The Steel Guitar Forum

Well, my Bear Creek MK Weissenborn-style guitar is finished and about to be shipped.
As a pedal steel guitarist, I've been using a 1" x 3-1/4" bar on a 12 string Universal.
What are you lap steel/Dobro/WB players using?
My guitar is a 6 string model; I don't know as I want a grooved bar, but I do have a small bullet-nose one I started out with many years ago that I'll try. I'm just wondering if most players are using grooved bars, 1" bars, or other varieties.
Thanks.
Links to manufacturers earn Brownie points.....

Shubb SP2:
http://www.shubb.com/sp/

Scheerhorn Chrome or Stainless Steel:
http://www.elderly.com/brand/ACSL_scheerhorn.html

I like the Shubb as it has one end with a slightly rounded tip for easier string-to-string transitions, but the Scheerhorn will be better for pull-offs etc.

Today's player has so many great options available. Tone bars are available with differences in weight, tone, tactile feel, appearance, and price... and give the player the ability to choose a personal tone bar that "delivers and performs".

I have met many a lap steel/dobro player who uses or have used Stevens-shaped bars, bottlenecks, and bullet nosed tone bars to play Weiss's!

To name just a few, makers like Tribotone, BJS, Shubb, Dunlop, Diamond Bottlenecks, and my brand, Paloma, all offer excellent quality products and are used by many pro and non-pro players alike. And in most cases, players seem to own a variety of bars of different sizes and materials. It's all about tone and feel.

So my suggestion is to dive in and try a bunch of bars... the search will be a fun adventure. Try to find a bar that best delivers the sound you like the most while feeling comfortable in your hand... your going to be holding it for many, many hours to come. You may find that you "need to have" more than one!

Jay's bars are great. I have one that is shaped similar to a Stevens but it has a bullet nose. (I can't remember the model #) I really enjoyed this on my Weiss copy and currently on my lap steels.

I use lighter gauge strings on my W-style hollow neck Acoustic Hawaiian so I think its a good idea for me to use a lighter bar. Jim Burden makes great bullet bars cut to whatever length you want- and these have a bullet-shaped nose rather than the blunt noses you find on the Dunlop and Ernie Ball bars.

If you plan on playing a lot of dobro riffs using pull-offs and open strings you probably want the square nose on a traditional Stevens bar. I like the bullet nose on the Burden bars because you can move seamlessly from one string to two strings to the full bar. I got one of his 13/16" bars which has the mobility of the 3/4" bar that Jerry Byrd liked along with the mass of a 7/8" bar. I believe that he can hollow the bar out for you if you are looking for something lighter for a W-style hollow neck Acoustic Hawaiian. Or just go with the JD #918 Jerry Byrd bar (the JD and EB bars are hollowed out and filled).

Steve Ahola

I have a BJS chrome, 3/4" x 2 7/8" bar that is just perfect for 6 string lap steel or Weissenborn.

I also use a BJS chrome, 3/4" x 2 7/8" bar. It's the same size used by Jerry Byrd. I love it maybe BJS new owner will produce them again, but they were usually out of stock. Heres a link to a stainless steel Scheerhorn I have listed here. I can't get used to the grooves, I'm a bullet bar guy, turns out. lol

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... highlight=

Rick,
That is a great bar, isn't it?

Thanks for all the ideas, guys!
I don't know if I'd like the Stevens style bar (from photos I've seen), as I still want a bullet nose, if not a standard bullet bar like I now use.
I wouldn't be playing fast bluegrass on my guitar, but I would use slants, hammer-ons and pull-offs.
The strings on my guitar will be a bit lighter in gauge, as I plan on using an A6, and was advised to go light. Does that presuppose my needing a lighter bar?

Not being a big hammer-on, pull-off style player, I have a Scheerhorn that rarely gets taken off the shelf. I've used a 3/4" BJS for years, but I have to say that since I got a Tribo-Tone a few months ago the BJS has spent a lot of time keeping the Scheerhorn company. I'd heard lots of good things about the Tribo-Tone, and it more than lives up to the hype. Not quite so bright a high end as the BJS, but a gorgeous mellow sound, and SO smooth! If you want a chrome bullet you can't beat the BJS (mine is almost twenty years old and shows virtually no wear), but overall I'd definitely rate the Tribo-Tone as the best bar I've ever tried.

I have a Scheerhorn stainless and just ordered a Tribotone. I will report back once it arrives. The reports sound good, however

I tend to use a 3/4" diameter Tribotone for my Weissenborns. Cuts down on the extraneous string noise, but more than that it just seems to enhance the sounds that I like from those instruments. Other musicians have agreed with that assessment. On resonator I am using Tipton-style bars, and in fact I just got a genuine Tipton that I am liking a lot.

Regarding the BJS "Jerry Byrd" 3/4 X 2 7/8 Bar. I have a good many in stock with the birthstone nose. Because I am out of the plain nose, you can have the birthstone of your choice at no extra charge.

Butch Gardner
BJS Bars

I'm a big fan of the Broz-O-Phonic bar made by Latch Lake for playing Hawaiian music. The bar was developed with the input of Bob Brozman who is certainly no slouch on things with strings and quite the ethnomusicologist. I do also like the Tribo-Tone bar a lot, though it had a different tone and feel. Hope that might be of some help.

All the best,

Julian