Hillman Powder Coated Tone Bars

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 6 Jul 2016 7:34 am

And if the Siggy-Ott squawks about the necessity of "needing" a color-coordinated bar to match each & every steel, you can at least mutter "shoes & purses, purses and SHOES?" as you're carrying your pillow and sheets to the doghouse. A moral victory is bettar than no victory at all?

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 6 Jul 2016 11:09 am

Thanks, David, that puts our color coded tone bar mania in perspective....

Jim Bloomfield · Post by **Jim Bloomfield** » 28 Jul 2016 7:41 am

I just received a couple more of Michael's amazing bars. You guys really owe it to yourselves to try these out!

Dick Chapple Sr · Post by **Dick Chapple Sr** » 28 Jul 2016 9:26 am

Amazing aren't they Jim?

Not only the fun of different colors but these are flat out the BEST bar I have ever used, now I haven't tried them all, but have tried lots of them.

Heck if Michael had just plain bars with a clear powder coat finish, I'd still have a bunch of these bars.

Michael's bars work best for me because:
His powdercoater must be one of the best around. The coating is so smooth, there is virtually no extraneous noise from them, my first ones are over a year old now and still look new.
The weights are good just like you'd expect from good steel bars.
The grip is terrific. As I play along and the bar warms to my hand, it becomes much easier to hold on to it. a huge plus as I have rheumatiod arthritis. I also have Lupus which makes my skin ultra dry and I simply can't hang on to a regular steel bar unless I use a small amount of skin lotion and I hate the thought of getting lotion on the strings. Too much lotion and watch my bar fly away.
the bullet nose is a perfect shape for bar tipping and moving about on the strings.
For reverse slanting, it is much easier with the finished design these bars have.
and yes because these bars are so darn good, I am excited to support Michael's efforts, I have and will buy every color bar he comes up with.
Ooh yes "purses and shoes" those last two brown bars go so well with my Derby and the tiger maple blonde finished Hudson and the T-8 fender custom walnut finish. I might have to get matching shoes and shirts Hahahaha. The guitars are happy, I'm happy, it makes me play better.
Gads, what more could you ask for and especially at the great prices Michael has.

Dick

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 1 Aug 2016 9:01 am

Thanks, Dick, appreciate the kind words--coming up on two years since we began the powder coated bar project, time for a two for one sale, I'll be posting details later today. - Michael

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 1 Aug 2016 10:02 am

Thanks to all who have supported our powder coated bar project! August will mark two years that we've been developing and marketing powder coated bars in various colors and sizes, and we try to do everything to make them as affordable as possible, and still keep the project viable. During February and August we feature a two for one sale, purchase one bar, and we will include a second bar of equal or lesser value. Pricing remains:

Lap Steel bars: 3/4" x 2 3/4", 3/4" x 3" 3/4" x 3 1/4", 7/8" x 3" $36.95

"standard" size 7/8" x 3 3/8" $49.95

15/16" x 3 3/8" $56.95

1" x 3 1/2" $59.95 (we've done a few in colors other than red and black)

Price includes Priority Shipping to U. S. Zip Codes; add $5.00 per bar to ship to Canada. International Priority shipping, add $25.00. Prefer PayPal to vmhillman66@gmail.com, shoot me an email to that address for any questions regarding sizes and colors available.

George Macdonald · Post by **George Macdonald** » 5 Aug 2016 1:56 pm

Received two more bars from Michael today. These powder coated bars are simply the most comfortable bars I have ever used. Now is a good time to give them a try. Lots of colors and sizes to choose from. George

Doug Paluch · Post by **Doug Paluch** » 5 Aug 2016 5:44 pm

Just placed an order...

Norman Watson · Post by **Norman Watson** » 7 Aug 2016 5:45 am

Do you make the 1 inch by 3 and a half in blue?

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 7 Aug 2016 6:14 am

Thanks, George, always good to hear from you, and Doug, you should see bars within 24 hours if they haven't arrived already. As to Norman's question, in the 1 inch by 3 and a half, we began by doing a batch of black, and a batch of red. Then as we added more colors, we'd include just one or two of the one inch bars. We've not done a dark blue batch in quite a while, as a result, besides black and red, I have a tan, a brown, a burnt orange, and a white in the one inch, but sorry, no dark blue.

