Why so many bar dings?

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

I have had the fortune of buying a new steel from the factory twice in my career, and still own one of them. Since I always rest or park my bar on the strings on the keyhead I never (or rarely) lay my bar on the body of the guitar bewteen the necks, and never get any bar dings.

However, I have had three other used ones (D-10's) that are full of dings between the necks and on the inside edges of the necks.

Just curious as to why so many bar dings on these fine beautiful instruments?

Thanx,
Jim

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I've watched in dismay over the years how a lot of
steel players simply drop the picks off their fingers into the flat area between the necks. This is typically followed with the dropping of one's bar in the same general area.

By using a slice of RubberMaid non-skid shelf liner, the same area between necks can be affectively used for bar storage without the obvious damage that otherwise might be done by dropping one's bar on the small surface, night after night.

Looking at many of the g'tars for sale on eBay, one can imagine that some of these 'players' have used their g'tars for more than a mere musical instrument.

John Groover McDuffie · From: LA California, USA

When first learning PSG I dropped my bar a lot on my old Sho-Bud.

In a fit of indy-rock showmanship I used the bar and the back deck of my current Sho-Bud as a percussion instrument to sub for cowbell on one song. Not a well-considered move, but we have to make sacrifices for art. It needed a refinish anyway, but probably won't ever get one.

Wayne Franco · From: silverdale, WA. USA

I have never stored my bar on top of my guitar under any circumstances.

Bill Lowe · From: Connecticut

Quick and easy..Picks, bar holder and tuning wrench. A little pricey but worth it. Especially for lacquer guitars

http://qwikstix.com/OnLineStore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=13
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JCH D10, 71 D10 P/p fat back, Telonics TCA 500C--12-,Fender JBL Twin, Josh Swift signature.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

I'm with Wayne Franco on this one ... I never lay my bar anywhere on my guitar, nor do I lay my picks between the necks. I have a small plastic 35mm film container that I put my picks in and these, with my bar, go into a side section of my pack seat. Smile

Jim Bates, am I reading correctly that you're from Alvin, TX? My dad was born there and, if I remember correctly, graduated school there before going into the Army Air Corp. Smile

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1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

If you look at your instruments as tools to get a job done then dinging them up is no big deal. I was relieved when my perfect and beautiful new Guernsey dobro got is first battle scar while I was on the road with it.
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Bob

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

For Jim, I was born and raised in western Oklahoma (Clinton); after college moved to Houston
in '62, and moved to Alvin (30 miles south of Houston) in 2001. Sorry, that I never met your dad.

For Bob, I also have a Guernsey dobro, Auldrige model, and my first ding on it was when I hit the microphone with it. I have several other dobros and they all have either the mike dings and/or scratches from belts or buttons on the inside where it rests on my waist.

Yes, we all probably have some dings on our instruments. I am just amazed at how some are covered in dings (some cigarette burns)and others so pristine. As long as it plays and has that feel and that sound, then looks are secondary. (Look at Willy Nelson's guitar!)

Thanx,
Jim

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Here's a handy tip suggested by Lynn Owsley. If you set your bar down in the middle of a song to take a drink of your beer, stand it up in front of the appropriate fret so you don't forget what key you're in. "G", in this case. Laughing

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C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville

Bill Lowe · From: Connecticut

Cal very funny, I'll have to remember that. Very Happy

If it happens it happens but I wouldn't intentionally ding it up.
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JCH D10, 71 D10 P/p fat back, Telonics TCA 500C--12-,Fender JBL Twin, Josh Swift signature.

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

I'm kind of obsessive so I never got bar dings on my old MSA but I would always store the bar standing up next to the neck, and after many years there was a permanent circle of discoloration there in the mica from where it always stood. So with my new Williams the bar has never touched the wood -- either it touches the strings when I'm playing, or it sits on the floor (on something soft so it doesn't get scratched) next to the steel. Older instruments do get signs of usage (and I sure use mine a lot) but this steel is way too pretty to beat it up unnecessarily...
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Daniel Morris · From: Westlake, Ohio, USA

Another option for holders:
http://www.hankshouseofsteel.com/products.asp?ID=41
The same bar holder is $18 less at Hank's. I bought the accessory tray from "Hank", who provided excellent service, and again $17 less than the Qwik Stix site. Good products, but pricier (MSRP?).

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Then, if we didn't drink that beer, maybe we wouldn't drop our bar. Oh Well

I have had my wood/lacquer Williams for over a year now, and it has no dings. I always set my bar and picks in between the necks during breaks. If you lay the bar down easy, you won't get a ding. Dings usually come from dropping the bar (or your nose if you drink too much and keep falling face first onto your guitar) or some other object. The lacquer finishes on guitars is tough enough to take easily laying the bar down. If your picks cause dings, I would contact the buider of the guitar as that is a pretty poor lacquer job.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Chuck Hall · From: Warner Robins, Ga, USA

I try not to ding up any of my stuff whether it be a steel or a car. But, my fretboards (aluminum) are really dinged up and I couldn't figure out why. Caught my 'just walking' grandson playing the steel one day. He had picks up to his knuckles and bar ( in left hand just a banging). So I guess I can replace the fretboards someday.

Also as a diabetic, I keep candy in a decorator tin. He called it papa's stash. It has small teeth marks all along the rim where he tried to get the lid off. Kids are the funniest things......... Very Happy

Wouldn't trade any of the memories. I do sit my bar in the middle like Cal but I only use a thumb pick (plastic) it is necessary for me as I switch from guitar to steel off and on all night long...
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Chuck
MCI D10 8/4 Nashville 400 and a Profex.

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