Using a 10 string bar on a 12 string guitar

Bob Tuttle · From: Republic, MO 65738

How many of you use a regular 10 string bar for playing a 12 string steel guitar? Do you see any advantages or disadvantages over using a longer, 12 string bar?

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Bob, I use a 10-string BJS with my Mullen D-12. The longer 12-string bar extends too far past my middle finger, and I lose some blocking with that fingertip on descending string passages.

I still have a 12-string bar, but discovered this problem and have since retired it.

------------------
E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II+Lexicon MPX-110 OR Line 6 Pod XT

John Groover McDuffie · From: LA California, USA

I also use a 10 string bar (BJS 1") on my s-12.

Gerry Hogan · From: Burghclere, Hampshire, England

Bob,

Jeff Newman always advocated using, and always used, a 10-string bar on a 12-string neck. His opinion was that the 12-string bar was unnecessarily unwieldy, since he'd never wish to cover all the 12 strings at once.

However, like all opinions about things to do with this instrument, someone is bound to have a very good reason why a 12-string bar should be used! I believe that the great John Hughey uses a 12-string bar on his 10-string. So, there you are ... !

Gerry

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Hi Bob, exactly what John has said, the longer bar exceeds the middle finger and blocking with the finger is lost....just depends on the player I guess, but we all tend to block with the bar hand (middle finger) in conjuction with the right hand,especially on decending runs. I've always used a 10 string bar on my Universal 12's

Micky Byrne www.mickybyrne.com

[This message was edited by Micky Byrne on 14 November 2006 at 11:48 AM.]

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

I switched from playing D10s to a D12, now playing a U12 and have been using the same 10-string-type bar I used for years, see no reason to change.

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

Yep, me too. A BJS 7/8 10 string bar. Because of left hand blocking capability. A longer bar is just a little too long for the fingertip to extend past the tip of the bar.

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

I've been using 10-string bars on my 12-string guitars since the early 1980's. In fact, I've never even tried a 12-string bar. I have small hands and I don't think I could manipulate a 12-string bar very well.

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mullen U-12, Excel 8-string Frypan, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King

David Doggett · Posted 14 Nov 2006 6:07 am

I mostly use a 10-string bar on my U12. When I am playing on the high strings, the 10-string bar moves off the lowest strings and causes less bar noise. It is very rare that you need to play the 1st string and 12th string at the same time.

Edited to add that my 10-string bar is a double bullet Twister (from Scotty's). This makes the transition on and off the low strings as smooth as it is on the high strings.

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 14 November 2006 at 09:40 AM.]

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I use a bunch of different bar lengths on both 8 and 10 strings. the length really doesn't matter to me, within reason. It seems like one of those things players worry too much about instead of just playing.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

I see a bar as an extension of your hand. Everyone's hand is slightly different from others. Some have large hands and short fingers (me) and others have large hands with long fingers. There's every variation imaginable. To me, THAT'S what determines which bar works best -- how it fits in YOUR HAND, coupled with how you play.

I've played 12 string guitars almost exclusively my entire picking career and have had probably a dozen bars over almost 35 years. I rarely feel the need to cover both the 1st and 12th string at the same time. The small advantage that would afford is more than offset by the added weight and unwieldiness (is that a WORD???).

I use a 3 3/8" length bar and have found none that beat the BJS. A 12 string bar just doesn't fit my hand correctly and BJS bars have a lifetime guarantee. Mine looks the same as it did the day I bought it at Scotty's convention 20 or more years ago. I have a 7/8" diameter BJS and, more recently, bought a 15/16" which has become my bar of choice. I've tried 1 1/4", 1", 7/8", and 3/4" and all the others just sit in my pak-a-seat -- just in case my 15/16" gets whisked away to another galaxy or something.

The diameter is as important to me as the length, but both are very important. The key is to find one that fits your hand and allows you to express yourself in comfort. A larger / heavier bar (up to a point) can help with sustain, but the price you pay is weight and ability to move it as quickly as a smaller / lighter one.

It is a very individualized, personal decision. What works for me may not work as well for you.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I got my first 12 string around '77 or so and immediately started using the standard Emmons stainless steel bar. I bought a BJS 12 string bar about 10 or 12 years ago and used it a couple of times and just didn't feel the extra length was warranted. I use a regular length bar exclusively....JH in va.

------------------
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Larry - Thanks for the excellent detailed post on the subject for 12 string players.

I used a 12 string bar a lot, then got my 15/16 BJS 10 string bar, and use it almost all the time.
I do have long fingers so the 12 string didn't ineterfere with my left hand blocking, but the 10 string is the all around best one for me, but it is an individual choice...al

------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I've never played a 12-str. steel, only 6, 8, 9 & 10 str. I used a 3/4”x2 3/4” bar for the 6-str., but; when I moved to an 8-str. I switched to 7/8”x2 7/8” or 3”. I also used that for the 9-str. necks. Then when I changed to 10-str. I used a 7/8”x3 1/8”. In recent years I've switched around periodically and even now, sometimes I use an 8-str. bar when playing on a 10-str. neck. At the moment I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to stick with. I do plan to do something completely off the wall shortly to go with my new guitar, which is coming soon! (I hope!) I'm going to try a new unheard of size, I guess, but; I think it has good possibilities! 13/16”x3 1/8” will be a compromise between 3/4” & 7/8” dia., just like the 15/16” is the compromise between 7/8” & 1” dia.! This will be for Short~Scale (22½”) 10-string necks on Non-Pedal and 24¼” Scale for PSG!
[Edited for spelling, again!]
------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 14 November 2006 at 09:00 PM.]

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 15 November 2006 at 10:13 PM.]

Gerry Hogan · From: Burghclere, Hampshire, England

Larry, "unwieldiness" - what a great word! Good choice! It's "the state or quality of being unwieldy". Don't see it enough on the SGF!

(Edited for a silly mistake with "smilies"!)

Gerry

[This message was edited by Gerry Hogan on 15 November 2006 at 02:03 AM.]

J D Sauser · From: Wellington, Florida

BJS 7/8" 10-string bar on all... 6 tru 12 stringed steels.

... J-D.

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: