FAQ
Fit and Compatibility
Will it work on an electric guitar?
You can put it on one, but we didn't design it for electrics and we can't promise how it will perform. It's built around steel-string acoustic necks. Plenty of electric necks fall in a similar range, so it may well work fine on yours — we just won't tell you it will.
Will it mark or damage my neck?
The pad that contacts your neck is untanned Tandy leather, chosen specifically because it won't react with guitar finishes. Tanning chemicals are what cause leather to cloud or lift a nitrocellulose finish over time, so we leave them out. It's a more expensive way to build a capo and it's the reason you can leave ours clamped on without worrying about what it's doing to the neck.
Will it work on a classical or nylon-string guitar?
No. Classical necks start around 2‑1/16" at the nut and get wider from there, which is past the reach of even the 2.1" blade. Steel-string only.
Will it work on a 12-string?
Honestly: we didn't design it for one. The 2.1" blade will physically fit most 12-strings, but getting enough tension across twelve strings means fighting the knob. It works. It isn't fun. If you play 12-string most of the time, go in knowing that.
Very wide-taper necks — especially older 12-strings — can also run past the blade's reach.
Does the fretboard radius matter?
No, and you don't need to measure it. Silicone bumpers on the blade absorb the difference across roughly 9" to 18", which covers every steel-string guitar in common production. For reference, most Martins are 16", most Taylors 15", and Gibsons run 10" to 12" — all well inside the range.
Which blade size do I need - 2.0" or 2.1"?
It depends on two things: how wide your neck is at the nut, and how far up the neck you capo. As a rule, a 1‑11/16" or 1‑3/4" nut takes the 2.0" blade if you capo at the 7th fret or below. A 1‑7/8" or wider nut takes the 2.1", and so does a narrower neck if you regularly play higher up — necks widen as they run toward the body.
Our sizing tool walks you through it in two questions, and there's a printable gauge if you'd rather measure your own neck. [link]
What makes the Colorado Capo unique?
Our patented blade design solves three common capo problems:
- Comfort – The blade sits flush behind the fret, giving your hand more room. No more cramped chords.
- Stays in Tune – Minimal string deflection means no retuning between songs.
- Customizable Tone – Swap between aluminum (bright) and brass (warm) blades to dial in your sound.
Bonus: Custom etching available for logos, names, or artwork.
Choosing
Aluminum or brass — is there really a tone difference?
Yes, though it's subtle rather than dramatic. Aluminum is brighter and tighter. Brass adds some warmth and depth, and a little more sustain. Both are machined identically and fit exactly the same, so it's purely a tone and weight preference — not a fit decision.
Blades swap in seconds, so plenty of players keep both and choose depending on the guitar.
What's a Relic'd Capo?
These are capos with cosmetic blemishes — scratches or finish flaws that happened in production. They function exactly like a standard capo; they just don't look as clean. We priced them lower rather than throw them out.
Can I put a different blade on a capo I already own?
Yes. Blades are interchangeable across all our capos, so you can add a size or a material without buying another capo.
Using It
Where exactly does the capo go?
The blade sits flush behind the fret, not on top of it. That's the whole point of the design — the pressure lands on the fret wire rather than pushing the strings sideways, so the strings barely deflect and your tuning holds.
Can I use the capo without a blade?
No. The blade is what the strings rest against. Without it there's no cushion, and you'd risk damage to the strings and the fretboard.
How do I use the capo?
Ordering
How much is shipping?
Whatever the carrier charges us — we pass the rate straight through and don't mark it up. For most orders that lands between $4 and $8 depending on where you are.
Orders over $70 ship free.
Do you ship internationally?
Not at the moment. It isn't that we don't want your business — international shipping rates on a package this size are high enough that we haven't found a way to offer it at a price that feels fair. We know people outside the US have been asking for years, and it's something we want to solve.
Return policy
Do you sell replacement parts?
Yes. We stock replacement blades, yokes, and leather pieces. Rubber bumpers aren't available yet — we'd like to carry them and it's on the list, but we don't have any on hand right now. If you need one, get in touch and we'll tell you where things stand.
Custom Capo Requirements
Design Size
Please consider the etchable area on the blade when deciding your custom image. For all blades, the etchable area is 1.8” x .6”, which is about the size of the smaller side of a 9V battery.
Design Color
Black and white images respond best to laser etching. Shades of gray (gradients) tend to turn either black or white and create an undesirable outcome. Vectors are ideal.
Custom Blade Policies
- If you don't have the rights to it, please don't upload it. Only upload artwork that you have the right to reproduce.
- Please do not upload images containing explicit sexual content, racist, homophobic, or other offensive themes, or any images that contain disparaging remarks about other people or companies.
- Colorado Capo Company reserves the right to refuse to print/create products with images that violate our upload policies.
- Colorado Capo Company does not acquire any rights to your images when you upload them, other than the right to reproduce, on demand, the artwork for the intended product.
- We reserve the right to produce and photograph blades etched with artwork you upload (excluding signature etchings) for posting on the Colorado Capo Company website and related social media sites.
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time.
About
What makes the Colorado Capo unique?
Our patented blade design solves three common capo problems:
- Comfort – The blade sits flush behind the fret, giving your hand more room. No more cramped chords.
- Stays in Tune – Minimal string deflection means no retuning between songs.
- Customizable Tone – Swap between aluminum (bright) and brass (warm) blades to dial in your sound.
Bonus: Custom etching available for logos, names, or artwork.
Are the capos made in Colorado?
No — and we'd rather say so plainly than let you find out later. They're designed here in the United States and manufactured overseas through a US production partner.
The name isn't about where they're built. Our founders love Colorado and the music scene there, and named the company after it.