Best Capo For 12 String Acoustic Guitar (2024 Update)

This capo is very well made. I have many different type of capos but this one will replace the "clip-on" K style ones. While I keep my guitars set up and intonation spot on, capos can still "pull" strings, giving a slightly sour sound. This one does not do that. It's small shape may make some concerned but the squareness allows you to get perfect fit between neck and fret. I use it on acoustic primarily, but also on electric.John

This is a great capo: solid construction, made of stainless steel so won't rust, and works well. It is a lot neater than the images suggest and is light enough not to be noticeable when fitted to the neck of my dreadnought guitars. It is also unobtrusive, so does not get in the way of your fretting hand. Some reviewers suggest that this capo is fiddly to fit, but I have found the opposite: once adjusted for your guitar neck it can be fitted or removed in a second. Highly recommended (by the way, delivery was lightning fast)cpes31

I bought this to replace my older Shubb that has given many, many years of service. This one, with the roller, works even better. What I love about these is the ease of tension adjustment. I use this one on my 12 string Gretsch which is easy to bend out of tune with a standard capo, but the Shubb allows for just the right tension on the strings to keep it in tune. This is well worth the few pounds of extra outlay for the flexibility and quality.fireglo360

When using a capo it is necessary that it provide enough tension to keep the strings, especially the bass strings, from buzzing. Any more tension than the minimum necessary to accomplish that does tend to de-tune the guitar by raising its pitch. The Shubb design is the only capo that I have ever used or seen that can be precision adjusted to apply just enough tension to effect the key change without unnecessary de-tuning. All other designs use springs to apply the tension so must be designed to always apply enough tension where the neck is thinnest so must apply more than the minimum necessary. The Shubb has no springs and its tension is fully adjustable. It is also compact and stays out of the players way when being used.Stan

Capo is great sam ash is always delivering quality and fine products . staf is ever so friendly and helpful especially Dana , Andy, and Paul the tech guy all from 34th st mahattan store . these guy are fantastic when it comes to recomenndig.gear and proving customer service . my go.to storeZAMAN

The C3b is solid brass capo for 12 string guitars or any wide-necked guitars with a gentle radius across their fretboards. Guitar necks differ in thicknesses and shapes so this capo (like all Shubb capos) has an adjuster that enables it to fit any neck size. Once adjusted and clipped into place, it does the job perfectly. I have several other capos, including others by Shubb, but prefer the positive, reliable action of the solid brass or chrome models. You can buy cheaper, wide-fitting capos that are not as effective or durable. I recommend the Shubb C3b capo for wider necked, steel strung guitars.orm_uk2014

I have marked this as good value and whilst I'm not in the habit if recommending stuff, I can say that I have a number of rather expensive flat top guitars , I use those expensive picks but see no reason to use anything but this particular model of Shubb capo. I have a separate capo for each guitar kept in its own pickbox in the case. I answered "enjoyable only because to NOT say yes gets complicated. This is the BASIC and ORIGINAL Shubb design and to my mind the best. there ! Now leave me alone1perry686

First of all, this capo doesn't work at all. And that really isn't surprising. I may have just gotten a bad one. Understand that I have two 6 string Shubb capos that I love and would never part with. That's why I was shocked at this 12 string capo. Now let's take a look at what's wrong with it. There are two pads on these capos: one pad goes against the back of the neck of the guitar and the other pad (the big pad) goes over the strings. The two pads should line up reasonably well. This one doesn't, to say the very least. It looks like the arm that holds the neck pad is WAY TOO FAR to the inside of the capo. This looks completely wrong and the capo doesn't work. What happens is that the neck pad digs into the neck and pulls the string pad sideways because of the misalignment. Again, I want to make it clear that the Shubb 6 string capos are the best capos I ever owned and I even bought a second one. What may have happened is that they might have accidentally put a 6 string part (the arm that holds the pad that goes against the back of the neck of the guitar) on this bad 12 string capo that I bought. Also, my 12 string capo doesn't look like the advertised picture at all. The pads line up fairly well on the advertised picture of this 12 string capo. But you can look at the attached picture of the 12 string capo that I bought and they are not the same at all. I'm going to try to get to the bottom of this somehow. I just did a comparison between the 12 string capo and my 6 string capo and I can see that the arms for the neck pads are identical on the two. The arms should probably be considerably longer on the 12 string capo.FlatPicker

