The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a BJS tone bar and it appears to be real good. What make and weight of bar do you all use and why? Then do you change around with various makes and sizes in order to achieve certain tones and sounds? Thank you all in advance. YOURS AYE JAMES TAYLOR SCOTLAND -deep in the heather and the wild no--o-o-rth sea.

Hi James,
Ask five people about tone bars and you will get eight different opinions.
But they`ll all agree on one thing: BJS bars are among the top three without question.

After getting my first BJS (of three now), I never looked back.
I used to play a 7/8" (Dunlop, I guess) before I purchased a 15/16" 12-string John Hughey bar from Bill.
The sound was so much fuller, with longer sustain and smoother slide on my nickel strings. Then I ordered the same bar in a shorter 10-string version cause it fit my hands better. The last one I got, was a 3/4" JB bar for my Stringmaster.

I love mine!
Enjoy yours…

Greetings from sunny Cologne
Pit

I too played around with different bars until my boss in the band gave me a BJS. Stunning difference.....

I recently bought a BJS John Hughey bar 15/16" 12 string version.

I previously used a Dunlop 920, I upgraded to a U12 and needed a heavier and slightly longer bar for this, so decided to go for the BJS as they got so many good reviews.

Turns out the reviews were not wrong, I haven't used many other bars for comparison but the BJS is a great bar IMHO, better tone & sustain and very low friction.

Hi PIT and GEOFF, Thanks for your views it is interesting to hear what other steelies find is the best for them and I agree the BJS is a great tone bar. YOURS AYE JAMES TAYLOR------ the sun is shining here too but it is still very cold.My tone bar will be roosting on the radiator for a while before use today.

When I first started playing that old Stringmaster in 1976, I used an Ernie Ball bar because that's what came with it. There was also another smaller tone bar, shaped like an hourglass in section to fit between fingers with a radiused end for sliding. Had a little Hawaiian palm tree logo on it. It was very hard to use.

When I bought my Emmons S10 in 2000, it came with a BJS bar. I never measured it, but I would guess 3/4" diameter. I haven't touched anything else since.

Thanks David,I have the 7/8 BJS although I believe someone commented the 15/16, or heavier one, has much more sustain? JAMES TAYLOR

I agree with the rest, I don't think you can beat a BJS. But there are some very good bars besides the BJS, and their cheaper to. The Pearse bars are good, the Justice stainless are good bars. I have a 15/16th BJS and a 15/16th Justice. Both good bars for pedal steel.

Terry

I use a 1" BJS 10-string John Hughey bar on my Sho-Bud S-12. Fits my hand perfectly and the larger diameter makes it easier for me to get a good grip on it. The tone and sustain far surpasses my 7/8" Dunlop. I don't see the need for a 12-string bar, although I may consider a 15/16" 12-string zirconium bar, just for the heck of it.

I always have to get in on these BJS Bar deals. I've used a 7/8 BJS Bar for the last 2yrs. So this yr. at the Dallas Show, I decided I would get a 15/16, just to try it out. It is absolutely fantastic, and fits my big ol' hands like a glove........Just for fun, I got out my Dunlop Stainless bar today, just to see the difference, it was like trying to play w/a chunk of bark, off one of these oak trees on my property.....Buy a BJS BAR, from Butch Gardner and you'll never regret it, SMOOTH as GLASS, SLICKER than SNOT.

As far as I'm concerned, it is a toss up between a 15/16 BJS John Hughey bar and a 15/16 zirconia bar.

:)Thank you all for your thoughts and experience:TERRY ,DAVID , BILL and ERV. Every best wish JAMES TAYLOR

Hi James
Are them thar dugs Labradoodles, or Chinese Water Dogs?

Hi yourself KEN, Yes they are labradoodles and they are far better looking than me too. FINN on the left with LEO at the right- facing the picture that is.This was taken just before LEO had his hair cut. I got a Roland XL as you advised and it is great . THANK YOU! What do use for a tone bar,or bars?

I have a number Jim. My favourite is the BJS 15/16". Very smooth over the strings and easy to manipulate. I also have a bar that was manufactured for the Telonics company, but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

While this may appear desperate, never fear - I've added a few more.

And they all sound completely different!

Now that's what I call a collection of bars!!

I'm still using a Sho-Bud bar I got back in the '60s, 3 3/8 x 7/8.

I practice with model 921 by fellow Scot Jim Dunlop. How can you go wrong with a Scottish tone bar (unless it's made out of thistle)? The 921 is massive at 11.5oz, and once you get used to it you can switch to the 920 (7.5oz) and it feels light.

Call me coarse, but I think most of the perceived differences in chromed tone bars are feel (size, shape, and weight) related - sound is so heavily influenced by how you play that it would be very challenging to do a good blinded test.

Thanks KEN ,DAVID, DONNY and JOHN, I would agree that is a fine collection of BARS and bottle necks too. You must have at least one or perhaps two favourites DAVID? JAMES TAYLOR