Tone Bar

John Harmon · Post by **John Harmon** » 29 Dec 2022 4:49 am

Don't know if this is the place for this but here goes. I'm trying to learn with a Dunlop 15/16 tone bar and due to age, arthritis, etc. I have a lot of trouble picking it up and moving it. Has anyone in a similar situation used a Rocky Mountain Poncha Ceramic bar and what are you're thoughts. BTW I play dobro and tried that style and the tones weren't there on my particular lap steel. Thanks for your time, John

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 29 Dec 2022 5:35 am

Most dobro players use a Stevens or Shubb bar for a reason when playing dobro. I guess you could use a Dunlop bar, but I can see where that might be a problem with your age, arthritis, etc. The bars I listed have side grooves and lend themselves to being easier to pick up and put down.
I don't think you will get the sound you are looking for with the RM bar? The one I have is pretty light.

Chase Brady · Post by **Chase Brady** » 29 Dec 2022 6:29 am

I have seriously arthritic fingers myself. I used shaped bars for years because I had difficulty holding onto bullet bars, particularly heavier ones like yours. My favorite was the Shubb SP2, which has a rounded nose and a Shubb GS, whose nose I rounded with a Dremel tool. I tried a couple of ceramic bars, including a Rocky Mountain bar. The only problem I had with them was a gritty feel/sound that no one listening would ever notice, but I found annoying. I eventually made the transition to bullet bars, but still don't use one with a metallic surface. I have a couple of glass bars and a couple of Todd Clinesmith's polymer bars that I really like. They're much easier to get a grip on.

John Harmon · Post by **John Harmon** » 29 Dec 2022 7:26 am

Thanks for the reply's. I didn't mention that I'm a newbie, and I really don't want to spend a ton, since I don't play very well and may never pick it up, and I also don't want 15 tone bars laying around the house either. And of course that can add up to some big bucks too. Maybe I'll get in touch with Bill about a price for one with indents on it. We'll see. John

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 29 Dec 2022 7:59 am

I don't make any polymer bars with indents on the sides. I plan on making one similar to a Stevens in the New year. It will be, for now, just a one off for my personal use, but who knows? You can do a Google search for Stevens or Shubb tone bars, which ever one you prefer......they sell them at numerous places.

Chase I have a tone bar as you described with the gritty feel and I already passed that info along to John, so I guess I didn't buy the only one with a gritty feel. I told RM the problem I had with it and got NO REPLY...NONE.......good or bad!

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 29 Dec 2022 11:10 am

John Harmon wrote:Thanks for the reply's. I didn't mention that I'm a newbie, and I really don't want to spend a ton, since I don't play very well and may never pick it up, and I also don't want 15 tone bars laying around the house either. And of course that can add up to some big bucks too. Maybe I'll get in touch with Bill about a price for one with indents on it. We'll see. John

Paloma Stone made the good ceramic bars I liked... not too gritty, very flat surface. He's not making them anymore that I know of. RMS makes stone bars (not ceramic, agate) that I'm using now... my hands are big so I like the longer bar he sells... and the finish is like glass. I have arthritis and feel much better with a lighter bar for lap or dobro... and I just can't hang with the Stevens bar feel (I have several of those, Scheerhorn etc)... gotta have bullet-nose and cylinder.

You don't want 15 tone bars hanging around? Most folks here have at least that many!

John Harmon · Post by **John Harmon** » 29 Dec 2022 12:00 pm

I already have the rounded off dobro bar (Shubb?). Doesn't have very good tone. Maybe a stone bar would work. I'll come up with something. John

Tom Snook · Post by **Tom Snook** » 29 Dec 2022 2:04 pm

John,did you ever live in my old house on Mercedes Drive in Ft.lauderdale?just curious

Aloha

John Harmon · Post by **John Harmon** » 29 Dec 2022 2:40 pm

Tom been to Ft Lauderdale but never lived there

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 29 Dec 2022 2:41 pm

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=387253

Chase Brady · Post by **Chase Brady** » 29 Dec 2022 2:45 pm

I tried one of the Rocky Mountain stone bars. Mine is the Tin Cup Agate model. I really liked it at first, but within a few weeks it started developing small ruts that affected the tone and feel. I wrote to them about it. They said it should become burnished with time (it didn't) and also suggested I try another model (I didn't). It's usable, but annoying.
You might also consider one of Michael Hilton's powder coated bars. A little heavy to my taste, but otherwise very nice. He advertises them on this forum.

Greg Forsyth · Post by **Greg Forsyth** » 29 Dec 2022 3:18 pm

John,
I also have med. problems with my hands. I have a SP-2 Shubb bar which i use playing lapsteels, which is adequate.
I was curious about Michael Hillmam's podwercoated bars, and now have 3 of them, 2 of which I use on 8 and 10 strings and 1 on the 6 strings. The tone from these bars is much better than the Shubb. They are bullet bars, and 1 has 2 grooves milled into it and the 6 string has one groove. Here's a photo of it.

It's heavier than the Shubb, but the powdercoat and the groove allows a better grip than a chromed or polished bar. I imagine the center can be bored out deeper to make it lighter. The only bad about these bars is wearing out the powdercoat, which hasn't been a problem, and Michael has a return / recoat policy that is very customer friendly.

Here's a link to Michael's posting:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... &start=600

John Harmon · Post by **John Harmon** » 29 Dec 2022 5:53 pm

Greg, that looks like what I want, thanks for the link. I'll check into this tomorrow. John

Greg Forsyth · Post by **Greg Forsyth** » 30 Dec 2022 10:35 pm

John,
Michael also makes tapered bars and smaller lap steel bar's than the one I posted.

Tom Keller · Post by **Tom Keller** » 30 Dec 2022 11:10 pm

Buy an original Stevens bar, which is easy to hold, don't cost a ton and last for quite a while even under extreme usage. Stevens bars were also used by players like Buck Graves in the 1950's they didn't hurt his tone.

John Harmon · Post by **John Harmon** » 3 Jan 2023 6:00 pm

Hate to resurrect this but I have to thank Greg and Michael Hillman. That tone bar is fantastic. Good tone and I can hold it very well. Mike is great to deal with also, very fast service and pleasant. Thanks again guys. John

Miles Lang · Post by **Miles Lang** » 4 Jan 2023 9:19 am

I had a similar problem when my arthritis started to set in. Man, this getting old thing stinks!

I went from a Dunlop bar to a much lighter Ezzee Slide from our buddy Basil, and it was much more manageable. Now I can’t stand the sound of the steel bar in favor of the Ezzee Slide.

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