In search of the perfect capo
Jun 15, 2024 8:59:00 GMT
leoroberts, borborygmus, and 1 more like this
Post by fatfingerjohn on Jun 15, 2024 8:59:00 GMT
OK, so this is where I get shot at dawn for my ignorance! The criteria for me, in this order are ...
--profile. I hate thick ones as they get in the way of my left hand fingers when fretting some chords. So I get the slimmest that I can find.
--ease of use. I want to be able to put on/take off quickly withut fiddling around with screws or anything like that
--swapping between guitars. Universal please without having to adjust for neck thickness etc (exception being my 12-er)
--weight. I like them pretty light and not clunky (which matches in with criteria 1 above)
--in tune? This is where I'll really get rubbished! I do think I've got a pretty good ear for pitch and to be frank I've never really noticed much difference from one type to another and never had a problem (unless I've simply not put it on with a degree of care in the first place i.e flat, correct angle and distance from frets). Perhaps my playing just doesn't require this finest tuning and I'm not knocking anyone who finds tuning to be an issue
--price. I'll pay what I need to pay without a problem but have found that price and result are not closely matched
--look. Yes, I don't want it to be ugly but 'pretty' doesn't mean 'practical'
So, where does that leave me.
--I like trigger ones and have 2 or 3 that have cost me less than a tenner each and they are all fine. Never let me down
--I like to be able to have the capo on the headstock and I know aesthetically some people find this totally unacceptable, again I respect their different view (this also means a trigger one is preferred)
--I once treated myself to a beautiful Thalia capo with a wood inlay. Yes, it is a joy to behold and a lovely thing to own. But I never use it! Why? It fails on just about every count (too thick, too fiddly, won't sit on headstock, slow changing. In fact if anyone wants to buy it for under half price then pm me😄.)
--Similarly schubbs, too thick, difficult changing etc
Please don't ban me from the forum, just tolerate my ignorance.
FFJ
--profile. I hate thick ones as they get in the way of my left hand fingers when fretting some chords. So I get the slimmest that I can find.
--ease of use. I want to be able to put on/take off quickly withut fiddling around with screws or anything like that
--swapping between guitars. Universal please without having to adjust for neck thickness etc (exception being my 12-er)
--weight. I like them pretty light and not clunky (which matches in with criteria 1 above)
--in tune? This is where I'll really get rubbished! I do think I've got a pretty good ear for pitch and to be frank I've never really noticed much difference from one type to another and never had a problem (unless I've simply not put it on with a degree of care in the first place i.e flat, correct angle and distance from frets). Perhaps my playing just doesn't require this finest tuning and I'm not knocking anyone who finds tuning to be an issue
--price. I'll pay what I need to pay without a problem but have found that price and result are not closely matched
--look. Yes, I don't want it to be ugly but 'pretty' doesn't mean 'practical'
So, where does that leave me.
--I like trigger ones and have 2 or 3 that have cost me less than a tenner each and they are all fine. Never let me down
--I like to be able to have the capo on the headstock and I know aesthetically some people find this totally unacceptable, again I respect their different view (this also means a trigger one is preferred)
--I once treated myself to a beautiful Thalia capo with a wood inlay. Yes, it is a joy to behold and a lovely thing to own. But I never use it! Why? It fails on just about every count (too thick, too fiddly, won't sit on headstock, slow changing. In fact if anyone wants to buy it for under half price then pm me😄.)
--Similarly schubbs, too thick, difficult changing etc
Please don't ban me from the forum, just tolerate my ignorance.
FFJ