Not being able to mount the Schubb C-Series capo on the guitar head (like my old Kysers) and sometimes needing both hands to re-position the capo does take a little getting use to. Keeping capo in my pocket is NOT convenient as the Irish Trad groups I play with SIT to play!. But sewing a small ribbon loop inside my woven guitar strap has solved that problem. It takes two seconds to hook the long bar of the capo thru the loop and I'm off to the next set of tunes. Capo keeps firm equal pressure and my Taylor is sounding just fine, thank you!Grans50

I bought this capo based on other’s opinion. It’s well made and unobtrusive on the neck. I think it’s strength is that you can precisely control how much pressure is applied so no buzzing or tuning issues. The only potential downside is that you can’t move it quickly mid song (if you need that).Greg

Ah yes, the Shubb in brass. It's aging so well with a beautiful patina. You simply cannot do better than a Shubb. They've really thought out the whole design. Replaceable rubber bits and all, it's designed to last a lifetime which is unusual in our throwaway culture. It's the way we built things once here in the USA (and other countries too!). Not the best business model but kind to the musician and to the planet. These are discreet too, they look unassuming and they work better than anything else I've encountered. I was an anti-capo elitist snob before a kid wanted to learn some Smiths and Beatles tune and I bought one right away. First thing that grabbed me is the look, second the simplicity, third the weight. I sold these for year when I was a dealer and knew it to be good. I was impressed by what a thoughtful company they are offering replacement parts for what wears out. I use mine daily. So if you want the best, these are only about twenty bucks. Do not cheap out. Go for that lifetime purchase!coilhead

The C3b is solid brass capo for 12 string guitars or any wide-necked guitars with a gentle radius across their fretboards. Guitar necks differ in thicknesses and shapes so this capo (like all Shubb capos) has an adjuster that enables it to fit any neck size. Once adjusted and clipped into place, it does the job perfectly. I have several other capos, including others by Shubb, but prefer the positive, reliable action of the solid brass or chrome models. You can buy cheaper, wide-fitting capos that are not as effective or durable. I recommend the Shubb C3b capo for wider necked, steel strung guitars.orm_uk2014

I have marked this as good value and whilst I'm not in the habit if recommending stuff, I can say that I have a number of rather expensive flat top guitars , I use those expensive picks but see no reason to use anything but this particular model of Shubb capo. I have a separate capo for each guitar kept in its own pickbox in the case. I answered "enjoyable only because to NOT say yes gets complicated. This is the BASIC and ORIGINAL Shubb design and to my mind the best. there ! Now leave me alone1perry686

First of all, this capo doesn't work at all. And that really isn't surprising. I may have just gotten a bad one. Understand that I have two 6 string Shubb capos that I love and would never part with. That's why I was shocked at this 12 string capo. Now let's take a look at what's wrong with it. There are two pads on these capos: one pad goes against the back of the neck of the guitar and the other pad (the big pad) goes over the strings. The two pads should line up reasonably well. This one doesn't, to say the very least. It looks like the arm that holds the neck pad is WAY TOO FAR to the inside of the capo. This looks completely wrong and the capo doesn't work. What happens is that the neck pad digs into the neck and pulls the string pad sideways because of the misalignment. Again, I want to make it clear that the Shubb 6 string capos are the best capos I ever owned and I even bought a second one. What may have happened is that they might have accidentally put a 6 string part (the arm that holds the pad that goes against the back of the neck of the guitar) on this bad 12 string capo that I bought. Also, my 12 string capo doesn't look like the advertised picture at all. The pads line up fairly well on the advertised picture of this 12 string capo. But you can look at the attached picture of the 12 string capo that I bought and they are not the same at all. I'm going to try to get to the bottom of this somehow. I just did a comparison between the 12 string capo and my 6 string capo and I can see that the arms for the neck pads are identical on the two. The arms should probably be considerably longer on the 12 string capo.FlatPicker

