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Topic: Which Bar Material? |
Robert Rhea
From:
Panama City, Florida, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2018 10:58 am |
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I use a BJS bar for my normal pedal steel playing. I'm finding that I can get a decent dobro sound by flipping on the "Bright" switch on my Steelaire amp and moving my right hand position to the left, further away from the pickup. I'm wondering if getting a different bar with a different material would also help improve the sound I'm looking for. Would a bar made from acrylic, glass, ceramic, or other material produce a more earthy/acoustic tone?
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***Bob*** |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2018 11:03 am
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Some guys use a wood bar but the one I prefer is the composition bar that comes with the Goodrich MatchBro.
Erv |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 22 Mar 2018 11:18 am Re: Which Bar Material?
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| Robert Rhea wrote: |
| ...I'm wondering if getting a different bar with a different material would also help improve the sound I'm looking for. Would a bar made from acrylic, glass, ceramic, or other material produce a more earthy/acoustic tone? |
Definitely! I'd recommend trying one made of glass, ceramic, Bakelite, or even hollow metal to reduce the sustain. (Resonator guitars don't have much sustain.) |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2018 11:31 am
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| On a whim I used an empty plastic prescription bottle. It sounds like slide banjo. Pretty hilarious. |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2018 11:34 am
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"Slide Banjo" Them's fightin words.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 22 Mar 2018 11:53 am
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| Fred Treece wrote: |
| On a whim I used an empty plastic prescription bottle. It sounds like slide banjo. Pretty hilarious. |
I have done the same. No longer do, but it was a regular thing when the band played "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy". Sounded great.
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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. |
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Robert Rhea
From:
Panama City, Florida, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2018 12:01 pm
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Well, I'm actually playing a 6-string banjo on Save A Horse. So no slide banjo for me. 
Any suggestions on manufacturers? I know someone on the forum is selling something that might be good, but I can't remember what the bar is called.
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***Bob*** |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 22 Mar 2018 6:19 pm
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
Some guys use a wood bar but the one I prefer is the composition bar that comes with the Goodrich MatchBro.
Erv |
I have both. (I made the wood bar from a broom handle.) After comparing them, I decided I prefer the wood one.
There are several effects pedals that simulate a dobro sound. I use a Dunlop Q-zone pedal, which, when combined with the wood bar gives a nice dobro-like sound.
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Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Dave Hepworth
From:
West Yorkshire, UK
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 2:36 am
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Ok Guys,
I'll throw the challenge down ....
What about someone who could make a standard hard steel bar but metal on one half and the other half maybe wood or something soft,which would be perfectly smooth at the join of the two materials .This way you could flip between a banjo / dobro type sound or a conventional steel sustain by simply rotating the bar 180 degrees or even less.
I like to play banjo type licks / fills and something like this would be good.
It would take quite a bit of machining skill but presumably possible .
Regards Dave |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 7:33 am
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| There was a bar like that pictured on the Forum not too long ago. One side steel, the other side a piece of ebony. |
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Robert Rhea
From:
Panama City, Florida, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2018 8:21 am
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Dave, I like your idea. 
I just ordered a Paloma Stone Slide, so we'll see how it sounds. It was only $25 so I figured I'd give it a try.
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***Bob*** |
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