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Topic: slippery tone bar |
Carl Johnson
From:
Cortez, CO, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2008 8:19 pm |
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I use to have problems keeping my picks on then I discovered the Perfect Touch Picks. So now, is there any kind of tone bar that is easier to hold on to than the stainless steel bars.
Carl |
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Chuck Snider R.I.P.
From:
West Virginia, USA - Morgantown, WV
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Posted 11 Nov 2008 9:01 pm
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I've heard the zirconia bars are real slick on the strings but not as slippery for you to hold. Their website --> http://www.zircbars.com/
They're around $155, so you might wanna buy an extra in case you lose the first one.
Supposedly pretty nice bars, but I find it hard to justify that price. Maybe I'm wrong.
-Chuck
_________________
GFI U-12 Ultra Keyless, Carter Black U-12, both with Alumitones, and a sweet '70 Sho-Bud Permanent D-10, NV400 in Rick Johnson cabs, NV112, '73 Vibrosonic in Rick Johnson cabs, Hilton pedal, Steeler's Choice seat, Bessdang Gizmos from Dale Hansen, and a few other widgets and doodads.
I may not sound good, I just don't wanna sound bad. |
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Howard Tate
From:
Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 6:50 am
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| I've always heard about licking your fingers to keep your picks from slipping. I felt silly doing it until I saw John Hughey do it. Now if my hands get cold the fingers seem to shrink a little but the picks still stick. A few times when the bar seemed too slippery I licked the first two fingers on the left hand and it really helps. I always hope that no one is looking because it still looks silly. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 7:22 am
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| Quote: |
| I always hope that no one is looking because it still looks silly. |
Not at all, Howard. Football quarterbacks seem to do it constantly. |
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Charles Curtis
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 7:32 am
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| I purchased a tri-groove bar, long ago from Carter. I don't know if they still have them or not. I like it but it makes "doing slants" a little harder. I had dropped my bar and nicked my guitar. |
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Danny James
From:
Summerfield Florida USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 7:34 am
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Us old timers have a problem with our hands drying out and therefore the bar and picks seem slippery.
I got to admit to going the silly route too of licking my fingers. It works. 
Also I use a Boyette Gass bar which is much easier to hold on to than a steel bar, at least for me. And I believe it sounds just as good.  |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 8:17 am
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| When I was at the steel show in Waterloo, Bill Rudolph had some bars for sale that came highly recommended. He said that the way they are finished make them real smooth on the strings but still are easy to hang onto. You can contact Bill at the Williams guitar site. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 9:29 am
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I always had trouble holding a round bar,Tried on the want to buy section for about six months to find a CARTER bar,found one from a foram memberin Canada,That solved my problem,it is SO EASY to hold and heavy enough to have a great tone.it has two grooves on the side like a scrubb dobro bar but large and more mass.DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 10:24 am
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| For at least some of the novices the problem is caused by an improper technique. The main "holders" need to be the thumb and middle finger. If you can pick the bar up off a table just using your thumb and middle finger, you should have no problem holding and controling it on the strings. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 10:34 am
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| I wonder how a sandblasted bar would sound? |
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Richard Paul
From:
Iowa USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 10:36 am Slippery bar
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| Put some rosin on the thumb and fingers, this works on the pick fingers too. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 10:58 am
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Has anyone tried a Tribo-Tone bar on pedal steel? I see they come in a 7/8" now. I use one on 6 string lap steel and they're great. Here's a link.
http://www.tribotone.com/faq.html |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 12:25 pm
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Richard,I hope you were KIDDING about the rosin on the bar hand,I use the rosin brand name[Gorrila Snot] to keep my picks on [the BEST thing I know for this] BUT you have to be careful NOT to get any on your strings,will turn them into haywire.DYKBC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 2:46 pm
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| Ray Minich wrote: |
| I wonder how a sandblasted bar would sound? |
Very scratchy! 
It would also wear your strings out in no time flat! (pun) |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Nov 2008 3:50 pm
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Go to the drugstore and get some Dr. Scholl's "Moleskin Plus."
"Extra soft Moleskin"
"Protects against painful friction"
"Cushions corns, callouses, tender spots"
"Self-stick adhesive, cuts-to-size"
Cut a piece, and put it on your bar. Works on picks too! |
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Charles Dempsey
From:
Shongaloo, LA
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Posted 13 Nov 2008 8:28 am
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| Howard Tate wrote: |
| I've always heard about licking your fingers to keep your picks from slipping. I felt silly doing it until I saw John Hughey do it. |
I wasn't gonna be the first to admit to doing that, but it works for me too. I got in that habit years ago because I have dry hands and kept dropping flat picks. I discovered that licking my fingers made them tacky enough to hold onto the pick and keep it from rotating or slipping out of my fingers.
$155 for zirconia, huh? I think I'll keep licking my fingers  .
Charlie
_________________
Yes officer, I know I smell like beer. I'm not drinking it, I'm wearing it! |
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Bill OConnor
From:
Castle Rock, Washington, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Nov 2008 7:08 pm Bar Holder
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HERE IS WHAT I DID TO A BJS BAR, PICK THE PLASTIC SEAL OUT OF THE END OF THE BAR IT IS THREADED IN SIDE .MINE WAS IT IS ABOUT 6 YRS OLD I SAWED A 3/4 ALUMINUM TUBING TO MAKE A ONE PIECE PATTERN. IT IS SPLIT AT THE TOP TO ADJUST FOR SIZE IT RAISES ABOUT A HALF INCH ABOVE THE BAR AND SLANTS DOWNWARD AND THE LITTLE TAB KEEPS THE BAR STRAIGHT EVEN IF YOU TAKE YOUR THUMB OF I DON'T SLANT BAR I USE PEDALS.THIS HAS WORKED WELL FOR ME IT TAKES SEVERAL TRY'S TO GET THE RIGHT NATURAL FEEL FOR YOUR SELF. ALL MY BARS NOW HAVE THIS CONTROL RING. I CAN E-MAIL YOU A PICTURE CAN'T SEEM TO SEND IT NOW. ocbill28@comcast.net
, |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2008 7:26 am
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I guess you guys having trouble hanging onto your bar wouldn't want to try that twirling trick that Buddy Emmons does.  |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2008 7:31 am
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Dr. Scholl's Moleskin. Very handy stuff. You'll find lots of uses for it.
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2008 8:57 am
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| If you're having all that much trouble hanging onto the bar, you might give some thought to taking up the banjo. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2008 9:04 am
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| I don't have that problem, Erv. Just tryin' to be helpful. I tried the moleskin on my bar when we had to play on a flatbed truck for the closing of Cleveland's Winter Festival. January 11th, in Public Square. 7 degrees and a stiff breeze off the Lake! I don't think I coulda played a note without it! Right in front of the flatbed was the ice-carving competition! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2008 9:19 am
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John,
Yes, I know what you're saying about playing in cold weather!
That's one thing I like about a zirconia bar, it isn't as cold when you first pick it up, not like a steel bar. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2008 9:29 am
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| Erv, it was so cold, I wore a glove on my left hand, I cut off half of the thumb and first two fingers of my right hand glove. Blocking was a "no feel" experience. And playing in a hooded parka? Couldn't see what I was doin'! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2008 9:42 am
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John,
What you needed was a "heat houser"! 
That's what the farmers used to put on their tractors when they had to work real late in the Fall on field work here in Minnesnowta.
How cold was it???
It was sooooooo cold the lawyers had their hands in their OWN pockets!!! |
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