Bar size for 12 string

Christopher Woitach · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Possible dumb newbie query - do you 12 string players use a longer bar than those for 10 strings? So far, it seems as though there's no point - I'm not playing more strings at a time than I can accomodate with the standard bar, and it seems like it fits in my hand pretty well. I'd just as soon not get used to something that will prove a problem later on, however, so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

It really depends on what you want to do, but sounds like you already have it figured out. I have been playing 6, 10, 12 and 14 string steel guitars for over 30 years. I've never felt the need to cover all those strings at any one time. The standard 10 string bar works just fine for me and it's easier for me to handle. Whatever works though.

BTW, is that a D'Angelico I see in your photos there? Beauty.

Robbie Daniels · From: Casper, Wyoming, USA

Best one I have found is BJS Huey 12 string design bar.
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Carter D12, MSA S12, 12 String Custom Made Non-Pedal, Evans FET 500LV, Evans SE200, Peavey Nashville 400, Fender Steel King

Marty Holmes · From: Magnolia ,TX USA

About six years ago i bought a bar from Jerry Hilbun of Bulls eye bars that was 4" long and 1" round so i could cover all twelve strings on my Carter i had at the time.Still have the bar but not the black Carter i miss it very much.Funny thing is people tell me all the time don't let your wife see that she'll replace you in the bedroom!! Laughing

Rick Winfield · From: Pickin' beneath the Palmettos

Sometimes I consider getting a 12 string bar, but the 10 srting bar I have fits so well in my hands, I haven't needed to go larger. I can still hit my low E, and my high G#,(12&3) simultaneously, although I, personally, don't have the need to do so often.I mainly use #'s 1&2, as chromatics (both E9&C6), that lead into something else. That "else" requires a low bass at times.
To each his own
Rick

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I've always used a standard 10 string bar for my 12 string guitar(s). I bought a BJS 12 string bar about ten years ago to try it out and wound up using it for about 3 or 4 songs at a gig and wound up putting it back in my pack seat and eventually sold it here on the Forum. I'll just stick to my BJS 7/8" 10 string bar as that does the trick....JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

I switched to 12-string guitars back in the early 1980's. I've never tried a 12-string bar, though. My BJS 10-string bar fits my hand well and feels perfect. I've never needed to span all 12 strings before. I guess it's conceivable that someone may need to do that at times. I like to keep the butt of the bar off of the 2 lower strings. It cuts down on drag (noise) and also helps reduce sympathetic vibrations that can be started when picking strings tuned to the same notes (octave higher).

Here is another discussion:

Click Here
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Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande

There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.

Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

I "inherited" a 12 string bar. It's like the proverbial "medicine ball" in basketball. Weighty.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

I agree with Lee Baucum. I have skinny fingers and a 10 string bar feels natural in my hands on a 12 string guitar. I also use a 10 string bar on a Peavey six string Power slide.
Go Figure! Shocked

Ulric Utsi-Åhlin · From: Sweden

Longer bars mean more metal dragging against metal,
meaning more strings to block ; but,it´s all down
to personal preference.McUtsi

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

I also have a Bullet Bar that is slightly shorter than 3 inches in length. I use it on my 12-string quite often. The bar is short enough that I can push it off of the bottom 3 wound strings.

Click Here

Jim builds great bars, to whatever specs you need.
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Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande

There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.

Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat

Gary Dunn · From: near Camel City, NC

I use a 7/8ths, 10-string bar.

Chuck Snider R.I.P. · From: West Virginia, USA - Morgantown, WV

When I got my U-12, i asked around on the forum about it and followed one or more other discussion threads about it. From all I could tell there was no advantage to having the longer 12 string bar. So, I stuck with the 10 string bar, and I've not had any problems, and not sorry I made that decision.

-Chuck
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GFI U-12 Ultra Keyless, Carter Black U-12, both with Alumitones, and a sweet '70 Sho-Bud Permanent D-10, NV400 in Rick Johnson cabs, NV112, '73 Vibrosonic in Rick Johnson cabs, Hilton pedal, Steeler's Choice seat, Bessdang Gizmos from Dale Hansen, and a few other widgets and doodads.
I may not sound good, I just don't wanna sound bad.

Christopher Woitach · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Hey Jerry

I used to have a D"Angelico, until I had my current guitar made for me by Ithaca Stringed Instruments.

Here's a link to some pictures - it's a special axe - http://www.affmusic.com/isi.htm

BTW, is that a D'Angelico I see in your photos there? Beauty.[/quote]
_________________
Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Wow Christopher! Those are some really interesting instruments. Bet they sound nice too.

Scott Appleton · From: Ashland, Oregon

When I switched to 12 string guit'ters I bought some 12 string bars .. It took a few months to adjust to the extra heavynes but eventually I got the 'hang of it.
I like the extra weight it cleans up the tone it seems fuller deeper keeps the strings down .. you don't have to press down as much. Now after years of play'in 12 stringers I use ether type of bar depending on the song .. Sometimes a big
sitar bar is just the ticket for a particular song..Yup I use the larger bars most of
the time .. no problem..

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

FWIW: I'm under the impression that PF uses a 12-str. bar on his 10-str. guitars!
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

I have been playing 12 strings for 20 years and as yet have never found an occasion that I would want to play across all 12 strings at once, thus a 10 string bar is all I have ever needed. My advice would be if you ever discover that there is something that you want to play on the 12 strings that the 10 string bar can't reach, THEN buy a 12 string bar. Even then, I would bet that you would only pull out the 12 string bar for a special effect or something. For those who use a 12 string bar, have got used to it, and like it, more power to them. Use what ever works for you and makes you happy. I personally, just don't want a bigger and heavier bar to deal with.

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

I was using a Dunlop 920 (7/8 X 3-1/4 @ 7.5 oz.) on 10 strings.
Since getting a U12 I got a Dunlop 921 (1 X 3-3/4 @11.5 oz.).
I like the larger size and weight, and now use it on 10 string as well.
Clete

Bobby Burns · From: Tennessee, USA

I think John B. is right. I too seem to remember that Paul F. uses a 12 string bar, because he likes the feel and the sound. I can see how the weight and length could feel and sound different, but as far as a 10 or 12 string bar as such, I was always told that it was poor technique to cover all the strings all the time. I think it's easier to play single string runs with a smaller, shorter, lighter bar, but the tone sucks pretty bad. Because of this, I've thought about trying a heavier BJS bar than the one I've had for 20+ years. Maybe I should get a 12 string bar?

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