Ernie Ball Bars
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
- Jeremy Threlfall
- Posts: 1380
- Joined: 3 Aug 2006 12:01 am
- Location: now in Western Australia
Ernie Ball Bars
I've seen these Ernie Ball E4232 Steel chrome-plated bars
they come in two weights: 6.3 oz (white dot) and 7.8 oz (red dot)
they are both 3.25" 7/8 bars
6.3 oz sounds awfully light
has anyone used one of these?
they come in two weights: 6.3 oz (white dot) and 7.8 oz (red dot)
they are both 3.25" 7/8 bars
6.3 oz sounds awfully light
has anyone used one of these?
- Robert Rogers
- Posts: 824
- Joined: 10 Jan 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Manchester,TN
- Jeremy Threlfall
- Posts: 1380
- Joined: 3 Aug 2006 12:01 am
- Location: now in Western Australia
I weighed mine on postal/food scale, the medium 183 grams, the other 230. I have a hillman that weighs 230, my 2 Hughey bars (BJS, Clinesmith) are 250, and "regular" 10 string, 15/16 by Hillman is 273 g.
I don't mind 230 g except i have to shove it down at 1st fret.
I don't mind 230 g except i have to shove it down at 1st fret.
- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew
-
- Posts: 1557
- Joined: 6 Feb 2009 5:15 pm
- Location: Corinth Mississippi
-
- Posts: 1605
- Joined: 8 Apr 2004 12:01 am
- Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Yes, the lighter of the two Ernie Balls at just over 6 oz is probably not the best choice for a modern pedal steel tone. The other one is OK.
When I was starting out, I had the heavier red dot Ernie Ball. It was fine, but like Daniel's, it only lasted about 3 years before the chrome started coming off. Otherwise, a good inexpensive bar for a beginner.
The chrome coming off is the indication that you're officially addicted and need to graduate to a BJS bar or something similar...
When I was starting out, I had the heavier red dot Ernie Ball. It was fine, but like Daniel's, it only lasted about 3 years before the chrome started coming off. Otherwise, a good inexpensive bar for a beginner.
The chrome coming off is the indication that you're officially addicted and need to graduate to a BJS bar or something similar...
-
- Posts: 21192
- Joined: 16 Feb 1999 1:01 am
- Location: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
The big advantage of a lighter bar is that it's easier to move it quickly. Yes, you may have to press down harder on the lower frets, but most of us old-timers who started on lap steel or Dobro are used to that. The lighter weight does affect sustain somewhat, but not early enough for most players to worry about. As far as actual "tone", I don't hear a lot of difference. Keep in mind that many Hawaiian players used bars that were even lighter, but they still got a great tone.
-
- Posts: 763
- Joined: 10 Oct 2016 3:07 pm
- Location: Illinois, USA
- Erv Niehaus
- Posts: 26797
- Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Litchfield, MN, USA
- Dave O'Brien
- Posts: 1583
- Joined: 23 Feb 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Florida and New Jersey
- Contact:
Ernie Ball bars
Used em for years. One old friend used his since I sold it to him in 1975 until he passed away last year.
Dave O'Brien
Emmons D-10, CMI D-10, Fender Deluxe Reverb, PV 112, Fender Pro Reverb
www.myspace.com/daveobrienband
Emmons D-10, CMI D-10, Fender Deluxe Reverb, PV 112, Fender Pro Reverb
www.myspace.com/daveobrienband
-
- Posts: 5857
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Oceanside, Calif, USA
- Contact:
- Jeremy Threlfall
- Posts: 1380
- Joined: 3 Aug 2006 12:01 am
- Location: now in Western Australia
-
- Posts: 497
- Joined: 20 Oct 2009 2:32 pm
- Location: Birmingham, AL USA
I have an Ernie Ball bar that I have had since 1971 (bought it at a music store I worked at in Auburn, AL when I was playing a Fender 400). No dots on it just Ernie Ball in black letters on sort of an ivory background (probably used to be white).
The bar looks brand new. I like it and use it occasionally but it is a bit small.
The bar looks brand new. I like it and use it occasionally but it is a bit small.
Show Pro SD10 guitars
Milkman Amps
Milkman Amps
-
- Posts: 953
- Joined: 8 Jan 2000 1:01 am
- Location: Davie/Ft Lauderdale, Florida
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 379
- Joined: 18 May 2009 10:19 pm
- Location: Henrietta, Tx
I had a Ernie Ball bar when I started out and it was ok for a beginner but after a couple years I noticed it didn’t lay flat sometimes. And I spun it in my fingers with a cloth wrapped around and could feel grooves all the way around. They are junk but you get what you pay for as far as bars are concerned.