Bars

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 11 May 2023 6:11 pm

Hey there. I’ve been sidetracked for some years by pedal steel, and when I went to find my eight string bar, it’s nowhere to be found. So, wanting to get back into some non pedal, I need a new bar. I can slant with my ten string bar, but it’s not ideal. So, who’s currently making eight string bars? Recommendations welcome!

Thomas Nehrenberg · Post by **Thomas Nehrenberg** » 11 May 2023 10:16 pm

May I suggest to have a look into these fine products:

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

These bars will be manufactured and tailored to your preferred specifications....and they are smooooooth!

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 11 May 2023 11:12 pm

Are you saying that you need a bar for 8 string (note) chords?

Kully Stiles · Post by **Kully Stiles** » 12 May 2023 1:03 am

I used a tiny little Jerry Byrd sized bar even on my 10 stringers. John Pease makes good ones, I believe they call it the "hawaiian" size. Little bars are more nimble and offer more precise slants. Plus they're easier to fit up ur butt when you need to smuggle em through tsa.
Don't fear a tiny bar. You know what they say, the smaller the bar, the larger the tone.

Joe Burke · Post by **Joe Burke** » 12 May 2023 4:24 am

Nothing wrong with Dunlop bars. But Tod Clinesmith makes great tone bars in various lengths, diameter and weight.

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

Joe A. Roberts · Post by **Joe A. Roberts** » 12 May 2023 4:27 am

Kully Stiles wrote:Plus they're easier to fit up ur butt when you need to smuggle em through tsa.

No wonder pedal steel players have to play sitting down

Bill Groner · Post by **Bill Groner** » 12 May 2023 4:36 am

Plus they're easier to fit up ur butt when you need to smuggle em through tsa.

Are you a frequent flyer?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 12 May 2023 5:20 am

I cannot do a lot of my slants in C13 with anything less than a 3–3.25" bar.

I used to use short bars years ago and even had some custom made bars that were shorter than the JB bars, but that was when I was playing my Tricone in C#min tuning.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 May 2023 6:57 am

I wonder if BJS still makes a smaller bar.
I have one and it is excellent.
Erv

Benjamin Franz · Post by **Benjamin Franz** » 12 May 2023 2:53 pm

Thanks for the replies all! I have a 10 string BJS bar that I love, but for some reason I was under the impression they were not being made any more. And I also thought Clinesmith were currently not making bars. Glad to hear differently.

And maybe that is a better solution than trying to explain to airport security just exactly what the hell that thing is.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 12 May 2023 10:25 pm

BJS shows one JB 8 string model in stock on their website.

3/4 x 3.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 May 2023 6:54 am

That's the one I have and it is a dandy!
Erv

Jouni Karvonen · Post by **Jouni Karvonen** » 13 May 2023 9:46 am

https://www.diamondbottlenecks.com/CrystalToneBars.html

4"long 1"diam:

Joe A. Roberts · Post by **Joe A. Roberts** » 13 May 2023 10:02 am

Jouni Karvonen wrote:https://www.diamondbottlenecks.com/CrystalToneBars.html

4"long 1"diam:

Very cool! How much does it weigh?

--

Also, does a tone bar's diameter affect the ease of split bar slants at all? (I've only ever played one diameter)
Does it not matter since whatever the length the end has a spherical surface to catch the strings?

edit: to answer my own question, I found this Jerry Byrd quote. But I would still like to hear others’ experiences as well.

“What I discovered years ago was that I had to have a bar about ¾” in diameter (just about) and a gently rounded nose not a pointed nose and with the string spacing 3/8.” You can put the bar between those strings and it will make contact on either side of the bar right about where the tapering of the nose starts on the shaft.”

John Viterito · Post by **John Viterito** » 20 May 2023 12:30 pm

Shubb SP1 - Underrated.

John Viterito · Post by **John Viterito** » 20 May 2023 12:32 pm

Jouni......cool looking bar, looks like there should be a prehistoric insect stuck inside of it.

Gene Tani · Post by **Gene Tani** » 28 May 2023 3:15 pm

I would get a Clinesmith, I have 2, very fond of them, pretty durable and relatively easy to grip with wet hands like I will have when it gets 90 deg. Farenheit around here.

That glass one is quite stunning... Latch lake is another ready made smaller length bar, standard materials. I had one but can't find it... Available in a decent number of sizes

https://latchlakemusic.com/slides/hawaiian-bar/