Tapered tone bars...obsolete?

Joseph Lazo · Post by **Joseph Lazo** » 24 Jul 2024 7:15 am

I have a vintage Black Raja that came with a vintage steel I bought, and although it seemed odd at first I've come to really like that taper to a slightly smaller tip. I looked online to see if there are any new bars like this and couldn't find a thing. Just wondering what happened that made tapered bars fall out of fashion. Are they now considered obsolete?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Jul 2024 7:51 am

I always liked a tapered bar for lap steel.
Erv

Bill Sinclair · Post by **Bill Sinclair** » 24 Jul 2024 8:03 am

I believe Michael Hillman still makes a powder-coated tapered bar. I've got a couple and I like them a lot.

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Basil Henriques used to make a tapered polymer bar but I'm not sure if he still does. If he does, I probably need to get one! You can occasionally find used Chase tapered bars. Unfortunately most of the used Black Raja bars are gonna be chipped or cracked. So, they're not obsolete but it's a pretty small market and the tapered bars are more labor intensive to produce.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Jul 2024 8:17 am

I belong to a couple of Hawaiian guitar groups.
Every once in a while there is an ad from an Arthur's Music Store.
They make a tapered titanium bar and it's not that expensive.

Erv

Bob Shilling · Post by **Bob Shilling** » 24 Jul 2024 9:55 am

Erv,

That ad occurs regularly in the HSGA newsletter. Artur's music is in Indianapolis, and they have a website https://www.arthursmusic.com, but I don't see that bar there. I'm sticking with my Clinesmith. polymer bar and the Shubb SP2 for lapsteel though.

Moderator note - fixed the link. If you want to juxtapose a comma after the link, gotta put it inside a quote tag. I.e.,

Code: Select all

[url]https://www.arthursmusic.com[/url]

[/i]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Jul 2024 10:07 am

I was always going to order one but it might be too late.
Erv

Bill Sinclair · Post by **Bill Sinclair** » 24 Jul 2024 10:49 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:I was always going to order one but it might be too late.
Erv

They don't list any of their accessories on their website. You might just call them tomorrow to inquire. Do you remember what price they had listed? Or how it was described in the ad?

Bob Shilling · Post by **Bob Shilling** » 24 Jul 2024 11:35 am

No price listed. Described as "Tapered Titanium - Made in USA! 3.1oz. - 3 1/8" length, Taper 13/16" to 5/8"."

You can probably contact them through the website, and ask for it.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Jul 2024 8:24 am

I just heard back fro Arthur's Music and they have them back in stock.
They were out for a while.
They are priced at $60 plus $10 for priority shipping.
They have them listed on Reverb for a little more.
Erv