Visionary Instruments: Bob Kilgore's Harmonic Capo

A few months ago, I stumbled upon the website of fellow guitarist and mad scientist Bob Kilgore, a commendable touchstyle player and wily inventor whose banner slogan on the top of his home page reads, "It's not cheating if you thought of it first."  The quote refers to his creation, the Harmonic Capo, a device as mind-altering as it is spare and elegant. 

The Harmonic Capo is not an instrument per say, but given that it so radically transforms the way a person plays the guitar, I consider it to be a real-world "plug-in," like the third-party software synthesizers that allow me to explore entirely new sonic vistas with my computer. 

First of all, let me explain what the harmonic capo is and does, with my first attempt at an educational video:


Luckily, I was able to get in on the first round of beta testing and be the 14th person in the world to goof off with this awesome new device.  As an above-and-beyond gesture of gratitude for my feedback, Bob sent me the finalized harmonic capo he's now selling to the public - and it's had some major improvements.  Below is the original design:


Pretty, right?  The only thing is that the early model was fraught with numerous (if minor) design issues.  First of all, the pads were made of earplugs held in place with brass clips.  Not only is this not the optimal material for the purpose (it's too springy, and can change shape after the capo has been properly placed), but as removable elements they were easy to lose.  Secondly, the feet that kept the capo in place over the 12th fret were made of some kind of flexible metal that easily deformed, making it difficult to handle or transport without fear of breaking them.  And lastly, because it was impossible to calibrate the height of each earplug pad with much precision, Bob originally put a tiny screw on either end of the capo to raise and lower the entire row of pads. 

The end result was unnecessarily complex (too many moving parts), and consequently so fragile that it never left my bedroom for a gig.

Here's a closer look at Bob's market-ready redesign:


Classy, right?  Several delicate metal elements (including the fret-hugging feet) have been replaced with hard plastics, and the strap clips are noticeably more robust.  The pad material is a firm but flexible rubber, and the pads themselves are now integrated into the capo (but easily removed or replaced, if necessary).  With the pads' new design, it is no longer necessary to calibrate their heights with bridge screws - in other words, the new harmonic capo is a much more durable, user-friendly, and playable device (even though I kind of miss the brass-and-neon finish).

Priced comparably with other capos, Bob's strange little contraption is well worth the "damage," considering how dramatically it shifts a person's perspective on the guitar.  Consequently, I hereby induct Bob Kilgore into the Hall of Visionary Musicians for his ongoing efforts to see a traditional instrument in creative new ways - a perfect example of exaptation.

AND!  Not only can you find Bob's own explanatory and demonstrative videos at his website, weaseltrap.com, but both of his solo albums are available there as free downloads as well.  Amen.