Be aware that there are two versions of this capo floating around out there. The original has a larger adjustment wheel and is slightly wider overall than some of the current ones being manufactured. I prefer the original style because the larger wheel is easier to manipulate and the wider stance of the capo itself makes it sit flat on the guitar without any fiddling. And you can't count on the picture either. I bought one from a seller who's photo showed the original model but sent me the new model. In all fairness, the model number of the two versions is the same, so I'm not even sure most sellers know there is a difference, but there is. I'd rate the old model 5 stars, the new model 3 stars. Note: In my photos you may notice that my old one is shorter than the new one. That's because I trimmed the end off to eliminate excess overhang for my particular guitar(s). I found that that overhang got in my way. Once trimmed off, it is the best capo I've ever used. I own a half dozen, trimmed them to fit individual instruments.unclefofe

After working with several musicians, music writers, and players the capo is a necessary tool for a guitar. Most players I work with like "Cowboy Chords" and the capo. I have used several chord inversions to complement the the other guitar player's playing style but sometimes you need the capo. The capo is well designed, functional, and small. The device is fastened by a thumb screw that will apply enough pressure to the neck to hold the capo in place. I have a few heavy duty spring designs but this design is easy to work with.Lyle Style

I love this capo. It has a low profile that doesn't break up the lines of you instrument with an awkward clamp handle extending perpendicularly from the neck. Just a few turns of the knob and your locked in and ready to rock. I haven't had any buzz when I've had the Planet Waves NS Capo in place. It holds tuning in any position on the neck. It performs well on my acoustic, my classical, and my electric guitars. I've even noodled around with it on my bass without any troubles. Putting it into position can be done easily with one hand, but it does take a few turns of the knob to loosen/tighten it. It's not great if you're a player that needs to shift the capo position frequently. I do recommend the Planet Waves NS Capo for anyone who wants a reliable, low profile tool in your bag that'll hold the tuning you want in the position you need.training_dummy2000

Have played a 12 string for 40 years. Capos have always been a big problem, and I've tried them all. Why didn't anyone think of this concept before now? Fabulous product.No need to re tune at all. First position chords always sound best on a 12er, and now I can play them in any key. Job well done. DLP.. icatmor45

This promises a new material to work on 12-strings which provide a dissimilar string height and diameter due to octave strings on the E through G strings. Its only drawback is the 'travel' of the compression mechanism. With the adjustment screw fully in it does not provide enough leverage to completely compress the strings to the frets on my RainSong 12 string thus rendering it completely ineffective. I would imagine on a Taylor and other very thin necks the same thing would occur. I padded the bottom 'tongue' with various materials and can make it work, and then the 'new material' of the compression surface actually works very well – so on a fat neck like a Washburn (c-neck) this might be a great device. However for the price (compared to a Shub or other 12-string specific capo) I would label this as having poor design qualities (needs a bigger opening and longer adjustment screw) and cannot give it a good rating nor recommend it.Dave

Fatal flaw – if your style is such that you bend the higher strings, they do not return in tune. Bent strings stay bent. Be clear – you cannot bend the unwound strings with this capo. Worse yet, the manufacturer wanted me to return to capo to the UK, at my cost, in order to provide me with a different, less expensive model which he says will work better, as a straight exchange. In other words, spend half the cost of the capo in postage to receive a less expensive capo.Cal

