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Topic: Happy Medium Bar Size |
Patrick Harison
From:
Minneapolis, MN
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Posted 31 Dec 2014 3:22 pm |
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I've played on the standard size Jerry Byrd bullet bar for quite a while, but I have been experimenting with using the standard size pedal steel bar... I LIKE the sustain, easier to cover all the strings on slants, the fact that you don't need as much pressure and that it's also easier to grip. The only down side is that it's a little bit harder to use proper JB technique when doing forward slants due to the size of the thing. My question is, anyone found something in between the stand lap steel jerry byrd style bar and the BIG pedal steel bar? I would be curious of whats out there... Happy new year!
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Professional Accordionist, Amateur Steel Guitarist. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2014 4:56 pm
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Have you tried the Latch Lake (formerly Broz-o-phonic) bar, Patrick?
Dunlop #919 (Jerry Byrd): 3/4" x 2-7/8" 4.6 oz.
Latch Lake: 3/4" x 3" 5.6 oz.
I get mine from Elderly, but you could probably just cross the Mendota Bridge and buy one straight from Latch Lake:
http://latchlakemusic.com/slides/hawaiian-bar/
Last edited by Jack Hanson on 1 Jan 2015 10:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Andre Nizzari
From:
Bronx, NY
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L. Bogue Sandberg
From:
Chassell, Michigan, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2015 9:24 am
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Patrick, if you're like me, the extra length of the bigger bar is the problem for slants, especially reverse. Jim Burden of Bullet Bars makes beautiful stainless steel bars in 3/4", 13/16", 7/8", and 1" diameters and in custom lengths. He will bore the center out to reduce weight, if desired. After some experimentation, I settled on a 13/16" by 2.75" with a 5/16 center bore. Weight is about the same as the (very nice) Latch Lake bar mentioned above. The extra diameter makes it easier for me to handle.
I have a few ceramic bars that are bigger diameter, longer and lighter. They handle well on slants both ways, but with a little less volume and sustain. Fun to play with, and I usually have one in my vest pocket in case the stainless decides to take to the dance floor. |
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Jouni Karvonen
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Frank James Pracher
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2015 9:36 am
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+1 on Jim and Bullet Bars. I have a 13/16 2.75 (not bored out) and it's great.
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"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one" |
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Andre Nizzari
From:
Bronx, NY
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Posted 1 Jan 2015 3:26 pm
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I thought Jim closes shop in the winter. Is that still true?
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Blues in a doggy bag, is what I got to eat! |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 1 Jan 2015 3:30 pm
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| Andre Nizzari wrote: |
| I thought Jim closes shop in the winter. Is that still true? |
Yes, it is.
I like Jim's Bullet Bars best, but I have no problem loving Dunlop bars, too. I have a few of them and they are just fine for me. The Dunlops I like are 3.25" long.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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L. Bogue Sandberg
From:
Chassell, Michigan, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2015 3:47 pm
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| You should check with Jim on winter availability. Last winter he made a bar for me that was sent from his Florida winter address within a week. This summer he sent me a couple from Indiana. So it seemed like he had his tools and supplies available in both places. |
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Jim Burden
From:
Georgetown,Indiana,U.S.A.
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Posted 1 Jan 2015 7:34 pm Bullet Bars
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| I am building bars always. Been very busy approaching the Holidays. Orders are slowing down some. I can usually do a 2 day turn around.That 13/16 diameter is becoming quite popular in thje lap steel arena. Have a great new year. Jim Burden Bullet Bars |
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Tom Snook
From:
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2015 5:02 am
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Ernie Ball bar at GC for $20!
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I wanna go back to my little grass shack........ |
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Frank Welsh
From:
Upstate New York, USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2015 5:27 am
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I use a 13/16" by 3" bar made for my by Jim Burden a few years ago since my Jerry Byrd style Dunlop 2/4" by 2 3/4" bar gave me very poor sustain on the heavier low strings on my D8, mainly strings 7 and 8 of C13th and strings 7 and 8 of the "low" B11th (F# and low B). The Dunlop bar had worked fine on my 6 string steel guitars but with the D8 I realized I needed more mass in the bar to sustain those fat low strings.
The difference is like night and day. The 13/16" bar gives me the same sustain as my Dunlop 7/8 inch bar does (the bar I use for my pedal steel).
This Jim Burden bar covers all eight strings and gives me lots of sustain, yet the bar is easy to do forward and reverse slants with. |
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Frank Welsh
From:
Upstate New York, USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2015 7:47 am
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| Oops. Should have said 3/4 inch diameter for that Jerry Byrd type bar (Dunlop model 918). |
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