo and the lower profile Shubb provides the most clearance. Here's a tip: as the rubber sleeve ages it will begin slipping off the arm. Using a hack saw, cut 1/16" deep slots across the arm, top and bottom, every 1/4" or so and that will help the rubber sleeve stay put. This may be more of an issue with partial capos.
50 odd years ago, when I took up the guitar, we always pronounced it as ‘Cappo’. Now everyone seems to say ‘cApo’. I live in the north of England…maybe it was in the accent.
The USA habit of saying "Kaypo" is definitely NOT the correct pronunciation and Cappo or Cah-po is correct.
But might I add, may John Prine Rest In Peace. A victim of Covid but luckily we have his work for all time! The Singing Mailman, u just can’t beat his lyrics, his humor and his life experiences. I wish he were still with us!
I just wait for a buddy to forget his capo and I forget to ask. Waiting for a friend to forget his Elliot.
Thank you for your video and comparisons As many commented here the Shubb is in my opinion the best. But you have to get familiar how to use it properly. Unlike the Kyser which to me looks like a big appendage on the neck of the guitar. I do however use a Kyser partial or half capo on some songs I've written. Otherwise the Shubb is very clean looking and can be precisely adjusted so you don't sharpen the strings. When playing I just hang it on my pocket when not using it. You can also adjust it to clip on the headstock.
I tried a Thalia capo, also expensive. Works similar to Kyser . Lots of custom styles available. They also supply a number of pads for different radii finger boards. I only wish they found a better , more visible, way to denote the radii. Agree the Spyder is a waste of money. There is a YT video with Tommy Emmanuel talking about his Kyser capo. I believe he said to use your palm and depress the strings at the sound hole as you place the capo on. Supposedly that reduces the stretching to out of tune.
I’ve got a KYSER that I’ve had for 20+ years, also have an original Schubb but never really used it a whole lot, it was a gift so I keep it around.
Great to see head to head details, thanks for the information.
I use the Paige with a hanging type stand. I move it up the neck four or five fretts. Not really an issue. I also use the Keyser. It's easier and quicker to move.
This is a great review thanks.
Things I look for is,
Pressure/Tension: Does it add too much pressure/tension and go out of tune as neck gets thicker at 7th and 12th fret.
Radius: can one capo work on more than one guitar.
Adjustable tenson: how easy are they to adjust nessessary as neck gets thicker.
Keyser and similar capos can't adjust tension. At the 7th and 12th fret they put too much pressure on the strings and go out of tune, fixed radius won't work on some guitars.
Capos I have used
Shub: as its easy to adjust, light. FIts in pocket, or on music stand, can adjust to clamp on headstock. Easy to make a holder that clamps onto the mic stand.
G7th Performance capo, that's the first g7th you showed, ithe rubber adjusts to different radius fretboard easily, and easy to adjust tension. Agree are a bit heavy.
Spider: is fun, adjust to string width, can adjust tension slightly though not much, never found dead strings like you showed, may need to returne the strings slightly.
There are a few different capos by D'Addario I may try that adjust and clamp on easily.
Kyser also lets you play “drop D” tuning style songs in E without having to tune the low E string down. Just clamp to the second fret omitting string 6.
So does the G7th Performance 3.
Another Dunlop fan here. I’ve had several Shubbs (all residing in that black hole where lost Shubbs go) and two Kysers (one broke and the other was “permanently borrowed”). When I bought my 12-string it came with a Dunlop and I loved it. Bought a second for flat/classical fretboards and have been using them both for years. I’m one of those people who appreciates the beauty of headstocks so I never put capos there and remove a tuner once I’m done with it, but if you do put a Dunlop on temporarily, most of it is hidden behind the headstock and not sticking up like an antenna.
I’ve been using a Shubb for awhile and really like it. I find the Kyser to be too big and puts too much pressure on the strings. I tried the Paige which was also good just not a fan of having it attached to my guitar when not in use 🤷🏻♂️
Compared to the popsicle stick with rubber band I tried as a teenager all of these perform quite well...
I play shows on a regular basis I own Taylor, Martin and Gibson acoustics I own probably 50 capos I like experimenting for years I primarily used the Kyser But it is notorious for pulling guitars out of tune The Shubb Does not hinder your tone And allows you to apply the proper amount of tension to your strings effortlessly as far as losing it I'm kind of a fanatic about my equipment I throw it back in the case even after several rounds of free drinks I've never lost one
The D'Addario Artist Capo is best I've used in 30 plus years of playing. Keyser with tension adjustment to avoid pulling out of tune.
