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Topic: Tone Bars |
Charles Rainwater
From:
Sheridan , Arkansas
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Posted 28 Dec 2007 1:35 pm |
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| Is there really that much difference in tone bars? If so is the John Pearse Thermo-Cryonic as good or better than the BJS bars? Is stainless steel better than chrome plated or is it just personal preference. |
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2007 1:59 pm
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It is all personal preference! I have tried many and always go back to the ones that are the smoothest, polished ones that do not create string noises with their 'micro; scratches or drag on the strings. Hard chrome like BJS are great, and so are highly polished stainless bars.
The lighter weight the bar the less sustain it will have. There are tradeoffs.
Thanx,
Jim |
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Bob Knight
From:
Bowling Green KY
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Posted 28 Dec 2007 2:04 pm Bars
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Charles,
You answered your own question. BJS is the top of the line in plated bars, John Pearse is tops in stainless. The choice is personal preference unless you use stainless strings.  Stainless strings don't like stainless bars. 
Bob 
_________________
<b>Rick Johnson Cabinets<b>
<b>Brand X Custom Fiber Cases</b>
<b> John Pearse Thumb Picks, Bars and Strings</b>
"Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent."
— Steve Martin |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 28 Dec 2007 2:23 pm
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I started out using a Dunlop bar, but with cerebral palsy, I couldn't get it to stay in my left hand, so I now use a bar made by a company called Sacred Steel. They make grooved tone bars, and it's the best bar I've used. The Sacred Steel bar is my standard bar.
Brett |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 28 Dec 2007 4:00 pm
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Charles,I use John Pearse 7/8ths,and 1" bars and they are great,I haven't tried a BJS,I can tell you that the Dunlop bars are chrome plated and will get dinged,I have three Pearse bars and they are as slick as the day that I got them.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Ulf Edlund
From:
Umeå, Sweden
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Posted 28 Dec 2007 4:20 pm
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Bullet Bars by Jim Burden is another great choise.
_________________
1983 Emmons D10 SKH, Carter SD10, Nashville 112, Session 500, ProfexII, Lapsteels, GT-Beard reso, guitars of all kinds...
http://www.myspace.com/ulfedlund |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 28 Dec 2007 4:56 pm Re: Tone Bars
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| Charles Rainwater wrote: |
| Is there really that much difference in tone bars?...Is stainless steel better than chrome plated or is it just personal preference. |
IMHO, among bars of the same weight, size, and material, there's very little difference (as far as sound goes). Stainless bars do seem to have a little more "drag" or friction, but it's really not enough to affect your playing. Buy a decent bar - and then move on to the many more significant aspects of playing. |
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mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2007 9:09 pm
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I prefer and use chrome plated BJS bars because of the feel.... however, in a live situation, I don't know how much sonic difference the stainless vs. plated bar makes.
I do, however, think that it is important to obsess endlessly about each piece of gear in the chain  |
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Mark White
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2007 12:54 pm
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| Brett: Where did you purchase your bar? Can you post a link? THANKS! |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 29 Dec 2007 3:24 pm
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I'm waiting for the Tribotone 7/8ths bar.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Bruce Bouton
From:
Nash. Tn USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2007 9:24 pm
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I can't believe it took me thirty years but I finally did a "taste test' with my good friend Wayne Dahl. We had five or six different bars and could not believe the difference in sound.They were all the same size and weight. While they were all good sounding one stood above the rest. It was the John Pearce Stainless Bar(which I have been using for years) Another great sounding bar was from the Williams steel guitar company. The stainless bar seemed to have more clarity than the chrome. i notice the same thing with my Scheerhorn Dobro bars.
BB |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 31 Dec 2007 8:42 am
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Bruce,I agree with you about the John Pearse bar.A friend of mine bought me one for my birthday a few years ago and I was amazed at the tone,and sustain,Nice folks to deal with also.Stu 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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