Zirctone - New Production Zirconia Tonebars For Sale
-
- Posts: 104
- Joined: 23 Feb 2003 1:01 am
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
I’ve been using one of Mark’s prototype Zirctone bars for several months and love the feel and tone of it. I know how much work he has put into polishing and fine tuning, and these things feel impossibly slick. It’s definitely improved my vibrato. I had been using black zirconia bar as my main bar for the past 10 years, but the Zirctone is much smoother and feels better in my hand. I don’t know if it’s a difference in the ceramic material or the attention to polishing. It’s also taken few falls on to a hard floor (sorry Mark), and it’s come through unscathed.
I have had the Zirctone bar for about a month now. This is my first foray into a bar that is not steel.
So... comparing it to my favorite steel bar, I found that the Zirctone bar slides over the strings more smoothly and with less bar noise. Also, there are sounds and a level of expression I have not gotten with my steel bar. Plus, there is a certain clarity that I have noticed, especially when recording. The Zirctone is the bar I reach for now.
So... comparing it to my favorite steel bar, I found that the Zirctone bar slides over the strings more smoothly and with less bar noise. Also, there are sounds and a level of expression I have not gotten with my steel bar. Plus, there is a certain clarity that I have noticed, especially when recording. The Zirctone is the bar I reach for now.
blah, blah, blah.
Hey You Kids! Get Off My Lawn!
blah, blah, blah.
Hey You Kids! Get Off My Lawn!
blah, blah, blah.
- John McClung
- Posts: 5106
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Olympia WA, USA
- Contact:
M Horton Smith:
I'm pretty lousy with bar slants. The bars that work best for me have a considerable concave heel end so my thumb can securely grab the end of the bar for slants.
Any chance you will make a bar like that? I don't see much of a "dimple" in the current bar, at least from the one photo you posted.
Thanks!
I'm pretty lousy with bar slants. The bars that work best for me have a considerable concave heel end so my thumb can securely grab the end of the bar for slants.
Any chance you will make a bar like that? I don't see much of a "dimple" in the current bar, at least from the one photo you posted.
Thanks!
E9 INSTRUCTION
If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
- M Horton Smith
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 4 Nov 2020 10:47 am
- Location: Utah, USA
-
- Posts: 1019
- Joined: 14 Jan 2002 1:01 am
- Location: Chazy, NY, USA 1
- Stu Schulman
- Posts: 6526
- Joined: 15 Oct 1998 12:01 am
- Location: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
I will be thrilled to have one of these bars!!
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.
- M Horton Smith
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 4 Nov 2020 10:47 am
- Location: Utah, USA
Just a quick update-
Morton and Stu, I have you on the growing standby list!
I'm about halfway through the process of manufacturing:
7/8" Dia 10-string qty. 25 (approx. 1/2 are spoken for)
15/16" Dia 10-string qty. 25 (approx. 1/3 are spoken for)
I will let you all know when the second run is close to complete.
Send me a note at zirctone@gmail.com if you want on the list.
Thanks
Morton and Stu, I have you on the growing standby list!
I'm about halfway through the process of manufacturing:
7/8" Dia 10-string qty. 25 (approx. 1/2 are spoken for)
15/16" Dia 10-string qty. 25 (approx. 1/3 are spoken for)
I will let you all know when the second run is close to complete.
Send me a note at zirctone@gmail.com if you want on the list.
Thanks
- David Decker
- Posts: 1254
- Joined: 10 Dec 2001 1:01 am
- Location: Canton, Ohio, USA
Bar
Just sent you an email for a 15/16" Bar
- John McClung
- Posts: 5106
- Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
- Location: Olympia WA, USA
- Contact:
M Horton Smith, thanks for that heel mod for easier bar slants. I'll email you to place an order for a 7/8 bar. ðŸ¤
E9 INSTRUCTION
If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: 18 Mar 2021 7:21 am
- Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
- M Horton Smith
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 4 Nov 2020 10:47 am
- Location: Utah, USA
- George Redmon
- Posts: 3529
- Joined: 8 Apr 2005 12:01 am
- M Horton Smith
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 4 Nov 2020 10:47 am
- Location: Utah, USA
- M Horton Smith
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 4 Nov 2020 10:47 am
- Location: Utah, USA
-
- Posts: 591
- Joined: 13 Dec 1999 1:01 am
- Location: leawood, ks., usa
Cubic zirconia?
