More bar advice

Bill Bairley · From: Florida, USA

Hi, I'm new to this forum, and steel guitar. I've been playing guitar professionally for 40+ years and have now fallen in love with an early 60's Fender 400.(I know, I know) The only bar I have is a Jim Dunlop 921, 11.5oz, 1" x 3 3/4". Is this bar too big for this instrument? I don't mind the weight, but the diameter seems too large. Any advice would be appreciated.
By the way, this forum is awesome.
Thanks in advance!
bb

Ransom Beers · Posted 29 Feb 2012 7:02 am

I would order a Dunlop bar from Tom Bradshaw 7/8 in.Not sure of the weight but I think 6.5-7.5 oz. 3 3/8 in. long.I would trade you my Dunlop 7/8 for your 1" Dunlop.PM me if ya wanna trade,all you need do is pay postage from you to me & I'll do the same from here.

Lee Johnson · From: Illinois, USA

Bill I would Recommend The B.J.S. Bar it is a top choice among many great steel players , and You will see once you try BJS there's no greater, You can order through Butch Gardner, a great guy ,owner of the Bjs bar company, out of Milan Tn. ,Go to his web site and view , or you can E-mail him, ,or if you were to be coming to the Dallas show , He will be there at the B.J.S, Booth all week., , ,, Lee WWW.bjsbars.com or bjsbars@hotmail.com
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Steel Guitar Makes Gospel Music Even Better

Tim Kowalski · From: Illinois, USA

I have to go with Lee on this. I had the same 1" Dunlop bar. It was a bit large. I bought a BJS 15/16" and it is just right. The 7/8 seemed too small and light. I wouldn't have believed that there would be such a difference in sustain and tone. It literally floats on the strings compared to the Dunlop which seems to drag.
I have also heard good things about the Bullet bars, but have no experience with them.
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Ransom Beers · Posted 29 Feb 2012 2:55 pm

Didn't mean to give bad advice there fellas.I use the Dunlop I bought from Tom & it werks fer me,also have a John Pearce 1" bar drilled out to lighten.I can't afford one of the BJS bars or I might have one.

Bill Bairley · From: Florida, USA

Thanks, guys. I'm surprised that BJ's bars are chrome plated. Wouldn't stainless be better, no chipping or wearing out?(This may just be me displaying my 'newbie-ness' to the world of steel)
Are most bars plated?

Bill Bairley · From: Florida, USA

Also, does the heavier bar create more sustain/different tone, or is the difference negligible?

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

A 3 3/8" X 7/8", 8 oz. (or so) bar is sort of the industry standard, but they go all over the place - I like light bars myself. The bigger and heavier bars can show a slight edge in sustain over a lighter bar if you were to handle them exactly the same - but you don't. The main reasoning behind the plating is that like metals don't make the smoothest bearings - you may (or will) at some point try stainless steel strings, and a stainless bar is supposed to drag on them. If you have a chrome bar, it will work equally well on anything. But if you're like most of us, you will end up with several bars, maybe even to the point of, ummm, a lot of them. Beats collecting Picassos, Ferraris etc.

(NOT mine, BTW - but I can wish.... Rolling Eyes

)

Tim Kowalski · From: Illinois, USA

The Dunlop is a good bar, and I still have mine for a spare. They are very durable and priced right. Not a bad recommendation at all. The BJS plays like you just waxed your strings or something. Shocked

When you play the steel, you have to apply a specific amount of downward pressure to make clean notes that will sustain. I find that a heavier bar works better for me in controlling the pressure. It seems like I have to press more on a 7/8" bar. I just play the slow stuff anyway. Most prefer the 7/8" though.
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Bad wine is better than no wine.

Bill Bairley · From: Florida, USA

What a pic! 7/8 is probably the size I need. I like the weight of the 1" bar for making good, clean(firm?) notes, but like I said, it just seems cumbersome due to it's size. And that's a good point on the similar metals; I hadn't thought of that.

Ransom Beers · Posted 29 Feb 2012 5:20 pm

When I first started playing steel I experimented with several bars but settled on the 7/8 Dunlop bar I got from Tom B. & the John Pearce 1" but I am going to get a Dobro bar with the rounded nose & see if I'll like it too,something to maybe help me from dropping my wrist down & creating buzz.I'm working on making my arm stay level,maybe that will help,can't hurt.

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

I started out usin' a Dunlop bar, but it slid around in my hand because of cerebral palsy in my left hand, but I'm now usin' a Sacred Steel bar. Billy Phelps had them when he was with the Carter Steel Guitar Co, I think. This bar's got grooves on it, so it's easier for me to handle, so it's the best bar I use.

Brett

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Bill,
I use the same bar. Its more a question of is it too big for your hand. I started with the 920, but like the weight and size of the 921 better. Its all personal preference really, whatever is most comfortable and sounds best to you is right.

Clete

Pete Ethridge · From: Mississippi, USA

call BJSbars i think you can get a 15/16" bar like john huey take to some one there and stand behind their work also
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i use a ZUM SINGLE ON a double frame, no effects,and a nashville 400 that is it

Pete Ethridge · From: Mississippi, USA

call BJSbars i think you can get a 15/16" bar like john huey talk to some one there and they stand behind their work also
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i use a ZUM SINGLE ON a double frame, no effects,and a nashville 400 that is it

Keith Davidson · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

Another vote for BJS - great bars.

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