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Topic: Bar size for 8 string ? |
Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 3 Dec 2013 12:38 pm |
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| Somewhere i was reading about using a smaller bar for an 8 string lap steel than you would use for a10 string pedal steel. I would like your comments and opinions on this topic. I am sure it has been discussed before on here, so i apologize in advance for the repeat of the question and thanks in advance for your comments, |
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Frank Welsh
From:
Upstate New York, USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2013 12:50 pm
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Larry, I have found that a 3" bar is just fine for 8 strings. Any longer than that and you have to reach an unnecessarily long distance with your thumb to grip the rear of the bar for a slant. I slant a lot particularly with a C6th tuning.
Some players however prefer to use the same longer bar they use for their pedal steels in order to keep the same feel. Personally, I don't experience any issue in using a longer steel for the pedal steel and a shorter one for 8 or 6 string guitars.
The size of a players' hands will no doubt be a factor in choosing a bar size. |
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Sam White R.I.P.
From:
Coventry, RI 02816
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Posted 3 Dec 2013 3:15 pm
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I HAVE SEEN GUYS USING A DOBRO BAR TO PLAY STEEL GUITAR AND LAP STEEL. THAT IS WHAT I PLAN ON DOING AS SOON AS I GET MY 8 STRING LAP STEEL.IF IT DOES NOT WORK FOR ME I WILL USE MY PEDAL STEEL BAR. IT IS A EMMONS BAR DRILLED OUT WITH HOT GLUE FOR A FILLER. IT IS AS LIGHT AS A FEATHER.
SAM WHITE
_________________
Dynalap lap 8 String Lap Steel Fender frontman 25B speaker changed Boss TU-12H Tuner.Founder and supporter of the Rhode Island Steel Guitar Association Founder of the New England Steel Guitar Association and the Greeneville TN Steel Jams and now founder of the North Carolina Steel Guitar Jams. Honorary member of the Rhode Island Steel Guitar Association,Member of The New England Steel Guitar Association.
Member of the Florida Steel Guitar Club,and member of Mid Atlantic Steel Guitar Association |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2013 5:27 pm
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I have found that my Tribo-Tone K bar is all I need. I can play my U-12, D-10, D-8, 7-string resonator and 6-string lap with it. The 6-string is a bit narrow though. The K bar is 7/8 x 3 1/4 but not as heavy as a chrome bar.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon |
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Frank Welsh
From:
Upstate New York, USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2013 5:56 pm
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Larry, one more thought. I had Jim Burden of Bullet Bars make me a 13/16 by 3 inch bar and it works like a charm on my 8 string. I found that the lighter 3/4 inch Dunlop Jerry Byrd bar I had been using would not give me any sustain on the last couple of thick strings that I have on B11th (F# and a low B). It just lacked sufficient mass. The 13/16 inch Bullet bar gives as much sustain on my 8 string necks as does the Dunlop 10 string bar I use for pedal steel (Carter U12).
I think a 3 x 7/8 inch bar would also work just fine - I may ask Jim to make one for me just for the heck of it. |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 3 Dec 2013 7:08 pm
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It may seem logical to have a bar which will cover all the strings, but the times one would use all 8 strings are rather infrequent. I play 8 string A6th with a G on the bottom. I have no requirement covering more than 7 strings at one time, and that is rare too. But those 7 strings covered with the Brozophonic bar 2 and 7/8 by 3/4 inch, I can easily bend my thumb a little and flip the bar into a reverse slant. I would try a 3 inch by 7/8 bar if there was one handy, but I'm getting along fine as it is.
PS One thing I really enjoy is coming out of a reverse slant to a straight bar position above the slant. Instead of straightening the bar up, I just collect it on the way through. 
_________________
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Webb Kline
From:
Orangeville, PA
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 4:46 am
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| I like the tone and extra sustain of my 7/8 10 string bar, but mostly used my Beard 20/10 that is my new favorite for reso playing. It doesn't cramp my hand, is very fast, a quick slanter, and you can do hammer on and pull offs effortlessly. I will get the 7/8 bar out for some ballads, but the Beard is just so much more maneuverable that it is what I use 95% of the time for 8 or 6 strings. |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 10:39 am
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| I just stick with same bar I always use, a 2 3/4" Jerry Byrd style bar, either a Dunlop 918 or my Tribotone equivalent. Probably not optimal, but I prefer that size for comfort and it's just what I use for everything. |
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Laurence Pangaro
From:
Brooklyn, NY
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Posted 5 Dec 2013 8:51 am
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I can also recommend Jim Burden's bars. When I got an 8 string steel, he made me a bar that's 3 1/4" by 13/16" with a double bullet end. It's a great bar; I love it! You can definitely play an 8 string with the normal 6 string size bar, but I think it's worth trying a larger size.
LP |
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Larry Lenhart
From:
Ponca City, Oklahoma
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Posted 5 Dec 2013 10:19 am
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| Thanks for all the input guys. I decided to order the John Pearse Hawaiin bar from right here on the forum. It seems like it will fit the bill for me. Thanks again for the advise and comments. |
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