The Steel Guitar Forum

We all know that it's necessary to warm up our bars before we play, I was wondering what techniques people use. Sometimes I just put it in my pocket, and sometimes I give it to my girlfriend. I don't know what she does with it, but when it comes back to me, it's steamy!! what's your method?

It is my studied opinion that you should continue to have your steamy girl friend keep your bar warm !! Obviously she is a "California gal" and knows how to warm up a cold bar !! You are a very lucky man to have such a "bar warmer" available !! Good luck !!! from the old geezer AKA Eddie "C"

Steamy? Probably putting it in the oven with the clams (casino)...

I would leave the bar on the steel and while it's getting to room temp, go to the dressing room and give it to your girlfriend

Wonder if Steely Dan ever used pedal steel on any of their tunes....

Have no idea why this thread made me think of that (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

Yeah Skunk Baxter played on "Flights into Ecstacy" I think was one of the first albums I remember with steel on it. I think he even did a solo instumental called "London Toodle'oo" or somethin strange sounding but was a pretty cool tune really....Stormy

I run hot water over mine in the rest room when I'm lucky enough to be playing in such classy places that actually HAVE hot water!! I also often carry a small heater with me...I hate being cold when I play but I must watch the over all amp draw so as not to pop any breakers...

JUST SET ON IT


Always wanted to say that - or move to AZ we have lots of warm weather

This is intended to make someone smile

Joe Naylor
www.steelseat.com
plus Road Cases and other stuff too

Gerry Simon wrote:I run hot water over mine in the rest room when I'm lucky enough to be playing in such classy places that actually HAVE hot water!! I also often carry a small heater with me...I hate being cold when I play but I must watch the over all amp draw so as not to pop any breakers...

You play in places that have rest rooms?

Jim he is talking about in-door restrooms

I think that is somethin new in them BIG cities



Joe

This thread started strange and hasn't let up.

If you use a tube amp, there's plenty of heat for the bar. Otherwise, I carry a heating pad to warm the bar, and then sooth my back after dragging the MSA Classic around.

I carry mine around in my front pants pocket.. the barmaid said.. "is that a tone bar in your pocket or are you just glad to see me? "

Is that how those guys in NJ think

Cohen you are mighty close you might want to think about movin West ------ way west

Joe

Aaron Wayne wrote:We all know that it's necessary to warm up our bars before we play,

I didn't. Why is it necessary? Surely a cold bar can't throw a steel guitar out of tune, can it?

Mitch

Now this is rare in Texas, but I've had to play outdoors in near freezing weather. If you know it'll be cold leave the house with the bar in your pocket, and put it back in your pocket on breaks. cheap, efficient, beauty. Cheers from Atown

I carry my cook stove with me to gigs and warm it on 425F for 20 min and then throw it in my dryer for another 30 min. (I also take my clothes dryer to gigs.) I used to take a microwave but mgmt complained.

Arm pit.

I just put mine in the nearest microwave for 30 sec.

OR get a TriboTone

When my bar gets hot, I reach back and reverse the polarity on the amp.

Mitch Ellis wrote:

Aaron Wayne wrote:We all know that it's necessary to warm up our bars before we play,

I didn't. Why is it necessary? Surely a cold bar can't throw a steel guitar out of tune, can it?

Mitch

Playing with a cold bar is one of the most serious mistakes a steeler can make! Set a cold bar down on the strings and before you can take one pluck, the shrinkage of the strings begins. It's unavoidable. The strings tighten and go sharp due to the cold and the coefficient of expansion is more greatly exaggerated with the smaller strings much more than with the larger strings, which nevertheless, are tightened and sharpened in their own manner. This is well documented among the metallurgical types. You can conduct your own research, or consider that this might, with apolgies, be a belated April Fools.

OR:
I like to take a special large bar to gigs that I can put a glowing coal inside. It gets very hot so during breaks I can iron my cowboy shirts on the steel for the next nites gig. The band leader made me stop when fans started bringing me their laundry to do and I was making more money that he was....

The most serious consequence of a cold bar is that it can cause stiffness and cramping in your left hand. Makes bar slants nearly impossible.

Solutions to cold bar problem:

1. Connect the bar to a 12 volt car battery terminals with a pair of jumper cables. It'll warm up right quickly.

2. Place it next to the 6L6's for several minutes.

3. New product idea, "The Bar Warmer". Runs on Coleman fuel.

4. Place bar in exhaust pipe of car and idle for 5 minutes.

5. Use warm air hand dryer in rest room.

6. Use warm air hand dryer in ladies rest room.

7. Hold bar over hot pot of chili in Bar and Grill kitchen.