I can highly recommend the Paige Clik Capo, which is basically the Paige you reviewed with an additional click feature that makes using it faster. You'll have to use it close to the frets, however. Also, I am able to hang my acoustic with the Paige on a Hercules stand. Very happy with mine and I've had the Shubb, G7 and Kayser - already lost some of them, so the capo on the nut is a big plus!
I really like the paige and the shubb. The shubb just takes some time to get the tension right. I don't even have to think about it now. I generally never leave the paige on the guitars neck. There are several reasons why. Firstly, because it doesnt hang well on a stand or wall hanger. Secondly, if you tighten it above the nut, it will pull the guitar out of tune if it's too tight. If it's too loose, it wont stay in place. I dont mind the few seconds it take to install and remove it. I did have a paige essentially rust apart and break. Still, I like them enough that I bought another one. I did receive an Elliot for a Christmas present and while I can say it is very nice, I honestly like the paige better. The Elliot doesnt seem to be as intuitive and pulls the guitar out of tune a bit more than the paige. Perhaps its user error? And by the way, 100% of the time, I have pockets to put a capo in. "Storage" is never an issue.
I don't use a capo often on my classical guitar but when I bought mine, I automatically picked up a capo as well. I just recently read that a classical should have a capo specifically designed for the wide neck and nylon strings. So, I've just ordered one, a Shubb. It isn't here yet but I'm looking forward to trying it Even if it doesn't work out, no big deal. I don't use one often and it was very affordable.
Capo's drive me crazy sometimes, lol. They're great for playing open chords, but once you start playing higher up on the fretboard, then you have to count up in order to play a proper chord or note. Ie: if you have a capo the 2nd fret, then the 6th fret becomes the 8th fret, and the 11th fret becomes the 13th fret etc....
You get used to it, but it does make you realize how important CAGED/alternative chord voicings are
I use a Kyser Quick Change Capo for my 6 string guitars. No issues. Easy removal and quick change work fine. I have a Shubb 12 string C Series Capo for my 1979 Guild F212XL. The Kyser will not hold down all the strings sufficiently on the Guild, even a 12 string Kyser fails. The Shubb is perfect.
I use the G7 art one and love it, found spring loaded ones get weaker in time , however a lot of guitarists here in Ireland use the kyser type especially in trad sessions where you might have a few key changes in a set of tunes then it's easy to move the capo up or down the frets with one hand quickly without missing a beat . But never had a problem or complaint with my G7th
Want to know something crazy. I have been paying 39 years and when I first started I had a capo and had no clue what is was for. It had some elastic that went around the neck and I never could get it tight once I knew what it was for. But until last week, after losing that other one someplace 39 years ago. I have never touched one again, until last week. I ordered one off ebay. It was like 6 bucks and much like the Kyser one in this video, but made of aluminum. Its working great on my electric guitars. I have no acoustics since about 2004. But I am liking it. Then I seen Johanson, or Johnson who plays shovels and stuff a while back using it backwards to have open string on top and bottom. So now I have to get one of these Kysers. What's crazy, is I should have gotten one sooner. 39 years and missing out. 🤦♂🤦♂
You can absolutely store the Shubb on the headstock. Just adjust the screw higher than you normally would and clamp it to the headstock. You have to adjust the screw all the time when you use the Shubb. I tune to D standard so I'm always using capo. I go back and forth between Shubb and Kyser depending on my needs. Great video!
Just ordered the Kyser . Thanks for the vid
Hey Jeremy, great video. I had a old cheap capo when I first got my acoustic to learn bluegrass and wasn't happy with it. So being a guitar player for 26 years, I went with the heritage G7 just because it look well constructed. It did break on me but it was still under warranty. It is really nice, I cant compare to other capos but its the only one I think I would buy. But now after watching I want to try others as well.
Another brilliant video Jeremy! My goto capo is the Jim Dunlop Trigger. I love that they do slightly different models to match specific guitar neck ie electric, classical, flat etc. They have always been super reliable. My one
criticism is that if the internal rubbers wear, it can cause damage to your guitar neck. I feel that this happens when the metal / trigger part still has loads of life left in it. It's a shame Dunlop don't do replacement parts. I also have a G7th (the cheaper one) which was really buzzy at first. I found that it's great now that it's bedded in a bit. I does fall off the headstock when being stored though!
Great video. Thought I would say something about the spyder capo. Yeah it can be annoying to work with and I would never use it on stage. But in a private setting or in recording it can actually be alot of fun to play with. The trick I found was to look at the 4 tabs that rest on your fret board take the 2 closest to the body of guitar and straddle them right over the fret itself. Changing the position in that way allows for the toggles to press firmly on the low strings but you'll notice the toggles stay slightly angled because you right against the fret and on your high strings the toggles will be vertical putting proper tension on all strings. Yeah its gimmicky but if you still have it. I hope this helps you enjoy it more
On the capos that you are storing above the nut...On some headstocks that my not work. Seagulls definitely have that problem and it is a bit awkward on my Taylor GS Mini. I love the way the Shubb fits on my Pono Octave Mandolin.