Previous to this purchase, I have been using capos by Kyser and Shubb. Like most products, each of these three capos has things it does well and not so good. The Kyser is the simplest to use. It clamps easily but not so tight that it pulls all the strings sharp and it has a soft pad that seems to wrap over the strings to keep them in place. The down side to the Kyser is it's big and kind of gets in the way, if playing cords close to the capo. For example, if you play Hotel California and capo on the 7th fret, the capo can get in the way when you go to the F7 chord. The Shubb is compact and unobtrusive, but it takes some adjustment to get it tight enough, but not too tight and the rubber pad is pretty hard, so you have to get the tension perfect to avoid lateral sting movement. The nice thing about the Shubb is it has a set screw to adjust tension, so once you get it set, it's pretty consistent IF you get the capo in the same location between the frets and on the same place on the neck. The G7th is very light and compact and looks sleek. The problem that made me downgrade it to 4 stars, is it takes some practice and sometimes multiple attempts to get the capo attached with the perfect amount of tension. This is done by squeezing the G7th on the neck. If you squeeze toohard, you'll push the strings down between the frets and make the guitar sharp. If you don't squeeze hard enough then you can get string buzz. The REAL test of a capo, IMO is when you put it on an electric and they play solos where you bend strings. If the capo isn't tight enough the string will be pushed laterally across the neck and it won't return to the original position, leaving THAT string sharp. To summarize, NONE of the capos I mentioned are perfect. Overall, I'd have to say the Kyser works best, for me. I think it has the softest pad material that clamps on the strings, so it does a good job of keeping the strings in place, while soloing. Just to clarify, I usually put the capo very close to the back side of the fret, rather than in the center between frets, as I find that does the best job of NOT pushing the string down between the frets. On an acoustic where you are only looking to strum open chords in a different key, they all do a good job. Price-wise the G7th is by far the most expensive, so factor that in. To get 5 stars, I think the G7th needs a softer pad to wrap over the strings and keep them in place better laterally. That would allow less tension to securely clamp the strings in place. I think I'd still recommend the Kyser. It performs well, iscost-effective and the only problem is that it's the biggest of the three I mentioned and gets in the way a little.rockingcpa

Best of the best. Guild is #1 and this capo is no exception. Great product, functions perfectly and does its job flawlessly.fournie3095

When using a capo it is necessary that it provide enough tension to keep the strings, especially the bass strings, from buzzing. Any more tension than the minimum necessary to accomplish that does tend to de-tune the guitar by raising its pitch. The Shubb design is the only capo that I have ever used or seen that can be precision adjusted to apply just enough tension to effect the key change without unnecessary de-tuning. All other designs use springs to apply the tension so must be designed to always apply enough tension where the neck is thinnest so must apply more than the minimum necessary. The Shubb has no springs and its tension is fully adjustable. It is also compact and stays out of the players way when being used.Stan

Capo is great sam ash is always delivering quality and fine products . staf is ever so friendly and helpful especially Dana , Andy, and Paul the tech guy all from 34th st mahattan store . these guy are fantastic when it comes to recomenndig.gear and proving customer service . my go.to storeZAMAN

Not to say this is the case with all of these capos but mine lasted 6 months. Either the High or Low E isn't pressed firmly causing it to rattle. Perhaps a dud.Jansen

This is my first capo so I don't have anything to compare it to but it does the job. I just wish I could've gotten it in black (they were all sold out).Tim, K

Kyser capos are great. Their reverse style design doesn't contact your hand while playing. They are a more expensive than competitor capos. One downside is that the springs tend to break if you use it alot. And this usually occurs after the warranty expires. Almost impossible to fix. Other than that they are great.njweb60

Works very well keeping the strings down tight on the fret board. You need to exert a lot of pressure to apply it, perhaps a little too much. It flies out of my hands at times when I try putting it on with one hand. Really not good for a quick key change because of this. It is solidly made so all that dropping won't hurt it at all.tps2u2

This capo is really cheap and easy to use! It doesn't use a spring like other capos, so the strings stay tuned. I would recommend it for practice or just playing in general. It could be used for performing, it just takes a few more seconds to tighten it. Great quality. Great product.SapphireRayne

The color, and mechanics are the best.I consider my self Lucky to have gotten them.The bags to carry and store them are one of a kind.alle_toma

Have played a 12 string for 40 years. Capos have always been a big problem, and I've tried them all. Why didn't anyone think of this concept before now? Fabulous product.No need to re tune at all. First position chords always sound best on a 12er, and now I can play them in any key. Job well done. DLP.. icatmor45

This promises a new material to work on 12-strings which provide a dissimilar string height and diameter due to octave strings on the E through G strings. Its only drawback is the 'travel' of the compression mechanism. With the adjustment screw fully in it does not provide enough leverage to completely compress the strings to the frets on my RainSong 12 string thus rendering it completely ineffective. I would imagine on a Taylor and other very thin necks the same thing would occur. I padded the bottom 'tongue' with various materials and can make it work, and then the 'new material' of the compression surface actually works very well – so on a fat neck like a Washburn (c-neck) this might be a great device. However for the price (compared to a Shub or other 12-string specific capo) I would label this as having poor design qualities (needs a bigger opening and longer adjustment screw) and cannot give it a good rating nor recommend it.Dave