Bar suggestions

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Cameron Reagin
Posts: 26
Joined: 26 Apr 2014 6:57 pm
Location: Douglas, Ga

Bar suggestions

Post by Cameron Reagin »

I’m looking to try and get a new tone bar, but I’m having a little trouble. I’ve been using a John Pearse 7/8 bar, but after going through Paul Franklin’s course, I believe the bar is too short for my hand. I’m trying to find a bar that is a little longer, closer to a 12 string bar. I found BJS, but his 7/8 12 string bar is out of stock at the moment and won’t be back in stock until sometime in may. I’m wanting It to be 7/8 diameter and around 3 9/16 or 3 3/4 in length. Any suggestions?
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Jerry Overstreet
Posts: 12622
Joined: 11 Jul 2000 12:01 am
Location: Louisville Ky

Post by Jerry Overstreet »

http://www.bulletbars.com/
Contact Jim Burden. He will build you a bar any way you want it....and you will love it. High quality products from a true craftsman at reasonable cost.
Leon Champion
Posts: 650
Joined: 27 Dec 2005 1:01 am
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

bar

Post by Leon Champion »

GET YOU A BJS ,AND YOU'LL HAVE THE VERY BEST. You can't wear it out.
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Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

My favorite bars are the 15/16" BJS John Hughey bar and the 15/16" Zirconia bar. :D
Erv
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Richard Sinkler
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Joined: 15 Aug 1998 12:01 am
Location: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Post by Richard Sinkler »

+1 for Bullet Bars. Can't go wrong with BJS either. Love them both.
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 53 years and still counting.
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Al Evans
Posts: 523
Joined: 30 Dec 2017 3:16 pm
Location: Austin, Texas, USA

Post by Al Evans »

And another +1 for Jim Burden and Bullet Bars. I ordered one Friday, and received it the following Wednesday. Jim's service is superb, and the bar itself completely meets my expectations.

--Al Evans
2018 MSA Legend, 2018 ZumSteel Encore, 2015 Mullen G2, G&L S-500, G&L ASAT, G&L LB-100, Godin A4 Fretless, Kinscherff High Noon
Joe DePascale
Posts: 20
Joined: 30 Nov 2017 8:54 am
Location: New York, USA

Re: bar

Post by Joe DePascale »

Leon Champion wrote:GET YOU A BJS ,AND YOU'LL HAVE THE VERY BEST. You can't wear it out.
Although Im fairly new to the pedal steel Ive tried a few different bars and I like the BJS 7/8 JH the best.
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Lee Baucum
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Joined: 11 Apr 1999 12:01 am
Location: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Post by Lee Baucum »

Jerry Overstreet wrote:http://www.bulletbars.com/
Contact Jim Burden. He will build you a bar any way you want it....and you will love it. High quality products from a true craftsman at reasonable cost.
Agreed. Very good bars. Very affordable bars.
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande

There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.


Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat
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john widgren
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Joined: 24 Nov 1998 1:01 am
Location: Wilton CT

bullet bars

Post by john widgren »

Jim Burdens Bullet Bars are my favorite.

John Widgren
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Craig A Davidson
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Joined: 16 Feb 2001 1:01 am
Location: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA
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Post by Craig A Davidson »

Check with Bill Rudolph at Williams Guitars. The bars he sells are very smooth.
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Bill Groner
Posts: 1234
Joined: 30 Dec 2016 8:42 am
Location: QUAKERTOWN, PA

Re: Bar suggestions

Post by Bill Groner »

Cameron Reagin wrote:I’m looking to try and get a new tone bar, but I’m having a little trouble. I’ve been using a John Pearse 7/8 bar, but after going through Paul Franklin’s course, I believe the bar is too short for my hand. I’m trying to find a bar that is a little longer, closer to a 12 string bar. I found BJS, but his 7/8 12 string bar is out of stock at the moment and won’t be back in stock until sometime in may. I’m wanting It to be 7/8 diameter and around 3 9/16 or 3 3/4 in length. Any suggestions?
I just made a polymer bar for a fellow SGF member. (it will be delivered today, so maybe he will post his opinions?) It was 15/16" diameter x 3 9/16" long x 7.7 ounces. It is no problem to make one at 7/8" diameter, but the weight would probably be around 7.5 ounces with the smaller diameter. PM me if interested.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Kevin Fix
Posts: 1260
Joined: 28 Apr 2007 9:11 pm
Location: Michigan, USA

Post by Kevin Fix »

1" BJS here. Been using them for about 20 years. Wore some of the finish off about 10 years ago. They replaced it for, no cost.
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Bobby Nelson
Posts: 803
Joined: 21 Apr 2017 6:46 pm
Location: North Carolina, USA

Post by Bobby Nelson »

Another vote for Bullet Bars - and he's a super nice guy too. I may try a BJS when i get my new guitar but I really love my Bullet.
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Bob Russell
Posts: 511
Joined: 1 Jun 2011 10:14 pm
Location: Virginia, USA
Contact:

Post by Bob Russell »

Jerry Overstreet wrote:http://www.bulletbars.com/
Contact Jim Burden. He will build you a bar any way you want it....and you will love it. High quality products from a true craftsman at reasonable cost.
+1 for Jim Burden's Bullet Bars. I got one and liked it so much I bought another one.
Lots of stringy things, many of them slidey.
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George Redmon
Posts: 3529
Joined: 8 Apr 2005 12:01 am

Post by George Redmon »

Cameron,
Have Bill Groner build you are bar that will work for you. Tell bill exactly what you have in mind, and he can come up with idea's that will work for you. It will be your bar, not a stock bar a certain size someone recommends. Since you are just starting out on steel, it can be a bit confusing and overwhelming. So email Bill Groner, call him if you have to, and get it right for you. There are alot of great bars out there, but you see the trouble you're having already trying to choose one. Bill built me a fantastic 12 string bar, can't put it down. If i can help cameron, write me. But my suggestion... get a personalized built bar that works for you the first time out...contact Bill Groner
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Jim Sliff
Posts: 7059
Joined: 22 Jun 2005 12:01 am
Location: Lawndale California, USA

Post by Jim Sliff »

Ezee-slide bars. Best I've ever used!

http://www.waikiki-islanders.com/html/e ... 20bar.html
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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Garry Vanderlinde
Posts: 1500
Joined: 14 Nov 2002 1:01 am
Location: CA

Glen Porter

Post by Garry Vanderlinde »

I've been enjoying playing with a new bar that I picked up at The SWSGA show this year. The "Nu-Generation Tone Bar" and think it is great! It's got a weighted nose that makes vibrato a little easier. Here's a link which shows the whole deal.
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... sc&start=0
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Stu Schulman
Posts: 6526
Joined: 15 Oct 1998 12:01 am
Location: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Post by Stu Schulman »

Cameron,If you go to the "New Products"section you will see Bill Groner's custom made Melotonen bars ,I just received mine yesterday and it's wonderful,He will make any size that you want.
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.
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Dan Robinson
Posts: 1462
Joined: 17 Jun 2014 10:26 pm
Location: Colorado, USA

Post by Dan Robinson »

Cameron, the Dunlop 921 is an inexpensive way to find out if you like using a larger bar. 1" dia. x 3-3/4", it's a handful at 11 oz. Nothing fancy, but a decent quality stainless steel bar.
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