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Topic: trying a different sized bar.. |
John Burton
From:
Manassas, Va
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Posted 12 Aug 2011 5:38 am |
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When I first started lap steel I bought a dunlop 918 bar, which is 3/4" x 2 15/16".
I stuck with it, it worked.
Besides lap steel, I also have a roundneck reso with a nut riser that I like to keep tuned open D and play lap style. For this I tried a Stevens style bar. (Don't remember the brand, probally Dunlop?) I didn't like it much, I continued using my trusty 'lil 3/4" dia Dunlop for everything..
Then...I got a Pedal Steel..with 10 strings, I figured a little bigger bar might be nice, so I got a Ernie Ball medium, which is 7/8" x 3-1/4". More heft then my Dunlop.
For pedal steel, I used the big bar, for lap I used the smaller bar...and never gave it a lot of thought..until..
The other morning, by accident, (still sleepy I guess) I decided to do a little lap steelin' (I keep my lap steel set up and plugged in) so I grabbed my finger picks and reached over and by mistake grabbed the Bigger bar (pedal steel bar).
About 10 minutes in..I start thinking "Damn, I sound good today.." It was like slants just sounded more in tune, and the tone was more "even" ..you know? I then realized I was using the bigger bar...it was an eye opener.
..I guess I was using the wrong bar for me all this time. I know everyone is different, and some might get along better with the smaller bar, or Shubb or whatever. I guess it just goes to show that trying something different once in awhile might make a difference. |
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Bob Russell
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2011 6:30 am Re: trying a different sized bar..
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| John Burton wrote: |
When I first started lap steel I bought a dunlop 918 bar, which is 3/4" x 2 15/16".
I stuck with it, it worked.
Besides lap steel, I also have a roundneck reso with a nut riser that I like to keep tuned open D and play lap style. For this I tried a Stevens style bar. (Don't remember the brand, probally Dunlop?) I didn't like it much, I continued using my trusty 'lil 3/4" dia Dunlop for everything..
Then...I got a Pedal Steel..with 10 strings, I figured a little bigger bar might be nice, so I got a Ernie Ball medium, which is 7/8" x 3-1/4". More heft then my Dunlop.
For pedal steel, I used the big bar, for lap I used the smaller bar...and never gave it a lot of thought..until..
The other morning, by accident, (still sleepy I guess) I decided to do a little lap steelin' (I keep my lap steel set up and plugged in) so I grabbed my finger picks and reached over and by mistake grabbed the Bigger bar (pedal steel bar).
About 10 minutes in..I start thinking "Damn, I sound good today.." It was like slants just sounded more in tune, and the tone was more "even" ..you know? I then realized I was using the bigger bar...it was an eye opener.
..I guess I was using the wrong bar for me all this time. I know everyone is different, and some might get along better with the smaller bar, or Shubb or whatever. I guess it just goes to show that trying something different once in awhile might make a difference. |
As DUKE ELLINGTON so aptly said, "If it sounds good, it is good." |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2011 8:06 am
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I have used different sized bars for years.
On pedal steel, I always used a 7/8" bar until I decided to try a BJS 15/16" bar and I was hooked!
Try it you'll like it.  |
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Mike Anderson
From:
British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 12 Aug 2011 8:14 am
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| I got exactly the same piece of advice from a couple of forumites and ordered a 1" x 3" from this fellow: http://www.bulletbars.com/index.html. When it arrives I'll put it up against my Tribo-Tone and my Dunlop 919 and see what's what. |
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