| Author |
Topic: Tone Bar Extension |
Kenneth Dale
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 20 Dec 2022 6:32 am |
|
This forum has given me a wealth of help on learning how to play the Lap Steel Guitar so this is my little contribution of giving back. For a lot of you this may not be a problem but for us older people learning to play, holding the tone bar can be a challenge. My hands as I grew older became dryer and don’t work quite as well as they used to. Putting lotion on my hands did not seem to work well enough and a bit of arthritis did not help the situation. I tried both the round nose bar and a couple of the others like Lap Dawg. At best, hard to control because of slippage. I could not lift the round bar off the stings because of slipping out of my fingers. As a retired machine designer, when you have a problem you design something to fix it. The pictures show what my final design solution was. I chose a 7/8 x 3-1/4 inch (22.23 x 82.55mm) round nose bar (that was one that I already had) for my design. I thought it might be too heavy but with the Assistant Cover (don’t know what to call it) the weight was conformable and easy to control. I used a 3D printer for the different profiles, testing and final design. I found early in the designs that I needed the indent for the ring finger to be slanted down towards the end of the unit.
I am not interested in making and selling these, I want to spend my time playing the Lap Steel but I would be happy to send anyone the files for this. I just need your email address. I would also welcome any comments or suggestions, good or bad. The source file is an Autodesk Inventor 2014 (.ipt) file and the file for the 3D printer is a stereolithography (.stl) file. The design build volume is 38.9 x 27.1 x 60mm. I think the length would need to be shorter for tone bars of shorter lengths. The thickness between the fingers and the tone bar is 3mm
 |
|
|
 |
Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
|
Posted 20 Dec 2022 7:01 am
|
|
Nice job Ken, very good idea.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
|
|
|
Kenneth Dale
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 20 Dec 2022 7:17 am
|
|
Bill:
Thank you. It has been a real journey. First it was the finger picks but got that pretty much solved with some John Pearse Hi Rider finger picks. I have quite a collection of finger picks. Learning to play Steel Guitar and what you need seems to be different for each person. You have to find your own way.
Ken |
|
|
|
John Harmon
From:
Virginia, USA
|
Posted 20 Dec 2022 8:28 am
|
|
| Pretty cool solution, I have most of your issues too. Just learning to cope with it. |
|
|
|
Tony Oresteen
From:
Georgia, USA
|
Posted 24 Dec 2022 5:02 am
|
|
Neat idea!
PM sent.
_________________
Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster Quad black
PedalMaster D8 |
|
|
|
Bruce Roger
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
|
Posted 25 Dec 2022 8:04 pm
|
|
| Great idea. “Assistant Cover (don’t know what to call it)” sounds too close to “Assisted Living.” How about “Gripper”? A slide is is already described as “EZ.” |
|
|
|
Lloyd Graves
From:
New York, USA
|
Posted 26 Dec 2022 6:11 pm
|
|
Too bad this is for a 7/8 bar. I am finally figuring out my reverse slants but have trouble lifting my bar still. Sadly, I use a 3/4. Too bad.
Any chance you'd mock up a 3/4 version? |
|
|
|
Carl Gallagher
From:
New York, USA
|
Posted 27 Dec 2022 12:33 pm
|
|
| Old hands, oh yeah, know it well. Plus I had my left hand broken up pretty bad in a motorcycle accident some years ago.Getting tired of dropping things, slide bars included. |
|
|
|
Kenneth Dale
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 28 Dec 2022 7:43 am
|
|
Bruce:
I did not like the name either and I like even less now that you brought up "Assisted Living".8>)
I like your suggestion of "Gripper" or at least something that uses Gripper.
Ken |
|
|
|
Kenneth Dale
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 28 Dec 2022 7:53 am
|
|
Lloyd:
I have a version for a 3/4 inch bar. I knew somebody would want it plus I really want to try it myself.
I have added a angle on the back side. I found that after a period of time that it became a bit uncomfortable in my palm.
Let me know if you want the files for the 3/4 bar and I will send. I use PETG plastic to print these but any plastic will do.
Ken
 |
|
|
|
Kenneth Dale
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 28 Dec 2022 7:57 am
|
|
Carl:
I know about those motorcycles accidents. I dropped a half ton bike on my foot and the brake petal was on my big toe. I think the doctor finally got it fixed a couple of weeks ago.
Ken |
|
|
|
Ted Duncan
From:
Georgia, USA
|
Posted 28 Dec 2022 4:35 pm Re: Tone Bar Extension
|
|
| Kenneth Dale wrote: |
| This forum has given me a wealth of help on learning how to play the Lap Steel Guitar so this is my little contribution of giving back. |
Another time I wish this forum had a LIKE button!
This is a great idea, but I don't own one of those printers.
Thanks so much. |
|
|
|
Lloyd Graves
From:
New York, USA
|
Posted 28 Dec 2022 5:54 pm
|
|
Is there a Maker Space in your community? We have one at our library here.
Also, my high schools sometimes have 3D printers. Maybe you can find a local student that can take the project on for you? |
|
|
|
