BJS Tone Bar, "Terrific Customer Service"

[Ron Brennan]

A Happy New Year to all.

About the BJS Tone Bar: I will start 2008 with a BJS Tone Bar in hand.

Many Forum members here, Pros & Non Pros alike, use the BJS Tone Bars and with good reason.

I guess I am a "Tail gun Charlie", so I am compelled to report what I have been missing by procrastinating over other suggestions here on the forum.

I have found the difference's (tone & sustain) between Tone Bar Products amazingly collosal.

To tell you the truth, I never gave it a thought that there would be so much of a difference until Santa brought me one!!

I received a BJS Tone Bar for XMAS and I have to say, this BJS Bar took me quite by surprise.

I am convinced now, it is one of the more important components for playing Steel Guitar and far more inportant than I ever gave a tone bar credit for!!

I thank this forum, and it's members, for bringing it to my attention!! The BJS Bar is just that good!!

Wait, there's more! The bar I got turned out to be the wrong size for me. I wasn't sure if I could exchange & return it? I left a voice mail message at BJS, for this fella, Bill Stroud. I don't know who this guy is, so I thought I would have to chase this fella down a couple of weeks to be told "Sorry, no exchange".

Boy, I was totally wrong again. Truth be told, I'm a pretty hard guy to get a hold of (airline business). Well, Bill Stroud called me several times trying to get back to me!!! Wow, a call back? Like trying to find a Doc who makes house calls these days, eh? He even called me at home!!

Bill Stroud is the real deal! He loves and believes in his product, and it shows. He is most articulate, knowledgeable and has a genuine desire to be helpful and of service. He even knew what year my Emmons SKH was when I told him what I had!! WoW!

Well, Bill immediately resolved my request and quickly executed it. And in a friendly way too!!

Indeed, not only do you get the Best Tone Bar around with this most important piece of equipment to improve your sound; you also get an honest Business Man/Player who supports his product and with terrific & genuine Customer Service.

Hey, it don't get better than this....BJS Tone Bars will exceed your expectations in every way possible.

If your thinking about getting a tone bar, please take into consideration my experience above...it’s really worth it!!.....TX

Rgds,


Ron

[Greg Cutshaw]

I have to agree with everything said above. Both the product and the customer service are excellent. The BJS bar has improved my tone by adding more sustain to all the strings and more clarity to the lower strings. It has made it much easier to play fast hammer-ons. I should have bought one many years ago.

Greg

[Dale Hansen]

I agree. Bill's service, and willingness to stand behind his products, is first class.
Several years ago, I had a BJS bar that had flaked off some chrome, and was showing some rust freckles.
For several years, I continued to use the bar, just being careful to keep the freckles up top, away from the strings. One day, I happened to casually mention it to someone, who in turn, suggested that I should contact Bill about it.
It never really occurred to me to do that, and I was quite embarrassed that I'd had it for so long, not really knowing whether I did something to cause the problem inadvertently.
I did finally contact Bill, and he asked me to send it out, in exchange for a replacement.
He sent me a new one, just like he said he would. (I just wished I wouldn't have waited 12 years.) It's my favorite, and use it exclusively.
Hats off to Bill Stroud, and a great product line.
And for demonstrating a higher standard of customer service, that I strive to emulate.

[Bill Stroud]

Thanks, Ron, Greg, and Dale and many others that have posted for the kind remarks and for using my products.
Here's wishing everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year.

Greg, you got tone to the bone, enjoyed your playing.
From looking at your setup, I've got the Revelation PreAmp, the Lexicon MPX1, and Peavey 1000 Rack Amp I just need our good friend Buddy Castleberry to set it up.

Right now I'm using the Walker Stereo Amp with effects, got two of them, then I use the Evans, and Session 400 Peavey Amp with an Alesis Quadraverb effects, and it sounds great also, got two of those setups.

[Bill Stroud]

Attention dealers that are waiting for the 10 string 7/8 Plain bars, look at your order and make sure of how many you want to stock and they wil go out to Industrial Hard Chroming next week.
Just drop me an email at bjsbars@frontiernet.net I've got your orginal list but some of you have asked to be notified so you could add to the list.
The emails that I have on dealers that have put in their orders will be notified that way, but this is for the ones that I do not have.
Thanks,
Bill

[Don Brown, Sr.]

Hi Bill, how many years have the BJS Bars been on the market?

Second question is, just how much lighter than say the Dunlop or Ernie Ball, given the same size?

