Steel players who play Dobro

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 23 Feb 2013 7:32 pm

What tone bar do most people who play both instruments use?

Rick Barnhart · Post by **Rick Barnhart** » 23 Feb 2013 7:54 pm

I use a 15/16" BJS for psg and a modified stainless steel Scheerhorn grooved bar for dobro

Michael Nemick · Post by **Michael Nemick** » 24 Feb 2013 4:17 am

FWIW I use an E.G. Smith for my Dobro and Acoustic Lap Steels http://gregboyd.com/accessory_detail.ht ... ry_key=622 and for my Electric Lap Steels, a John Pearse® Thermo-Cryonic™ Tone Bar - Lap Steel/Hawaiian Guitar Length: 2-7/8" Diameter: 3/4" Weight: 5.2 oz, 148g http://www.jpstrings.com/braccess.htm I can't imagine using anything else. I have tried so many and these were my choices. I am happy.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 24 Feb 2013 6:26 am

I use different bars for ea. instrument. I played steel first. When I got my first dobro, the big bullet steel bar I was using felt clumsy for dobro. The sound is different also.

I had an old Stevens bar that came with my first steel which I never really used for steel. I had experimented with rounding off one end, leaving the other end square.

It felt awkward due to being used to a bullet bar for steel, so I got a 2 7/8 X 3/4 bullet bar with a clip on grip for dobro. I used it for a few years, but recently I'm getting back to a Stevens type combination radiused/sharp end bar.

I think it depends what technique you want to use. Not everybody picks the bar up, capos everything and does hammers and pulls on every tune bluegrass style. Some people like the early style, ala Oswald or old time country style with more melodic phrasing up and down the neck. A bullet bar works fine there in my experience. JMO.

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 24 Feb 2013 8:57 am

I use a BJS for pedal steel and a Shubb SP1 or SP2 for dobro.

Thanx,
Jim

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 24 Feb 2013 9:19 am

Standard or 15/16" BJS for Pedal, Smith or Wallace wood/steel bar for Reso, and a small dunlop for lap. They each draw out a different feel and connection to the strings for me.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 24 Feb 2013 10:54 am

I use a 5/16" BJS for PSG and a Ron Tipton bar for dobro. I also like the Tipton bar for lap and console steel(even 8 string).

Chris Tweed · Post by **Chris Tweed** » 24 Feb 2013 12:25 pm

I use a standard 15/16" for PSG, a stainless steel Scheerhorn bar for lap steel (8-string) and a chrome Scheerhorn for dobro (6-string).

Charley Wilder · Post by **Charley Wilder** » 24 Feb 2013 12:56 pm

I use a Stevens for both. One end is rounded but I seldom use it that way.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 24 Feb 2013 1:09 pm

I use a 15/16th BJS Hughey lite for PSG, and a Beard 2010 on my MA6

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 24 Feb 2013 4:08 pm

I use a Tribotone for resonator, pedal and non-pedal.

Joe Snow · Post by **Joe Snow** » 24 Feb 2013 4:46 pm

second the tribotone for both resonator and "lap".

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 24 Feb 2013 8:44 pm

For slide guitar and lap steel I use Tribotone slides/tone bars and Paloma Stone slides/tone bars.

However on my Fouke Industrial lap steel I use this huge lead-crystal tone bar from Diamond Bottlenecks.

http://www.diamondbottlenecks.com/DB08/index.asp?n=154

Dennis Saydak · Post by **Dennis Saydak** » 25 Feb 2013 10:49 am

Sheerhorn stainless for hammer on/offs Dobro.
3/4" BJS bar for slow, smooth & slant Dobro.
15/16" Zirc for PSG.

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 25 Feb 2013 4:09 pm

I can't get over this conversation which keeps recurring over time. I started playing Dobro about 30 years of playing steel guitar, and steel is still really my forte.

I was using a larger (than smaller) bullet bar on the steel, and simply used the same bar on the Dobro becuase at that time I wasn't into pull-offs etc. My style is that of Oswald.

Some Dobro players used to comment that I was using the wrong bar.

As I tell my students, the guitar, the strings, bar and picks are all very personal items, and you should use what suits you, not what othes like.

I use a Shubb SP-2 for both instruments now, and don't get any critisism and don't care if I did!!!!! The reason for me using it is simply because I like it the best. The Stevens bar is much to light for me, I call it "child's play".

Geo

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 25 Feb 2013 4:41 pm

I use a BJS Bar on steel and I use a Shubb Pearse on my Dobro. I also like to use the Shubb Pearse bar on my Steel once in a while.I notice a couple Steel players on Mid Country on RFD channel use it on their Steels.
Sam white

Michael Wolfe · Post by **Michael Wolfe** » 26 Feb 2013 2:13 am

Lap Dawg for both.

David Knutson · Post by **David Knutson** » 26 Feb 2013 10:36 am

I use Shubb SP1 for both. I switch from straight to curved end for different styles of playing. I like that I can easily make that switch within a song.

Bob Watson · Post by **Bob Watson** » 27 Feb 2013 1:03 am

I use a BJS for PSG, a Lap Dawg for Dobro and a Tribotone or Dunlop 918 or 919 for Lap Steel.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 27 Feb 2013 5:41 am

Shubb SP2 or Lap Dawg for both.

Joerg Hennig · Post by **Joerg Hennig** » 28 Feb 2013 12:20 pm

I use Emmons No.4 for PSG, Dunlop 918 for lap steel and (currently) a Stevens-type Johnson bar for Dobro.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 28 Feb 2013 1:40 pm

BJS for PSG and a Sheerhorn for Dobro (when I used to have one).

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 28 Feb 2013 1:49 pm

I use mostly a Scheerhorn stainless for both dobro and lap steel, and occasionally an E.G. Smith stainless. My lap steels are six stringers, so I stick with dobro bars these days for that - I like the positive grip control of being able to lift the bar and speedily travel up and down the neck with it. I feels musch more natural in my hand than a bullet bar.

For pedal steel, if you can call my hacking away at the thing "playing," I use a Dunlop stainless 920, 7/8" diameter x 2 7/8" long.

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 12 Mar 2013 4:07 pm

I just finished playing my Dobro with my new SHUBB SP-3. I am really impressed how much cleaner and faster I can play with less effort.I was using my tribitone before which I play my steels with, this is much better.