Custom Tonebar Needed.SP1, but different.

Ray McCulloch · Post by **Ray McCulloch** » 9 Jan 2024 1:11 pm

Howdy Friends. I Love the speed and feel of my Shubb SP1, but my more traditional round bars intonate much better on my pedal steel, specifically my 7/8" bar. I attribute this to the tighter radius on the round bars, (less surface contact with the strings) So what I would love to have is an SP1 with a tighter radius on the playing surface. Anyone making custom orders open to trying to make one? Or is this already in production somewhere?

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 9 Jan 2024 2:24 pm

Did you try the Robert Randolph model yet?
It is thinner and longer than the SP1.
Presumably for Pedal Steel ala RR.

Ray McCulloch · Post by **Ray McCulloch** » 9 Jan 2024 3:59 pm

Pete Burak wrote:Did you try the Robert Randolph model yet?
It is thinner and longer than the SP1.
Presumably for Pedal Steel ala RR.

That is a very good suggestion. I have tried it and I think I would really dig it IF it had the same chisel style tip that the SP1 has. Maybe the RR1 can be modified?

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 9 Jan 2024 4:04 pm

Ray McCulloch wrote:
Pete Burak wrote:Did you try the Robert Randolph model yet?
It is thinner and longer than the SP1.
Presumably for Pedal Steel ala RR.
That is a very good suggestion. I have tried it and I think I would really dig it IF it had the same chisel style tip that the SP1 has. Maybe the RR1 can be modified?

I would bring them both to a metal shop and ask the person to make this one, like this one.
Looks like a very quick job on a grinding wheel.
You could also call Shubb and ask them to do it.

Norman Evans · Post by **Norman Evans** » 10 Jan 2024 7:02 am

I modified this RR1 in about an hour. I should say also that I worked as a machinist for about 40 years, so it was an easy job for me.

Ray McCulloch · Post by **Ray McCulloch** » 11 Jan 2024 7:09 am

Norman Evans wrote:I modified this RR1 in about an hour. I should say also that I worked as a machinist for about 40 years, so it was an easy job for me.

That looks like a very good solution. Thanks a bunch for your input. Can you tell me a little bit about your process there? I am no pro machinist but i have a bench grinder and a buffing wheel.

Lee Rider · Post by **Lee Rider** » 1 Apr 2024 9:23 am

I've had a bunch of damage done to my left hand including broken pinky, double compound dislocation at the 5th metacarpal and also dislocating the middle finger, so holding on to a round bar is tough. I had a machinist friend modify my 7/8" stainless steel bar to make it easier to hold. Works great but a tad light so he is making me one out of 1.25" stock.