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Topic: Steve Gunder's SDF bars |
Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 25 Aug 2014 11:50 am |
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He's been talking to me awhile about them, since we're near each other (the suburban area of Topeka is probably less than 180 square miles, he lives 8 miles away from me, clear across town).
These things are pretty cool. I'm getting ready to video a shootout of them.
He does use industrial hard chrome which is substantially harder and thicker than the bright chrome normally used. I'm digging them
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 25 Aug 2014 2:05 pm
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It finally uploaded.
http://youtu.be/--1I9UOHISU
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 25 Aug 2014 5:15 pm
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I don't notice any really significant difference in any of the bars you demoed, except for the aluminum one, and that's to be expected. (Aluminum is a lot lighter, so you'd expect it to have less sustain.)
While it may be possible for the player to hear some slight differences in the others, I think those differences could be mitigated by changes in the tone settings of the amp, or right hand position/technique.
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 25 Aug 2014 7:50 pm
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Donny, I found them subtly different. Listening back, I was struck by the same thing you pointed out.
No matter which bar I held, I sounded like me.
BUT it was easier to make them sound like me with some than others. I know what I heard/felt as I played them. I guess it's like the BJS bars: the listener's ear can't tell a difference, but the player notices.
The chromed brass and chromed steel, being the densest, had the longest sustain.
I like them better than any I've played yet.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 31 Aug 2014 7:17 am
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I played a 4 hour gig last night, using all of his bars.
I like them all, and like them better than my assortment of Ernie Ball/Dunlop.
Here's my take on them, and they all have good tone (you saw, I sounded like me)
Ti: it's a little draggy, more so than the stainless. Shorter sustain than the other 4 non-aluminum bars. Works well for uptempo picking.
These next four are VERY similar to each other
Brass. Feels good, great tone, PURTY. Did I say it's purty?
Chromed Brass, slightly brighter than brass, like it.
Chromed steel: slightly lighter than the brass bars and possibly my favorite. I sound like me on all of them, but this and the brass give me the greatest pleasure as I sound like me..
Stainless steel. Much like the other three.
Anodized aluminum: surprisingly good tone (I've played othe Al bars and hated them). The short sustain made it ideal for both playing with my Bradshaw/Dunlop resonator pedal and for getting all Mooney, as modern guitars lack the decay of that old Fender.
I DIG THESE BARS.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 1 Sep 2014 7:16 am
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I finally got around to viewing your video.
My crappy old ears really liked the tone of the brass bar. How is the sustain?
Lee |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 1 Sep 2014 7:29 am
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Sustain on all 4 hard bars is pretty much equal. The only ones with less were the titanium and aluminum
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Steven Gunder
From:
TOPEKA,KS.
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Posted 18 Sep 2014 3:52 pm Steve Gunder SDF TONE BARS
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| TTT |
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John Scanlon
From:
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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John Scanlon
From:
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 18 Sep 2014 10:46 pm
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Thanks, John.
I listen to them on YouTube at home thru laptop into USB soundcard and out to a stereo.
In the truck I either use decent but not great headphones or into the stereo line in on the unknown stereo (faceplate says Kenworth, but I'm sure it comes from elsewhere)
It appears to sound adequate
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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J. David Carrera
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 12:45 am
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| What type of bar is heaviest? I'm looking for the most heavy 7/8 bar I can find. Don't really know much about drag and all that. I've only used an Ernie Ball bar so far and it feels fine, I just want maximum weight. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 12:55 am
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Check with Steve. I think brass is slightly heavier than steel.
The mild steel is heavier than the stainless.
I have a kitchen scale and will try to weigh them if he doesn't, ahem, weigh in by Saturday lunch.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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John Scanlon
From:
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 5:34 am
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Yeah, I just meant that it's probably more difficult for us on here to hear the differences between the bars' tones than it is for you, since you're there live and we're on the receiving end of the YouTube process.
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Click here for the Index to Mickey Adams's YouTube video lessons
Insert impressive gear list here. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 10:28 am
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John, the lovely Denise (who probably has the best ear for musical subtlety of any non-musician I know) agreed with Donny's assessment that they were real similar and I sounded like me on all of them, and she was THERE IN THE ROOM. I suspect, but cannot document, that my ear/hand/brain feedback loop made adjustments so that I sounded like me on the 4 hard bars. But it felt more rewarding and enjoyable to sound like me in this order (descending)
1) chromed steel
2) brass (and it's pretty)
3) chromed brass
4) Stainless
I did not try the powder coated at the same time, but I did give it a whack this last Monday
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Steven Gunder
From:
TOPEKA,KS.
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 3:27 pm
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| MR CARRERA, BRASS IS THE HEAVIEST 3 3/8 X 7/8 BAR AT 9 OUNCES, STEEL THAT IS 1144 HIGH CARBON STRESSED IS 8.6 FOR SAME SIZE |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 3:52 pm
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There you go. You can get it brass or chrome plated. I REALLY like both the aesthetics and tone of the brass.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 19 Sep 2014 6:58 pm
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OK Lane... Is the brass one pretty, or purty? 
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 20 Sep 2014 1:14 am
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Whichever you understand. I'm bilingual
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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