Hillman Powder Coated Tone Bars

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 10 Aug 2016 4:40 pm

Hello Roy, sure, let me know when you want to meet at the Warhawk and we will do it, I'd treat you to lunch if you are so inclined. What size do you need in red bars, standard?

Skip Ellis · Post by **Skip Ellis** » 11 Aug 2016 10:32 am

Two on the way for my lap steel adventure - quick service - THANKS!!

Skip Ellis · Post by **Skip Ellis** » 16 Aug 2016 7:23 pm

Got mine today and tried 'em out tonight - very nice bars - great craftmanship and superb feel. Thanks!!!

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 17 Aug 2016 7:47 am

Hey Mike......just curious but do you have the sitar bars in lengths of 3"?

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 17 Aug 2016 8:37 am

Skip, thanks for the kind words, I'm pleased the bars are working for you. Hey Stephen, here's where I am with the sitar bars. Stainless steel looks to be the better material choice for the sitar effect, and it appears that we end up with a much better bar if we start with 316 grade stainless stock. So we've ordered enough to do a trial run in the 7/8" x 3 3/8" standard size, with a 5/16 flat running the length of the bar, we will have some in about 3-4 weeks. These bars will really polish up nicely. A few members have urged us to continue developing a sitar bar, we could do them as powder coated, but our initial testing causes us to come back to stainless steel for the best sitar effect.

The stock for these bars is quite expensive, as is the amount of machining, but we don't see sitar bars widely available, so we will continue to make a few available as we can afford to do it.

That being said, Stephen, were you thinking of a 3" powder coated bar sitar bar, or would you consider stainless steel?

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 17 Aug 2016 8:58 am

Mike,

I wasn't thinking of the sitar bar so much for the "sitar effect" but for the extra ease of handling.

That said, while I prefer the powder coating, I would get the stainless if that is what is available in 3" just to check out the ease of handling.

As I typically order during your "sales", that allows me to experiment a bit more.....which is why I have a bunch of your bars now...

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 17 Aug 2016 9:13 am

Thanks, Stephen, if you are wanting it for ease of handling, I can machine a 3" blank and put it in with a batch of bars to be powder coated. There are a number of players that use the sitar bar in this fashion, and find the flat ground into the bar makes it easier to handle. Are you thinking 7/8 x 3"?

Stephen Abruzzo · Post by **Stephen Abruzzo** » 17 Aug 2016 9:51 am

Mike,

Yes, 7/8" x 3" would be perfect. Rather than me cluttering up your thread, shoot me a PM or e-mail w/details, pricing, etc. Consider that I would probably get at least 2. Thanks.

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 17 Aug 2016 10:30 am

Thanks, Stephen, I'll be in touch with details

Dave Meis · Post by **Dave Meis** » 20 Aug 2016 8:45 am

I've been using these bars for a couple of weeks now, and I've NEVER had a bar that was so easy to control! It sounds great, feels great and 'stays put' in my hand.

Great product!
Michael, I'm looking forward to the Emmons PP blue!

Thanks! Dave

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 22 Aug 2016 3:48 pm

Thanks, Dave, appreciate you posting your report on your bar order, I'll be in touch on the lighter blue batch, Best Regards, Michael

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 25 Aug 2016 8:53 am

Thanks to all of our Forum brethren who participated in the August two for one sale, bought bars, posted comments, sent PMs or emails with questions or comments--we've been busy getting bars out all month, and there are still a few days left to take advantage of the sale. We have run out of some colors and sizes, and are in the process of restocking now, and we have a few "rain checks" to honor as soon as our new batches are ready. AND - we will repeat our two-fer sale in February--thanks again for keeping our project viable! - Michael

Dick Chapple Sr · Post by **Dick Chapple Sr** » 25 Aug 2016 9:53 pm

Hi Michael:

I went through my bars, I have 24 or 25 of your bars now.
I loaned one of my pretty light brown bars to a player back in Tennessee to try.

So I would like to buy a cashmere blue 7/8 by 3-3/8, and another light tan 7/8 by 3-3/8 if you have any left for this sale price.
Thanks a big bunch.
Dick

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 26 Aug 2016 3:45 am

great bars, I have 2 of them and don't use anything else. Keep up the good work Michael and thanks.

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 26 Aug 2016 4:14 pm

Hello Dick, I'll hold a tan bar for you, and we should have cashmere blue bars soon, I'll let you know when they are ready. Sure you don't need some other color meantime? Just kidding, thanks for all of your support, you definitely hold the record for the most powder coated bars purchased from us!

