Titanium Tone Bars!

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 20 Mar 2014 2:34 pm

Titanium Tone Bars. I am now going to offer tone bars made from 6Al-4V (a/k/a Grade 5) Titanium. Grade 5 titanium is much harder (rated at C35 on the Rockwell hardness scale) than grade 2 (about B90, similar to regular steel). This is as hard as the hardest stainless steel I can find.

Titanium is extremely hard, but is far lighter than steel. This bar weighs 7 oz.

To me the sound is different than stainless or brass. Some say it's impossible to tell the difference. I don't know, sure sounds different to my ear.

Here is a few pictures of a tone bar I made from grade 2 titanium (happened to have some on hand).

7/8" - $100
15/16" - $120
1" - $120

Length can vary, can be up to 4" for these prices. For 3" or shorter, or smaller diameter, can be a bit less $$. (Email or PM me if you have a special size request.)

Email me if you're interested.
waynej@elektrolumens.com , or waynj@innovativeguitars.com

My phone number is on my web sites, if you want to phone me and talk to me.

W. Johnson

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 20 Mar 2014 4:11 pm

Can't wait to get mine.

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 21 Mar 2014 7:12 am

On these Titanium Tone Bars, I'm offering a 25% discount, from now through Sunday 3/24.

W. Johnson

Stanley Benoit · Post by **Stanley Benoit** » 22 Mar 2014 7:54 am

Sent you a pm thanks

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 22 Mar 2014 8:18 am

I can make a bar to any size you want. The prices I mentioned apply to titanium bars over 3" up to 4". I can also make bars smaller diameter or 3" or shorter (for lap steel?). Smaller diameter or 3" or shorter can have a lower price. If you have a special size request, email or PM me.

Besides titanium, I can also make bars from : Brass, Stainless Steel (17-4 normally used,) Aluminum (anodized and polished). If you have a special request for some metal alloy not mentioned (or plastic), ask me about it.

W. Johnson

David Higginbotham · Post by **David Higginbotham** » 22 Mar 2014 8:47 am

Stanley Benoit
From:
New Iberia,Louisiana, USA

Where in the heck is that???? LOL

Stan, I ordered a one inch ten string bar and have a feeling you're interested in the same thing???
Dave

Duane Brown · Post by **Duane Brown** » 24 Mar 2014 10:29 am

Sent you a PM. Thank you.

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 24 Mar 2014 10:39 am

I can extend the 25% discount a few more days. I have some orders/payments coming in by snail mail. The more titanium rod I order at one time, the less it costs me to buy it.

Send me an email if interested.

waynej@elektrolumens.com

Thanks,
W. Johnson

Ray Thomas · Post by **Ray Thomas** » 24 Mar 2014 11:41 am

Got mine today, sounds good, looks good.

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 24 Mar 2014 7:39 pm

Duane Brown wrote:Sent you a PM. Thank you.

I got your PM and answered. Awaiting reply.

Thanks,
Wayne

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 25 Mar 2014 10:30 am

I just got my Titanium Bar in the mail. It's very light and easy to hold. I can't tell any difference between it and the Stainless steel as for as tone.
It has a different feel and will take some getting use to. All an all I really like it.

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 25 Mar 2014 3:05 pm

Senor" Johnson...I would like one too...Standard size 10' string 7/8 would be fine...PM me please!

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 25 Mar 2014 4:18 pm

Mickey Adams wrote:Senor" Johnson...I would like one too...Standard size 10' string 7/8 would be fine...PM me please!

PM sent.

Wayne

Dave McCarthy · Post by **Dave McCarthy** » 25 Mar 2014 7:53 pm

How about Tungsten? That stuff is heavy!

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 26 Mar 2014 8:15 am

Dave McCarthy wrote:How about Tungsten? That stuff is heavy!

Tungsten, I've considered it. It's amazingly expensive, and amazingly difficult to machine. My lathe cutting bits are carbide, and similar in hardness. I've researched Tungsten, and am able to buy the rod.

The idea of the Titanium is that is is very light. Many players have indicated to me they want a light material. Titanium is both light, and has a hard surface (grade 5 titanium). Tungsten is extremely hard, but also extremely heavy. I suppose the positive side is that a very small diameter bar could be used, yet it would be very dense for a good sound.

I have filled plastic (Teflon) bars with lead, for an improved sound. I could fill a bar of, say, stainless, with lead (cap the end so no physical contact with skin), and then it would be very hard surface and very heavy, and thus, a small and heavy tone bar.

Wayne

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 31 Mar 2014 6:47 am

Just a little update here: The first little shipment of titanium rod will come in tomorrow, and I'll make some of the bars ordered tomorrow, and ship them. I have more titanium rod coming in later this week. It's so expensive I can only order so much at a time. I will probably ship the rest of the titanium bars at the end of this week. At that time I will probably end the 25% discount. Also, hopefully there can be some feedback from those who have purchased these titanium bars.

Wayne

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 2 Apr 2014 8:17 am

Here's a few images of the titanium tone bar, anodized blue. The color is not really so easy to tell exactly what it is, in the picture. Gotta get a better camera.

The titanium anodizing does not scratch, same as aluminum anodizing, and gives a smoother finish. In the event it is ever scratched or nicked, it can be re-anodized.

The color can vary depending on the voltage, but I can only go up to 30V for now, so color is bluish, or maybe green. When I can afford it I'll buy a power supply that goes up to 120DC.

Wayne

Rick Abbott · Post by **Rick Abbott** » 2 Apr 2014 5:50 pm

Can you cut a bar tapered from 3/4 to 1" over a 3-1/4 inch length?

W. Johnson · Post by **W. Johnson** » 2 Apr 2014 6:24 pm

Rick Abbott wrote:Can you cut a bar tapered from 3/4 to 1" over a 3-1/4 inch length?

That's difficult to do on a manual lathe, and especially with titanium, but, I think so. Email me about it.

Wayne