Where to buy a bullet bar?

Roger Marshall · Post by **Roger Marshall** » 25 Sep 2004 5:02 pm

Does anybody know of a good source. I swear, San Diego is like a vast wasteland when it comes to finding anything lap steel. I'm currently using a Shubb SP-2 that I purchased for my Dobro. I'm interested in a JB style Dunlop, 2 3/4 x 3/4. Elderly lists it, but it's currently out of stock. Never used a bullet before. I'd like to check one out without spending too much. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Roger

Kenny Brown · Post by **Kenny Brown** » 25 Sep 2004 5:36 pm

Glad you asked I just rec'd my Bullet Bar today and I would suggest getting one straight from the source:
www.bulletbars.com

I am more than impressed--the balance across the strings was the first thing I noticed. What fine quality and I can't say enough thanks to Jim for his craftmanship and professionalism.

go get one, you won't be disappointed!

[This message was edited by Kenny Brown on 25 September 2004 at 06:42 PM.]

Roger Marshall · Post by **Roger Marshall** » 25 Sep 2004 9:32 pm

Thanks for the tip Kenny. I checked the web site. They look very nice. Especially now that I've noticed that the price includes shipping! Seems more than fair to me. Thanks again.

Roger

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 25 Sep 2004 10:59 pm

Yeah, that's a good deal. A very fair price, and from all accounts a good product. I keep meaning to put in a custom order, but can never decide which size I want...

-Travis

Kenny Brown · Post by **Kenny Brown** » 26 Sep 2004 5:31 am

I chose a 1 x 3 1/4.

although I can't take a good picture here's a few:

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 26 Sep 2004 6:17 am

So which one did you get Kenny, the stainless steel or the hard-chrome model?

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 26 September 2004 at 07:17 AM.]

Kenny Brown · Post by **Kenny Brown** » 26 Sep 2004 9:05 am

Hey Gerald, I went with the hard chrome and really love it.

I'm trying to get my housework done quickly today so I can get back on my steel!!!

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 30 Sep 2004 8:37 pm

Jim Burden Bullet Bars are the best there is. His stainless bars are excellent, and his hard chrome bars are as good as it gets.

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Rick Alexander
Fender Stringmaster, National New Yorker, Fender Champ

Mike Black · Post by **Mike Black** » 1 Oct 2004 7:00 am

I have to agree with the crowd Jim Burden's bars are the best. I've never given him Kudos for the great bar he made for me. Bullet Bars are great, the deep end recess makes slants a breeze. It seems most commercial bars are made for Pedal players and feature a sharp "chine" line at the point where the bullet end starts. I never really liked that. The Bullet Bar does not have this line, that was the first thign I noticed about his bars.
Jim Burden is a pleasure to deal with. He'll answer email promptly and ships your bar as promised.
I've got a box full of assorted bars, some old, some new. Almost any style you can think of. But the one resting in my headstock is the Bullet Bar! My only complaint is I don't have more of them!

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 1 Oct 2004 8:39 am

I know Jerry Byrd uses a 3/4" diameter bar. He plays a lot of chords with split-string position at the tip of the bar. I play some split-string; but I use a 7/8" bar. It's a stainless 2 & 3/4" long.

I have a Jim Burden hard chrome bar 7/8" x 3" and it has a better feel and a tad better sound than the stainless; but it's a little too long for my hand.

I cannot have the chrome bar cut down. It is too hard to machine cut; and if you grind it the heat will cause the chrome to separate from the steel.

I need a hard chrome 7/8" bar, custom cut to 2 & 3/4" with a deeper recess at the thumb end, before the hardening and chroming process.

When you make up your next batch of bars for the treating process, you are going to custom make a bar like this for me; aren't you Jim? Jim, oh Jim!

[This message was edited by Rick Collins on 01 October 2004 at 09:39 AM.]

Dwayne Martineau · Post by **Dwayne Martineau** » 1 Oct 2004 10:05 am

I'm shocked that you can't find that tone bar in San Diego!

I started 8-string lap with a Shubb SP-1 (that crazy bevelled, bullet-tipped deal).

Once I started into slants and split-chords, I switched to the 2-3/4" x 3/4" bullet bar that you're looking for, and it worked the best for me.

I was confused as hell when I got it, though-- I couldn't get a grip on it, it kept rolling and falling all over. Jerry Byrd's video set me straight on how to hold it with a properly light and loose touch, but it took a while.

I would suggest carrying it around with you everywhere-- to work, walking, in bed, the bar, play with it in your pocket (you'll raise some eyebrows).

I used to rest the bar on top of my right arm and practice forward and reverse slants while I was away from my steel.

It's worth the effort. Good conversation piece, too.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 1 Oct 2004 12:24 pm

Shubb SP-1 (that crazy bevelled, bullet-tipped deal)

Used "un-conventionally" ... i.e. not gripped as intended ... the SP1 can generate some amazing results.

