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Should I Use 5th String Spikes or a 5th String Capo?

Pickers new to the banjo regularly ask us, what capo should I buy and should I get a sliding capo or spikes? 

We recommend for new players, who don’t know which system they want,  that they get spikes for their banjos for these reasons:  When we install spikes in the fingerboard of a banjo, we drill tiny, tiny holes and tap the spikes in to the right depth.  If a player decides after using the spikes for a while that they don’t like them or would rather use a sliding capo, the spikes can be removed, and the tiny holes filled.  Because the holes for the spikes are so tiny, they virtually disappear so the banjo is not very dis-figured by installing spikes. 

The sliding Shubb capo is fastened to the side of the neck with three small screws.  Some players do not like the “raised” feel of the “rail” that is attached to the side of the neck.  While is it rather slim, and close to the neck, it does stick out a little for players who wrap their thumb around the neck or who use their thumb to fret the fifth string.  But, the sliding capo is much faster to change tunings and many players can change their fifth string tuning WHILE playing which is not possible with spikes.  For the player who likes the sliding capo, it is wonderfully fast, positive, accurate, non-distorting and reliable.  

When the sliding capo is removed, there are three very noticeable holes left in the side of the neck that practically cannot be made invisible.  This is not an issue if the capo is installed and stays on the banjo.  So, when a customer asks us which should they chose, we always suggest spikes because if they change their mind and get a sliding capo, their banjo will not show any damage.