On our collective capo obsession - a perspective

[phcorrigan]

There are hundreds (thousands?) of messages on this forum, all talking about which is the "best" capo and why. I am guilty of joining the party, and I have a box full of capos costing between $2-150.

And yet, there is one capo I have not seen mentioned, as if it not even worth talking about: the Dunlop elastic capo. I have one around here somewhere, but I haven't seen it in years.

I just watched a Tiny Desk Concert with John Prine that was recorded last year.

He's playing a beautiful Martin D forty-something, and guess what capo he's using? The Dunlop elastic. He's also careful about adjusting it properly--he just pushes it up and down the neck! Also, he didn't re-tune after moving it, although he did check the tune.

I really like my G7th Heritage, but this video put things in perspective for me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOg7mAkrKJw

RIP, John. We miss you.

[L20A]

Old school but still works.
I used to use one a long time ago.
The elastic didn't last very long before it stretched out and quit working.

[Beakybird]

After spending all that $$ on the Martin, poor John probably didn't have money left over for a decent capo.
JK.
Well, no matter what better mousetrap they build, there will always be those who prefer the old fashioned kind.
R.I.P. for sure.

[Greenstar]

I have one that I still use from time to time. It’s so stretched out I can really only use the last hole but it becomes serviceable on a thicker neck that needs a capo on the 7th fret or so.

[rampix]

Back when I started playing that was the capo of choice. They did stretch rather quickly so I'd buy the double strap 12-string version. When the first one started stretching I'd just start using both to extend its lifetime.

I have no idea where my last one went or how long ago it went away.

[MakingMusic]

I think everyone who's ever owned a capo has had one of these. I remember they came in 2 styles, regular or heavy-duty elastic. I always got the heavy-duty, which only seemed to last about a week longer than the regular ones. When those metal eyelets ripped apart, I would just punch a new hole in the elastic and continue on. Have bought a lot on capos along the way between that one and the G7 Heritage.

[EZYPIKINS]

Had the elastic. The pivot bar with screw on the back....Learned here comes the sun with that one. Doing a country gig in the early 90's, couldn't find a capo. Used an ink pen and rubber band to learn Exile's, Keep It In The Middle Of The Road.

[musicman1951]

I suspect that if James Taylor puts out a video next week using a pencil and rubber band (yes, it works) we won't all start using that.

A capo just has to meet your needs. Do you need to move it between songs? How good is your ear? How fussy are you about intonation? How much money do you want to spend?

There are lots of capos out there and everyone can find a good match for their desires.

[zombywoof]

There is a reason we went with a pencil and a rubber band.

[phcorrigan]

Originally Posted by rampix

They did stretch rather quickly so I'd buy the double strap 12-string version.

I have no idea where my last one went or how long ago it went away.

That's the one John used in the video, and the last one I have or had, since, like you, I have no idea where it is. I had the single strap version before that.

[Rudy4]

Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!



I just purchased a Dunlop 71S (the heavier of the two Dunlop elastic strap capos) expressly to pull the top bar pad off to use on my Shubb Deluxe roller capo. You can read the details in my "Improving The Shubb Capo" topic here:

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=584903

I opened a brand new one, removed the bar pad and threw the rest of the capo away, for a very good reason.

A small detail about these capos, should you want to actually use one, the eyelets that pass through the ribbon are mushroomed out on the rear side and the mushroomed part of the eyelet is often very rough with exposed sharp edges. These are quite capable of damaging the finish on a neck and I can't even bear to think what would happen if you slid the capo along the neck to change capo positions.

If you own either the single or double elastic versions DO check this, as the new one I opened (as well as older ones I have owned in the past) are guitar neck killers.

[Chipotle]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

Yikes, those look like 19th century dental tools.

I have an old elastic capo that was my father's. I've never actually used it on any of my guitars, though.

[PHJim]

I still have a few of these in my parts box, but the elastic is pretty stretched out. There is a Hamilton and a Sabine and even one of the ones like the left side of Zombywolf's photo in there too.
I'm surprised that people are calling them "Dunlop" capos. They were always "Bill Russell" capos to me.
These days I use Paige or Planet Waves most of the time.

[Tnfiddler]

I’ll just stick with my G7th Heritage! Best capo I’ve ever used and one that keeps a pure, clean tone when it’s being used. Bought a Showcase and it just dulls the sound, IMO. Should’ve just bought a Heritage for both of my guitars and been done with it.

[ahorsewithnonam]

Paige.
Even pressure on all strings.
Easy on and off.
Light as a feather.
Thin.
Budget price.