Tapered bars ; pro/con

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 3 May 2003 1:42 pm

I saw the Red Rajah 7/8ths to 3/4 tapered bar. Seems interesting.
Might be fast on the high notes, might be well balanced light to heavy strings.

Any opinions out there?
Anyone try the sitar bar?[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 04 May 2003 at 03:27 AM.]

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 3 May 2003 3:49 pm

Tried one a looong time ago,did'nt like it,don't remember why tho.I was playing a brand new 1960 Fender 400 then.

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Bill Ford

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 4 May 2003 10:29 am

What, no opinions?? I find that hard to believe here.

Don LaCourse · Post by **Don LaCourse** » 4 May 2003 10:49 am

I got one, its ok, but i like the BJS and the pearse, a little better, i think its a matter of personal taste, i have collected several bars over the years, i have 18 of them on E Bay.
Donny.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 4 May 2003 1:32 pm

I got one of those in my bar collection.It feels goofy to me - like it's a children's bar or an orthopedic corrective bar or something.I got a few plastic bars,skinny little lap bars,Waverly flat bars and they are all just as weird. But hey - that's just me - some guys play the hell out of a weird bar.My favorite bar at the moment is a Jim Burden 15/16ths" x 4" 12-string bar.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 May 2003 2:13 pm

I don't have the red rajah bar but I have used a tapered bar for years when I play lap steel. I just love it!
Erv

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 4 May 2003 4:14 pm

You use a tapered bar, so that when you drop it, your fingers won't slam shut.

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 4 May 2003 4:46 pm

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 5 May 2003 12:46 am

I have a BJS 15/16ths and it's fine, but a bit heavy after my dobro/lapsteel bars.
I have tried what I think is a 7/8 Twister double bullit and liked it. I am buying at least one other bar very shortly.
I'd like to try the Rajah, maybe the tapered version. I know I will get a 7/8 Twister at some point.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 5 May 2003 5:30 am

David, the 10-string twister double-bullet is great for 12-string. It helps keep the bar off those noisy low strings, then lets you slide onto them with ease when you need them.

Mylos Sonka · Post by **Mylos Sonka** » 8 May 2003 9:37 am

Vance Terry admirers may be interested in knowing that for thirty years Vance used a tapered bar made by Bigsby. He used straight bars as well, but he used that one most of the time. He often lifted the bar off the strings and used the tip for single note lines. The bar, after so much use, has the chrome worn off the tip. Vance thought the bar was faster because the lightest part was the business end, yet had more overall mass for more sustain when using grips than a small diameter bar (though not as much as a fat bar).

Mylos

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 9 May 2003 1:09 am

Well I am getting a Twister 7/8 and a Rajah 7/8. The positive coments on the tapers came in a bit late, but I will try it in the future. Thanks all.

orthopedic corrective bar

Love it!

Chuck McGill · Post by **Chuck McGill** » 9 May 2003 5:12 am

Stephen.You beat me to the draw this time
partner but next time I'll be a gunning for
yeh.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 9 May 2003 6:51 am

I used to think tapered bars were easier to lean against when snockered.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 25 Feb 2004 2:01 am

Well my cute postal lady just flashed my strobe in the studio...
I thought it was the flu making my head weird, i finally realized it's the door...

She handed me a nice little box.
After 10 minutes of trying to opening it,

I realized I now had a Black Rajah tappered bar!

I can't say I had forgotten I ordered it, but there was a production delay.

Well it went right on the C6 and felt totally at home.
Very NICE little bar.

I had gotten a Red Rajah 7/8 last spring and damaged the coating very quickly because I was never told it was so fragile.
The black versions are supposed to be tougher, but this baby will be treated nicely, and the old one sent back for recoating.

Initial impressions were :
lightning fast
silent
well balanced in the low frets that don't have
gradulated nut rollers (smart squirels)

stays in the hand well
hard to find in smokey clubs in the dark. LOL

I remember liking the red 7/8 no tapered, till it chipped,
but the feel on this one doesn't at all seem like "an orthopedic corrective bar"; Michael did crack me up, up above.

In use, one of the tough tunes to get clean is the 1st part of Caravan.
It was instantly appearent I would ALWAYS play this tune with this bar.

Since he shipped this one, I understand Chuck Brattan has other black bars ready to go. In all shapes and sizes.

That's the report for here.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 25 February 2004 at 02:07 AM.]

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 25 Feb 2004 6:41 am

David,
How is the tapered bar for reverse slants?
Is it any different than straight bars,better/worse?

Bill

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Bill Ford

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 25 Feb 2004 9:02 am

I think the tapered bar was all we used back in the 50's and 60's. To me they were very comfortable. I felt that we went to the non-tapered bar because they were much easier to make.
Jerry

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 25 Feb 2004 2:51 pm

Bill F. I just tried it on you suggestion, I didn't have time earlier.

1st impression is easier, because the far end is a touch shorter, so my wrist isn't pushed upwards as much. No problems with back or front slants.

I had an irish music rehearsal all day, so not much steel time.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 2 Mar 2004 4:54 pm

I have a question on this tapered bar. does it help with muting the strings with your ring finger and pinky? seems like it would help, since it's smaller at the front.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 2 Mar 2004 6:24 pm

Terry, as in our e-mail, yes I do find blocking and string damping/muting easy with this bar.