Guess one of my secrets will be "let outta the bag" in a couple weeks

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Paul Arntson · Post by **Paul Arntson** » 2 Oct 2004 12:39 am

OK Rick I am busting with curiosity now...
I picked up a SP1 today and used it tonight for the first time at a jam session (supposed to be band practice, but you know how that goes). It's not so heavy, but still seems to sustain OK. And my slants and splits were in tune as never before. It's quite an interesting invention.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 2 Oct 2004 7:29 am

I bought one about two years back ... after reading what folks posted about the Shubbs and Sheerhorns ...

I had never seen or even heard of them before joinin' the forum. Since this is "dobro" county ... it wasn't hard to find one ...

And I hated it ... yuk ... as JB said (paraphrased) "they make dandy sinkers for fishin'".

Well it sat for over a year ... and one nite while watching Jay Leno ... I just reached for a steel and bar (I like to noodle while watchin' TV) ... and grabbed the SP1.

I wasn't even playin'... just goofin' ... holding it like I would a bullet bar ... arched index style (ala JB) ...

And discovered a couple very interesting aspects ... a very low center of gravity and that sharp top edge gives incredible stability for the arched index finger tip.

The only "sacrafice" using it ... for me ... is the reverse slant. Forward slants are fine. "Wristin' slants" ain't my way

But since I discovered Andy Iona ... vibrato takes precedent over harmony ... and between the SP1 and the "Flatties" ... very little of my time is spent playin' with bullet bars now.

Theres alot more to it ... I used it on both tunes found on my site (and HSGA's) ... we'll see what folks think at the convention

And before the "new fangled" , "gimmic" comments start ... let me add ...

My first bar of choice these days is the "Flattie".

Sorry JB

... a case of "de-evolution" I guess ...

PS I bought the other Stevens types ... they don't really work as well for me (and this crazy method) ... either their center of gravity is too high (SP2)... or that sharp edge is absent (Sheerhorn).

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[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 02 October 2004 at 09:15 AM.]

Roger Marshall · Post by **Roger Marshall** » 2 Oct 2004 9:38 am

Thanks for the tips Dwayne. I don't know about that "play with it in your pants" technique though. It reminds me of that old line,"is that a bullet bar in your pants, or are you just happy to see me."

Rick, I agree with you about the SP-2. I always felt that it's high center of gravity made it harder to control. It was an improvement though, on my old Stevens. I'm sure I'll still use it for Dobro. My bar from Jim should be arriving any day. Can't wait to try it out.

Roger

Dwayne Martineau · Post by **Dwayne Martineau** » 5 Oct 2004 12:20 pm

Hmmm... I do like the weight of those bars. I wish it were shorter.

Is there any happy medium bar out there...?

I'd like to try a bullet bar (with a recessed butt end for reverse slants) but with a single routed top edge like on the SP-1. Basically, just a bullet bar with a nice solid place to put your index finger.

Or even just a bullet bar with a single divot for the tip of the index finger. That'd be handy for doing fast and stable slants, I think.

Has anything like this ever been made?

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 5 Oct 2004 2:10 pm

I wish it were shorter

Its length is the key feature for my "crazy ways".

I think they are just chromed brass ...

Chop that sucker to the length you want ... bore out a recess ... file/sand/buff/polish ...

You may loose some chrome at the back-end ... but at around $20 ... worth "experimentin' with"

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 05 October 2004 at 03:15 PM.]

Dwayne Martineau · Post by **Dwayne Martineau** » 6 Oct 2004 1:36 pm

Its length is the key feature for my "crazy ways".

What? Aw, c'mon...! I'm getting curious.

Maybe I'll try holding further back, and putting my index finger more to the center, rather than on the very front of it. It kept whacking my hand when I tried to slant.

Am I close?

Maybe I'll just get out the hacksaw.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Oct 2004 3:10 pm

Before you mess around anymore ... what I'm doin' with that bar is based on my obsession with the vibrato of '30s Hawaiian electric players.

Its 90% single string ... with just enough harmony to keep it interesting ... mostly straight bar strums.

A forward slant here or there ... but certainly not anything like my old days playin' JB arrangements ... as written.

My index is arched ... and it's tip is split by the straight edge.

The thumb only touches the bar ... to push it toward the nut ... and for forward slants.

The "butt end" of the long bar sits under my index knuckle ... and thats were all the control comes from ...

A rolling motion (dis-similar to PSG "rollers") ... extremely fast.

It was the first way I found to consistantly produce the speed (6 hz) found in Iona, McIntire and Nichols records.

Heres a sonogram from a short passage of Akaka Falls ... from last nites "practice session".

I worked on this technique for the last year ...

I'm now working on getting that speed ... with the kinda extent (width) found in those 30's songs.

For that ... I find the "Flattie" ... the ultimate weapon.

I'm just haven't spent the kinda time to get that working well enough to show ... so I'm gonna be Sp1-in' it in Joliet ...

Maybe whip out the Flattie for one song in my set

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[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 06 October 2004 at 04:20 PM.]

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 8 Oct 2004 10:44 am

Rick:

Show us your Flattie!

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 8 Oct 2004 2:44 pm

Only if you throw strings of beads to me