Is this steel useable?

Brian Heller · Post by **Brian Heller** » 29 Jun 2010 10:13 pm

Hi out there,
Very, very, very new here...This what my local music store had. It doesn't fit the description of any book/video I've seen ("bullet"style), and the Shubb site is pretty vague. But is it a dobro steel? Usable or not for pedal steel, and why? (Hopefully the picture cuts it-- For some reason it's not appearing rotated correctly.)

Thanks,
Brian

Anders Eriksson · Post by **Anders Eriksson** » 29 Jun 2010 11:58 pm

Hello Brian,

The bar is a Shubb Robert Randolph Signature Guitar Steel bar, so it's for playing Pedal Steel.

Mr. Randolph do play a bit different than most Pedal Steel Player so depending on what kind of music you want to play you might want to buy a bullet bar also.

// Anders

Brian Heller · Post by **Brian Heller** » 30 Jun 2010 6:38 am

Thanks...Is it recommended for a beginner to use something heavier or lighter than this one? I find I do need to use some pressure to get the strings to speak all the way.

Chris Dorch · Post by **Chris Dorch** » 30 Jun 2010 7:07 am

It's called a Stevens Bar.. Technically, it is for dobro/lap BUT that doesn't mean that it cannot be used for pedal steel. Yes, RR uses them. Yes, that is the RR signature model. Yes, that one is probably meant for playing pedal steel.

You are correct that "bullet" bars are the traditional type of bar used.

YMMV

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 30 Jun 2010 12:03 pm

Brian
For most the snub nose bars are difficult at best for use on a traditional pedal steel guitar. Many players move the bar to play only the strings necessary at any given moment. So when you try to move the bar forward, it tends to dig into the higher strings resulting in a sling-shot type of apparatus that promptly launches the bar back into your gut. Depending on how energetic your intentions were on quickly reaching that 3rd string usually determines the amount of wind knocked out of the you.

Here's a link to a good thread with a variety of bars and applications:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... sc&start=0

They do make those type of bars in a rounded nose that would work easier on a neck with 8-12 strings.

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 2 Jul 2010 2:49 am

I tried my dobro bar on pedal steel. OK, it works, but it feels way too light, and tone and sustain suffer. Only in emergencies, I'd say.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 4 Jul 2010 4:37 am

I would run away from a Stevens bar if you play or want to play anything close to a traditional pedal steel style.
RR is a great player at what he does, no argument there, but his sound is very staccato, biting, and even shrill at times.. Sounds almost like a highly distorted telecaster. Its great for his playing style, which is a warp speed blues based rock thing.
The guy is amazing fast, and his bar is the correct type for that style.
Personally. unless you are going for what RR or some of the other sacred steel guys are doing, I wouldn't use a Stevens bar... bob

Jim Mathis · Post by **Jim Mathis** » 4 Jul 2010 6:25 pm

Bob is right.

I use a Stevens bar on a couple of tunes some nights. I also have been known to use a glass bar, but I use a conventional BJS bullet bar about 90% of the time.

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 5 Jul 2010 7:46 pm

I've noticed on several of the old Wilburn Brother's TV shows, that Don Helms used that type of bar on the pedal steel, and it sounded about as "traditional" country as you could get!