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Topic: E.R. Watson bar |
Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2007 6:55 pm |
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About 10 years ago I bought a tone bar from a guy named Warren Pearson, a very good steel player from the mid west. I bought his early 50's Consolette and a bar called a "KONA BAR" made in Escondido, Ca. It is Kelly green with a white dot onthe tip. The Butt end is concave with the writing on it. 15/16 to 3/4 taper 8 string bar in length. Bakelite with lead center i'd suspect.
Please tell me that there is an E.R. Watson company that ever existed, and that you have heard of a KONA BAR 'aloha'. This is the best tonebar for swing that I have ever found. HELP!?!!! Have you seen one for sale? 
EDIT: I'm reviving this thread to see if there are any new members that have info!
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon
Last edited by Rick Abbott on 23 Mar 2018 5:08 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 7 Mar 2007 11:51 pm
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Rick,
You are not hallucinating, having delusions, or even a far-out imagination. There are Kona steel guitar bars. Yours must be around 20 years old.
I ordered and bought the Kona bar from E.R. Watson himself years ago. I believe that I talked to him on the telephone also. It was not a company, but he was a person who just liked to make steel guitar bars.
My Kona bar has all of the information that you have listed on the concave portion- E.R. Watson, Aloha, Escondido, CA 92026. My Kona bar is white with black bakelite on the tip and black background with orange printing on the concave portion.
At one time he was selling quite a few of these bars. I had heard about them and wanted to try it out. I believe they sold for $20.
If my memory serves me right he moved to Grants Pass Oregon where he passed away quite a number of years ago.
Now you know the rest of the story.
Aloha, 
Don |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2007 5:57 am
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Wow!!!! Thanks for the info. I do believe that my bar is much older than 20 years. The guy (Warren) that I bought it from bought it in Cleveland Ohio with a used Gibson Consolette in 1950. Is it possible that Mr. Watson was making bars then? I really appreciate your response.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 8 Mar 2007 12:48 pm
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Rick,
He definitely would have been making bars at that time.
Aloha,
Don |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2007 7:00 pm
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You sir, have made my day!!!!! I have spent many hours trying to find even one reference to this bar. I hope to find another KONA BAR some day to put in the fire-safe. I really like mine on old country, it is so fast and easy to hold. Once again, thank you 
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 25 May 2012 10:42 am
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So, has anyone else played with these? You guys and gals in Cali...any of these being used?
Boy, that one makes my eyes water! Sorry 
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 5:13 am Ten Year Bump
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Well, a couple of months shy of ten years. Where do the years go?
Anyone have one of these? Anyone know where to look for one? Anyone know how to make a bar like this?
It's still my favorite bar. I finally have the hands to use it. A light touch avoids grooving...and, wow does it sound good!
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 6:07 am Re: Ten Year Bump
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[b]
| Rick Abbott wrote: |
Well, a couple of months shy of ten years. Where do the years go?
Anyone have one of these? Anyone know where to look for one? Anyone know how to make a bar like this?
It's still my favorite bar. I finally have the hands to use it. A light touch avoids grooving...and, wow does it sound good! |
I am pretty sure I can make that bar. It would be polymer, not bakelite. It also would not be $20. I would need to know the length, and weight. I will try it and will let you know if in fact I can make it. But again, I will need the numbers above I asked for. If it comes out like it should and you don't want it, I'm sure I will not have a problem getting rid of it.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Last edited by Bill Groner on 23 Mar 2018 3:48 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 6:20 am
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Very interesting, indeed!
The bar is: 15/16" to 3/4" taper over the 3-3/8" length and it weighs 5.7 ounces. I shouldn't be lighter, but a little heavier wouldn't be ruinous.
If you could make these, I think you could sell them. Keep in touch!
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 11:36 am
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Michael Hillman makes a 3.25" powder coated tapered bar that tapers from 7/8" to 5/8". I believe his pricing is $56.95 but you can get a second bar for 1/2 price during his August or February sales. I had him cut 1/4" from a couple of his tapered blanks to make me a couple of 3" tapered bars. Those bars weigh 6 oz. but I expect he can adjust the weight by how much is drilled out of the center. Michael is great to deal with.
Basil H (Ezzee-Slide) made some polymer tapered bars for Lee Jeffries so you may want to check with him. I have one of his straight polymer bars with a weighted insert (looks like copper) and I like it a lot. Gonna be north of $100, I imagine.
Todd Clinesmith makes several sizes of polymer bars but I don't know if he does, or plans to do any tapered bars.
Judging from the machining that goes into his beautiful lap steels, I imagine Bill Groner could turn out an excellent bar as well.
Bill, did you use a weighted insert on the bars you've done so far? |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 11:51 am
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Yes, Bill it has a weighted insert.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 24 Mar 2018 12:06 pm Re: Ten Year Bump
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| Bill Groner wrote: |
[b]
| Rick Abbott wrote: |
Well, a couple of months shy of ten years. Where do the years go?
Anyone have one of these? Anyone know where to look for one? Anyone know how to make a bar like this?
It's still my favorite bar. I finally have the hands to use it. A light touch avoids grooving...and, wow does it sound good! |
I am pretty sure I can make that bar. It would be polymer, not bakelite. It also would not be $20. I would need to know the length, and weight. I will try it and will let you know if in fact I can make it. But again, I will need the numbers above I asked for. If it comes out like it should and you don't want it, I'm sure I will not have a problem getting rid of it. |
Phase #1 done......now on to getting at least 5.7 ounces in Rick's bar. Mock up is for the next Lap Steel I have rolling around upstairs. I saw a peghead from Colling's Guitars and WOW, I just knew I had to put it on my next build.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Mark Helm
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2018 2:43 pm My Favorite Bar: Clinesmith
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Todd Clinesmith made me a fantastic bar:
It's a 13/16 3" bar made of wear-resistant thermoplastic, + he made mine on the heavy side at my request, around 5.85 oz.
https://www.clinesmithinstruments.com/clinesmith-bars-and-accessories/
Great stuff!
_________________
Remington Steelmaster S8 w/ custom Steeltronics pickup. Vox MV-50 amplifier + an 1940's Oahu cab w/ 8" American Vintage speaker. J. Mascis Fender Squire Jazzmaster, Hofner Club bass, Ibanez AVN4-VMS Artwood Vintage Series Concert Size Acoustic Guitar. 1920s/30s Supertone Hawaiian-themed parlor guitar. Silvertone parlor guitar. |
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