The Steel Guitar Forum

POP! Here it is again!

------------------
I'd rather be opinionated, than apathetic!

I think its time to change zirconia to the alloy material it REALLY seems to be--UNOBTAINIUM!

Last year I looked into it myself ...

I contacted an Engineering Ceramics company ...

And drew up a bullet bar ... Jerry Byrd size (2 3/4" x 3/4") with a thumb indent on the rear end.

I talked with the engineer several times ... explaining what these were, etc

I received a quote ...

Minimum 100 units @ $55 per unit.

250 units @ $45 per unit.

I was excited about it ... but my wife wasn't.

The quote is expired now ... but if anyone wants to look into it ... these folks know what steel guitar bars are now ...

------------------

<font size=1> Aiello's House of Gauss</font>

<font size=1>
My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield</font>

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 29 July 2005 at 05:23 AM.]</p></FONT>

Ed,

I wouldn't trade my Zbar for anything. If
you decide to remanufacturer them, I'll buy a spare.

b0b,
I've noticed no tone change on my LDG between Eds bar and the BJS. How do they compare when no change/mods to tone/volum?


------------------
Jeff Hyman
jeff@cactus.com
Sho~Bud LDG
WEBB and Fender Deluxe
www.HatCreekCountry.com
www.cactus.com

Time for my "Annual Bump" of this thread.
Anyone still interested??

I'll take lucky " 13 " please. 10 stringer, 15/16ths.

------------------
Emmons LeGrande III, D-10
Rains, SD-10
"69 Fender Twin, W/JBLs
Mesa Boogie Mark IV, X2
Peavey 112, X2

Put me down for at least one 15/16",,,,12 string

Bill Stafford contact me and let me look at this venture........
No promises, but I might be interested in making them.
Bill

lord only knows i'm no expert BUT
the greats of yesteryear didn't have bars made from some fancy alloy, seems to me they used good old steel bars and if that was good enough for them, its good enough for me...it just sounds like a lot of folks are looking for some kinda gimmick to make them sound better, i think i'll just try harder myself

------------------
Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR><SMALL>b0b,
I've noticed no tone change on my LDG between Eds bar and the BJS. ...</SMALL><HR></BLOCKQUOTE> All I can say is 1) you need a better amp, or 2) you need to clean the wax out of your ears.

I hear a big difference in tone between the BJS and Zirconia. The BJS has more highs - no doubt about it. Zirconia is darker sounding. Both of them sustain like nobody's business, and both are virtually indestructable. I use them both a lot.

------------------
<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b2005.gif" width="78 height="78">Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)   My Blog </font>

I sold my Zirc only because I prefer the 15/16's and mine was 7/8's. If they become available again, I would order one - and I don't care what the production # on the end of the bar is.

Geo

I have heard about these bars but have never seen. Is it an steel alloy with zirconium or is this a zirconium-based ceramic material ? My understanding is pure zirconium metal is not very hard (similar to copper in scratch resistance)

The bars are milk white. Here is a picture of me playing with one. This picture was taken 4 years and 60 pounds ago.



------------------
Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
-----------
My web site

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 04 August 2006 at 02:00 PM.]</p></FONT>

I would love to have one in a boring standard 7/8ths 10 string size.

CC...The material is a Zirconia ceramic. Zirconium is the metal, Zirconia is the ceramic.

There are several types of Zirconia based ceramics. Do a Google search for details.

Mike, thanks for the posting the photo. White --therefore based on your photo and what I have seen posted these bars are made of zirconium oxide. A tough material and when smooth has a low friction.

PS thanks Ed, saw your post after I posted here.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Colm Chomicky on 04 August 2006 at 04:48 PM.]</p></FONT>

I will take one of those bars so count me in also Huey Moore

------------------

CC...you are welcome...right, Ziconium oxide with additives of various types for various functions and colors. I tried to get black material also, but no go.

The smoothness, by Zygo measurement, was many times smoother than the "best" metal bars.

That smoothness seems to make the bar stick to your hands where the metal bars tend to slip out.

I have noticed that my zirco bar ( #001 , Sorry Joey) has better grip and glides over the strings better but has a slightly darker tone and a little less sustain. I would oder another one though. Albert

------------------
I'm "STEEL" Praising The Lord!

Hey Ole...how's the ice fishing?
I can't remember where you first saw the Zirc bar...was it at Doug Rolfes Gospel show?

Hey Ed, could you post those electron microscope pictures that compare the zirc bar with a steel bar?

B0b...I'll see if I can find them...that was a long time ago.

I want one. Isn't there enough demand for somebody to make 'em?

I want one. Isn't there enough demand for somebody to make 'em?

Is there an echo in here?<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Steve Hitsman on 07 August 2006 at 11:26 AM.]</p></FONT>

I want a 7/8 for a 10 string and a 12 string. What is the ship date? I'll take numbers 1 & 2; 1 for the 10 string and 2 for the 12 string.