Development Timeline

It has been quite the product development journey!
Here are the highlights of our 3+ year product development process for the Thalia Capo so far...


Sept 2011
Thalia has the original idea for the capo...

One day as 8-year old Thalia Bradley was playing guitar, she gazed up at the poster of Taylor Swift on her wall. Taylor was holding a beautifully inlaid Koa wood guitar. As she focused on Taylor's guitar, she had a big idea that would ultimately lead to the invention of the Thalia Capo.
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May 2012
Dozens of different design solutions are explored and dozens of prototypes are made but the scrap pile grows as we continue to look for a better method...

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October 2012
"Reverse Action" idea using a mechanical linkage is developed and we make our first 3D-printed prototype of the radical new design that will become the Thalia Capo...

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December 2012
Initial tests were promising so we machine the first metal "FrankenCapo" to model and test spring tension and determine different ways to achieve desired flex action...

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May 2013
Once mechanism design is stable we begin industrial design phase and select a more streamlined industrial design...

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June 2013
Finally the industrial design is complete and implemented and we create our first computer rendering of the new design...

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August 2013
After many refinements we machine an aluminum prototype of the new design so that we can complete further testing...

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September 2013
Refinements are made and the first aluminum wax casting sample is made to test and validate the new design as a potential die-cast product...


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November 2013
More refinements are made and we commission the creation of a set of single cavity die-cast molds...


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December 2013
First shots out of the molds are made, plated and assembled for testing...


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January 2014
Laser cutting of veneer samples begins, testing a lot of different materials and processes.


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January 2014
Completed initial builds and began making a series of refinements to the tools to improve performance. Second shot parts are made and tested...


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April 2014
Continue to make refinements and test over 30 different springs as we near the home stretch. Reliability and assembly testing begins and we test laser etching of the logo onto the lever...


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May 2014
Prepare for Kickstarter campaign.. Create video and take photographs. Reliability testing continues and a series of refinements are made to packaging...


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July 2014
We decide that to improve performance and playability that we must redesign the fret pad and commission the creation of a new injection mold for the fret pad.


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August 2014
Team reviews latest parts and the playability of the new fret pads. Team agrees that the critical milestone of having a high-quality product that everyone is excited about is met! Team agrees to move forward with Kickstarter and takes final pictures for websites.


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September 2014
Facebook Page & ThaliaCapos.com Launched to the world. We begin to attract fans and spread the word.


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October 2014
Kickstarter Campaign is launched on October 6, 2014 at 2pm!!!!


November/December 2014
Development is complete and initial Kickstarter orders are fulfilled!


Stay tuned!! We are in the home stretch and will report back as we make progress towards our goal!


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