Tone Bars, Great new Idea!

New products of interest to steel guitarists
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Mike Perlowin
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Post by Mike Perlowin »

Glen, please send me your mailing address so I can send you a check.

I want a magnetic 3.4 by 1 inch bar, and I want the insert to match the color of my guitar, as much as possible.

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Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
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Jim Smith
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Post by Jim Smith »

Mike Perlowin wrote:Glen, please send me your mailing address so I can send you a check.

I want a magnetic 3.4 by 1 inch bar, and I want the insert to match the color of my guitar, as much as possible.

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He gave his mailing address in the OP, but here it is again:

Glen Porter
2365 Tuscan Hills Ln
Las Cruces, NM 88011
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Donnie Pierce
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Tracking Number

Post by Donnie Pierce »

Please send me the tracking number for my order as I have not received my order yet. It has been about 2 weeks, Should have been here by now. Thanks Donnie Pierce....
MSA Classic S-10,Zumsteel Encore
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Jim Smith
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Post by Jim Smith »

I ordered mine on Wednesday and got it today. Now to get a gig to try it on!

The feel and finish are great! As for the weight, just from hefting it, a BJS, and a John Pearse bar, I couldn't really tell a difference. I would say it's a lot closer to being the same weight than "a little over half the weight of the BJS bar" as Jim Lindsey said.
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Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)
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Post by Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) »

Just reporting the heft of my bars as I and my nephew both feel and compare them. That being said, I just used a food scale to weigh my bars and called my friend, Dale Rottacker, who weighed his with a food scale as well.

The results of my bar weights versus Dale's were somewhat startling to say the least.

Dale's bar weights are:
Nu Generation 1" Bar = 10.1 oz
BJS 1" Bar = 10.8 oz

My bar weights are:
Nu Generation 1" Bar = 10.1 oz
BJS 1" Bar = 16.3 oz :eek: :whoa: :eek:
Dekley 1" Bar = 5.5 oz

While I had Dale on the phone, I weighed my BJS more than once and it consistently came up as 16.3 oz while his BJS bar, also a 1" bar, weighed in at 10.8 oz. This is quite a significant difference! So, does that mean there were different weights available in BJS bars and I got a heavy one? Or, is my BJS bar an odd-ball heavier than normal bar? I got mine in January of 1988.

Over the years, I've had people sit at my guitar, grab my bar to use it, and often heard them say something like, "Man, that's a heavy bar!", but never really thought much of it ... until now.
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)
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Jim Smith
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Post by Jim Smith »

Maybe your BJS bar has a lead insert. I don't know if that was a factory option, but anything is possible. You'd probably have to peel off the sticker to see, but from experience they won't stick back on.

It sounds like your 1" Dekley bar is hollowed out. It's been a long time, but I seem to recall that we sold them that way as an option.
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Jim Lindsey (Louisiana)
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Post by Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) »

You could be right about an insert in the BJS, but since those stickers don't reapply, I'll leave it alone and let it be a mystery why my BJS is so heavy. Despite its weight, I've always loved my BJS bar. Now I'm really knocked out with these new bars from Glen.

Definitely correct about the Dekley being drilled out. Here's how my bars compare to each other in looks ...

Image

Image

I must say that these new 316 and 440 bars are the most comfortable bars I've ever held. I never thought any bar would feel as good to me as my BJS bar, but I'm loving these new bars.

Tommy Shown visited me yesterday and tried them out. He really likes them both, but is partial to the mellower string attack with the 440.