Meaning, is there a REAL noticable difference in weight.

Does the extra cost for the J.H. go to his lovely wife?

Thanks,
Don

[John McGlothlin]

I have had my Bill Stroud tone bar since about 1984, my girlfriend bought it for me for a Christmas gift. It is the top of the line and I love it...I'll quote something that Bobbe Seymour said about a tone bar one time...when I die they will have to pry my Stroud bar out of my clinched fist because I will be trying to take it with me. John

[Ron Page]

Yeah, way to go Bill. There goes one more excuse for my playing, or lack thereof.

I've had mine for about 5 years now-- a greatly appreciated gift from my favorite daughter.

[Kevin Mincke]

I have had two for several years now but really liked the jump from 7/8th to 15/16". These things will last a lifetime and keep a slidin'. Someday I'd really like to try the Hughey bar as I think this will be the perfect fit for me. Great job on the BJS bars Mr. Stroud.

[Bill Stroud]

Thanks guys for the nice compliments, as long as I'm able to make these bars I will be doing them,Thank the good Lord for providing me with the health and want to.
If you guys ever need my assistance you've got my number.
Thanks for using the BJS Bars.
Bill

[Dave Mudgett]

Ron, I totally agree. When I bought my first Sierra PSG (the one in my current avatar) several years back, it came with a few packs of Sierra strings and what I thought was a Sierra tone bar - I never looked very carefully, and I saw what I thought was a big "S" on the non-bullet end and you know what they say about assumptions. But it just blew everything else away - I had the usual assortment of normal jobber-supplied bars. They were OK, but nothing like this. I just packed the others away and assumed if I ever needed a spare, I would call Sierra up and order one.

When I joined the forum, I kept on hearing over and over about BJS bars, so I decided to try one. Imagine my surprise when I got it and found that, in fact, my "Sierra" bar was a BJS - ha, gotcha! No complaints - I really needed a second bar to pack for gigs anyway, and this completely vindicated my sense about the superiority of that bar. Talk about a double-blind test.

IMO, if you haven't tried one of these, you really should. Mine have been dropped, had stuff dropped on them, stepped on by band members, you name it - I don't know if it's possible to destroy these things, though I'm really not trying. But the smooth, glassy feel and tone of this is, to my tastes, the best I've touched, and I'm a gearhead. Thanks, Bill.

[Don Brown, Sr.]

I'll probably look like the bad guy in the group, but, I'm simply me, and as such, I like to find out exactly what it is I'd be buying, and how much difference there is in anything I buy.

I've learned a long time back, that you just simply don't go with the flow, because something is a popular thing to do. However, on the other hand, if there is a difference, and it's better, that's when I buy.

I've stuck with a vertually off brand pedal steel, for all these years. And, if I wasn't as I am, I'd have been playing (probably) one of the other major brands, because in my era, there were two that (we) on the East Coast side, seen most played, and by who we considered to be great players. However, after trying out each, I found none to be any better than what I was already playing.

I know to many, I'm probably sounding crude or rude, but I'm simply speaking a fact. While definitely not putting anyone else's opinions down, that was my personal opinion.

So that leads me to this point. "In a blind test could the ones now using the BJS bars, (since I've heard about sustain, tone and other) really tell any difference, or not, if they were to stand back to, and someone used three different bars, and each time, pick out the BJS bar when it was used?

No one answered my question as to weight difference, in my above inquiry. And to me, that would mean lots more (if it were lighter) than any of the other features. I don't need more sustain, nor tone, nor a bar that slides any easier.

What I'm looking for would be something much lighter, that would still sound the same as what I now have.

So again! Does anyone know how much lighter they are for the same given size of other bars?

Also, could you tell me the difference between the JH and the others?

Thanks Don

[Bill Stroud]

