Tribo-tone Bar - WOW!

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 23 Apr 2008 6:24 am

Yesterday I just received my 2.75" x 3/4" Tribo-tone bar. Its creamy white in color and weighs exactly three ounces. My initials are engraved into the thumb-indent cap.

I've been using a Delrin plastic bar for the past two years so I was a bit skeptical when the Tribotone bar came on the market. My Delrin bar was made by a hobbyist builder who produces only a few bars a year. So I was happy to see the Tribo-tone Company producing these bars in quantity and making them easily available. But again, I wasn't expecting anything significantly different or better from what I had been using.

There is a difference.

I always thought my Delrin bar was smooth to the touch and quiet on the strings but comparing them side by side, the Delrin actually feels a bit rough next to the Tribo-tone.

The Tribo-tone feels significantly silkier and smoother and it's visual appearance is shinier and more mirror-like.

Sound wise, again I always thought the Delrin was quiet on the strings but the Tribo-tone is quieter. Bar chatter is reduced - the clicking, metallic sounds produced by lifting and placing the bar on and off the strings is virtually gone.

Feel wise, compared to the Delrin, the Tribo-tone slides effortlessly on the strings. When sliding between notes and chords with the Tribo-tone you hear the music, not the bar. The Tribo-tone also feels great in your hand. It has almost an "organic" (for lack of a better word) feel compared to a metal bar.

Eric Ebner has a winner here with his line of Tribo-tone bars. He is producing a professional level, smartly packaged, 100% quality product. His steel guitar bars are world class.

My next bar? Another Tribo-tone - this time I'll be brave and get one in color!

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 23 Apr 2008 6:37 am

Always good to hear of another happy Tribo-Tone user!

IMHO the Tribo-Tone B weight is the ideal tone bar.

Fred

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 23 Apr 2008 7:57 am

You got it yesterday and you think it's good now? Ha! Just wait till you've used it for a week or two..

Steinar

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 23 Apr 2008 8:04 am

If after using this or other new style bars of light weight and less noise for a year or more and it becoming 'a part of you', do you think it would be a problem should you find youself needing to use the old standard chrome bar, since it sounds as tho your once ingrained techniques may morph to accomodate the attributes of this/these bars?

I'm still skeptical of these new light weight bars for tone compared to a larger chromie like my Dunlop 3" X 3/4" which left my smaller JB Dunlop in the dust.
In a A/B test, how do you think the TriboTone would fare next to a larger chome bar?

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 23 Apr 2008 9:25 am

I notice that several of you guys play acoustic and electric both. I've been considering getting a tribotone bar. But I'm going through a decidedly very strong acoustic phase right now. Do the tribotone bars have as dramatic an affect on an acoustic guitar as they do an electric? Somebody said they're light. I tend to prefer a heavier bar. I use a brozophonic.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 23 Apr 2008 10:06 am

The Tribotone "B" weight is about the same size and weight as a Brozophonic, so that should work fine.
I find the difference to be even more 'dramatic' on an acoustic since string noise tends to be more of an issue there (at least for me).

Steinar

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 23 Apr 2008 10:07 am

I own and use the B-weight (5 ounce) Tribo-tone bar, and I play it on both electric and acoustic instruments. I have been playing my National Style 1.5 squareneck tricone with this bar for quite a while, and I love it.

I find that it seems smoother to me on either type of instrument. I notice very little difference in weight between it and my Broz-O-Phonic, but I am sure it is lighter. It just doesn't seem to make that much of a difference to me.

The difference is in the way it slides along the strings. The Tribo-tone bar doesn't make as much noise or feel like it's hindering your movement at all. If you play in a style that makes use of string noise as part of your sound, then this might not be the bar for you. Otherwise, I'd recommend it.

http://www.tribotone.com/slides.html

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 23 Apr 2008 10:07 am

Ron,

You write

In a A/B test, how do you think the TriboTone would fare next to a larger chome bar?

Many times it's hard A/B'ing musical instruments and accessories.

Remember the famous Jerry Byrd at Winchester story. At a late night jam JB played a bunch of steels - all brands, all price ranges. He made them all sound good. One guy complained that his guitar could not produce clean harmonics. JB had no problem making that guitar chime.

