Back-up capo - overkill?

[Mr Fixit eh]

I always thought I was just being paranoid, but whenever I gig, I always bring along a spare capo. It's often come in handy to be borrowed by a gigging partner who forgets his from time-to-time.

Well it finally happened - Sunday I was out at a gig and the capo spring snapped just as I went to put it on. And like magic - voila, the spare capo - what a relief. Now I don't feel so paranoid any more.

Steve

[Shawnglory]

Yeap I do that too (never had it snapped though). I have one that can be moved on the fly when I'm feeling playful or just wanna interact with the audience and 1 static when I know what I'm gonna play.

[martin82]

I bring spares of just about everything. Overkill? No, piece of mind.

[mchalebk]

Seeing how I probably use a capo on 40% of the songs I play, having a spare capo just plain makes sense. Anything can break. If a spare is available and convenient, it just makes sense to have it on hand (and this doesn't apply only to capos).

[kdn]

im just wierd enough to carry a spare capo, strings, bridgepinss,
the only things i dont carry spaeres of is a guitar (i have just the one for now), oh--& a spare me (which i really could use sometimes)

[ljguitar]

Hi Mr FI

Backup capos? Yup...always

[Dirk Hofman]

Saved a partner just this Sunday with one. I keep a couple in my case bucket.

[acoustic rabbit]

I always take an extra mic and cables....and usually at least 2 guitars, eventhough I usually only use one...and sometimes 2 tuners....I probably have 8 tuners around the house....

[Tanque Verde]

Proper preparation prevents poor performance.

[Landru]

Many back-ups of everything - including seven capos, all different brands and sizes.

[Wade Hampton]

The only capo I've ever broken while gigging with it was a G7, which slipped out of my hand at about waist height, hit the stage floor and shattered. It wasn't the zinc alloy frame of the capo that shattered, but the hard plastic cocking lever, which rendered the entire thing useless.

Fortunately I did have a spare (virtually indestructible) Shubb capo with me, which I immediately grabbed in the G7's place.

Usually I don't bring a spare capo with me when I gig - maybe it's because I've gone back to using my Shubb Deluxe capos for 99% of my capo needs. My biggest problem with the Shubbs is not them breaking or malfunctioning, but other guitarists walking off with them, either by mistake or "by mistake"....

To keep my wandering Shubb capos from straying too far I've taken to painting racing stripes in fingernail polish on their frames. Their wanderlust and tendency to end up in other people's pockets seems to be remarkably inhibited by this.

Maybe it makes them feel wanted and improves their morale so they won't WANT to stray...

Anyway, the main time I make certain I have a spare capo in my pocket is when I go to parties or host jam sessions at my house. That way, if someone else needs one, I can help. But the pair of narrow stripes on their frame helps ensure that they make it back to me at the end of the session.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Guest 4711]

You can never be to-prepared!

[BBWW]

I showed up to a gig without my guitar once...LOL. Had everything, the PA, Mics everything, but the guitar. That was a bad night.

[Calluma11]

Not that i've performed anywhere with a guitar (occasional piano + vox) but I have plans to do so. To space save i think i'll take one of those Dunlop Toggle Capos as a backup.
I'll also probably get a Shubb / Planet Waves NS capo because i've had my trigger springs break from time to time.
Callum

[GibbyPrague]

Always have two. You never know when you accidentally took main out of the bag during practice and forgot to put it back.