I have a lot of bars … this one just became my favorite. A work of art !!!
20 mm x 76 mm (just a bit bigger than 3/4” in diameter and a little short of 3” long)
It’s got a very rich tone and excellent sustain … being 200 grams.
The only downside was it had a flat tail end … I used a Dremel, conical grinding stone and some cutting fluid … to give it a cup-like indent for reverse slanting. Cut easy, polished up nicely … very smooth !!!
Compared to my JB size BJS bar (hard chromed, heat treated tool steel) and my Pearse Hawaiian bar (cryogenically treated 400 series stainless steel) … both of which are similar in size (2 7/8” x 3/4”) …
The bronze bar has richer tone and more sustain … it’s almost 50 grams heavier than either of the above.
I have been using the above mentioned bars along with my JB sized Zirconia bar the most lately … the tone of the Zirc is similar to the bronze … but the Zirc is 100 grams lighter … quicker to maneuver, but the sustain isn’t in the same ball park
All in all … it’s very high quality and very attractive
* I am not affiliated with Herrmann Guitars … the bar was purchased at full price
Very cool, Rick! Would love to see how you Dremeled that. Did you have the bar secured in a vise or was the Dremel stationary? Would also love to see the bit and the final result.
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As beautiful sounding/looking as this bar is … for me … not having an indent or better yet a “cup” on the backside … was a non-starter and this had to be done
Hint: keep a puddle of cutting fluid in the indent at all times and run the Dremel at a slow speed …
Sounds great Rick. I ordered one last night after hearing it was ~200g !
I'll probably drill out a small indent as well to help with slants.
Did the tail end have a sharp corner, or was it somewhat rounded? It was hard to tell from photos on the website.
It was quite the Hawaiian steel guitar Christmas. My kids got me a pair of Ron Landis’ Sterling Silver engraved fingerpicks & a matching Sterling Silver thumb pick (first metal thumb pick I’ve liked) .
I took your advice on creating an indent for my thumb on a few of my bars with flat ends. I wasn’t able to center it as perfectly as you, but I have about 7 or 8 more bars to do and it will probably get easier with each one now that I know what to expect. Also got some jeweler’s rouge to smooth out some scratches/imperfections. Thanks for the tips!
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
Rick Aiello wrote:It was quite the Hawaiian steel guitar Christmas. My kids got me a pair of Ron Landis’ Sterling Silver engraved fingerpicks & a matching Sterling Silver thumb pick (first metal thumb pick I’ve liked) .
Rick, you need a wedding ring to match!
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Wow.....cool stuff.......now all you need is a Nudie Western Shirt.....if you get that, please take a photo of you with a lap steel on Gloria (Chrissy's horse)......
Nice job Mike … I’ve done 4 total … the bronze, a BJS, a Pearse and a Zirconia bar
The BJS was the toughest … hardened tool steel . The Pearse took along time too … 400 series stainless.
The JB sized Zirctone required diamond studded grinders … the aluminum oxide ones wouldn’t phase it … needed to be continually cooled with water throughout the cutting process … I was very nervous, but it came out great …
