Planet Waves Dual Action Capo + Tuner

Planet Waves NS Dual Action Capo & Tuner

Spring is the time that we think about playing out more at jams, gigs and music festivals. Folk festivals are some of my favorites for informal performing.  I like the New Jersey Folk Festival for that reason.  I can remember people in the audience bringing their instruments to play along with us up on stage.  Now THAT is audience participation!  So anything that helps make bringing an instrument along easier is going to get my attention.

The PW Capos fit my Martin Guitar necks perfectly.

Planet Waves NS Dual Action Capo...

PW NS Dual Action Capo

When the original Planet Waves Dual Action Capo first came out, I loved it. It is sturdy, easy to adjust, (I could actually take it off and move it on the fly) and stays put. The adjustable spring allows for the perfect fit and the curved back seems to fit my Martin necks perfectly.

PLUS Tuner
My womanly hands are small but I have no problem clamping and unclasping the Dual Action Capo.  So when the upgrade arrived, I had no problem switching over.  The mechanism is the same only now you have a little tuner on the end!  The tuner is very accurate and easy to activate. The only downside is that it doesn't display the actual note. I've used it mostly to tweak a properly tuned guitar using a pedal tuner like their Tru-Strobe.  Once your guitar is tuned to the proper notes, you just need a little fine tuning so seeing the note you are playing is not as important at that point.

Planet Waves Tru-Strobe Pedal Tuner should be your starting point for accurate baseline tuning

NS Capo Tuner

Planet Waves NS Dual Action Capo - Tuner  
One of the things that I like about this combo capo & tuner is somewhat obvious.  You don't have to bring two guitar accessories as you have both the capo and tuner in one.
What is cool is that you can offer it to someone whose tuner is failing and they always say. "Wow, your capo has a tuner on it too?"  You look like the genius in the room and your playing buddy gets their instrument tuned.
Here are the specs on this tuner straight from the Planet Waves website:

NS Capo Tuner The NS Capo Tuner combines the widely acclaimed NS Dual Action Capo with a Planet Waves precision chromatic tuner. the first of its kind, the NS Capo tuner provides accurate tuning at any fret or when clipped on the headstock of your acoustic or electric guitar. the patented compound action of the dual action capo reduces the force necessary to open and close the capo. it also eliminates side pulling the strings out of tune, a common issue with standard trigger-type capos. lightweight, accurate and easy to use, simply adjust the micrometer tension knob just enough to eliminate string buzzing and enjoy repeatable in-tune performance at every fret. Designed to fit standard 6- and 12-string guitars. The upper lights indicate sharp conditions in the same manner as the lower lights indicate flat conditions. Tuner will automatically power off after 4 minutes. Designed for acoustic and electric guitars with radiused fretboards Intergraded Single hand operation tuner and Micrometer tension adjustment assures buzz-free in-tune performance at any fret Single hand Aircraft grade aluminum construction Aircraft grade aluminum construction Designed for 6- and most 12-string guitars Planet Waves NS Series capos are the result of an ongoing collaboration between famed product designer Ned Steinberger, Jim D'Addario and Planet Waves. PW Headstock Tuner I mostly use the tiny PW Headstock Tuner these days because it shows the the musical note and it is small enough that I can leave it on the headstock and put the guitar in the case.  It sort of lives on the headstock now and I haven't noticed any scratches or discoloration as a result. However I still bring along the NS Capo Tuner to gigs to use and to have in case one of my band-mates tuner fails or gets left at home.  This goes for myself as well!!!  It's good to have a backup plan and having a dual action capo / tuner like this on board is just good policy.

My Karaoke Machine allows me to change keys for my vocal track keys which I then capo up the neck of the guitar.