Gibson And Other Rare Steel Guitar Bars

[C. E. Jackson]

Well, being an old guy, I have a collection of old bars and some odd new ones. In recent times, I've switched to Diamond Bottlenecks blown glass bars with nice swirl colours made in England. Ian McWee there is the great contact person. One bar says Fulawka, from the late Ed Fulawka pedal steels here in Ontario. Another bar has Nick Manoloff from days long gone by. And another from Roy Smeck again of days gone by. I have a few more and a couple new ones coming from England shortly.



Geo

George, a nice diverse collection of bars. Please show us the new bars coming from England when they arrive. Thanks
for the photo and comments.

C. E. Jackson

[George Rout]

Will do. Thanks for the note. They will look like or similar to the blue one in the top right. Diamond Bottlenecks glass blower retired and they have a new one. The two bars should be here in a few days.
Geo

[C. E. Jackson]

As I stated at the beginning of this post, I currently have more than 150 bars. After looking, this is
the only photo I find at this time, and it shows approximately 1/3 of my bars, and was taken in 2004.
Maybe I will find more photos later. The long horizontal bar came from Arthur's Music of Indianapolis.
Arthur was a famous steel player in earlier days.

From C. E. Jackson's Bar Collection (partial)



Arthur's Music advertised this bar as the longest steel bar ever made.
I can't verify that statement.

4-1/2 x 7/8 Bullet-Nose both ends; Non-stainless.


The bar is too large for my hand. However, it might fit my 2nd son's hand.

C. E. Jackson

[C. E. Jackson]

I believe the SAM bar was made by Sam Gibson, a pedal steel guitarist from western Mass. Sam was also a machinist, now retired, and he made bars and various parts for pedal steels. He made a couple of bars for me 30 years ago. One of them I still use often on gigs. His business was called SAMachine (SAM).

Thanks, Doug, for the information and photo. I, like you, have 2 of these bars. They are good bars which I enjoy
using. Maybe they are rather rare, since your 2 and my 2 are the only ones I have seen or heard about.

C. E. Jackson

[C. E. Jackson]

Here’s an oddball bar I owned about 10 years ago. You push down on the little metal section with your finger and that one string is flatted 1/2 step, presumably lowering the third of the chord to make a minor. Did it work? Not really. The sound was choppy and the thing was clumsy to use. I think a player is better off learning to slant.

Doug, that is an oddball looking bar. Thanks for the photos and comments.
I agree that a player would be better off learning to slant.

C. E. Jackson

[George Rout]

That Spina bar is something else!!!!

What about the "Z" shaped bars that some folks had trying to duplicate the early pedal steel sound not knowing pedal steel was a different beast??

Geo

[Doug Beaumier]

The metal ring for the first finger (on the Spina bar) was too restrictive. When the first finger was jammed into that ring it was impossible to swivel the bar or even move it smoothly.

[C. E. Jackson]

I know that there have been Forum posts regarding sitar bars in the past. However, maybe this post will encourage some newer members to join in regarding sitar bars. I have sitar bars, but will only show 3 here for this discussion.

JOHN HUGHEY (INFORMATION FROM STEEL GUITAR HALL OF FAME)

A TOURING, RECORDING, AND PERFORMING ARTIST FOR OVER FOUR DECADES. HIS PURE SOUND STRENGTHENED THE SUCCESS OF RECORDINGS BY CONWAY TWITTY, VINCE GILL AND MANY OTHERS. THE UNDISPUTED MASTER OF BAR SHIVER AND PRECISE UPPER-REGISTRY INTONATION. HE CREATED MUSICAL EMOTION AND DREW ATTENTION TO THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH HIS FLAWLESS DELIVERY. FLAVORED WITH HAUNTING ELOQUENCE.

BORN: DECEMBER 27, 1933 ELAINE, ARKANSAS
DIED: NOVEMBER 18, 2007
INDUCTED: 1996

JOHN HUGHEY SITAR BAR: 3-1/2 X 7/8 STAINLESS
1/2 FLAT AREA AT BULLET-NOSE






MARLEN SITAR BAR: 3-1/4 X 3/4 STAINLESS






DUNLOP SITAR BAR: 3-3/4 X 1 STAINLESS





The Hughey bar is my favorite. The flat area on the bullet-end assures solid grip for reverse slants.
Also John Hughey had a wonderful personality and was a great steel player. I really like to hear songs
like Wabash Cannonball and Bali Hai played with a sitar bar. A unique sound.