I don't like heavy bars - too much real estate to slide around on the strings. Other people like the weight.

Eric Ebner · Post by **Eric Ebner** » 23 Apr 2008 11:33 am

Thanks for the kind comments!!! I appreciate the feedback and the music:-)

ABOUT WEIGHT: Our "C" weight bar is the highest mass per unit volume bar ever offered on the market.
170 grams, 3/4 diameter, 3.00" length, radius nose, with thumb indent. Same goes for our "I" style bar.

We offer a wide spectrum of weight choices. Gerald's bar is a fully customized bar built exactly to his specifications. If he had wanted the heaviest bar on the market (for that size) I could have built it as well.

Our "B" weight bar is about the average weight you would find in a metal bar of it's size... only it's not metal!

Thanks again,
Eric

Paul Smith · Post by **Paul Smith** » 23 Apr 2008 11:58 am

Hello,

I also am the owner of a very fine black "B" weight
Tribo-Tone bar.... I have owned mine for about
2 months now and absolutely love it. I play mostly
Blues on both acoustic and electric lap steel and use the tribo-tone on both... I used to use a chrome bar
and the string "scratch" had become part of my sound... but I just love the tone and feel of this bar and its really easy to hang on to... much easier than my chrome bar. I use a bullet type bar extensively for recording and playing live gigs... its so nice to play with more confidence, not having to worry about the bar slipping out of my hand(and I have come close) I find the thumb indentation to be perfect for slants as well...

thanks Eric for a very fine product

smitty

Jude Reinhardt · Post by **Jude Reinhardt** » 23 Apr 2008 12:21 pm

I've got three Tribo-tones and if I could only have one bar for all playing situations it would be my bar of choice. I've also got three Red Rajahs, one Black Phoenix and a lot of steel bars of different sizes and weights. They all get used but, and this is the big but. The Tribo-tone can be used anywhere. Big fat round wound strings or abrasive stainless strings don't phase it. You just don't have to worry about hurting the bar. There is a certain feel to bars and I guess it's what you're used to or your level of development as a player but some just feel better than others. If the Red Rajah was as durable as the Tribo-tone it would be my first choice as I like the feel of it better. It feels better to my hand, is almost as slick but I won't touch a stainless string with it. Nor big fat Phosphor bronze on the acoustics.
I think I'm starting to babble so I'll close.
Jude

Darrell Urbien · Post by **Darrell Urbien** » 23 Apr 2008 1:45 pm

I'm just a beginner, and don't know what weight or style I would prefer. Which would you start with?

Mark White · Post by **Mark White** » 23 Apr 2008 2:48 pm

I have a 7\8 Tribo Tone bar and absolutely love it. Slick and quiet on the strings and easier than chrome or stainless to hold on to. The weight on my bar is close to the same as my last bar of choice, a 7\8 Black Phoenix (I like a little heft to my bar and like Eric said, he can make you what you want, weight wise). Eric is a great guy to deal with.

Martin Huch · Post by **Martin Huch** » 23 Apr 2008 2:53 pm

in short words: To me the Tribo-Tone Bar is a miracle !
Especially on Resonators and Weissenborns. During recording sessions my old chrome and steel bars sometimes drove me crazy with their scratchnoises. Playing on quieter songs I even watched myself reducing my vibrato to avoid these noises.............!!
Since I got my first TriboTone, all these problems are
gone forever !!
Thanks a lot Eric !! but here is my biggest request: Please make a Stevens Style Bar !!!!!!!!!!

regards from Germany, Martin

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 23 Apr 2008 3:22 pm

Darrell Urbien writes:

I'm just a beginner, and don't know what weight or style I would prefer. Which would you start with?

I don't know what to tell you Darrell. The one thing I do know is that I have spent much money over the years on musical experiments. Every time I buy I new instrument I probably spend $25-$35 on different sets of strings - just trying to find the right set for that instrument.

When I started on the lap steel in 1998 I thought that a heavier bar was best. I used to take Dunlop Jerry Byrd bars, pop off the end cap and load the hollow center with metal fishing sinkers - just to increase the weight. Over the years I've bought and disgarded at least 15 different size and weight bars (I'm looking at them now as I write). Now I want an extra light bar. Go figure...

