opinions on the different bars for lap steel guitars

Roy Fouts · Post by **Roy Fouts** » 10 Sep 2021 7:51 am

I am very curious to get opinions on the different bars for lap steel guitars. I have used a plastic 3/4" round bar and am presently using a "lap Dawg", which I like very much, but have heard that some of the composite bars give a much more mellow sound. The Hawaiian sound is what I would like to shoot for and wonder if these bars would help to achieve that sound. Any comments and sources would be appreciated.

Peter Krebs · Post by **Peter Krebs** » 10 Sep 2021 8:05 am

Hi Roy,
Iâ€™m really enjoying the bar I purchased from Todd Clinesmith (available through his website). I can get a concise yet mellow sound out of it without too much of the addâ€™l gliss that I hear with steel bars. For a steel bar, I do like the feel and sound of my old Broz-o-phonic bar, though Iâ€™m not sure if theyâ€™re still available (or perhaps made under a different name). Just my 2 cents - hope that helps!

Charles Stange · Post by **Charles Stange** » 10 Sep 2021 9:08 am

I have a favorite old "Burden Bullet", even so, I've always felt that its 99% the player not the bar. just me I guess.

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 10 Sep 2021 9:38 am

I love my 3" x 7/8" Eezee Slide polymer bar. I use it for both 6 and 8 string steels. It has very low string drag and is very quiet on the wound strings compared to steel bars.

The tone is just slightly rounder than a steel bar with possibly a little less sustain, but I wouldn't really call it mellow or dull in any way. For example, I don't really change my amp settings on those rare occasions when I pick up a steel bar and it's not any brighter than the polymer bar. I agree with Peter that the polymer has a bit less "zing" when you gliss. And I have seen super great Hawaiian players get wonderfully "mellow" tones from their steel bars, so I think that aspect is really in the player's hands and the settings he chooses for guitar and amp. Mainly I love my polymer bar for the feel, quickness and control it allows me. Tone is not much of a factor for me.

Mike Auman · Post by **Mike Auman** » 10 Sep 2021 10:42 am

Peter Krebs wrote:... For a steel bar, I do like the feel and sound of my old Broz-o-phonic bar, though Iâ€™m not sure if theyâ€™re still available (or perhaps made under a different name). ...

The Broz-O-Phonic is still made, now called the Latch Lake Bar, https://latchlakemusic.com/slides/hawaiian-bar/ . Sometimes it's in stock at Lunchbox Audio, I picked up a used one here on the forum and love it for 6 and 8 string lap steel.

Nic Neufeld · Post by **Nic Neufeld** » 11 Sep 2021 6:53 am

I started with a Broz-o-phonic, and then moved to a couple different Ezee-Slides. Not sure I can say the sound changed at all but the feel is great. I'm sure the Clinesmith bar is similar to the Ezee Slide.

I think the most important thing if you want the "Hawaiian sound" is choosing a bar that adapts well to Hawaiian technique...which almost certainly is going to be a bullet bar, of a size that makes a variety of slants possible (forward, reverse, split bar, etc...a bar that is too long is going to make reverse slants a chore, and you want the size of the nose to work well for split bar slants). The optimal size will depend on your hand, comfort, etc. I feel like bar material is less impactful on the sound as long as its a good solid, hefty bar (steel or weighted composite).

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 Sep 2021 8:25 am

Pedal steel I use a BJS bar or a Jim Burden Bullet (stainless steel) bar.

I recently bought an 8 string non pedal. I tried my Pedal Steel bar but too long. I bought a Dunlop 920 stainless steel Jerry Byrd bar and it is the correct length for an 8 string.

Glenn Wilde · Post by **Glenn Wilde** » 11 Sep 2021 9:28 am

Holdability is a big factor for me. I started with the Broz, which i still have and is a copy of the Sol Hoopii bar i believe, perhaps ill call it that, but i got a big 1"x 3.2" ZB bar with a guitar and find it way easier to hold and i just got a glass Silica Sound bar the same size that is killer. The plastic Nick Manoloff bars are always good and traditional sized too, very easy to hold.

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · Post by **Jean-Sebastien Gauthier** » 12 Sep 2021 8:47 am

My favorite bar is my Clinesmith 3/4. I also love my BJS Jerry Byrd bar but prefer the feel and tone of the Clinesmith.

David M Brown · Post by **David M Brown** » 13 Sep 2021 4:55 am

Glenn Wilde wrote:The plastic Nick Manoloff bars are always good and traditional sized too, very easy to hold.

Those are my favorite, both for size and weight - and they sound great!

Joe Burke · Post by **Joe Burke** » 13 Sep 2021 6:03 am

Iâ€™ve tried various bars but keep going back to the Dunlop bullet bars. Sound and feel great to me! And the price is good.

Though I continue to have fun trying out other bars.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 13 Sep 2021 6:47 am

I've had several bars over the years but never got into collecting them. Currently I have: Tribone, Dunlop Jerry Byrd, John Pearse Thermo Cryonic, a custom signature rail bar Cindy Cashdollar gave me, A Dunlop Pedal Steel bar and my hands-down favorite, a white Clinesmith bar. Whenever I use a rail bar I feel like my left hand skills are about 30% hampered though my intonation improves a bit.