Please list some favorite songs that you play with a sitar bar.

C. E. Jackson

[C. E. Jackson]

UPDATE: FOUND ANOTHER GIBSON BAR NOT INCLUDED IN MY DATABASE


Here are the only 5 bars I own with the Gibson name on them.











C. E. Jackson

[C. E. Jackson]

TWISTER BAR BY THE LATE DON CURTIS, EMPLOYEE OF SCOTTY'S MUSIC.
Don was an excellent steel player employed by Scotty's. I have tried to use this bar,
but have trouble making reverse slants without my thumb slipping on the bullet nose.
My father had 2 double bullet-nose bars and used them very well before changing
to a Sho-Bud single bullet-nose bar later in life.








If you have used a double bullet-nose bar, how did you like it????


C. E. Jackson

[C. E. Jackson]

A VERY UNUSUAL STEEL GUITAR BAR!!!! ONE OF A KIND????



Just a clarification, the cylindrical portion is welded to the top flat portion of bar. See photos below.












In 2007, I bought a 1939 Gretsch Artist 7 string steel, and this bar was in the case. I purchased from an owner
in Portland, OR.

Several years ago, I purchased several Steel Guitar Study Courses from the estate of a steel player/collector.

The book shown was written by Alfred L. Greathouse, who had collected material for this and other books through
14 years of teaching experience, radio, orchestra, and entertainment. This book has a 1948 copyright, indicating
Mr. Greathouse began his steel guitar career by at least 1934.

I have never found or seen another bar like this bar, the one in the 3 book photos. With a copyright of 1948, bars
of this design were manufactured more than 71 years ago, if it was not a private design and make.

My information indicates that Mr. Greathouse had a home in Oregon in 1940. Since my Gretsch and bar came from
Portland, could it be the bar owned by Mr. Greathouse?

I have played with the bar, but it is not comfortable to use.

If anyone owns or has seen this type bar, please let me know.

Also, please post your Gibson and/or rare bars.


C. E. Jackson

[Mark Helm]

Hey, C.E.!

You always post interesting stuff. Here's a few of mine. I have no idea where the little one comes from. Ideas?

[Mark Helm]

A VERY UNUSUAL STEEL GUITAR BAR!!!! ONE OF A KIND????


If anyone owns or has seen this type bar, please let me know.


C. E. Jackson

They both look pretty similar...?

[Bill Groner]

This was my Dad's stuff from 1936.

[C. E. Jackson]

Hey, C.E.!

You always post interesting stuff. Here's a few of mine. I have no idea where the little one comes from. Ideas?

Mark, thanks for the photo and comment. I don't know the history of the small bar.
The EPI-ROCCO bars are interesting and different to use on the wood side.

C. E. Jackson

[C. E. Jackson]

This was my Dad's stuff from 1936.

Bill, thanks for the post and sentimental photo. After seeing your post, nostalgia has set in on me again.

Our Dad's old bars and picks mean a lot to us. I will try to make a photo of the 3 bars that my Dad used
and post it later. He made one while working in a machine shop, modified a Roy Smeck bar, and finally
used a Sho-Bud bar from 1972 when he purchased his SHO-BUD DOUBLE NECK 8 PEDAL/10 STRING.


C. E. Jackson

[Bill Groner]

The older one gets, the faster it sets!

[George Rout]

As promised, here is a pic of my two new additional crystal tone bars from Diamond Bottleneck in the UK which arrived this morning.



Geo

[Jack Hanson]

I know that there have been Forum posts regarding sitar bars in the past. However, maybe this post will encourage some newer members to join in regarding sitar bars... Please list some favorite songs that you play with a sitar bar.

Two songs I favor for using my sitar bar are Norwegian Wood by the Beatles and Cry Like A Baby by the Box Tops.

I have an old Emmons sitar bar, same size as their standard bar -- about 7/8" x 3-3/8". For my 6- and 7-string lap steels, I favor the Latch Lake bar which measures about 3/4" x 3". Does anyone know of an available sitar bar sized about the same as the Latch Lake bar?

[Glenn Wilde]

Hey, C.E.!

You always post interesting stuff. Here's a few of mine. I have no idea where the little one comes from. Ideas?

