Shubb Original Capo

A while back I needed a capo for a song we were doing, but I didn't actually own one at that point. After doing a little research, I went ahead and got the Shubb Original Capo. Why did I choose it over other capos? Because of the adjustable tension. Sure, it takes a little longer to put on, but because you can adjust how much tension it puts on the strings it won't pull all your strings sharp. That's the problem with the Kyser capos, you might be OK if you only capo within the first three frets, but as you go further up on the next the neck obviously gets thicker, stretching the spring of the capo more, which in turn makes the capo press down harder on the strings, throwing your guitar sharp. Maybe not a huge problem when you are playing by yourself, but when playing in a band it is definitely an issue.

Sure, you can correct this by re-tuning, but that takes time, and then whenever you un-capo your guitar it's flat. Since you can adjust the amount of tension on the Shubb it eliminates that problem. I would rather spend the time upfront getting the tension adjusted correctly than have to constantly re-tune my guitar every time I use my capo.


Overall, I highly recommend some sort of Shubb capo over just about any other brand. They have several different models, including one optimized for 12 string guitars. Granted, there are other brands that have models with adjustable tension, but they typically cost double or more what the Shubb does. At $15-$20, the Shubb Original Capo is a grant product with a great price. I would definitely buy another one if I ever have to, or I might get the Deluxe version for even smoother action and reliability.

Shubb's Original Capo is a the flagship capo for Shubb, and is one that is often seen being used by guitarists. I should start off by saying that this was never my favorite capo to use, although I do think it can do the job just fine. It is certainly made well and it doesn't put too much grip on your guitar like some other capos do if you're concerned with that. It uses a screw system rather than the pull back capos that are seen most of the time. For me, I prefer having a capo like a Kyser rather than the Shubb with the screw as it's a lot easier for me to snap and it on and go. It definitely does seem to take a bit longer to put on this capo than it does with any other, which I guess isn't all that big a deal. I do see a lot of guitarists, mostly for acoustic guitars, using these capos. I'm not sure what the appeal is but I guess it maybe puts less stress on your guitar, although I can't say that I've tested this theory thoroughly. The price seems to be right in the range of other capos, so price shouldn't be a factor when it comes to choosing a capo. I'd encourage all guitarists or other stringed instrument players to try the Original Capo out as well as those made by Kyser and other capos like it to determine what you like best. Either way you can't really go wrong as both this and many other capos will do the job well. Although I don't own one of these since I prefer using the Kyser capo that I have, I can't discount this one as an option simply because I see many players out there with it. Definitely give them all a try for yourself, as choosing a capo is a matter of preference more than anything else...