I don't know... I guess a Tribo-Tone that best matches the 2.75 x 3/4 Dunlop Jerry Byrd bar in weight - but you'll get a thousand different opinions on this topic.

Good luck.

Keith Wells · Post by **Keith Wells** » 23 Apr 2008 4:22 pm

Oh no, not another tone-bar thread! I managed to get through the "What tone bar do you use?" thread without spending any money, but now I think I just gotta get myself a new bar.

I bought my bar before I found this forum, and I chose a 7/8 X 3 1/4 Ernie Ball, which turned out to be almost exacltly the same size as the 11/16 socket I was using until it arrived. (except the socket had a convenient thumb indent, and the Ernie Ball doesn't)

I like the "big bar," but it does occasionally get away from me, especially when trying to play reverse slants with any speed. And man, you never know what's going to happen when that thing gets free)

Anyway, my question is about bar diameter. Obviously the grip is a little bigger, but is there any other differences between smaller and larger diameter bars? If say you could have a 5/8 diameter bar and a 7/8 diameter bar with the same weight, would there be any difference in tone or playability other than the grip?

Terry Farmer · Post by **Terry Farmer** » 23 Apr 2008 4:39 pm

I'll add my endorsement of the TriboTones. IMHO, they're the best bars on the market, hands down. I've got a 7/8 x 3" custom. It came in at 6.3 oz. I just received a 3/4 x 3" "C" weight. I love 'em both! I'll probably go ahead and make it a threesome and add the 3/4 "B" weight to the stable.

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 23 Apr 2008 5:00 pm

I love my Tribo-Tone bars as well. I have had a B weight for several months and just recieved the C weight that I ordered from Eric at the Texas Jamboree. The lack of string noise and smooth sliding is amazing. I also feel it pulls out a sweet vibrato in my playing.
I have no trouble switching back to a chrome or stainless bar, although it took me a few sessions to get used to the tribo-tone .

My opinion ...I think it is the best bar out there, plus it's hand crafted and made in the good ole USA . I like supporting these craftsmen.... a dying breed .
Todd

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 23 Apr 2008 6:14 pm

I'm loving this bar also....got my 3" today.......

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 23 Apr 2008 6:17 pm

I've been using the JB Dunlop 3/4 X 2 3/4 bar for quite a while. I have a 2 7/8 version but found I like the 2 3/4 best. I don't know what it weighs, but I would have to have a new bar of the same weight, as the 3/4 X 2 3/4 Dunlop, if that's possible.

How are those new bars for grip? Easy to hold onto?

Gary Stevenson · Post by **Gary Stevenson** » 23 Apr 2008 6:49 pm

Just another kudo's to the slickest bar going. My Red with initials is great. works on every type of strings that I have tried. Gary

Will Houston · Post by **Will Houston** » 23 Apr 2008 8:56 pm

Whats with the M bar, is that just a lighter version of the Tribo-tone? Does anybody use an M bar?
Ya I wish these threads would stop coming up, sooner or later I'm gonna have to get me one of them there bars.
Will

Jude Reinhardt · Post by **Jude Reinhardt** » 23 Apr 2008 11:19 pm

The M bar is the same material but is lighter in weight than the other 3/4" bars. I've got two, a white and a black one. Mine weigh 3.3 oz. and are 3 X 3/4".

Jude

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 24 Apr 2008 4:42 am

I got my 2-7/8 X 3/4 B weight Tribo-Tone bar a few months ago and really like it for both electric and acoustic steel. Mine is white, which works very well visually when playing my black Bakelite Ric, especially in dim light.

Speaking of light, I sometimes use a gooseneck mini reading light with a spring clamp base when playing the Ric in dim light. You can find a selection at good bookstores for about $20 each.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 24 Apr 2008 8:07 am

I just ordered a Tribotone bar, just to see if you guys know what you are talking about!!

I will be back with my analysis later.

Aloha,

Don

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Tribo-tone Bar - WOW!

Tribo-tone Bar - WOW!

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