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Topic: Tone Bar Question |
Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 28 Feb 2018 3:10 am |
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Recently a friend showed me his Black Rajah tone bar. I noticed it has a slight taper. My question is, what is the reason for the taper? Is there an advantage to having a tapered bar? I have no taper attachment on my lathe so I can't duplicate it and using the compound to turn the taper by hand would not give a good enough finish, so all my bars are made straight. I was just curious to hear some thoughts on the subject.
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2018 4:56 am
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I can't give the definitive answer, but: The taper makes the bar easier to hold and it helps with visibility. I have an old Bakelite bar that's my favorite, and it's 1 inch to 3/4 inch taper over 3-3/8 length. I had a guy make a stainless copy of it. A bit too heavy on the butt end. I have a remake of the bar you are asking about and an old Chase Bar. I like tapered bars for some things, mostly non-pedal things. I think they were popular in the 40's and 50's. So, non-pedal was their original use.
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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James Hartman
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2018 7:19 am
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I've only come across a few tapered bars. Never gave it much thought, but Rick's assertion that a tapered bar is easier to hold makes sense to me - my middle finger and thumb don't lay parallel without contortion.
One of my favorite bars does have a slight taper: roughly 15/16 to 7/8 over slightly less than 3 inches length. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2018 8:46 am
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When I played a lot of lap steel, I liked a tapered bar.
When the guitar is laying on your lap, it affords a more natural angle for your wrist. |
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Mikhail Bobrov
From:
Russia
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Posted 28 Feb 2018 12:03 pm
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
When I played a lot of lap steel, I liked a tapered bar.
When the guitar is laying on your lap, it affords a more natural angle for your wrist. |
Michael Hillman makes very good tapered powder-coated bars and they're reasonable-priced to try. Powder-coating adds positive grip to mentioned above benefits. |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 5 Mar 2018 7:22 am
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Bill, I remember you posting about making your own "plastic" tone-bars but I can't find the thread for the life of me.
Would you be kind enough to provide the link to it?
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Four Pettingills and a Clinesmith Aluminum. Fender Blues Junior. Quilter Mini-101. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 5 Mar 2018 8:58 am
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| Stephen Abruzzo wrote: |
Bill, I remember you posting about making your own "plastic" tone-bars but I can't find the thread for the life of me.
Would you be kind enough to provide the link to it? |
Steve it is on the 2nd page of this section under Gronertone-Done
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Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 5 Mar 2018 9:02 am
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Thank you sir.
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Four Pettingills and a Clinesmith Aluminum. Fender Blues Junior. Quilter Mini-101. |
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