Capo shoppers must sometimes choose between ease of use and adjustability, but the NS Artist offers both. You can operate it one-handed and clamp it to the headstock when not in use, but the clamping angle is more straight-down than on other trigger-style models, and you can tailor the tension via a spring-adjustment dial without removing the capo.
Properly placed and adjusted, it provides even (but not excessive) tension across all strings. I barely needed to touch the tuners when I positioned the NS Artist at the 1st or 4th fret. Icing on the cake: an onboard pick holder and a mount for an optional NS tuner.
Test Gear: 2005 Larrivee parlor, 1974 Washburn dreadnought
Ratings
Pros:
One-hand operation. Even, adjustable pressure across all strings.
Cons:
None—and it costs just a couple of bucks more than a basic trigger-style model.
Street:
$16
Company
planetwaves.com
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
The shift to 3D printing allows for intricate detailing and tighter tolerances, ensuring each nut meets exact specifications.
The process begins with powdered metal, which is precisely 3D printed into the desired shape using advanced metal printing technology. After printing, the parts are depowdered and cleaned before undergoing a sintering process—an advanced heat treatment—during which the parts achieve full density and hardness. Lastly, the nuts are CNC “kiss-cut” to exacting specifications for consistency and control of the fit before receiving a premium electroplating finish.
“Floyd Rose has always been synonymous with innovation, and by embracing this incredible new technology we are able to continue that legacy,” said Andrew Papiccio, president of AP International Music Supply of which Floyd Rose is a division. “The accuracy and flexibility of the new 3D printing method will allow us to make a more consistent piece while also giving us full control of the manufacturing right here in the USA.”
Initially, the 3D-printed locking nuts will be available in ten classic sizes with a 10” radius, with plans to expand the range to accommodate various fretboard radii in Spring 2025. This augmentation will offer players more options for customizing their setups to match a wide variety of fretboard curvatures.
To get a sneak peek at the new Floyd Rose USA Series, come visit us at NAMM in booth 5734 in Hall D.
