lap steel bar vs. stevens bar on dobro

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

I've been playing a borrowed dobro for the past week. This is really the first time I've played dobro. (I've played pedal steel for many years) So I've been using both a Prozo-o-phonic lap steel bar, and also a Stevens bar. Even though the Stevens bar is much harder for me to grip, it sounds a little bit better. It's very subtle. Just a litte more clear and focused sounding.
Do any of you dobro players use a lap steel bar to play with, or is it well known that a Stevens bar is the best way to go when playing dobro? Thanks.

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

In the bluegrass world, it's the Stevens bar -- or a more refined derivative of the same design. Makes it easier to grip for pull-offs, hammer-ons, and the like. Besides a Stevens bar, look at Scheerhorn (my fave), Lap Dawg, Shubb "SallyVanMeter" model, etc.

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

For bluegrass dobro or similar styles, I think you're probably best to learn to use a Stevens type bar, since it's the only way to get really loud pull-offs.

I do use a bullet bar when playing Hawaiian music, since it's easier to slant.

As far as one bar sounding better, that could just be an issue of what the bar's made of. Any individual note shouldn't sound better because of the shape of the bar. Pull-offs will sound better with a Stevens type because you can dig into the string and snap it to get volume (a new technique if you're coming from pedal steel).

-Travis

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

Rich
I like the sound of the Backalite bar on the Dobro but Travis is right about stile !
Bob

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

It depends on the style of music as other folks have said. If you play bluegrass or fiddle tunes you may want the crisp pull offs that a stevens-type bar can facilitate. On the other hand, I've heard Pete Grant play great bluegrasss with a full-size pedal steel bar. Personlly, I much prefer a bullet bar for EVERY steel technique on dobro except fast pull offs. There are many chords involving the nose of the bullet bar on open strings that are impossible with a stevens-type bar. Slant bar playing is much easier with a bullet bar as well. That said, there's not much Mike Auldridge or Aubrey Ghent can't do with a stevens so - like so much of steel guitar playing - it comes down to personal preference. Danny Gatton got a heck of lot music out of using a beer bottle or an amplifier power tube on steel.

[This message was edited by Andy Volk on 01 March 2004 at 06:57 PM.]

David Yannuzzi · From: Pomona , New York, USA

I use a Broz-o-phonic bar on dobro. I like the tone and weight. I play bluegrass and fiddle tunes w/ out a problem. When i play w/ a band and my hand gets sweaty i start to think it might fly out of my hand. I have tried a stevens type bar and it feels uncomfortable to me but it is a bit lighter and you can probably move faster and execute pull offs easier. hope this helps

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

Yes David, this is the same kind of bar I've been using. It's my favorite lap bar. And it does sound good, and it's easy to use. It's about the same size and weight as a Stevens. But I've been recording dobro, comparing the sounds of each bar, and the Stevens actually sounds a tiny bit better to me, so I'm gonna struggle with the grip for the sake of the sound.

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

I should add that I usually use the Shubb SP2 "compromise" bar. Shaped like a Stevens bar but one end is a half bullet shape; the "ski-jump" shape, I've heard it called. The sharp end isn't quite as sharp as some other bars, but it still works--although I never use it.

You have to do bullet bar style pull-offs, but I think it's a reasonable way to get both easy slants (especially split slants) and quick bar movement.

-Travis

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I usually use an old Dunlap 10-string bar on my Dobro. But I turn it around backwards. Sometimes I'll use a Stevens. Tried the "ski-jump" bar, but I always ended up turning it around and not using the Ski-jump. I think the Dunlap has a bit better sound than the Stevens, but I can play slightly faster with the Stevens. JB

David Doggett · Posted 2 Mar 2004 10:57 am

I'm with Travis on the Shubb-Pearse #2 with a Stevens type grip and a half-bullet nose. I love it for Dobro, and also use it for rock and blues on my pedal steel. It's a great shape for everything, a comfortable grip, nice weight, and a thick layer of very slick chrome.

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

This sounds perfect, David. Where can I get one of these things?

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

Rich,- you can get them 'everywhere', but this is a good place to start: http://www.shubb.com/sp/index.html

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Lincoln Goertzen · From: Taylor, British Columbia, Canada

Yes, you can usually get them anywhere Shubb products are sold. You may possibly have to special order, though.

If you can, try the SP #3 as well. This is the Sally Van Meter model. It has two cutaways, and no "semi-bullet" end.

Lincoln

John McGann · From: Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.

I never got along witha Stevens bar, and love the way the small JBS bar feels and sounds on the dobro.

Loni Specter · From: West Hills, CA, USA

I like Hershey Bars :-}

Rich Weiss · From: Woodland Hills, CA, USA

I play in bars and I drink in bars.

mike nolan · From: Forest Hills, NY USA

I have been using the small 6 string BJS bar for 6 string lap and dobro. Nice bar, works for slants and 3 string slant chords with its pointy bullet nose. It does a fair job on pull offs...but not as crisp as a Stevens. I play mostly lap and PSG...so for my occasional forays into dobroland the familiarity factor of the round BJS makes it a good choice.

Lincoln Goertzen · From: Taylor, British Columbia, Canada

You might want to try this for fun, too: before I bought my Shubb SP#3, all I had for dobro was a 7/8" pedal steel bar. One end was cut straight, and I used this for some pretty good-sounding pull-offs.

Something to try when you have nothing better to do (or nothing better to use.)

Lincoln

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