Those are cool bars, the small one is a Bronson student bar. Bronson was a partner in Oahu early on and then split off and did the exact same thing on his own. I used to have a couple Bronson amps that were made by Valco and they were great. There are also Ric B's out there with gold plates and Bronson logos......killer!
Here's a link to a fine set from Valco, this amp is just like i had.
https://reverb.com/item/15796025-1952-b ... ronson-amp

[Glenn Wilde]

Here's a nice old thread on Bronson.
Bronson

[C. E. Jackson]

PHOTOS AND USE OF NICK MANOLOFF BAR (FROM MY FIRST COURSE-COPYRIGHT 1939).
THIS COURSE CAME WITH MY 1949 SILVERTONE STEEL. HOWEVER, THIS TYPE BAR DID
NOT COME WITH MY SILVERTONE. MY SILVERTONE STEEL CAME WITH A CHROME PLATED
BULLET-NOSE BAR SHOWN EARLIER IN THIS POST.






BAR AND HOW TO HOLD AND POSITION BAR DESCRIBED IN COURSE.




















Manoloff was born April 3, 1898, in Bulgaria. He immigrated to the United States in 1922. He manufactured
NICK MANOLOFF BARS for steel guitars and wrote books on steel guitar courses during his lifetime. Manoloff
died in 1969.

His books contain lots of useful information. I probably have more Manoloff bars than any other kind.


C. E. Jackson

[Terry VunCannon]

I collect tone bars also. And, I am also doing some custom work on some of my bars to make some bars that will raise some questions after I am gone.

[C. E. Jackson]

A TRULY UNIQUE, ONE OF A KIND, STEEL GUITAR BAR.
MODIFIED AND USED FOR RECORDINGS BY DON HELMS.
A GIFT TO ME WHICH I WILL NEVER PART WITH.

DON HELMS (From Steel Guitar Hall of Fame)

INDELIBLE STYLIST AND RECORDING ARTIST WHO BROUGHT THE UPPER OCTAVES INTO PROMINENT USE
AND GAVE THE "HANK WILLIAMS" BACKUP IT'S ENDURING RECOGNITION. A "DRIFTING COWBOYS" ROAD
MUSICIAN AND STEEL PIONEER FOR FOUR DECADES.

BORN: FEBRUARY 28, 1927 NEW BROCKTON, ALABAMA
DIED: AUGUST 11, 2008
INDUCTED: 1984




A modified Stevens Bar, by Don, with grip material on both sides.




Don giving me picks and the modified bar, in his hand. He
said that he had used these in past playing and recording.




Details of gift picks and bar.




Don and Wife, Ms. Hazel, 2 great friends. We sure miss them.


C. E. Jackson

[C. E. Jackson]

This was my Dad's stuff from 1936.

Bill, thanks for the post and sentimental photo. After seeing your post, nostalgia has set in on me again.

Our Dad's old bars and picks mean a lot to us.

The older one gets, the faster it sets!

Bill, I think you are right....

C. E. Jackson

Those are cool bars, the small one is a Bronson student bar. Bronson was a partner in Oahu early on and then split off and did the exact same thing on his own. I used to have a couple Bronson amps that were made by Valco and they were great. There are also Ric B's out there with gold plates and Bronson logos......killer!
Here's a link to a fine set from Valco, this amp is just like i had.
https://reverb.com/item/15796025-1952-b ... ronson-amp[/quote]



Glenn, thanks for identifying the small bar with the "B". I have played a Bronson steel, and liked the tone.
Now my bars with a "B" have more meaning to me.


C. E. Jackson

I know that there have been Forum posts regarding sitar bars in the past. However, maybe this post will encourage some newer members to join in regarding sitar bars... Please list some favorite songs that you play with a sitar bar.

Two songs I favor for using my sitar bar are Norwegian Wood by the Beatles and Cry Like A Baby by the Box Tops.

I have an old Emmons sitar bar, same size as their standard bar -- about 7/8" x 3-3/8". For my 6- and 7-string lap steels, I favor the Latch Lake bar which measures about 3/4" x 3". Does anyone know of an available sitar bar sized about the same as the Latch Lake bar?

Jack, can you give a link to the 2 songs using a sitar bar? Also, I don't where you can find a 3/4" x 3" sitar bar.
I know that some exist, but don't have any that size.

C. E. Jackson

I collect tone bars also. And, I am also doing some custom work on some of my bars to make some bars that will raise some questions after I am gone.

Terry, that is outstanding machine work on those bars. Be sure someone will
ask questions about them later. Nice collection of bars!


C. E. Jackson

As promised, here is a pic of my two new additional glass bars from Diamond Bottleneck in the UK which arrived this morning.



Geo

George, thanks for the photo. Those are 2 great looking bars. What are the dimensions and costs?

C. E. Jackson