That's true, guitars with volutes don't do well. 28's and others don't play well with the paige, Elliott or g7th heritage.
I generally agree with these opinions. Good video.👍
Fwiw: I owned the G7th heavy capo without noticing the weight, but yes, it does pull my D28 out of tune when I switch to different fret positions (same thing with Thalia, but less so). Despite the company's claim to the contrary I wore out the pad in just a couple years. I own the Spider Capo and I've played it live for appearances when I play only one song, so setting it up for good tone and storing it was never a problem under those limited circumstances (it's a fun creative tool).
The spider capo is awesome. Cool if you get two of them, too. You can get in all kinds of crazy tunings! I think it's a great tool for alternate tunings.
I couldn't get it to work. It was awful for me.
If you are recording - use a Shubb. If you are a performing singer/player live in front of an audience, use a Kyser. The Kyser applies too much pressure and can cause the strings to "bend," and result in less accurate intonation. It also can interfere with your fretting hand with certain chords BUT it's very quick and nobody wants to watch you futzing around with a capo. In a live set, the intonation issues will not be particularly noticeable. Oh, yeah...DON"T clamp it to the neck, that's way too geek-looking. That's what pockets are for! ;)
I was curious about this for years. I use a Kyser and have for years at church. Thanks for this evaluation.
You need to use can you play a B7 easily as a criteria. The Colorado Capo wins hands down in the challenge on chording. Try that on each of those. I like the shubb best of yours because it’s small and fits in my pocket easily. I hate clamping them to my head stock.
I’ve noticed with capos like Paige you have to capo as close to the fret as possible
#2 The clampy G7 that is kind of expensive works well on a 12 string whereas the others do not. The only problem is loosing it because it doesn't clamp on the head stock.
My dad bought me a silver Kyser capo in 2001 when i was 11 years old from Mr.E's music in Bedford Texas and i used that Capo for a little over a decade. Then in my mid 20s i got another cause my dog got ahold of the capo and chewed off the back rubber. Ive used that 2nd Gold (only color they had that day lol) since then but i recently decided to pick up a Daddario NS capo just to try it out. I honestly think the Kyser capos sound excellent and the tuning "issue" people say they have i think is more a people not understanding how guitar intonation works issue a lot of the time (not every time but many of those complaints i attribute to that). The Daddario wont be here for a few weeks cause x mas but we'll see when it gets here if i prefer it to my old trysty Kysers.
Whilst watching this video, I have realised that my Shubb must now be 20 years old....... It works fine for me......
Thank you for this video.
The best test is playing licks that end with an open string. If that last note is as bright, loud, and sustains equal to no capo, you've found your capo. Play the classic Bluegrass run that starts on the low E string G and ends on the open G string. If the G string passes the test, I've found all the other strings will too.
I'm so happy to see that Kyser won. They are a family owned business, located in Canton Texas (about 50 miles from where I live). Home grown and Texas made!
Paige makes a model with quick release so it is fast to slide upon the nut when you are thru using.
I have two Kyser's. I really like them. I am concerned about keeping it on my head stock. I have a Martin and I don't want it to mess up the finish.
Speed of putting it on is important. I love my Shubb and stick it through the strap hole at the head to store it The Khyser is OK if it is adjusted properly. The G7 will get lost and hard on and off. The Paige is a pain on and off and no place to put it. The Dunlop elastic capos work well and make nice party favors. I used to carry extras for parties and festivals. Your prices are insane, I can get any of those for a few bucks,
Love my Paige capos. When I slightly loosen it and it slides down the neck I hang it on the wall. Never loose it. I think that bumps it above the Kyser😎
To rank the Kyser above the Shubb is astounding. Anybody buying their first capo reading this, stay away from the Kyser. It will always mess up your tuning because it is not adjustable. My Shubb C1 is light years better than my Kyser.
One thing I noticed when watching guitar covers is the sheer number of designs for this contraption
I can't speak to any but Kyser and they're all handmade, which I like.
The problem with Nickel type capos in the old days was the thread on the screw was so fine it could actually force it's way through the padding and into the back of you guitar neck - I've several insttuments that bear the scars from this. It was especailly bad for doing this on 12 strings when trying to clamp down the thin octave strings. Hopefully the modern ones do NOT have this quirk.
