Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: jjrpilot-admin on May 09, 2012, 09:32:45 AM
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Which style do you prefer? I've been using a Kyser for years, but wonder if the hard clamping spring might be giving my frets extra wear that they wouldn't get if I used a Shubb...
What do you all think?
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I don't have experience with Shubb, but I have had (and still have) many Kysers, and stopped using them. I noticed one day that my guitar sounded a bit out of tune when capo'd. Sure enough, after testing my Kysers (I have 4 of them), every one put the guitar slightly out of tune when capo'd. I subsequently started using the G7th Performance Capo. Its a bit more expensive than the Kyser, but it works like a dream, and I've never had the out of tune problem with the G7th. I can highly recommend it.
S
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I've never used anything other than Keyser. I have noticed that on some, but not all of my guitars, the Keyser capos cause some tuning issues. I also seem to have quite a bit of fret wear for the amount of playing time I put in. I'd never thought that a capo could do that, but you have me wondering now. I've heard some good things about the G7th capo. Maybe I should give one a try.
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I subsequently started using the G7th Performance Capo. Its a bit more expensive than the Kyser, but it works like a dream, and I've never had the out of tune problem with the G7th. I can highly recommend it.
+1 on the G7th. Easiest capo to put on and take off, and no tuning issues or excessive fret wear.
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I too noticed the Kysers put me out of tune. I just bought a Paige capo that I'm liking alot and I haven't had any tuning issues so far.
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Shubbs, Keyers... really doesn't matter a great deal to me...
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After looking at the G7th capo online, I am not seeing much difference in how they work. The Shubb is different in how it is put on, but how can either one of these keep the frets from wearing out better than any of the others.
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If you use a capo a lot, the Elliot and McKinney-Elliot capos might be worth looking into.
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Fret wear due to which capo is a non-issue, IMHO. The bigger concern really is pressure on the strings to pull notes sharp, and how "fast" you want access to it.
The shubb is nice for the obvious reason that you can set the tension. But requires two hands to use or move.
The Kyser is fast since its trigger mechanism allows fast, one-handed use and movement. But has a gorilla spring tension that is fixed.
G7th is superb in its intuitive, seamless design and implementation. But two handed use is typical, though one-handed is possible with pratice. BTW, I use a G7th 12string version for my 12-er ...best 12-st capo out there, IMHO.
So for regular use on a 6-er, I like the Planet Waves Dual-action capo. It is a trigger mechanism for speed and one-handed use, but also a thumbwheel like the shubb so you can use the least amount of tension necessasry. The best all-around capo by far, IMHO. That it costs nearly nuttin is gravy!
Edward
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The bottom line is that any capo is going to put pressure on the strings and frets that wouldn't be there otherwise.
If you don't want that, don't use a capo.
The resulting difference between a Shubb and a Keyser (if any at all) is going to be so minimal it would be insignificant...
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I pretty much concur with everything Edward said.
The Kyser IS quick, but is known to sharp the notes due to a heavy spring. I used two pliers to put a little bend in the spring on my Kyser and it made a world of difference. Alas, I lost it somewhere at home in the last month so when I was at The Podium on Monday I bought a new capo.
Decided on the Planet Wave thumbwheel one. Not the combo/trigger one, just the low profile knobby one. It does require two hands to set properly, but other than that I think it's a great little device.
No matter what though, the choices today are far better than the old elastic fabric band one with the brass grommeted locating holes and pin. My folks have one in the case of the Harmony archtop (1960's I think) and it really is a miserable little pain.
:)
-K
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I use Shubb on most of my guitars. On the 12string is the Paige 12 string capo, also tension adjustable, w/ rings for the octave strings. Works great. A plus w/the the Paige is it can be conveniently stored behind the nut which makes it harder to lose. I keep one on my Martin for bluegrassing when my son decides to go on a banjo kick.
Kyser capos, if used in the same place frequently, will not only result in excessive fret wear , but on softer fingerboards can leave marks from the wound strings.This is more pronounced on thicker necks because of increased tension.
