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Topic: Hillman Powder Coated Tone Bars |
Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 23 Jan 2019 10:20 am |
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Thanks Dick, always good to hear from you- I was sorely tempted by some of your bass equipment- hope you are well, we are enjoying our travels in Arizona. Michael
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 26 Jan 2019 3:05 pm
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| I cannot say enough good things about these bars! I got two: 3/4" x 2-3/4" and 3/4" x 2-7/8"... the longer one has a bit more mass and gives more sustain, but the shorter is my favorite. For me, it's the missing piece of the puzzle in the quest for old-school tone. I had been using a Dunlop stainless since I began playing steel guitar and always struggled with the treble whine. That harsh bite is now gone. Thank you, Michael Hillman! |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2019 4:08 pm Thanks Jeff! we are heading for Dallas
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Thanks Jeff, appreciate the kind words - out of the shop for a few days, headed to the Dallas Show, inviting all Forum Members to stop by our booth in the corner of the Main Ballroom and say hello. Looking forward to seeing Paul Franklin and Sarah Jory, and a lot of other fine players and friends, promises to be a great show as always!!
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 12 Mar 2019 5:48 am
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I am enjoying my new black-powder tapered David Wright Bar very much!
It works great on both Pedal and Non-Pedal steels so far.
Thanks!
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2019 1:07 pm Thanks Pete,
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Thanks Pete, great to meet you at the Dallas Show- let me know if you need anything else in powder coated bars, Best, Michael
_________________
Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 27 Mar 2019 4:36 pm A couple of new bar designs in process
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A couple of players at the Texas Show were discussing original Red Rajah bar designs, and one had brought in his bar, wanting me to recoat it, which I’ll gladly do for $10, to give new life to an old powder coated bar. His bar was 7/8†x 3 3/16â€. Said he used it for lap steel and pedal steel. The next day, another Texas player brought in a standard 7/8†x 3 3/8â€, AND - both of these bars had the grooves down each side, to provide just a bit more stability in the left hand. I’ve looked at doing bars with the sides grooved, and have done a couple of special requests, but the cost of the extra machining has kept us from running an entire batch. We will test the market by doing both of these sizes, likely red and black will be the first colors, will announce prices in about 3 weeks, along with anticipated completion time.
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2019 7:44 am Out of the shop until 6/17
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Need to take a week away from usual day to day activities-will be checking email when in cell signal range. Thanks to all who support our powder coated bars project. We do have the first bars with side grooves in Red completed, 7/8†x 3 1/4†and 7/8†x 3 3/8â€, either size $56.95, includes priority shipping.
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Posted 10 Jun 2019 3:28 pm
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2 for the price of 1.2 or something like that. Amazing deal, great bars, lots of funky colors now. I just ordered my 2nd and 3rd.
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- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2019 6:41 am grooved bars
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Hi Michael:
This sounds very interesting to me.
When you have a chance could you post a picture of one?
Is the bar still round with groovy grips on each side or are the sides concave?
I am interested in a red 7/8" by 3 3/8"
happy travels.
Dick  |
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Brett Hansen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2019 8:11 am
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| I'd be interested in seeing the grooved ones as well. I'm just starting out and having a really hard time maintaining a grip on the stainless steel John Pearse slide I have started with. These might really help! |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2019 8:56 am Thanks Dick and Brett,
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Thanks guys, the photo below should give you a good idea of what these bars look like. The old Red Rajah line featured this style bar in 7/8†diameter, in 3 1/4†and 3 3/8†inch lengths. We’ve copied those and our next batch will be black. Either size, $56.95, add a standard size round powder coated bar for $15 more. PayPal to vmhillman66@gmail.com Thanks!!
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2019 10:40 am bars
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Well that was sure fast. Thanks Michael. I will get one then.
Brett you will be super happy you buy one of Michael's powder coated bars. Easier to hang on to than non coated bars and will warm nicely to your hand and slide quietly on the strings.
Dick |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2019 11:05 am Thanks Dick,
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Thanks Dick, I’ll hold one for you in the three and three eights inch length - complete pricing and a list of our current sizes is found on page 22, the second post on that page on this thread. Heading for a week in Las Vegas in an hour, back in the shop 6/17- Best to All, Michael
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Dick Chapple Sr
From:
Hardin Montana, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2019 11:14 am bar
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Paid for one Michael. If I am too late for you to get to it, that is okay. have a great week.
