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Topic: Tapered bars and old picks |
Bill McCloskey
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Posted 2 Sep 2018 2:21 pm |
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I recently purchased an eharp that came with the bar and picks of the original owner. Don't think I've seen a bar like this: beveled, but it is a really comfortable design. It makes it very easy to move from single string to full bar positions. Anyone seen any like this?
And the old national picks that came with it are also interesting. The fingertip area has a bend in it. Never saw that before either (see pics). Anyone seen this before?
Last edited by Bill McCloskey on 3 Sep 2018 5:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 2 Sep 2018 3:10 pm
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That bend could have been put in by the previous owner.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 2 Sep 2018 7:36 pm
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Thanks Bill,
Yeah, I assumed that. Was wondering if people had seen people bending their picks like that in the past. |
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Former Member
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Posted 2 Sep 2018 8:20 pm
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| With the bend in the finger pick, I read somewhere on the forum that the little crimp would help hold the pick on. Do you mean the rounded ends, or the narrowing along the length?— which is a feature of a few bars, notably the Black Raja |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 3:45 am
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| Bill McCloskey wrote: |
Thanks Bill,
Yeah, I assumed that. Was wondering if people had seen people bending their picks like that in the past. |
Bill, I guess I read your post incorrectly. Ron, I did see that post you are referring to a while ago. I guess I am lucky. After trying several different brands of picks I have found, at least for me, National NP2's work the best. On my fingers, they never come loose, in fact I usually have to pull pretty hard to get them off. And yes, Bill I have seen several tapered bars, I made them, and yes, they are comfortable to use.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 5:07 am
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| Tapered is s better word than beveled. May change the title. I just don't remember ever having one as tapered as this bar. Really like the feel. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 5:58 am
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| Bill McCloskey wrote: |
| Tapered is s better word than beveled. May change the title. I just don't remember ever having one as tapered as this bar. Really like the feel. |
Measure the bar at both ends (diameter) and give me the length, I will be able to tell you what angle the taper is, or you can stick a protractor on it.
I think I made mine with a 1/2* taper per side, but yours looks like more.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 6:46 am
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| It is about 3 3/4 long and 3/4's at one end and about 1/2 at the other |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 7:26 am
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| Bill McCloskey wrote: |
| It is about 3 3/4 long and 3/4's at one end and about 1/2 at the other |
I believe it's very close to 2*.
https://everydaycalculation.com/right-triangle-calculator.php
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 7:32 am
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I am wondering about the advantages of a tapered bar. Could you explain what you mean by it being better for single notes? It seems to me that more weight would be in the back of the bar... more weight on the lower (fat) strings. So the tip if the bar (high strings) would be lighter...? The physics of the taper would certainly change the way it is held in your hand. I would like to hear some other steelers comment on the differences in feel with a tapered bar.
 Dom
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 7:48 am
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Dom,
I find that the taper makes it really easy to push down on the tip of the bar to raise the back. much easier than the non tapered bar I have. No idea on the physics of it but it is very noticable. |
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 7:56 am
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| Dom Franco wrote: |
I am wondering about the advantages of a tapered bar. Could you explain what you mean by it being better for single notes? It seems to me that more weight would be in the back of the bar... more weight on the lower (fat) strings. So the tip if the bar (high strings) would be lighter...? The physics of the taper would certainly change the way it is held in your hand. I would like to hear some other steelers comment on the differences in feel with a tapered bar.
Dom |
I believe a while ago Erv Niehaus said the tapered bar angled your hand differently than a straight bar does and thus it is at a more comfortable playing angle. Correct me if I'm wrong Erv.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40
Last edited by Bill Groner on 3 Sep 2018 8:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 8:08 am
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Bill,
You are correct!
I really liked a tapered bar, especially when playing lap steel, it was more comfortable. Your wrist was at a more natural angle.
Back in my youth, Chase made a tapered bar and I still have a couple. 
Erv |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 1:21 pm
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I too wondered if you meant "tapered". I was familiar with those, but come to think of it, I can only recall seeing that on non-steel bars. Didn't Tribotone make a tapered? I would like to try one some time.
IMO, the old style National picks are great. I had a set included in the case of a vintage steel I bought and I liked them from the minute I put them on. Much better to me than the Dunlops. |
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Rick Abbott
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 1:34 pm
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Tapered bars are easier to hold and lift for wild playing. I have 4-5 different tapered bars and they are my go-to for swing style playing. I have an old bakelite from the 40's, a stainless replica of that one, a delrin replica of it too, and two other delrin tapered bars of differing weights.
I tried to get Eric at TriboTone to make one, but he was in the process of shutting down. I'm not sure the guy who built mine is interested in making more of them. It seems to be pretty hard to machine them.
_________________
RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 1:39 pm
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| Scott, these old nationals have also become my goto picks. Much better than the dunlops. |
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C. E. Jackson
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Bill Groner
From:
QUAKERTOWN, PA
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 2:12 pm
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| C. E. Jackson wrote: |
I, like Scott and Bill, like the old time Nationals Pat. No. 1787136 (marked on picks).
My second choice is the Kyser USA. In my opinion, both are better than the Dunlops.
C. E. Jackson  |
Right on C.E.
_________________
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, one 1953 Alamo Lap steel, Roland Cube, Fender Champion 40 |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 5:42 pm
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| C. E. Jackson wrote: |
I, like Scott and Bill, like the old time Nationals Pat. No. 1787136 (marked on picks).
My second choice is the Kyser USA. In my opinion, both are better than the Dunlops.
C. E. Jackson |
Same here. I'm a National & Kyser man. The Dunlops don't work for me. The "strap" part that holds the pick on the finger is too wide IMO. It keeps catching on the next string, for me anyway.
Unfortunately Kyser picks are no long made. I bought two boxes of them about 20 years ago and I'm still working my way through them. I wear down the blades on fingerpicks significantly after about eight months of playing. I tend to pick aggressively though.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 3 Sep 2018 6:23 pm Forget the Tapered bars.....
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Forget the Tapered bars, I think I need one of these like the pros use....
Or is it just big bar envy?   
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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C. E. Jackson
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Posted 5 Sep 2018 4:53 am
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Andy, that is some bar! Wonder what it weighed?
During my years of travel throughout the U.S., I
tried to stop in vintage guitar stores and look for
unusual things related to vintage steels. The largest
normal bar I found and purchased was from
AUTHUR'S MUSIC, Indianapolis, IN. 7/8 x 4 1/2
bullet-nose both ends. AUTHUR'S listed it as the
largest known bar (I don't whether that is correct
or not}.
I have fairly large hands, but one that size is
impossible for me to use! The largest bar I
occasionally use is 1 x 3 1/4 Bullet-nose.
C. E. Jackson
_________________
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My YouTube Steel Guitar Playlists
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A6 tuning for steels |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 6 Sep 2018 8:52 am
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| Ah,.....Case Candy!.....love these unexpected little surprises....I like the National picks and have a bunch from vintage acquisitions....I never was able to get used to the tapered bar and ended up donating it to Jim Palenscar of Steel Guitars of North County, who was in search of one for a customer..... |
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