I have a drawer full of worn out junk capos, bought a UGY Sherpa capo on ebay for 8$ and love it. Its aluminum but looks wood grain and has a pin puller end.
I'd choose the Shubb. I generally never play with a capo, but I need one for doing setups & it can just sit on my bench. BTW, it works with one hand.
I use a Hercules Guitar stand and the Paige works fine with it.
You CAN place the Shubb on the headstock but it is a two hand operation.
Shubb also makes a very nice capo that is like the Paige and the G7th.
Of all the choices, Kyser is the capo that pulls my guitars out of tune the most.
Another thing about the Kyser is that if your guitar has a Nitro Lacquer finish, the rubber on the capo can cause a chemical reaction to the guitar's finish and darken it where the capo is placed.
I like to use a capo to cover only 5 strings when I'm in Drop D tuning at the second fret.
The capo leaves the bass E string open. You cant do this with a Paige or the newer G7th capos.
All in all, my go to is the Shubb all day long.
The G7th Nashville capo is a better alternative to the Kyser and in the same price range. I’ve had great performance out of mine. The spring keeps its tension and it doesn’t knock my guitars out of tune.
Not that i use a spider, but because the space between strings vary depending on the fret, there is not much choice about having to move each bit.
Just got the G7 ART capo and I'm really liking it.
That’s the beauty of what Jeremy does. We don’t have to agree or disagree. But here we have a knowledgeable good musician who has experience and his videos are fun to watch. Look what John Prine used on his old Martin and Gibson, even in most recent videos.
A few that were missed: Thalia, a very nice clamp that has a changeable radius for different fret board radius. Taylor makes a nice one for Taylor fret boards. I try to get a capo for each guitar fret board radios...or each Brand acoustic guitar.
"The Shubb just isn't a good Option!" Oh Jeremy, your reputation has just plummeted! Bad Boy!
I still use the first Shubb C1 I bought when they were first available in the UK. I have NEVER lost one (or a pick -which might say something creepy about me - but I look after my gear!) Also,I've never gigged in pants without pockets (C'mon!)
They are cheap enough to have one "set" for each guitar. which means I must have about a dozen, including two for 12 strings, and one or two in my toolbox and gigging bag, along with spare strings etc. I always go for the basic C! with the delrin tip.
NO Capo will perform perfectly everywhere. it is about the camber of your fretboard and the thickness of strings, and fret height and condition.
oh, and yes you can most certainly put them on with one hand!
Sorry pal, Thumbs down!
I can't believe the Kyser won. It is complete crap. I tossed mine in the garbage the minute I put my new Shubb C1 on.
Shubb everyday...all day. Great presentation. That guitar looks and sounds awesome.
I use my Kyer capo for a book marker that all its useful for. Best Capo I bought is G7 Performance 2 capo. I'll buy G7 Performance 3 capo or G7 Heritage Capo for my Ziricote Nyberg 10 String Irish Cittern
Hey Jeremy, I really really love my D'Addario Artist Capo. It's simple, similar to a Keyser, but you can adjust the tension a bit, easy to store, and affordable. Sounds great too i think.
They have a clip on tuner for them too!
The problem I see with the Shubb, is the adjustment factor. You're playing on stage in front of a crowded dance floor, everyone's dancing enjoying the song, next song comes up and you need a capo, you reach in your pants or vest pocket, grab the Shubb put it on, then fiddle a few seconds adjusting it and once you've adjusted it properly, back into the next song. Where as with something like the Kyser, you grab it off the headstock, squeeze it, put it on the fret and bam, your playing. No fiddling or adjusting to get it tight enough, or not too tight. For "stage use", I'd want the Kyser. Unless you can afford a guitar tech.
Just use two hands with the Shubb and it takes three seconds from pocket to strumming without going out of tune.
in my experience the kysers dont hold the strings down on my 12 string or baritone. The spring eventually wears out. So i bought a shubb and it holds them down much better. yes there is no where to store it but i still havent lost it yet.
Best Capo review I have seen. If you get the chance to review the Thalia, please make a video like this.
I own 4 of these capos. I gotta be honest here. I’m in camp Shubb. Great video.
"And now for my next song, I will spend several minutes fiddling with my spider capo..."
I agree with the Kaiser in this review. I prefer a Taylor capo for Taylor guitars. I like the Thalia capos for some guitars. Storage is a concern with Thalia depending on peg head shape.
I use a 12-string Kyser on my 6-strings; it won't move around and it only takes one hand to move, and it can fit on my headstock...
G7th rules!!!
Never had neck dive, and always perfectly in tune.
I like this video. Good information for us and a REAL 'down-home' presentation. Much appreciated, Jeremy!