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Writer's pictureBen Capoist

Tamnus 3-in-1 Guitar Capo


Get your Tamnus 3-in-1 Capo Here


Ever want a capo that doubles as a pick holder and triples as a peg puller? No? Well, the thought had never occurred to us either. When we first saw the Tamnus 3-in-1 capo it struck us as a cheap gimmick. After testing it, we are pleasantly surprised by this low-priced capo. This capo will get the job done at a great price.


The Make

The Tamnus is a zinc-alloy quick-release capo. The body is completely metal and feels sturdy when you hold it. It is also light, which seems to meant that it is hollow. The hollowness gives is a sort-of-cheap feel. We like how wide the grip is. The size means that the leverage is larges and it is not too hard to open. Also the body is thick and flat, which we enjoyed using. It is easy to get on and off the guitar. The silicone pad is also solid.


The Spring

This capo has a steel spring that does the clamping. We find that the tension provided by the capo is on the light side. This makes us nervous for a few reasons.


First, the light tension means it can be annoying to get on. All capos have the potential to buzz if you place them incorrectly. The Tamnus requires you to be more correct, that is there is less room for error. Guitars with higher-tension in the strings you will need to place it just right to avoid the dreaded buzz. We think that you should be able to use it, but you might need to fiddle with it a bit.


Second, for some guitars this won't work at all. There is a spectrum in how much tension guitars have in their strings and how strong a capo needs to be. Adjustable capos should work with them all. Higher quality spring-loaded capos, like the Kyser, come with a high tension in their strings to avoid buzz with most guitars. So, if you have a 12-string, probably the Tanmus should not be your choice.


Thirdly, the lower tension in the spring means that the Tamnus is more movable than others. If you're really into a lick and slide your hand into the capo you can knock it out of place if you're not careful. We think you'll get used to it over time, but you'll need to play around it.


Also, we just need to say this somewhere - the capo in inappropriate for classical guitars. This is true in general - classical guitars have flat fret-boards and acoustics have slightly rounded ones and the capos should match. This is an acoustic capo, so it is slightly rounded. However, this capo has the additional problem in that it is too short for many classical guitars!


Fundamentally, this capo should work for most people and many guitars. The spring tension isn't awful, but it is on the light side.


The Extras

The Tamnus is called the "3-in-1 capo" because it comes with a few extra features. First, on the top of the capo is a rubber slot, called the "360°clamping pick holder." You can put one pick in there, and we have found that it works well. The pick is easy enough to get it, it stays in there until you pull it out. Awesome! Some will enough the convenience of this feature.


Second, there is a "peg puller," which is really a gap in the metal at the bottom of one of the arms. The pegs are the little guys that hold the strings in place in the bridge of an acoustic guitar. We actually love this little feature. So, this is to use when you are chasing your own strings on an acoustic. First you need to cut the old strings, the you need to pull out the pegs. Sometimes the pegs are tough to get out with finger strength. At times we have restored to using pliers, which scratched the pegs (no big deal) and has the potential to scratch the wood (a bid deal). This peg pulling feature on the Tamnus is great.


There is more! The capo also comes with some extras, that is four picks and a lovely carry sack. We don't really care for the picks, but the sack was a nice touch.


The Tamnus comes in a range of colors, including Black, Bronze, Wood Grain, Silver, Metallic Silver and even Rainbow


Conclusion

We think that most people will be satisfied with the Tamnus 3-in-1 capo. This guy gets the job done. It is well made for the price point. We are concerned about the light tension, and this will be a reason for some to be wary.


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