bar weight for a beginner?

Darrell Prichard · Post by **Darrell Prichard** » 14 Jun 2004 7:58 am

I'm getting ready to order a Carter Starter and I need to order a bar to go with it. I'm looking at an Ernie Ball 3 7/8" bar - available in "medium" or "heavy" weight.

My question: FOr a beginning E9 player, which weight bar would be the best choice - medium or heavy?

Thanks!

Darrell Prichard

John Sluszny · Post by **John Sluszny** » 14 Jun 2004 8:41 am

HEAVY (red dotted).They sound better and are very easy to play with.Let us know when you get your new Carter Starter.

Robert Porri · Post by **Robert Porri** » 14 Jun 2004 9:51 am

Darrell,

I bought both the white and red Ernie Ball bars. It was a very short time before I realized that for close to the price I could get what has turned out to be (in my opinion) a much higher quality bar. It would be well worth it for you to check out Bullet Bars. http://www.bulletbars.com/
I think it is Jim you would talk to who makes them. If you had a question about size etc., you could probabaly email him from that site.

There are other options, but for price, and considering what I found, I'd at least check out the site.

Bob P.

Marty Rifkin · Post by **Marty Rifkin** » 14 Jun 2004 11:54 am

Darrell, when I used to teach, the first thing I told my students was to carry the bar around in their left hands as often as possible. When they're watching tv, at the computer, etc. Get used to having the "chunk of metal" be a part of that hand. I also recommed wearing fingerpicks as often as you can away from your steel to get used to them as an extension of your fingers.

Since there's so much info you need to process when learning to play steel, dealing with the hardware involved can become a non-issue when you're used to having them in your hands. [This message was edited by Marty Rifkin on 14 June 2004 at 12:54 PM.][This message was edited by Marty Rifkin on 14 June 2004 at 08:11 PM.]

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 14 Jun 2004 1:43 pm

I started a few years ago with the EB, heavy (red). Have moved on since, but I certainly wouldn't want anything lighter than the red dot bar. I do like the bullet bar.

------------------
Ben
Zum D10, NV400, POD, G&L Guitars, etc, etc.

Post by **Joey Ace** » 14 Jun 2004 4:21 pm

I reccommend getting a great bar.

It might cost twice as much a a lesser one, but it will last forever. When you consider how much time you'll spend with it, and that it'a a main link between you and you guitar, I don't see why anyone would want to make do with a "beginner bar".

My favorites are BJS, I have two.
That's not the only great bar, just my fav.

Darrell Prichard · Post by **Darrell Prichard** » 14 Jun 2004 5:40 pm

Joey,

I've heard good things regarding BJS bars from other as well. I checked out their website and I do see a 7/8" bar for 10-string. However, it doesn't list the weight.

I'm also probably going to order up the Carter Start beginner pack-2 which includes a bar. I have a message into Ann to find out if I can specify a heavy bar with the kit.

About 25 years ago, I had an MSA single 12 for about a year and was just starting to learn to play (I'm a keyboard player by nature) but I don't recall what type of bar I used. I'm no longer gigging but wanted to pick the steel back up - pretty much starting over from scratch, just for my own enjoyment and maybe to later gig part time with an old fart band.

Cheers!
Darrell Prichard

Tim Bridges · Post by **Tim Bridges** » 15 Jun 2004 2:16 pm

Old Farts are getting older and older. That might need to be another thread. I wonder how many guys 50+ yrs. are playing for fun vs. playing out? We play out but not too often and not too late. We also limit it to 1 night. Yep, I'm proud to be an "Ol' Fart". It's all about having fun and playing the music.

Darrell Prichard · Post by **Darrell Prichard** » 15 Jun 2004 2:32 pm

Tim,

I hear ya'! I'm 44 and have no desire to get back into gigging (I have a GREAT day job). I'm looking for something that will get me away from the computer screen on those days when it's too wet or hot to ride my Harley. I've been lurking on this forum for awhile and finally decided that the camaraderie on this forum and experience of learning a new instrument from scratch would be just the ticket. (Although I dabbled with steel back in my youth, I never really got past playing slow I-IV-V progressions.)

But if I ever get to the point where I could play out, I wouldn't mind playing maybe one night a week or so.

Cheers!

Darrell Prichard
Coppell, TX

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 15 Jun 2004 9:17 pm

Anyone know the weight of the Ernie Ball "medium" and "heavy" bars? I'm curious how they compare to my bar.

Robert Porri · Post by **Robert Porri** » 16 Jun 2004 2:06 am

Just for some fun comparison, I took out my wife's "NOT LEGAL FOR TRADE" little Weight Watchers scale (We unfortunately haven't followed the program for too long), took out my 4 bars and this is what I got.

7/8" Ernie Ball White - just under 6 oz.

7/8" Ernie Ball Red - just under 8 oz. (much more respectable)

15/16" Red Rajah Bar (about 3-5/16") - just over 9 oz.

1" Bullet Bar (3-9/16") - just over 11 oz.

I was finding I had to use too much bar pressure with the lighter bars, so I do like the 15/16" and 1" bars the best. I don't use the Ernie Balls anymore except for playing my acoustics lap style once in awhile.

While I was at it...

Cassette tape - 1oz.

Seiko Tuner - 3oz.

Jeff Newman's Pedal Steel Guitar Techniques CD (in case) - 3.4oz

SansAmp GT2 (with battery) 13oz.

SM57 - 9.1 oz.

Sorry for the digression. But I think that SM57 is looking pretty good for a tone bar alternative in a pinch. Maybe if my PSG pickup ever fails and I lose my bars on the same day I can just take out the SM57, plug it in and go.

Bob P.
[This message was edited by Robert Porri on 16 June 2004 at 03:10 AM.]