tone bar scrapes across strings

[Paul Handley]

I am having problems with my my Lap steel SX3. I don't have an amp yet but when I use my steel, an Alnicov, I can hear the tone bar scraping across the strings. I have Open G strings tuned to Open E. These are the strings that came with it. Is it the quality of the strings, is it that the strings are too loose at that tuning, or is it something else, like the tone bar itself?
Thanks,
Paul

[Gene Tani]

What kind of tone bar, is it scraping when you move it horizontally or vertically and are the string tops level to a metal straightedge?

[Greg Cutshaw]

Sometimes a stainless steel bar when used with stainless steel strings will do this.

[Bill McCloskey]

Here is a little video I did to solve your problem, https://www.facebook.com/bill.mccloskey ... 1556905921

[Marcus Eads]

If you're using the stock strings it came with, I would recommend changing them out for a better set. I had the same issue with my lap steel. I put some GHS strings on and the problem was solved. I would try that first. Especially if you like your tone bar.

[Paul Handley]

Here is a little video I did to solve your problem, https://www.facebook.com/bill.mccloskey ... 1556905921

Thanks Bill I'll Try that link.

Sometimes a stainless steel bar when used with stainless steel strings will do this.

Thanks Greg, I don't know what the strings are made of but the bar is SS.

If you're using the stock strings it came with, I would recommend changing them out for a better set. I had the same issue with my lap steel. I put some GHS strings on and the problem was solved. I would try that first. Especially if you like your tone bar.

Marcus, that sounds like a good idea. I want to change to a tuning where the strings are tighter.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your help!

Paul

[Allan Revich]

As someone who enjoys tinkering with tunings, John Ely’s guide to string gauges has been indispensable for me,

https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php

[Jeff Mead]

Here is your solution...

http://www.waikiki-islanders.com/html/e ... 20bar.html\

Or...

https://www.clinesmithinstruments.com/c ... ccessories

I can only personally vouch for Basil's bars (they really are amazing) but I understand Todd's are pretty much the same.

[Bill McCloskey]

Jeff, I was using one of Todd's bars in my demonstration video.

[David Irving]

Some, at least, of the SX lapsteels use an ordinary guitar bridge, with built-in radius.

I had to get stuck into a few of the saddles on mine with a file to get a genuinely flat bridge.

[Chase Brady]

I googled "Alnicov". They appear to be a distributor of Chinese merchandise. Ebay has been flooded with Chinese made bars. I haven't seen any, but I think there have been some negative posts about them. I remember seeing one about a "stainless steel" bar that turned out to be poorly plated pot metal, and the plating started flaking off. Your bar may be perfectly good, but I'm guessing it could be the culprit.
I also have one of the Clinesmith polymer bars, and it's the only one I use any more. They're great, but if you're not sure what kind of bar you want and don't want to invest that much, the Shubbs and Dunlops are pretty good and not too expensive. As to which Shubb or Dunlop, that's another can of worms. It's all a matter of preference, and those will develop as you play. Most of us have bought a collection of them, trying different ones to see which works best for us. Buying several different cheaper ones makes some sense. Before you buy, you might post a question here just to see if anyone can vouch for it.

[Peter Harris]

I would think that "Alnicov" was another way of implying that their pickups had "Alnico 5" magnets...they're probably made in that town called "USA"...