Steve
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Wow, after reading these posts, I'm going to dump my Kysers and go with tension-adjustable capos.
-Gary K
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I wouldn't dump anything.
I've used Shubbs and Keysers for years, and can attribute exactly zero fret ware to either.
You're worrying too much.
Go play your guitar and have some fun...
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Kyser for convenience and quick change ... Schubb for stability and less pressure on strings (and possibly frets?)
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I owned Shubb, Kyser, Planet Waves NS, G7th and the Dunlop Trigger capos over the years.
I prefer Kyser.
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I wouldn't dump anything.
I've used Shubbs and Keysers for years, and can attribute exactly zero fret ware to either.
You're worrying too much.
Go play your guitar and have some fun...
Ditto ;D
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Kyser for convenience and quick change ... Schubb for stability and less pressure on strings (and possibly frets?)
And neck. Taylor guitars may not be affected (I'm not sure) but certainly some guitars owners have found light dents on the back of the neck with prolonged use of the non-adjustable Kyser types
I have both and it's just as you say spring loaded for fast use. I once saw Tommy E. pull off a capo in blur of one beat between 4 and 1 in the count. He deliberately stood next to a stand where his left hand could drop the capo and then immediately be playing in the new key. His hand only moved about 12 inches. I was impressed.
For adjustable I like the little Planet Waves NS capo. Works on everything. One hand with practice (maybe). Does not pull strings out of tune when adjusted properly. I bought one in black so it wouldn't stand out and look very pro, but I can't find the darn thing half the time so the next one will be silver.
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I wouldn't dump anything either, but would add that Kyser, being spring-loaded puts a consistent amount of pressure on the strings whether that amount of pressure is necessary or not. Shubb on the other hand can be adjusted to apply only the amount of pressure necessary to get the job done. I think less pressure helps to not pull the strings "sharp" which I can tell happens when a capo is put on and then the Snark tuner is used to check the tuning again. This is not to say that either capo causes any more or less harm to the strings or the frets. I like Kyser because it's quick and easy, but I honestly think that Shubb provides more accuracy and consistency. It's just more of a hassle to move around quickly on stage.
I wouldn't dump anything.
I've used Shubbs and Keysers for years, and can attribute exactly zero fret ware to either.
You're worrying too much.
Go play your guitar and have some fun...
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I'm not really a fan of capos per se. If you are just using it to play in Ab or Eb, that's just lazy. Playing in those other keys may take a little extra effort but well worth it. I do own several capos, mostly Keyser type (I say Keyser type because I buy off shore replicas of Keyser which have weaker springs but work great) but use them rarely. There are certain things you can do in certain keys on the guitar that you can't do in other keys ie the move on a D chord adding the pinkie to make a sus4 then removing it and lifting the second finger to make a sus2. If that needs to be used in the Key of E then I will capo 2. Drop D in the key of E without de-tuning the low E? Invert the capo and capo the first five strings at 2 leaving the low E open.
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For me, I definitely don't mind giving up the convenience of a kyser for the increased accuracy of a shubb. I haven't tried other adjustable tension capos, but l love my shubbs and most likely wouldn't buy any capo that didn't have adjustable tension.
Just my 2 cents.
Neil
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Kyser for convenience and quick change ... Schubb for stability and less pressure on strings (and possibly frets?)
+1 on this ... I used Keyser's exclusively for years but then switched to Shubb's. I use Shubb's now 95% of the time (love their partial capos too) ... however, when I need a quick change capo for multiple modulations in a song, I grab the Keyser.
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I only have Kyser, and never really thought about it but I have checked the tuning and found out that it sharpens all my strings, so much for my ears. I think I will give Shubb a try. Does anybody have a favorite model that you like?
As far as fret wear. I don't see any wear on my frets from using a capo.
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Shubb capos are pretty much the same. If you capo above the 5th fret you'll probably want to get the 12 string model which is a little longer.
Steve