The Steel Guitar Forum

I looking for a small diameter tone bar. Maybe as small as 1/4". Needs to have a bullet nose.

Anyone seen anything that small? If so, where can they be purchased?

Thanks!

David

I don't know about current makers, but Oahu used to make a child's size bar with a bullet nose. It was tiny!

I have a tiny Oahu bar that came with a guitar, its 2.435 x 5/8"

Here it is next to a Brozophonic

Number 126k "hy-tone"
I have an old Dobro bar that's 2.710 x 5/8", never seen a bar skinnier than 5/8 myself.
For something as small as 1/4" you could make one out of a engine pushrod, junkyard item, probably free.

The smallest diameter I've seen is 5/8 inch. But if you're a DIY kind of guy, look for some drill stock (hardened steel rod drill blank) in the diameter and length you want for your bar, then take a good file to the tip and make it a bullet nose. Drill stock can be found at hardware stores, eBay, McMaster-Carr, etc. If you are looking for someone to make a bar for you, contact the custom bar makers with your specs.

I also have a used 5/8 X 2 5/8 bar I'd sell for $15 delivered if you want to try it.

-Dave

The smallest bar I have is 5/8" X 2 3/4".
It's an old Nick Manoloff bar that came with my '39 Rick Silver Hawaiian when I bought it.
I've tried to use it but it just feels weird in my hand.

You say you want to go small, punk? Well do ya! Let's go really small:

The great Indian players V.M. Bhatt and Debashish Bhattacharya both use narrow bars — at a glance I'd guess about 9/16". I've certainly not seen a bullet nose as narrow as 1/4". I have this 9/16" square end bar and it's about as narrow as I can comfortably hold.

I have a question: why?
Erv

I have some .031 diameter music wire.....It must work or it wouldn't be called "Music Wire"

Jim Burden at Bullet bars made me two 3/4" double-ended "twister bars. He was fast, and they are beautiful. He could probably do any diameter you like.

correct me if need be, but I believe Jim Burden is no longer making bars?

( two men walked into a Bar, the third one ducked )

Charles,
Sorry, we can't be funny of the Forum anymore.
Erv

Charles Stange wrote:correct me if need be, but I believe Jim Burden is no longer making bars?

( two men walked into a Bar, the third one ducked )

Yes, Jim is no longer making bars. I had him make me a 12 string bar a few years ago. Awesome bar.

Actually, I'm interested in this too. I have this really warped idea of playing slide mandolin.

Richrd,
Is it the water in Montana?
Erv

Erv Niehaus wrote:Richrd,
Is it the water in Montana?
Erv

Must be.

I do know that Basil at Eeze-slides has made an Indian Chatturangui 6" long, thin bar for Manish Pingle - it certainly would be around 1/4" thick (if not thinner!)

It may've been a one-off custom order, but he certainly has the equipment to make a thin tone-bar.

Slide On!

Ian.

Bill, curious about that flat rectangular tonebar you posted here. I got one like it that came along with a Supro I bought recently. Judging from the wear on it, somebody used it a lot. I can't figure out how you would even hold it or what the advantage might be. Have you used that thing ?

David, I have a Nick Manoloff bar with round nose, also a side of the round bar is flat for your finger to rest on. Bar looks to be 9/16 in diameter and about 2 and 3/4 long. Came from my dad's collection of steel bars. You can have this one if you like for ten bucks plus shipping. It's dirty but I think I can clean it off a little.

We can run it through the forum here and I'll give the sale percentage to the forum. Let me know!