I have a lot of bars … this one just became my favorite. A work of art !!!
20 mm x 76 mm (just a bit bigger than 3/4” in diameter and a little short of 3” long)
It’s got a very rich tone and excellent sustain … being 200 grams.
The only downside was it had a flat tail end … I used a Dremel, conical grinding stone and some cutting fluid … to give it a cup-like indent for reverse slanting. Cut easy, polished up nicely … very smooth !!!
Compared to my JB size BJS bar (hard chromed, heat treated tool steel) and my Pearse Hawaiian bar (cryogenically treated 400 series stainless steel) … both of which are similar in size (2 7/8” x 3/4”) …
The bronze bar has richer tone and more sustain … it’s almost 50 grams heavier than either of the above.
I have been using the above mentioned bars along with my JB sized Zirconia bar the most lately … the tone of the Zirc is similar to the bronze … but the Zirc is 100 grams lighter … quicker to maneuver, but the sustain isn’t in the same ball park
All in all … it’s very high quality and very attractive
* I am not affiliated with Herrmann Guitars … the bar was purchased at full price
Very cool, Rick! Would love to see how you Dremeled that. Did you have the bar secured in a vise or was the Dremel stationary? Would also love to see the bit and the final result.
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Nice job Rick for free handing it! You got that radial margin pretty uniform.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, 1953 Alamo Lap steel, (a gift from the late Stu Schulman) Recording King Phil Leadbetter Dobro, Roland Cube, Roland Mobile Cube, Fender Champion 40
As beautiful sounding/looking as this bar is … for me … not having an indent or better yet a “cup” on the backside … was a non-starter and this had to be done
Hint: keep a puddle of cutting fluid in the indent at all times and run the Dremel at a slow speed …
Sounds great Rick. I ordered one last night after hearing it was ~200g !
I'll probably drill out a small indent as well to help with slants.
Did the tail end have a sharp corner, or was it somewhat rounded? It was hard to tell from photos on the website.
It was quite the Hawaiian steel guitar Christmas. My kids got me a pair of Ron Landis’ Sterling Silver engraved fingerpicks & a matching Sterling Silver thumb pick (first metal thumb pick I’ve liked) .
I took your advice on creating an indent for my thumb on a few of my bars with flat ends. I wasn’t able to center it as perfectly as you, but I have about 7 or 8 more bars to do and it will probably get easier with each one now that I know what to expect. Also got some jeweler’s rouge to smooth out some scratches/imperfections. Thanks for the tips!
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Rick Aiello wrote:It was quite the Hawaiian steel guitar Christmas. My kids got me a pair of Ron Landis’ Sterling Silver engraved fingerpicks & a matching Sterling Silver thumb pick (first metal thumb pick I’ve liked) .
Rick, you need a wedding ring to match!
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, 1953 Alamo Lap steel, (a gift from the late Stu Schulman) Recording King Phil Leadbetter Dobro, Roland Cube, Roland Mobile Cube, Fender Champion 40
Wow.....cool stuff.......now all you need is a Nudie Western Shirt.....if you get that, please take a photo of you with a lap steel on Gloria (Chrissy's horse)......
Nice job Mike … I’ve done 4 total … the bronze, a BJS, a Pearse and a Zirconia bar
The BJS was the toughest … hardened tool steel . The Pearse took along time too … 400 series stainless.
The JB sized Zirctone required diamond studded grinders … the aluminum oxide ones wouldn’t phase it … needed to be continually cooled with water throughout the cutting process … I was very nervous, but it came out great …
