Bar diameter...7/8" vs. 1"....any difference in to
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
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Bar diameter...7/8" vs. 1"....any difference in to
Ok...the new kid here wants to know about bars. I'm currently using a 7/8" x 3 1/4" bar. I'm curious as to the difference between the two bars, other than the obvious 1/8" in length and the additional weight that would go along with the 1" bar. Which is the most popular and why? What could I expect if I were to switch to the 1" bar?
Steve
Steve
- Andy Sandoval
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I think it boils down to more of a personal preference than to expect certain results. A heavier bar might just feel more comfortable to one person and another person might claim better control or more sustain. you just have to do a comparison yourself to really determine if there is a noticeable difference. Personally, the larger bars just fit in my hand better so I feel like I've got a little more control.
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- richard burton
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I use a 7/8" x 3 1/2" bar which is actually made for a 12 string steel guitar (I play a D10). I switched to the longer bar about 10 years ago after hear others on this forum discuss this issue. I like it because it is slightly heavier than a 3 1/4" bar yet it still has the 7/8" feel to it. It just seems to fit my hand better.
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Re: Bar diameter...7/8" vs. 1"....any difference i
You would notice thge weight change immediately - your wallet would be about $60 lighter.What could I expect if I were to switch to the 1" bar?
Seriously, some players think the bigger bar gives more sustain, but I'm unconvinced there's any noticeable difference above a plain ol' 7/8" diameter bar.
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Steve, I'd agree it's a personal taste thing, and bears experimentation. You may find your tastes changing over time as well.
I think for those who use a rolling style of vibrato a larger bar may make more difference in feel. I had a student make me a very fine stainless 1" bar years ago (unfortunately stolen off the bandstand by a winking co-ed), and I found that I liked using that on ballads and a smaller bar on uptempo stuff. I've since gotten many styles, sizes, and materials, and they all have an individual feel, and slightly different tone.
It's quite surprising what difference even 1/16" can make. Hopefully you'll get to experiment. It's a bit expensive, but at least now we have an outlet here for bars we've outgrown.
I think for those who use a rolling style of vibrato a larger bar may make more difference in feel. I had a student make me a very fine stainless 1" bar years ago (unfortunately stolen off the bandstand by a winking co-ed), and I found that I liked using that on ballads and a smaller bar on uptempo stuff. I've since gotten many styles, sizes, and materials, and they all have an individual feel, and slightly different tone.
It's quite surprising what difference even 1/16" can make. Hopefully you'll get to experiment. It's a bit expensive, but at least now we have an outlet here for bars we've outgrown.
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Several players, Greg Leisz and Michael Johnstone among them, tried Sneaky Pete's tapered 1 1/4"-1 1/8" bar at his Celebration of Life service, and it had a pretty dramatic effect on tone and playing...not a negative one, just different. Personally, I find larger bars easier to control and better sounding. They take getting used to as far as parallax vision goes, but once you overcome that they're hard to get away from. A 7/8 bar just sounds wimpy in comparison.
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1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional