Dobro bar question

Ron Victoria · From: New Jersey, USA

I recently bought a square neck resonator to use when I play with acoustic musicians. I use my black Phoenix bar. I see many dobro players using a stevens bar. Would that offer me any advantages? I'm not fixed on one style and jump around from blues, country, bluegrass, or rock.

ron

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

I've also gone down that road........I usually carry two bars....a Smith which is grooved and a Tribo Tone which is bullet......

The grooved bars offer the security of a firm grip when hopping & bouncing around the neck for hammer ons & pull offs......to me they're harder to slant or not as fluid.....

Shubb makes a hybrid bar with a bullet type nose and grooves on top & sides.....for me, they are too slippery......

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

Hi Ron. I used a Stevens bar when i first began my reso playing. then switched to a bullet. I play with the tip more and more. whereas, a square end catches the string for a great pull off, I find no disadvantages with my round nose bar. I have gotten so used to my bar that it is a mere extension of my fingers now. I never drop it or lose control.
to each their own.

Mark Eaton · Posted 1 Nov 2008 8:34 am

You will find as more folks chime in, you can play the thing just fine with a bullet bar - but as far as playing really fast stuff with a lot of dexterity, not saying it can't be done - but I don't know of one top player who plays the dobro as his/hers first instrument that uses a bullet bar. But I suppose you can get used to anything.

"Stevens" has become sort of a generic term (like Kleenex for all nose tissue - or for that matter - like "dobro" for all squareneck resonator guitars) that is often used by steel players in referring to any number of what I call "sculpted" bars. The Stevens was one of the originals, and when I started on dobro in the 70's, it was about the only one around. I have a really nice one, I think the plating quality was better back then, but I rarely use it now. I do like the Stevens for songs with a lot of slants.

Think of Jerry Douglas, Rob Ickes, Mike Auldridge, Randy Kohrs, Phil Leadbetter, Andy Hall, Jimmy Heffernan, and so on - never a bullet bar. And Heff used to play steel for guys like Brad Paisley and Joe Diffie, but he uses the sculpted bar on dobro. And Mike Auldridge is still known to use an actual Stevens, but he uses other bars - I just don't know how often.

There are some really good dobro players that are known more for their steel playing, like Californians Pete Grant and Greg Leisz, that use a bullet. I don't know what other great steelers like Paul Franklin and Tommy White use when they play dobro - but I'm guessing bullet. As great as these guys are, I personally don't think you can vary the dynamics as much with a bullet bar on the dobro, it seems to have a more "even" sound no matter what types of licks you play, if that makes sense. I believe that a sculpted bar gives you the ability to impart different nuances to your playing - it's a difficult thing to get across with the written word, easier to show in person.

There are a number of really nice sculpted bars available these days that have IMO, been improvements on the Stevens, sort of a "build a better mouse trap" thing. Like Howard R, my favorite sculpted bar is the E.G. Smith.

You can check out the Smith bar on the link below @ Greg Boyd's House Of Fine Instruments:

http://tinyurl.com/2rxozs
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Mark

David Doggett · Posted 1 Nov 2008 10:51 am

For the styles you mention, the vast majority of reso players (self included) prefer a grooved bar. My favorite is the Shubb Pearse #2, which has the options of one end sharp, and the other end a half-bullet. Yes, the chrome plating is the slickest finish, which has the lowest friction on the strings, a good thing in my book - the grooves give it a firm grip. I also use it on lap and pedal steel for blues and rock.

Seems like Hawaiian is the only genre where maybe the majority of players like a bullet bar.

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

I use both. One thing I find useful is to cover the back of a grooved bar with rubber. You get a better grip.

John DeBoalt · From: Harrisville New York USA

I use a Ron Tipton bar. It looks like a Stevens ( grooved at the top), but the leading, and trailing edges are angled back about 10 degrees off square. this makes the hammers, and pull offs easier. The Scheerhorn bar is about the same design. A less expensive alternative to these two bars is the Dunlop Lap Dog about $15-$20. It too has the edges angled back to facilitate the pulls, and hammers. Hope this is helpful. John
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Equipment: Carter D10, Zum Stage1,
Wechter Scheernhorn Reso, Deneve Reso, Fender Jazzmaster, Martin D16, Walker Stereo Steel amp, TC Electronics M One effects unit, JBL 15" speaker cabs,Peavey Nashville 1000,Peavey Revoloution 112, Morrell Lap Steel, Boss DD3 delay,others

Lynn Oliver · From: Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.

For a straight Stevens-style bar, the Dunlop 925 is the exact shape and weight, but nicely chrome finished instead of nickel.

If you do pull-offs Sally Van Meter-style you need a bar with a relatively sharp edge: at least a Steven--or probably better--one of the Tipton designs or the Shubb GS.

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