Glass Bar

Kevin Post · Post by **Kevin Post** » 19 Apr 2005 9:20 pm

I'm wanting to find a glass bar for pedal steel. Optimally, a ten string 1 inch diameter, from pyrex. Really, I would try anything, though.

Thanks...

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David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 20 Apr 2005 12:14 am

I have a bunch of glass bars, but these guys make the best I've found: http://www.diamondbottlenecks.com/index.html
They have pyrex rod in various diameters that they can cut off to any length, but their hand-blown leaded crystal bars are extra-killer. Any diameter, length, nose contour, hollow or solid - look under the "Signature Series" for an idea of what they do. They made me a bar sort of like the blue "Charlie O" one, but 1.25" X 3.75", 6.5 oz, straight sides with a hemispherical nose - they were blowing a deep emerald green crystal that week. I'm generally not inclined towards mysticism, but this is a magic bar.

I made a little leg-clipped holder out of a medicine bottle to (hopefully) avoid kitten-induced tragedy. I wouldn't take this out of the house without an armed guard, however - if you're prone towards dropping bars a BJS might have to do.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 20 Apr 2005 4:44 am

Those prices are really reasonable too, it seems to me. Looks interesting.

Bob Eldridge · Post by **Bob Eldridge** » 20 Apr 2005 7:53 am

The concept of a glass bar is really intriguing... do they work better than SS or chrome??

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Bob's Place bobeldridge@bobeldridge.com GFI S-10D - ProFX2 + 2 Nashville 1000's

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 20 Apr 2005 10:20 am

Bob - If you will just take the time to compare, you will see that the difference is quite clear.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 20 Apr 2005 1:23 pm

Here's a link to a discussion over on no-peddlers about lead filled glass bars.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006948.html

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 21 Apr 2005 7:32 am

The concept of a glass bar is really intriguing... do they work better than SS or chrome??

Not better - just different. I use a glass bar when I want less sustain, like for rhythm parts, traditional blues or a more "acoustic" tone. I wouldn't want to use one all the time.

I usually keep a variety of bars on deck. I like to vary my tone so that the listener doesn't get bored with the sound.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 21 Apr 2005 9:44 am

I wouldn't play "rock" with a glass bar.[This message was edited by W Franco on 21 April 2005 at 03:13 PM.]

Kevin Post · Post by **Kevin Post** » 21 Apr 2005 10:56 am

For Blues slide guitar, I like glass far and way better than steel. It makes a huge difference to me... much warmer and smoother.

I've never tried glass on a pedal steel, but it's intriguing. I don't think it would be better for country steel, but maybe for other stuff, with some breakup... nowhatimsayin...

Thanks

Kevin Post · Post by **Kevin Post** » 25 Apr 2005 2:07 pm

Mike Headrick just sent me one in the mail. Thanks... I love it. I played for an hour yesterday, with no fingerpicks, and the glass bar... just to see what it sounded like.

It's got less sustain, but a cooler tone, just like I thought it would. I especially like playing jazzier stuff with it, like on the C neck. I would like to try it on an old shobud with a single coil through a Fender Twin, ala Daniel Lanois.

The sustain is still really good, but the notes diminish more quickly, but hang on just as long as the steel bar. It's much lighter, but I don't see that as an advantage, for me. I'd like to try some different pickups with this bar...

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[This message was edited by Kevin Post on 26 April 2005 at 12:02 PM.]