Zirctone Tone Bar: My Positive Experience

[Michael Luxem]

After trying tone bars of different diameters (7/8” and 15/16”), lengths (10- and 12-string), and materials (stainless steel/chrome, ceramic/polymer, zirconia), I found Mark Horton Smith’s Zirctone 7/8” 10-string bar gives me the hand feel, glide, and sound I prefer when playing through a Benado Steel Dream and Little Walter (100W/PF-35 speaker). For me, the bar is worth the price.

A few weeks ago, I noticed the bar occasionally catching on some strings. I found it to have a hairline fissure, about 2" long, running lengthwise. When I contacted Mark about the problem, I mentioned that I did not recall ever dropping the bar, and that, if I had, I play only at home with my guitar set on carpet. To my pleasant surprise, Mark suggested the fissure may have been the result of a production error and that he wanted to replace the bar at no cost to me. Really? Unbelievable! Customer service grade A+ for sure. Go to the head of the class, Mark! Superior product + outstanding customer service: A beautiful combination seldom seen in today's marketplace.

[Jeffery Mercer]

Greetings to all Pedal Steel Guitarists! All I can say is you’ve NEVER EXPERIENCED A TONE BAR such as this! Unbelievable!
I’ve ordered (2) expensive “Yes” of course! But a ToneBar that’s worth its weight in Gold! These Zirc bars will give you the sound you’ve been wanting and looking for! There more like jewelery than anything else… they warm up quick, they glide smoothly across the strings, they just feel good too hold! and they look amazing! Look at them this way insted of talking yerself out of a great purchase, you only do it once! Besides that, try to find a BJS TONEBAR of late? “Notta” who knows when and if they’ll be available again? It’s been months now… things happen, people get tired, old, un-interested, When this guy says That’s it no more… then guess what fellas? NO MORE means NO MORE! I wanna be able to say “I got mine!” Remember the Picks those very Special JF picks? I do! If you find them now they want $45 a set! or the ShoBud Volume pedal in good condition? Try $250- $350 or Those Special Spkrs the JBL’s! The ShoBud Christmas Amp? how much are those now? Try pricing a Fender Champ Tube amp ? It’s laughable!
At any rate sorry to rant! (Not really)
It’s a great ToneBar! Worth the money…to me anyway,
talk to you later
JEFFY POOH

[Erv Niehaus]

My two favorite bars are the zirconia (I have a white one and a black one) and the BJS, John Hughey bar.

[Lee Baucum]

Besides that, try to find a BJS TONEBAR of late? “Notta” who knows when and if they’ll be available again?

Yikes. I guess I missed something.

~Lee