Hey, Larry, good to hear from you, sorry we won't see you in St. Louis this year, hope all is well with you and yours!

-Michael

Lynn Kasdorf · Post by **Lynn Kasdorf** » 29 Aug 2016 12:35 pm

Michael, I just PMed you. I want to get two before Aug runs out. I'm trying to determine if you ever made any of the sitar bars? I'll want a normal 7/8 x 3 3/8 and a sitar (hopefully similar size).

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 29 Aug 2016 4:32 pm

Thanks, Lynn, I answered your PM, give me your thoughts when you've had opportunity to read through it. I will be posting more information about availability and costs on sitar bars as we get a few more completed and priced out. - Michael

John Brabant · Post by **John Brabant** » 31 Aug 2016 9:42 am

Hi Michael:

I just ordered 4- Black "standard" size 7/8" x 3 3/8" bars using Paypal, catching the last day of your August special. I am planning to give 3 of them as gifts to good friends of mine. Let me know if you need anything else from me. Thanks for helping us all out.

Carl Williams · Post by **Carl Williams** » 31 Aug 2016 10:06 am

Michael,
Just ordered two bars....both 1" x 3 1/2"-----Red and Black. Thanks, Carl

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 31 Aug 2016 11:34 am

Thanks, guys, John, I left you a voice mail, I ran out of black bars in the standard size, but have a batch in process at the powder coaters right now, I'll be sure to get yours to you the minute they are ready. Carl, I have your size in stock and will ship them tomorrow morning and send you tracking. - Michael

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 1 Sep 2016 11:09 am

Just Love My Mikey Bar.....

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 1 Sep 2016 11:36 am

Thanks George - lookin' good!

Dick Chapple Sr · Post by **Dick Chapple Sr** » 1 Sep 2016 1:52 pm

hah!! I like that... Mikey bars.
Got my tan bar Michael, I converted a pro steeler out in Tennessee, I had sent him my tan one on approval. Send it back if he didn't like it. Well he set himself up to not like it before he tried it as it isn't that super shiny pro looking steel. He said he didn't like it at first but then after he played with it for a while he really likes it now.
His observation is that it is easier to stop at the frets rather than sliding on past the intended stops and is easier to hang on to.

Just thinking about all the colors, reminds me of the mood rings. Red for Fire on the Mountain, etc. Blues for Hawaiian melodies, black for jazz, yellow for cheery songs, tans for cowboy western songs. so now if we gig 20 songs in a night, we might have to have a half dozen different bars to match the genre. hahahaa.
Dick

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 1 Sep 2016 3:40 pm

Always good to hear from you, Dick, and thanks for always promoting our bars- we appreciate all of your support and suggestions of sizes and colors since we fired up this project two years ago. - Michael

Michael Hillman · Post by **Michael Hillman** » 2 Sep 2016 7:26 am

Thanks to everyone who participated in the August two for one sale, we will do it again in February. Restocking inventory, Beginning in September, pricing is:

Lap steel bars, 3/4" x 2 3/4", 3/4" x 3", 3/4" x 3 1/4", 7/8" x 3" $39.95
"Standard" size bars, 7/8" x 3 3/8" $49.95
15/16" x 3 3/8" $56.95
1" x 3 1/2" $59.95

You may add a second bar of equal or lesser price for an additional $15.00. Priority shipping included to US Zip Codes, add $5.00 per bar Canadian shipping, add $25 per order for International Priority. Our primary colors are red, black, blue and white, with a few others added by request from various Forum members, inquire as to what's available in the size you are interested in. Prefer PayPal to vmhillman66@gmail.com but will furnish mailing address if you wish to send a check. In addition to restocking primary colors, we have in process a small run of purple bars, and also a run of sitar bars in stainless steel, in standard 7/8" x 3 3/8". Thanks again for supporting our project, shoot me an email at anytime with questions or suggestions, or call me at (208) 867-5062. - Michael

The Steel Guitar Forum

Hillman Powder Coated Tone Bars

Hello neighbor!

Thanks, Guys,

Thanks, Stephen,

Will do -

Thanks, Dave,

Thanks to all - August two for one sale,

bars

Hello Dick and Larry,

what is available?

Thanks, Lynn

Thanks to John and Carl,

Thanks, George,

Mikey bar

Thanks, Dick,

Current pricing, powder coated bars, add $15 for a 2nd bar,