Since 1980 the Shubb capo has set the standard against which all others must be measured. It is the first choice ... often the only choice... of more than a million musicians worldwide. Once the serious guitarist has discovered the Shubb, he'll never settle for anything less.
What makes the Shubb capo so special? For one thing, its ingenious design: a patented locking action, which provides an unrivalled combination of power, speed, accuracy and ease of use. One smooth flip of the lever locks it securely in place... and removes it just as quickly.
And the Shubb capo doesn't create tuning problems. Its soft, resilient rubber is specially designed to work just like a fingertip, so it doesn't bend the strings over the frets. Its closing action is just like your hand, so it doesn't pull the string off center. As a result, no re-tuning is necessary!
Precisely machined of brass and carefully hand assembled, a Shubb capo is manufactured without compromise. Simply holding one in your hand conveys a sense of quality. Snapping it solidly onto a guitar neck, and then removing it, all within about one second, will confirm its reputation for excellence.
The Original Shubb Capo ("C" series) is available in either nickel or brass finish. They are all made of brass, but some are nickel-plated and others are left unplated. How should you decide which one you want? To start with, whichever looks better to you. But if you want more, here are some further considerations...
The Environmental Issue
The nickel-plating process produces byproducts that are not environmentally friendly. True, plating shops are held responsible by law for controlling these byproducts, but if this is a concern of yours, it might be a factor in making your decision between a nickel-plated or plain brass capo.
Nickel Allergy
Nickel plating can sometimes cause an allergic dermatitis, similar in cause and symptoms to poison oak or ivy. It commonly occurs on the ears, wrists, neck, and waistband area where items commonly plated (such as costume jewelry or belt buckles) are worn. If you have ever had this, or noticed a mysterious rash (especially on your hands), you might want to opt for the brass finish.
Uncoated Brass Will Darken
The plain, unplated brass capos are not coated with anything. There is no coating that Shubb has found which is durable enough to withstand the constant handling that a capo gets. They are, as they say, plain brass. This means that in time they will darken. To those of us who appreciate the look of brass, this natural-aged finish is appealing; reminiscent of the look of an old microscope, or some piece of gear from a sailing ship. On the other hand, if you prefer your brass to shine, the capo can be polished up using a cloth and just about any kind of metal polish, and it will shine like gold.
What Color Hardware is on Your Guitar
A nickel-plated capo might look more at home on a guitar with nickel-plated hardware, while the brass capo is similar to gold in appearance, and looks good with gold-plated hardware. Since the capo is not permanently installed on the guitar, this might not be a major factor to you.
