A lighter sound

C. Christofferson · Post by **C. Christofferson** » 7 Apr 2007 4:12 pm

Back in the 'remote bar' thread, we talked about playing (barring) with different household items such as cell phones, tv remotes, slinkys (b0b), shot glasses etc. Ive been trying something else that i'll be darned if it don't sound good enough to add to the arsenal. The Bic Lighter. It has a nice haunting hillbilly type sound, kind of like an instrument might have sounded before technology and polished stainless came along. If you play with it large diameter down it sounds a little more frying pan or if you use it small diameter down it sounds cleaner. You can actually hold it so that it's somewhere in between the two. Don't know if it sounds better full or empty (haha) but if one wanted to add some flash you maybe could flick that bic in the middle of a hot solo for that flame shooting bar effect. Not responsible for damage or injury. Anything else out there being used?

My site

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 7 Apr 2007 4:14 pm

Good one!

Stan Paxton · Post by **Stan Paxton** » 7 Apr 2007 6:12 pm

It may sound corny, but I had heard of guys doing this, so I tried it. Cut the end off a wooden broom handle (not the painted kind, solid wood industrial type); gives a nice semi-dobro sound....

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 7 Apr 2007 6:48 pm

I probably shouldn't cop to this, but I got a pretty good banjo simulation for a track by using a bic pen for a bar.

Jack Ritter · Post by **Jack Ritter** » 7 Apr 2007 7:14 pm

'bout 100 years or so ago, i got to a shindig and realized i did not bring my bar with me. so, i borrowed a shiny spark plug deep socket from one of the farmers and made it ok. didn't sound bad at all and darn sure beat nuthin' at all!!!jack

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 7 Apr 2007 8:01 pm

I've been usin a Bic to play slide on a Strat for years.Kinda/sorta Dobro sound.

But the dumbest thing I've ever used was my lower denture,man was I messed up.Don't smoke that $ht no more.

PJ

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 7 Apr 2007 10:11 pm

mike nolan wrote:I probably shouldn't cop to this, but I got a pretty good banjo simulation for a track by using a bic pen for a bar.

...and you could probably get a good steel guitar effect by using a tone bar on an electric banjo...

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 7 Apr 2007 11:22 pm

Let us not forget Albert Svendaal playing with a hard boiled egg.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 8 Apr 2007 2:14 am

Ping-pong ball! Try it with an auto-wah envelope filter.

(Hint: lock up the cats first - they really, really don't like this

)

Marc Weller · Post by **Marc Weller** » 8 Apr 2007 2:14 am

Henrix "All Along The Watchtower" performed with a Zippo.

Bobby Snell · Post by **Bobby Snell** » 8 Apr 2007 4:28 am

Remember, no trick is too cheap for showbiz.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 8 Apr 2007 10:14 am

When I play rock and blues on pedal steel, I use a Shub-Pearse #2 grooved Dobro type bar. It's not as different sounding as the things mentioned above, but it has a definitely thinner sound that seems to fit better.

mike nolan · Post by **mike nolan** » 8 Apr 2007 11:19 am

Alan F. Brookes wrote: ...and you could probably get a good steel guitar effect by using a tone bar on an electric banjo...

Alan, I have to draw the line somewhere....

C. Christofferson · Post by **C. Christofferson** » 8 Apr 2007 1:27 pm

Dennis Schell · Post by **Dennis Schell** » 8 Apr 2007 1:27 pm

Papa Joe Pollick wrote:I've been usin a Bic to play slide on a Strat for years.Kinda/sorta Dobro sound.
But the dumbest thing I've ever used was my lower denture,man was I messed up.Don't smoke that $ht no more. PJ

Ever try a Snap On 5/8" deep socket?

(Fits over my little finger just great and is guaranteed not to break!)

Dennis

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 9 Apr 2007 2:38 pm

Cheap comb will give you a banjo sound..

KEN

Ken Widdall · Post by **Ken Widdall** » 9 Apr 2007 11:02 pm

I use 4 inches of good ol' white PVC pipe
(7/8" dia.) along with the "dobro" settings on my profex II to get a passable dobro sound. It ain't perfect, but I saved about $300.
kw

Jim Hoke · Post by **Jim Hoke** » 13 Apr 2007 7:21 pm

I saw Dave Easley use a butter knife (I think) while singing some folk song, maybe a Taj Mahal thing. Pretty great.

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