The Steel Guitar Forum

Is anyone using a ceramic tone bar and if so, how do you like it?

I use my zirconia bar every day. It's great. Tone wise it's very close to a steel bar.

Bill I tried one of the ceramic tone bars did not like it very much so what I did was mill one edge flat and when used it gives a good dobro sound.




Jimmy

Jimmy,
What was it you didn't like about it? I heard that they are really lite and I would think that would be a good thing.

Hi Bill,i guess after using a large heavy bar for over 40 years I just found it a bit too light and the tone was not as good to my ears as my heavy bar ,but it can still be used as a normal bar if I decide to give it a go, but as I say it gives a good dobro sound when used with the flat edge on the strings.




Jimmy

Bill Davison wrote:Jimmy,
What was it you didn't like about it? I heard that they are really lite and I would think that would be a good thing.

Everything is a trade off - being light is not as good for sustain, as you need a certain amount of mass to keep the string vibrating. The ceramic bars give a softer sound with a little less sustain. But on the plus side, they are lighter.

If you want mass, talk to Steve Gunder. I have a 7/8" tungsten-filled stainless bar that is heavier than ANY 1" bar I have. I just got it, so I haven't had the chance to compare tone and playability (I use bullet bars for Dobro licks), but I'm impressed.
He also has a powder coated bar for those that like the ceramic style tone.
EDIT: the 7/8" powder coat bar weighs 8 3/8 ounces. Most of my SDF bars are 7/8 and ten strings
The brass bars are a titch over 9 ounces. The powder coated bar is 8 3/8.
My 7/8 Tungsten-filled weighs 11 1/8 ounces. The only heavier bars in my collection are my 1 inch 12 string bars, at 11 3/8 for the 12 string sitar bar and 11 1/2 for the 12 string round.

I've been using a glass bar w a metal insert for weight- not sure what kind of metal is being used but the bar is very smooth, heavy, and is a cool dark blue in color and made by Silica Sound- sells for a bit less than other premium bars. The only caveat is that if you drop it on a hard surface- it breaks.

I'm with Marco. Love the warm sound it produces.

Kind Regards, Walter

I love my Paloma stone tone bar. I can use it and my hand and wrist don't get tired. I also love my zirc bar that Forumite Wayne Johnson made for me. I still have a large assembly of steel bars,but I enjoy the variety of tone and ease of use of the lighter bars.

Well now, it looks like there are a lot of options out there for other than steel bars. I would like to try one. The question for me is: which one?

I recently practiced with my zirconia and my BJS chromed bar for about an hour.

IMHO, the BJS had more sustain and sharper tone. The zirconia has a more muted sound, less sliding noise and friction, and a noticeably more mellow tone.

Both bars are great and I can envision songs or situations where you might prefer one bar over the other and vice versa. For example I can get a more vintage 800/1000 Fender tone out of the Zirconia and above the 12th fret it's a little less harsh sounding.

Overall if I could only have one bar it would be a 15/16" solid chromed bar. You can also get a more mellow tone out of a chromed or stainless bar by hollowing it out.

Your choice of bar materials may also be affected by the wound string composition, nickel vs stainless.

To those that have emailed me re the bars...here is the contact info for bars:

Here is how to order the Zirbar. It is available for shipping. It is best to use Paypal that you can track your shipping via USPS.
Contacts:
Vinh Nguyen (Zirbar)
1776 Prima Drive, Livermore, CA 94550
Cell: 408-505-5953
Email: zirbar@gmail.com
please use the email above for paypal... at www.paypal.com or pay via check / Money Order:
Black $120 ea / $10 Shipping & Handling for 48 states/ add $5 if use Paypal
1) Size: 15/16" x 3 1/2
White: $120 ea / $10 Shipping & Handling for 48 states / add $5 if use Paypal
1) Size: 7/8" 3 +3/8"
Note: $20 for shipping & Handling for everywhere else.
FYI: Black bar has no streak marks (...it's there but you can't see) on the bar as comparing to white bar.
please indicates the size and color when you place the order.

Also, there is no coating and its weight about 10 ounces. it made of zirconium ceramic material (very hard material...not dinner plate ceramic) and you can read all about it in SG Forum. if you don't like, you can send it back and I will fully refund your money after 30 days and you just pay for the shipping and handling cost ($10).

Regards,
Vinh Nguyen

Thanks Ed, Appreciate the information.