| Author |
Topic: Weight of Tone Bar |
Eldon Cangas
From:
Ontario, Canada
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 6:49 am |
|
| I realize a lot of this may be personal preferance but is there an "ideal weight" for a tone bar on a lap steel or pedal steel. Thanks! EC |
|
|
 |
Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 8:15 am
|
|
As you said Eldon, it's a matter of personal preference of course, but the heavier the better; plus I like a very hard steel bar.
I use a 7/8" diameter, 3" long, chrome steel, Lloyd Green, BJS bar. |
|
|
|
Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 9:12 am
|
|
I agree, the heavier the better. But somebody at Tribotone has noted somewhere on the forum that some of their very heaviest (C weight) lap steel bars have been returned for being too heavy. So appearantly there is a limit.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
|
|
|
Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 9:22 am
|
|
A heavier steel bar will produce a meatier tone than a smaller steel bar. I'm not up on the newer material bars, maybe it works out the same.
But if it's about control, a heavier bar will take more effort to handle the various slants, vibrato, and such, not usually a problem for most, but it does make a significant difference. |
|
|
|
Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 10:45 am
|
|
Weight, material construction and shape of the bar will all have impact on the generated tone. None are "superior" to the other unless you're looking for a specific sound, and then the bar that produces that sound will be superior to bars that don't.
I mainly use a Diamond Bottlenecks lead crystal bar, both for it's size (large diameter) which gives greater ease of handling (for me!) and tone. Since it's glass it generates far less string noise than a metal bar. And because the drag is lessened, it moves much faster across the strings.
However, there are times that I prefer a Mudslide ceramic bottleneck slide for the different tone it gives. Other times, I like a small Dunlop bar and other times it's a Shubb SP2.
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
|
|
|
Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 6:04 pm
|
|
Everyone has their individual preference.
I generally use 2 7/8" by 3/4" Jim Burden hard chrome bullet bars, which are made of chrome plated steel.
When I tried out Eric Ebner's excellent Tribotone bars at the TSGA Jamboree in Dallas - I found that I preferred the middle weight model, which seems closest to the weight of steel.
I have a 3" Tribotone and I like it very much.
It's a really smooth bar, and extremely durable.
The Boyett lead-filled Glass Bars are really nice - they have a unique feel, and great sustain.
The lead filling gives it a lot more heft than your run-of-the-mill glass bar.
_________________
BIG STEEL |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 10 Apr 2009 8:14 am
|
|
For pedal steel I use a 15/16" diameter BJS bar.
I have an older model and also a "John Hughey" 15/16" model that is drilled out and is a shade lighter.
From what I understand, it is very similiar in weight to a 7/8" bar.
This is my favorite. |
|
|
|