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 7 Aug 2016 6:50 am

Just ordered two, thanks guys.

When might there be alternate colors? Green, Purple, etc...

Norman Watson · Post by **Norman Watson** » 7 Aug 2016 8:41 am

email sent

Dave Meis · Post by **Dave Meis** » 7 Aug 2016 8:58 am

Just ordered 2. Thanks! Dave

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 7 Aug 2016 10:48 am

Our two for one sale is off to a good start, and we greatly appreciate all the interest and support from our Forum brethren. We are always open to additional colors, we do have to do 20 bars at a time to make them affordable - Mike suggests purple, and we will put that on the project list, and Dave suggests a powder blue, another good choice. We did a dark green some months back, that one didn't move as well as we'd like, but we might give it another go sometime in the future. Thanks again!! - Michael

Norman Watson · Post by **Norman Watson** » 7 Aug 2016 11:51 am

Never figured out the problem with PP, but appreciate your patience. Snail mail seems to always come to the rescue when computers fail.

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 7 Aug 2016 1:44 pm

Some of our electronic "conveniences" are great until they don't work and are just a major irritation, I have your bars set aside.

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 7 Aug 2016 7:38 pm

Several Forum members have expressed interest in a standard sized stainless steel sitar bar. We are in the process of determining how many we'd need to produce to make these available, they are substantially more labor intensive to produce than powder coated bullet bars. I'll post details as we make a decision. -Michael

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 8 Aug 2016 1:45 am

How about a pic of all the currently available colors? And (got to ask before Mike Perlowin does) when will there be purple? Order coming.

Doug

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 8 Aug 2016 1:50 am

Oops - I see he beat me to it with the purple bar! If you are feeling adventurous, I'd love turquois (the color of the Caribbean sea over coral sand, 15 feet deep to be precise). Burgandy would be nice (like Tommy White's old Millie that I now own). But don't know if either would be popular enough to warrant doing a run.

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 8 Aug 2016 5:29 am

Hello Doug, great suggestions - we will definitely do a run of purple soon, along with powder blue, and consider the turquoise and burgundy for future projects - so many great colors to choose

and I'll work on getting a picture posted of current colors, Thanks for the input!

Mike Scaggs · Post by **Mike Scaggs** » 9 Aug 2016 6:20 am

These guys are great to work with folks

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 9 Aug 2016 6:55 am

Thanks Mike, I would take a moment to remind all of our Forum members that if for any reason our bars don't work for you, simply return them for a full refund, plus the postage back to us. Like everything we use and accumulate, instruments, amps, accessories--the sound and feel of tone bars is a matter of personal taste. We also take back in trade old powder coated bars, as long as they have the hole machined in the tail end that facilitates sandblasting and powder coating, let me know what you have that we can restore, Thanks! -Michael

Norman Watson · Post by **Norman Watson** » 10 Aug 2016 3:12 pm

Mike,I received the bars today just as you said I would and they are everything positive that I could have hoped for. Unbelievable response time from order to use of product. Another order placed today and may I suggest it's an excellent method of Christmas shopping. Take advantage of this great two for one sale.

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 10 Aug 2016 3:43 pm

Thanks, Norman, appreciate the kind words, and I'll get your second order out to you first thing tomorrow morning - I received Norman's order enroute to my powder coater, with a box of bars to be done in a lighter blue than we've used previously, as a few Forum members have expressed interest in this color. The color we picked reminds me of a '58 Chevy color "cashmere blue", we believe these will be good looking bars, and we should have them well before August 31st. Next project will be a run of purple. Thanks all for your continued support !!

Roy McKinney · Post by **Roy McKinney** » 10 Aug 2016 4:16 pm

Hi Michael, I have a new psg coming in a Red/Black ripple. You have any red bars left? If so I will make arrangements to meet you over at the Warhawk museum again one day.
Take care and hope to see you soon.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Hillman Powder Coated Tone Bars

Thanks, David,

Bars

Thanks, Dick,

Two for one sale on all bars, thru the month of August!

Bars

bars

Thanks for your posts....

purchased

bars

Thanks, all...

bars

No rush, Norm,

Developing a 7/8" x 3 3/8" sitar bar,

Good to hear from you, Doug

Great Guys

Thanks, Mike,

bars

Thanks, Norman,