To answer your question as to the comparison to other bar weights, I don't do that, I go by my standards not someone else. (The weights are shown on my web site.)
It depends on your hearing whether or not the tone or sustain matters, as you stated about the different steels it don't matter to you they are all the same, then all the bars would probably sound the same to you also.
Now on the other hand I've had studio musicians tell me that without changing the Amp settings when they changed from their old bar and used the BJS Bar that it really made a difference, and they could tell exactly where in the play back recording the change in tone was at.
But that was a professional that was testing the bars out, when the guys that I know (Professionals) plays and tell me what a difference that it made then they are agreeing with me, if I didn't think it made any difference I would not be wasting my time and efforts to make such a bar.
When JH told me that the tone did not change a bit with the slightly lighter bar, as we did not want to go too much on the light side, we knew that we had a good one, now that's what matters to me. Making John happy was the greatest accomplishment that I could ever hope for in this life. I do know that there are a lot of happy Steel Players out there using the bars and the ones that do not wish to try them out thats their choice.
Now to answer your question the difference in the solid bars and the JH, example: Take a 10 or 12 String bar say 15/16" diameter in the JH bar, it will weight the same as a 7/8" 10 or 12 String solid bar within a few grams, that was our goal, and it worked.
I hope that I shed a little light on your inquiry. Thanks for reading the post and your imput.
Bill that plays the Steel Over the hill....

PS: See how people differ, I've got a Double 12 Dekley, a Double Ten Emmons LeGrand ll, a Double Ten Mullen, two Universal 12 Sierra (9&9) and everyone of these steels have their own different unique sound, and playability, now go figure...

BJS Bars,
Bill

[Don Brown, Sr.]

Bill, I wasn't putting your Bar down. I was simply asking questions trying to find out, what in a bar could possibly do all that much.

Referring to Professionals, I don't know where that line is drawn (in the sand) that dictates the difference. If you know, I'd really appreciate hearing what that might be.

I'm not impressed by your terminology. Nor by the amount of steels one has. I treat folks the way I'm treated. Respect for respect.

John was a great player, as well as one of the finest men I ever met. And, I'll say this. It was not due to anyone's bar that done it. It was the man himself.

Bill! I don't know where you got that I said all steels were the same! On the contrary, go back and read what I ACTUALLY said.

Here is exactly what I said:

I've stuck with a virtually off brand pedal steel, for all these years. And, if I wasn't as I am, I'd have been playing (probably) one of the other major brands, because in my era, there were two that (we) on the East Coast side, seen most played, and by who we considered to be great players. However, after trying out each, I found none to be any better than what I was already playing.

Don't mind anyone quoting me, but I do when it's not what I said at all.

Have a great New Year

Don

[Bill Stroud]

Hi Don,
I wasn't trying to impress you with my steels, but I do and can hear the difference in each one of them, and I too like them all.
I would like for you try the choice of one of my bars for you to judge for yourself and let me know how you like or dislike it. You can email me at bjsbars@frontiernet.net or call me at 731-364-3519 and let me know what you would like to try out for yourself.
I would do that for you if you want to try one.
As I want everyone to be happy with their choice of the product they use.
Like you there are a lot of guys that either runs across one of the bars through friends or at a place where someone is using one that they could try out. If you don't have that previlege, that's why I'm offering to send you one to try out.
Now I can't do this for everybody as it would be too expensive to ship them out.
But Don I don't want to leave this thread with any bad feelings, and I would feel better about all of this if you would allow me to ship you the bar of your choice to try out, all it would cost you is about 5.50 to ship it back to me if you don't like it.
Thanks for your thoughts on this matter.
Bill

[Bill Stroud]

Notice, the 7/8" 10 string bars went to Industrial Hard Chroming today 01-07-08, I will speak to them this week as to when to expect them back, and dealers let me know what you are needing. 123 bars went out, I've got several hundreds more to Polish & Buff so we should not be running out of stock like before.
Thanks for your understanding.
Bill

[Gabriel Stutz]

Well, I, too, just got my first BJS bar. I got a 1" bar for the comfort factor, not knowing for sure if it would make much difference either way sonically speaking. I was extremely impressed with how much less string noise there was as well as the jump in clarity on the low notes. I got a lot more sustain too. I'm sure glad I got one- it made a clear, very noticeable difference for the better.

Gabriel

[Kevin Mincke]

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... a4d5a4e402

[Bo Borland]

MY story is exactly the same as Dales'. I had a couple of "off brand" bars when I first started playing that lasted a couple years then I bought a BJS from Herby Wallace so long ago I can't remember what year it was.
There is no doubt in my mind that the BJS is superior to any bar I have ever used to get the best steel guitar sound out of whatever I was playing.
Every night I use a couple of bars for different reasons.. I have my "go to" - use it all the time, BJS that Bill replaced when my first started to get a bubble (25 years later) !
I use either a black or red Rajah for a softer tone and less sustain for blues and southern rock, a Goodrich graphite for the BoBro, and an Emmons Sitar bar for when I feel like playing something skanky, dirty and stupid.
Trying not to make any value statements here.. I will always use a BJS bar, as long as I can hold one.
If I wasn't sure this one would last me for the rest of my life,, I would buy a spare.
PS. Now that I have read the thread that

Bill, Thanks for a great product and for being a great guy.
A friend forever .. Bo

p.s. Now that I went back to read what John said about his new JH bar.. I think I need to try one out.

