Shorter bar for reverse slants?

Tony Harris · From: England

I've always used a 7/8" by 3 and 1/4" bar for playing 6-string lap steel - guess that's a standard 10-string bar really? Never tried anything else and it feels and sounds good to me. But reverse slants are a problem. It occurred to me that maybe with a shorter bar it might be easier. Is there a formula for the length of the bar related to the size of your first finger? I see that Dunlop do shorter, thinner bars for lap steel. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Joel Newman · From: Smithsburg, Maryland, USA

Seems the general consensus is a smaller bar. Here's a thread where I got roasted but learned an awful lot . . . http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006732.html
All the best!

[This message was edited by Joel Newman on 10 May 2005 at 06:25 AM.]

Chuck Trombley · From: Broken Arrow, Ok. 74012

Jerry Byrd once said using the large bar made for a ten string instrument is like playing with a log. My fingers are stubby and the 3/4" 2 7/8" was too small. I had a bar custom made that is 7/8" and only 2 7/8"long and it works well, not only for my lap steel, but my Fender Custom T8 and my Sierra U12. It's easy to execute reverse and forward slants. Try it, you might like it.

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Everybody has different preferences when it comes to bar length and diameter - who says size doesn't matter?

I use a 2 3/4" bar for 6 or 8 string. If a bar is any longer than that, I'll drop it on my foot when I go from a forward to a reverse slant or vice versa.

As for diameter, I've used both 3/4" and 7/8". Lately I've been using 7/8" more because it's easier to hold on to for hammer ons and pull offs.

I use either a hollowed out Burden hard chrome bullet bar or a Boyett's lead filled glass bar. Chuck Brattain's coated bars are great too - the 3/4" is real easy to hang on to. You can't go wrong with any of these bars - they each have their own characteristics. It's best to have all three, then you're ready for almost anything!

Rick Alexander
Big Steel

[This message was edited by Rick Alexander on 10 May 2005 at 11:25 PM.]

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