Dick |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 11 Jun 2019 11:28 am Got one boxed up
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With your name on it- I’ll mail it from somewhere in the wide open spaces of Nevada. I guess they deliver mail to Eastern Montana 😉 thanks Dick! Michael
_________________
Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Brett Hansen
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2019 5:15 am
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| Is the grooved bar available in the 3 1/2" length and 15/16" diameter? |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 13 Jun 2019 6:19 am Just 7/8†diameter at the moment
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Hello Brett, at the moment we are just doing two sizes of the bars with the grooves down the sides - both are 7/8†diameter. In time we may do a run of 15/16â€, but due to the additional machining cost, no firm plans to do so at present, thanks! Michael
_________________
Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Peter Leavenworth
From:
Madbury, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2019 5:01 am Powder coated bars
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I’d be interested in 7/8†x 3†bars, or something close to that, for lapsteel and dobro
Peter
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2008 Zum D-10, 1996 Mullens PRP D-10, 1974 Emmons D-10, 1976 Emmons D-10, early 70s Emmons GS-10, Milkman Sideman head w/Telonics 15" speaker, 1966 Fender Super Reverb, 1970 Fender Dual Showman head, Wechter/Scheerhorn and Beard Dobros, 1962 Supro lap steels, Gibson 1939 RB-11 banjo, Gibson 1978 RB-250
banjo......and way too much more |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 14 Jun 2019 7:05 am Hello Peter,
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Hello Peter, we are making 7/8†x 3 1/4†with the grooves down each side, if you feel that size would work for you, $56.95 PayPal to vmhillman66@gmail.com - includes shipping.
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Michael Stephens
From:
South Hadley, MA
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Posted 27 Jun 2019 7:34 am Shout out for Michael Hillman re customer service
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Just want to give a shout out to Michael Hillman -- I purchased 2 of his bars a while back, and one of them got a little scratched. He generously replaced it w/o charge and threw in another one to boot. Only paid shipping. I love these bars - great sound and a little lighter on the hand
Thanks, Michael! |
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Posted 27 Jun 2019 4:25 pm
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what? all tonebars look the same?
_________________
- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew |
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Matt Berg
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2019 5:17 pm
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| Would it make sense to groove a small tapered bar? I think it would have some appeal to me. |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 29 Jun 2019 9:10 pm What size are you thinking of?
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Hey Matt, might make sense to make a grooved, tapered bar- what length would appeal to you? It seems that a number of Forum members really do favour a tapered bar. Some players used them early on in the 50’s and 60’s- when a number of tapered bars were available, others have happened to run across one more recently and find it difficult to go back to a straight bar. The most popular tapered bar we’ve made is the David Wright bar, which is 7/8†tapering to 3/4â€â€” 3 1/4†in length. The next tapered bar we made is a 3â€, we just took 1/4†off the back side of the 3 1/4†bar. I could discuss this with my machinist- the additional cost of putting the taper on a straight bar pushes the cost up considerably, cutting the grooves into the tapered bar will add another cost component, compared to the ease of making straight bars, but I think we should take a look at it.
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Michael Hillman
From:
Boise, Idaho, USA
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Posted 26 Jul 2019 1:30 pm Bars with grooved sides,
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Just in, black bars with grooved sides, 7/8†x 3 1/4â€, and standard 7/8†x 3 3/8â€, and a few red in 7/8†x 3 1/4â€. These are $56.95, add any straight bar for an additional $15. Refer to page 22 for pricing and ordering information. Thanks to all who support our powder coated bar project- hope summer is treating everyone well! Photo of grooved bars below:
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Two Spector 5 string basses, Martin D-18, Taylor 812CE, 1944 Epiphone Zenith, a killer Luttrell 6 string resophonic, 1932 Model 56 Dobro, Beard Model E, Martin Soprano Uke, 10 string 1953 Alkire Eharp, Peavey Nashville 112, Fender Bassman, Fender 75 watt Rumble, and a Fender 100 watt Rumble. |
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Nelson Wood
From:
Walker MI USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2019 11:26 am Great bars
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| I've been using these bars for several years and I just had 3 more come in the mail today. Not only are the bars excellent, Michael is a great guy to deal with! |
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