[Chris LeDrew]

I started with a Dunlop, went to a Black Phoenix, and finally got a BJS. Wow, what a difference. It was like night and day. I even moved to another brand of chrome bar a little later to see if I could notice the difference between chrome jobs. I certainly could. I'm back to BJS for good now. There is no comparison between a BJS and the other brands. It is one of the best accessories you can buy for your tone. In fact, I consider it one of the best steel products available, period. I didn't really believe a bar could make a difference - until I got one.

The other bars are good, and will get the job done. I'm not knocking them at all. But until I find a bar that sounds as good and is as resistant to pitting and peeling, BJS is the one for me.

[Ryan Gimpert]

I've got to jump in on this one...

I've used my BJS 15/16 Hughey bar exclusively since receiving it from forumite Bill Donlin a couple months ago.

Last night I forgot my BJS bar at home and at rehearsal had to use my spare. From the moment I played my first few notes there was a very noticeable difference in bar drag - my spare bar just didn't glide as smoothly along the strings as my BJS does.

[Don Brown, Sr.]

if I didn't think it made any difference I would not be wasting my time and efforts to make such a bar.

Bill, I wouldn't say the above would be considered a waste of your time, at the prices you're getting, regardless..

I've been into marketing myself. And the very first thing I'd do, is get my product to the big names, (not that I'm including myself) and from there on out, it's a cake walk up the sales ladder. That's basic 101 in sales promotion. And in this industry, it would work better than any other that I can think of.

It's a known fact on marketing, that if I (or you)make something, then give it away to any big name for endorsement, if only one claims it to be the best thing since toast bread, then Bingo. Sales start skyrocketing. And who (including myself) would be so impolite, as to say anything bad about something that someone had given them? Surely not even me in a case like that. And I've got a reputation for telling things exactly how things (in my opinion)are.

However, let me also add this:

Bill, that was really nice of you to make me the offer you did. Especially since it's apparent you don't even know me, and yet you'd trust me.

I'm serious! That shows me what kind of a man you are. It also tells me you stand behind your products and are willing to do whatever needs doing to satisfy anyone.

It's therefore I want to definitely thank you for your kind offer. And, if it were not for me being retired from outside music now, I'd have taken you up on it. Only difference would have been, I'd have first paid you, before ever expecting anything sent out on trust.

This thread isn't going to be left in disorder. You have a lot of (what sounds to me to be) very satisfied customers. And that's what counts. And as I read, I can see that they also, (in return) have one who stands behind the product he sells. Regardless, a person can't ask for anything better than that.

Wishing you and yours the very best of the New Year, and for whatever it's worth to the ones who already have them, you may also want to consider the larger/est sizes too, for the times during long playing when your hand starts cramping, simply changing bar size up to larger diameter, instantly relieves the tension. Changing up from 7/8" to 1", always felt like heaven when needed.

Everyone have a Great New Year!

And thanks again Bill for your kind offer.
Don

[Bill Stroud]

Hi Don, since you have the 7/8 and the 1" bar, why don't you try out the 15/16 bar and if it doesn't feel right to you just simply send it back. No strings attached.
As far as trust, I don't think for the most part that the guys that's on this forum is out to do you one.
That don't mean I haven't been bitten a couple of times, but for the most part the guys on this forum have been straight up with me and I trust my fella steel players.
I would really like for you to try out one of the BJS Bars, and I trust your judgement about the bar.
Just email me if you want to try one out at bjsbars@frontiernet.net with you address and I'll get one on it's way.
Everyone have a great year and a healthy one, as we're getting older we need all the friends in this life as we can have.
Thanks to all for your kind comments.
Bill

[Kevin Hatton]

Best bars in the world, bar none.

[Bill Stroud]

Hi David Hartley the Picker, your new Birthstone Bar along with some other toys.Glad to hear you finally got the 15/16 bar it took a long time to reach you. But you are not just around the corner.Someday I would love to see your country.

Don Brown, thanks for the kind words, but if you change your mind, let me know.

Everybody keep on picking..>>>><<<<

Bill