Testimonials and FAQs

---

The part of the capo that touches the 5th string is METAL. This particular grade of metal used in either stainless steel or bronze capos improves the timbre and sustain, maximizing the tone of your banjo. The side tensioning adjusting knob is an engineering-grade plastic designed for strength.

Our website shopping cart lets you buy securely with or without a PayPal account. See details at the end of these FAQs.

A company focused on developing creative banjo accessories—an Australian company staffed with American product development engineers and pickers from Kentucky and Australia. Major products include the newly patented side tensioned 5th-string banjo capo. This is a relatively new capo product (perhaps the first 5th string capo design in the 21st century). These side-tensioned capos have been sold in the USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and many other countries since 2012.

Our 5th string banjo capo engages the string precisely over the fret center; as the side adjusting knob is tightened, the banjo 5th string is slightly tensioned, pulling it a little towards the side of the banjo neck. (patented)

With the fifth string in contact with the capo slot, vertically and horizontally, banjo string vibration is better transferred to the instrument for a better timbre and sustain.

Better tone creation, no holes to drill, removable when not needed, can be used in more positions on the banjo neck.

1. Insert the capo under the string and over the fret. Make sure the slot under the capo is centered on the fret, the bottom of the capo is flat on the neck, and the string is in the slot on top of the capo.

2. Make sure that when tightening, the capo doesn’t move off that position and sit half on and half off the top of the fret; an angled capo lessens tone and, more importantly, reduces stability on the banjo.

3. Lightly tighten the capo to observe the slight deflection of the string towards the edge of the neck. Do not tighten until the adjusting knob stops turning. The best sound varies with the banjo, but it is usually between a slight string deflection (side-tensioned) and the end of knob travel. 

The pressure exerted on the banjo string is no more than other banjo capo devices.

Hey! competitive capos require drilling holes into your banjo. HOLES!! Not having to drill holes is a benefit, and the side tensioning knob has a rubber bumper to protect the side of the banjo neck. Under proper use and care, users report no problems.

The string does not have to be “lifted” anymore. It has to be pressed down with other banjo capo designs. Professionals usually fine-tune the fifth string after applying any design capo, but it is generally unnecessary because the Banjo Highway sets over the center of the fret. (see testimonials)

Yes, unless the banjo bridge is highly misaligned (in which case, it should be centered anyway) or the “action” is set up to an unusually non-standard height.

Users report no specific preference. Open-back banjos seem to benefit from the material properties of our stainless steel banjo capos, but bronze is cool!

It’s a personal choice. Here is a side-by-side comparison.

The Banjo Highway capo is a unique design requiring a special manufacturing process. Each capo is tested and fine-tuned on a banjo. Compared to the combined cost of other banjo capos and luthier installation fees, the price usually makes the Banjo Highway capo a cost-effective product.

Other methods use plastic or felt to contact the banjo neck. The result is a dull sound and a visually inferior appearance. The Banjo Highway the 5th string capo looks excellent but, above all else, sounds better.

Yes, it does. Some guitar players use it on the 1st string, which is also a radiused neck for alternate tunings.

Certainly, it works further up the neck where no spikes exist, or other fixed capos run out of sliding travel. The best answer, however, is “maybe.” It probably would work if the spikes were installed EXACTLY centered between the frets. Otherwise, the spikes will interfere with the proper positioning of the Banjo Highway capo. See the first testimonial above from a user. Contact us for more information.

Same problem with finger picks, tuners, and regular capos. To help solve all these problems, a microfiber accessory pouch (shown below) is included with each Banjo Highway capo to store these items when not in use. Additionally, a plastic “gig clip” is included with each purchase. It can be put in various positions.

Yes, contact us for details.

2 ways to proceed...

1. Signing up for a PayPal account is now optional. You can complete the payments and decide whether to save your information in a PayPal account for future purchases.

Here’s how this easy checkout works:

a. Select the capo you want, Bronze or Stainless Steel

b. “Add to Cart”

c. Click “Check Out with PayPal.” DO NOT USE “CHECKOUT”

d. Click “Pay with a Credit or Debit Card.” (It’s below the PayPal login section.)

e. Enter your details, name, address, credit card, email address, etc.

f. Do not “Save your information with PayPal.” (unless you want to open a regular PayPal account. This is optional)

Please note that PayPal’s fraud prevention measures remain effective for buyers who use this checkout. PayPal applies the same techniques for this checkout as other transactions.

2. (Alternatively) You can go to a Post Office and do a Western Union money order or send us a Bank Cashier’s check. If you decide to do this, “Contact Us.” We will issue and email you an invoice with instructions.