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Author Topic:  Quieter bar than the Broz-O-Phonic??
Jim Fogarty


From:
Phila, Pa, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 5:12 pm    
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I do most of my lap steel playing with a Broz-O-Phonic bar I've had for years and like it a lot. I've noticed, though, it's quite a bit noisier on the strings than the BJS bars I use on PSG.

Short of just buying another, smaller BJS, what are my options for a quieter lap bar, in the same basic size.....or even a wee heavier (not much!)?

Thanks!
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 5:19 pm    
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Talk to Basil Henriques - he makes the Ezee-Slide bars out of a synthetic material with a metal core.

I've been using one for quite some time now with pedal steel and lap steel - it's just about dead quite and *very* fast on the strings. Also far more durable that you would imagine for a seemingly-"plastic" bar. I've dropped mine on concrete and asphalt several times and there's not a mark on it.

www.waikiki-islanders.com/html/ezzee~slide%20bar.html
_________________
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1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
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Jim Fogarty


From:
Phila, Pa, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 5:37 pm    
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Wow!!! $88.50 for that Ezee-Slide! That damned thing should play itself.

That may be too rich for my blood. But, thanks.
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Jim Fogarty


From:
Phila, Pa, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 5:55 pm    
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FWIW......is the Broz-O-Phonic considered a relatively quiet bar? Wonder if I'd be throwing money away for a minuscule improvement.
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David Mason


From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2017 8:25 pm    
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Glass, plastic, or ceramic... although the higher end ceramic bars are not gonna save you money. With metal inside, or not. I'm really fond of these:
http://www.diamondbottlenecks.com/CrystalToneBars.html
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Ian McWee

 

From:
Worcestershire, UK
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 2:34 am    
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Thanks for the bar recommendation David ~ much appreciated! Smile

On a side-note, our new all solid crystal glass 'stevens-style'. tone-bars will become available from our website around mid-November - all of our usual solid opaque glass colors will be offered.

Ian.

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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 4:02 am    
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I am a big fan of the Latch Lake (formerly Broz-O-Phonic) tone bars. I don't find them overly noisy, but I use nickel and/or bronze strings. If you're using stainless strings, they may be noisy. And they will definitely not be as smooth, as stainless on stainless creates more friction than stainless on nickel or bronze.
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Rick Barnhart


From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 5:05 am    
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I doubt you'll find a bar as quiet as Clinesmith's latest offering. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=319171&highlight=
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 7:29 am    
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Just break down and buy a BJS, that's what I use. Very Happy
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 9:27 am    
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Erv Niehaus wrote:
Just break down and buy a BJS, that's what I use. Very Happy

Does BJS make a bar the same size as Latch Lake's?
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Former Member

 

Post  Posted 30 Sep 2017 12:40 pm    
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Woah!
Ian what the hell do you have there!?!
That Stevens bar looks sweet!
I'll take 2 in purple ASAP.
(I still have the "Swiveler")
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David Venzke


From:
SE Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 1 Oct 2017 5:59 am    
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Try one of Michael Hillman's powder coated bars, maybe ...

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=270422
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 1 Oct 2017 6:08 am    
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Jack,
I don't know anything about the Latch Lake's bar but I do have a shorter, skinnier BJS that I use on my lap steels and dobros.
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Jack Hanson


From:
San Luis Valley, USA
Post  Posted 1 Oct 2017 7:12 am    
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Erv Niehaus wrote:
Jack,
I don't know anything about the Latch Lake's bar but I do have a shorter, skinnier BJS that I use on my lap steels and dobros.

Latch Lake (aka Broz-O-Phonic):

Stainless steel
3/4" x 3"
5.6 ounces
About twenty bucks

Latch Lake is right down the road from you Erv, in Eagan, MN.
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Steven Pearce


From:
Port Orchard Washington, USA
Post  Posted 1 Oct 2017 9:10 am    
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All bars and bar material give us different sound qualities. And good stuff isn't cheap.
I picked one of these up recently. They are 'full sound' bars, and they're heavy. Not much string noise, sustain is great. $30.00 BUT IS THERE REALLY a perfect bar out there?
I say no, all have different tones...and all have a place in the music we make.
~~ ~~ ~~

Latch Lake Bar® w/ Dynamic Diffusion Technology®
The Latch Lake Bar in steel with Dynamic Diffusion Technology enables unheard of sustain and tone for acoustic or electric lap steel.
Thanks,
Steve
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Stephen Abruzzo

 

From:
Philly, PA
Post  Posted 1 Oct 2017 5:42 pm    
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David Venzke wrote:
Try one of Michael Hillman's powder coated bars, maybe ...

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=270422


Another vote here for Michael Hillman's powder-coated bars. Pick your color, diameter and length.....just that simple. And the price is right too!

Outstanding bar with some warmth to it's sound. Love mine.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2017 7:33 am    
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Jack,
I believe the dimensions you gave are the same or very similar to my BJS, however, my bar is a chrome bar, smoother on the strings. Very Happy
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David Matzenik


From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2017 12:15 pm    
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My advise is don't get neurotic about string hiss. No one is going to hear it. Listen to all the great old recordings. They are all done with steel bars.
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Rick Aiello


From:
Berryville, VA USA
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2017 4:01 pm    
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Basil H. makes the finest bars ever made for steel guitar ... if you want the best ... pony up to the "bar" and splurge... get one while the "gettin' is good" ... you won't be sorry 🤠
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 2 Oct 2017 4:33 pm    
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I like the John Pearse bars:

www.steelguitarshopper.com/search.php?search_query=Pearse+Tone+Bar
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C. E. Jackson


Post  Posted 2 Oct 2017 4:55 pm    
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b0b wrote:
I like the John Pearse bars:

www.steelguitarshopper.com/search.php?search_query=Pearse+Tone+Bar


I also like the John Pearse bars and have a 7/8 x 3 1/4 and a 3/4 x 2 3/4.
Don't use either all the time, but they are very nice bars.

My friend, Don Helms liked, and got me interested in John Pearse products.
He used John Pearse strings for his Console Grande.

C. E. Smile
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HowardR


From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2017 6:08 am    
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I love my Egg-O-Phonic.....$1.79 dozen.....


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Pookie Anselmi

 

From:
Galliano, Louisiana, USA
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2017 6:24 am    
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Howard, that's an eggcellent choice.
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Rick Barnhart


From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2017 10:14 am    
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Bakelite in its natural environment
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Mark Roeder


From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 3 Oct 2017 10:50 am    
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I do like the bar on the corner of Hamilton and Humboldt, Pitches, old school supper club. A little bar noise but the cocktails are smooth
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