Is this the same material as cubic zirconia? I’m confused when you refer to it as ceramic. I have some of the older bars by Ed Packard and cannot chip them. I understand the original bars (before Ed) were demonstrated at Scottys convention by throwing them in the air and allowed to bounce on the floor with no effects. Here’s a link to the compound. I’m just confused. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_zirconia
- Jerry Van Hoose
- Posts: 1667
- Joined: 8 Aug 2003 12:01 am
- Location: Wears Valley, Tennessee
- Pete Bailey
- Posts: 141
- Joined: 26 Jul 2017 8:09 am
- Location: Seattle, WA
Zircon (zirconium silicate) is the basic mineral from which the metal Zirconium is derived.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zircon
Zirconium is a metal derived from the mineral Zircon. It is grey-white, soft and malleable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zirconium
Zirconia (zirconium dioxide) is a crystalline oxide of the metal Zirconium. It is an extremely hard, white ceramic material derived from the calcination of Zirconium compounds. This is what the bars are made of.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zirconia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcination
Cubic Zirconia is the cubic crystalline form of Zirconia. It is relatively hard and brittle, and is used a substitute for diamonds. It is obtained by crystallizing molten Zirconia doped with a stabilizing compound.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_zirconia
Hope this helps!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zircon
Zirconium is a metal derived from the mineral Zircon. It is grey-white, soft and malleable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zirconium
Zirconia (zirconium dioxide) is a crystalline oxide of the metal Zirconium. It is an extremely hard, white ceramic material derived from the calcination of Zirconium compounds. This is what the bars are made of.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zirconia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcination
Cubic Zirconia is the cubic crystalline form of Zirconia. It is relatively hard and brittle, and is used a substitute for diamonds. It is obtained by crystallizing molten Zirconia doped with a stabilizing compound.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_zirconia
Hope this helps!
- Stu Schulman
- Posts: 6526
- Joined: 15 Oct 1998 12:01 am
- Location: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
Mark,I just sent you a pay pal payment.
Awesome!!
Awesome!!
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.
- M Horton Smith
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 4 Nov 2020 10:47 am
- Location: Utah, USA
Tom,
Great question. Pete very nicely listed out the different forms of the basic materials. As Pete also mentioned, I use the white stabilized zirconia ceramic. This material gives us the properties we need, e.g. hardness, toughness and high-quality surface finish capabilities that make for very low friction on the string. This material is relatively tough for what we think of as traditional ceramics. You can find it used anywhere from dental implants to high-temp ball-bearing applications. Hope this helps.
Mark
Great question. Pete very nicely listed out the different forms of the basic materials. As Pete also mentioned, I use the white stabilized zirconia ceramic. This material gives us the properties we need, e.g. hardness, toughness and high-quality surface finish capabilities that make for very low friction on the string. This material is relatively tough for what we think of as traditional ceramics. You can find it used anywhere from dental implants to high-temp ball-bearing applications. Hope this helps.
Mark
- David Decker
- Posts: 1254
- Joined: 10 Dec 2001 1:01 am
- Location: Canton, Ohio, USA
- David Ball
- Posts: 1229
- Joined: 18 Feb 2010 1:37 pm
- Location: North Carolina High Country
- M Horton Smith
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 4 Nov 2020 10:47 am
- Location: Utah, USA
- David Ball
- Posts: 1229
- Joined: 18 Feb 2010 1:37 pm
- Location: North Carolina High Country
-
- Posts: 591
- Joined: 13 Dec 1999 1:01 am
- Location: leawood, ks., usa
Tapered bar
I’m not sure what the “size of a chase†means, but I would like a tapered bar as well.
- David Ball
- Posts: 1229
- Joined: 18 Feb 2010 1:37 pm
- Location: North Carolina High Country