My nephew is thinking of ordering a 440 as well. He's like me; he likes them both and wants one of each.
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)
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Dale Rottacker
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Post by Dale Rottacker »

Hey Jim... I’m looking at the pictures of your different bars, and maybe it’s an optical illusion, but your BJS bar looks like it could be a little bigger diameter... I need to bring my calipers home and measure mine, cause it’s a little hard to tell with a tape, but with a tape mine looks like it could be 15/16 or 1” depending how well I’m able to read the tape... Calipers takes out all the guess work.
Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
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Tommy Shown
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Post by Tommy Shown »

Yes I did try them both out. Both had exceptional tone, and I like the fact of the no string noise, made by the bar. I prefer a dark mellow tone. But, on the other hand, the 316 had a pretty descent tone. It's DECISION time.
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Dale Rottacker
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Post by Dale Rottacker »

Tommy Shown wrote:Yes I did try them both out. Both had exceptional tone, and I like the fact of the no string noise, made by the bar. I prefer a dark mellow tone. But, on the other hand, the 316 had a pretty descent tone. It’s DECISION time.
For that $$ Tommy, get two... :whoa: :lol: :whoa:
Dale Rottacker, Steelinatune™
*2021 MSA Legend, "Jolly Rancher" D10 10x9
*2021 Rittenberry, "The Concord" D10 9x9
*1977 Blue Sho-Bud Pro 3 Custom 8x6
https://msapedalsteels.com
http://rittenberrysteelguitars.com
https://www.telonics.com/index.php
https://www.p2pamps.com
https://www.quilterlabs.com
Tommy Shown
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Post by Tommy Shown »

I am in the DOG house enough lately Dale.
Larry Hamilton
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Post by Larry Hamilton »

Ordered two bars, one of each. When the package showed up it had been opened just enough for the bars to be taken out. All I got was two tubes and a cap. I just hope whoever took them are using them. Naturally I called Glen Porter with the sad news and though it was neither one of ours fault he would send me new bars and make a UPS claim. What a great guy. I haven't been this excited about a tone bar in decades. I shall report back soon.
Keep pickin', Larry
Glen Porter
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Tone Bar Shipment

Post by Glen Porter »

Donnie Pierce check your email Thanks. Glen
Owner Red Barn Musical Instrument Parts for PSg. Light Legs, Tone Bars, large Tuning Wrenches.
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Stu Schulman
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Post by Stu Schulman »

Glen,You sent me the wrong bar,I might have someone else's?what you sent was 7/8"blue insert,What I ordered was 15/16"with a shotgun shell end.I can send this back tomorrow.
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
Glen Porter
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Wrong bar

Post by Glen Porter »

Stu, Sorry about the wrong bar,Please send It back at our expense and I will express the correct one. Thanks! Glen
Owner Red Barn Musical Instrument Parts for PSg. Light Legs, Tone Bars, large Tuning Wrenches.
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Stu Schulman
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Post by Stu Schulman »

Glen,Thanks so much,I will mail back the bar in a little while,Thanks again!
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
Chris Grotewohl
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Post by Chris Grotewohl »

sent PP today,15/16 mag purple thanx CG
Ron Epperson
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Post by Ron Epperson »

hi glen received my bar today and so sounds real nice thanks again
George Macdonald
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Tone Bar

Post by George Macdonald »

Hi Glen, My bar came today. Beautifully finished and sounds great. Thanks, George
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Donnie Pierce
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Received Bar Today

Post by Donnie Pierce »

Thanks Glen,
Received my bar you shipped 4-27, today 4-30-15. Thanks again, great bar. Never seen the first one you shipped. If it ever shows up, will let you know....
Donnie Pierce
MSA Classic S-10,Zumsteel Encore
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Scott Swenson
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Post by Scott Swenson »

I had an issue with my bar that Glen sent me, and he was very helpful in completely resolving it. Just outstanding customer service...
Thanks Glen!!!
Ron Epperson
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tone bar

Post by Ron Epperson »

hi Glen received my bar and I like it feels real nice and you r right about the sustain very nice I think I like it better than my BJS bar
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John Wilson
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Glen, I'm on-board.

Post by John Wilson »

Hey Glen,

I'll send you payment and info shortly.
I'd like a 7/8" x 3.400 model 316, with a red insert.

PayPal on the way!

Thanks.

I'll give a full report/endorsement, of course.

Thanks,

John
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Tommy Shown
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Post by Tommy Shown »

Glen, I just put a money order in the mail for mine.
Russell Nugent
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Post by Russell Nugent »

Paypal order just placed. Looking forward to it!
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