D'Addario NS Capo Pro
Black
The capo that lets you set the clamping force instead of guessing it
$15 - $30
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The short version
Every cheap capo has the same fault: a spring strong enough to hold the sixth string down is far too strong for the first, so it bends the thin strings sideways and the chord comes out sharp. The NS Capo Pro replaces the spring with a screw and a micrometer adjuster, so you set exactly enough pressure to stop the buzz and no more. That is the whole design, it is aircraft-grade aluminium, and it is why this is the capo that turns up in repair shops.
How we rate it
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
- Tuning stability
- 9.0
- Ease of use
- 6.0
- Build
- 9.0
- Versatility
- 8.0
- Value
- 8.0
Specifications
| Brand | D'Addario |
|---|---|
| Model | NS Capo ProBlack |
| Category | Capos |
| What it is | |
| Mechanism | Screw, with a micrometer tension adjuster |
| Colour | Black |
| Materials | |
| Material | Aircraft-grade aluminium |
| Fit | |
| Fingerboard curve | Radiused fingerboards, six and twelve string |
7 verified fields, taken from the manufacturer first and the Amazon listing second. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.
What it gets right
- Micrometer adjustment eliminates the sharpness a spring capo causes
- Aircraft-grade aluminium, light and effectively indestructible
- Works on six and twelve-string, acoustic and electric
- The tension setting holds, so it only needs adjusting when you move fret
Where it gives ground
- Much slower to fit and move than a trigger capo
- Needs readjusting as you move up the neck
- Costs several times what a spring capo does
Who it is for
What owners report
Patterns drawn from published owner reviews. Summarised, never quoted.
What comes up most
- Tuning accuracy compared with spring capos is the dominant reason owners cite
- Build quality and weight come up repeatedly
- Twelve-string players single it out as the one that works for them
Frequent complaints
- Speed of use is the main complaint against trigger capos
- Some owners find the adjustment fiddly at first
- A minority report the rubber pad wearing after long use
Recognised strengths
- The core claim - it does not pull the strings sharp - is very widely confirmed
Recognised weaknesses
- Not the capo for anyone who needs to move it quickly
The verdict
If you have ever put a capo on and wondered why the guitar suddenly sounds out of tune, this is the fix, and on a twelve-string or a guitar with a tall action the difference is not subtle. The cost is speed: a spring capo goes on in half a second with one hand, and this takes a few seconds and a small adjustment when you move it up the neck, because the strings get shallower as you go. If you change capo position mid-song, buy a trigger capo instead and accept the tuning penalty.
We do not publish prices, because Amazon prices change constantly and a stale figure helps nobody. Follow the link for the current price and availability.
Sources
Compared with
Other capos
AROMA · Capos
Adjustable Tension Capo
Antique Copper
Adjustable clamping pressure at a price where nobody else offers it
IMUSGO · Capos
Trigger Capo
Black
The plain, cheap trigger capo, with a release lever that saves your strings
Kyser · Capos
Quick-Change Capo
Black, six-string acoustic
The original one-handed capo, and the shape every cheap capo is copying
TANMUS · Capos
3-in-1 Capo
Black, with pick holder and pin puller
A trigger capo that also holds your picks and pulls bridge pins
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