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Post new topic Tone Bar Help // Bullet vs Dog Bone
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Author Topic:  Tone Bar Help // Bullet vs Dog Bone
Anthony Parish


From:
Austin
Post  Posted 21 Nov 2020 6:12 pm    
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I love the TONE I get from a Dunlop 920 "bullet" bar (7/8" diameter).
I love the FEELING in my hand of the Robert Randolph "dogbone" tone bar (larger diameter).
Below is a picture of the two bars side-by-side.
QUESTION: does anyone make a dogbone-style tone bar with a 7/8" diameter like the Dunlop?
I would love to get the tone of the Dunlop and the feel of the dogbone. Thanks.


Last edited by Anthony Parish on 27 Nov 2020 1:03 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Rick McNamara

 

From:
Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 27 Nov 2020 10:14 am     Shubb-Pearse SP1 Tone Bar
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Howdy,

I started using this tone bar a while back when the arthritis in my hands kept me from using a conventional tone bar. Takes a while to get used to it, but with the grips and the curved nose I can still tilt for single notes ie. “Steel Guitar Rag” plus get vibrato when it’s laying on the strings. Better than not playing!👍
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 27 Nov 2020 10:42 am    
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I don't remember who made it, but there was a Robert Randolph or sacred steel type bar in a larger size like you describe with grooves for finger grips.

I'm pretty sure they're out of production now, but perhaps you can find a used one if someone here remembers what they were called and/or who produced them.

Edit: I believe it was the out of business World Class Steels, Carter guitar co. that did these. I think it was Billy Phelps, who worked with Carter, that distributed these.

Pretty rare, but you might get lucky and find a used one.
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Anthony Parish


From:
Austin
Post  Posted 27 Nov 2020 1:10 pm    
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Thanks fellas. The bullet bar has a crisper sound, since the smaller diameter has a sharper area of contact with the strings. The dogbone bar sound is more muted, since the rounded area on the strings is fatter and less scooped. I am basically looking for a skinny dogbone bar. Will try the Shubb-Pearse mentioned above.
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David Ball


From:
North Carolina High Country
Post  Posted 27 Nov 2020 1:46 pm    
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I sometimes use a Shubb SP-2. I like it better than the original Shubb Pearse (which I also have). It's a little shorter, and a little beefier. Feels pretty much like a 7/8 bar to me in terms of weight. It sounds pretty much like a regular 7/8 bullet bar, but has the nice finger grips.

Dave
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Alan Bidmade


From:
Newcastle upon Tyne UK
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2020 9:30 am    
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You guys need to get onto Gary Swallows
gswallows@yahoo.com

Gary will make you the bar of your dreams, to your specification.

He did for me....
_________________
Ben-Rom #017 'Lorelei', Guild D25, Epiphone 'Joe Pass', Roland 40XL, Hilton VP

First name Alan, but known as Nick
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