Red Rajah Double Coated Bar

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 22 Jun 2007 6:13 am

Chuck Brattain just sent me one of his new double coated bars.
It has a second clear coat and it's VERY smooth.
Chuck is always working on ways to improve his fine products and he's sure done it this time!

I hear Rick Aiello got one of these new double coated bars too.
Rick, how do you like it?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 22 Jun 2007 8:39 am

Man, that thing just looks slick: a glidin'-'cross-the-strings fool!

Jude Reinhardt · Post by **Jude Reinhardt** » 22 Jun 2007 9:09 am

I got mine yesterday, a 3" X 3/4". I've got two of the original Red Rajah's and this one is much better. It feels as smooth on the strings as the Black Phoenix but has that Red Rajah mojo. If it was round on each end like my Twister bars and the custom bar Jim Burden made for me I could quit buying and trying bars.
No I couldn't either.

Jude

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 22 Jun 2007 12:29 pm

Chuck has been working to serve and enhance the world of Steel Guitar for many years.
Back in the early 50s he co-authored "The Natural Method" series of steel guitar lessons, an extensive tutorial very much ahead of its time.
Since then he has come up with some very cool innovations and improvements such as the dual lap steel stand and the Control Ring Bar. He perpetuated and vastly improved on Red Rajah and Black Phoenix bars with his coated bars - and now he has double coated them with a second clear coat.
This bar is smoother than ever, and it looks and feels extra durable too.

Did you ever notice how the best bars start with "B"
Brattain - best coated bars
Boyett - best glass bars
Burden - best stainless and hard chrome bars

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 22 Jun 2007 12:41 pm

I ain't got mine yet ...

I can't wait ...

Chuck's bars are always a pleasure to use ... plus, he's a super guy ... and a great businessman !!!

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 22 Jun 2007 12:59 pm

So if you order a Red Rajah now, you automatically get this double coated bar - it's not some kind of "special edition?"

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 22 Jun 2007 2:53 pm

Rick, I think you're gonna love it.

Mark - yes, double coating is the new standard - here's the info & ordering page - http://aguitarcenter.com/item.html?PRID=433593

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 22 Jun 2007 4:51 pm

Thanks, Rick. I somehow managed to miss that web page when I was wandering around on Chuck's site earlier today.

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 22 Jun 2007 10:35 pm

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 23 Jun 2007 11:31 am

The bars are great as Rick has said.
My only complaint is don't use the bars with stainless steel strings as it will in a short time destroy the coating as it has mine otherwise they are very quiet on the strings.
Don

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 23 Jun 2007 12:14 pm

That's interesting Don. I tried stainless strings a while back, and I didn't care for them too much at all.
They seemed to scrape more than nickel. So I can see why they would scuff up a bar faster.

This new double coated bar is extra durable though, maybe it wouldn't be a problem now. In any case, Chuck stands by his products and will recoat any bar of his that been scuffed or scraped - at no charge.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 23 Jun 2007 12:36 pm

I remember when I bought my 'old style' Red Rajah and Black Phoenix bars, Chuck warned against using stainless steel strings.

Steinar

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 23 Jun 2007 1:33 pm

This is true he has offered to replace my bar.
I just don't use it anymore and now prefer my custom made Chrome Bullet Bar for its shape and weight.
The thing now also is that all my Peterson tunings for my Shobud & Emmons settings are for SS strings as well as my pedal and knee levers for the shorter through.
At some point I may return to nickel strings for they have a more mellow tone and not as bright as the SS strings.

Stephen Wells · Post by **Stephen Wells** » 25 Jun 2007 5:57 am

I ordered the JB size bar this morning!

Stephen Wells · Post by **Stephen Wells** » 27 Jun 2007 4:46 pm

Wow!!! I just got in; and there on the counter is my new bar, that I ordered 2 days ago. The only thing more amazing than the quick turn around is the bar itself. Within minutes I was thinking that I need to order a spare in case I lose this one. It sounds great on my Crafters of TN Virginian and is the perfect complement to my Lapking Rodeo.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 28 Jun 2007 4:01 am

I'm still watchin' my mailbox ...

I spoke with Chuck ... he mailed it the same day he mailed Ricks ...

I'm starting to think a Berryville mailman is "sportin' a new RR" ...

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 28 Jun 2007 4:13 am

That sucks - mine arrived exactly a week ago.
Hopefully you'll get it today . .

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 28 Jun 2007 7:25 am

I've just taken the new Red Rajah coated bar for a test drive. It's very smooth - a noticeable improvement over the original RR's of several years ago. The originals had a very slight texture that seemed to drag slightly on the wound strings but that's not the case with the new double-coated bar. It slants like a dream and is smooth as silk on the wound strings. Besides all that, it's RED! Congratulations and thanks to Chuck for all the years of great products for the steel community.

Gary Boyett · Post by **Gary Boyett** » 29 Jun 2007 2:52 am

Maybe he gave it to his wife as a little gift...

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 26 Jul 2007 4:55 am

Guess what showed up yesterday ... postmarked June, 5

Chuck sent a replacement out, earlier this month ...

So I'm off to Paypal to buy this "wayward" one ...

Send this one back ... no way Jose

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 26 Jul 2007 5:07 am

It never hurts to have a spare . .

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 26 Jul 2007 6:03 am

I thouight that Rick, but after the THIRD wife I decided I'd had enough 'Spare'
Baz

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 26 Jul 2007 7:11 am

Danny James · Post by **Danny James** » 26 Jul 2007 7:12 am

I'm sure Chuck Brattain makes quality products.

I have a black Phoenix that was given to me by a friend.

It has been used very little on nickel wound strings only. It has two places worn through already.

I e-mailed Chuck and he said he didn't have any Black Phoenix bars the size I have, and wants $20.00 to replace it with a new Red Rajah.

After several e-mails back and forth, I thanked him and said I was sorry to have troubled him.

I still have those e-mails in my files.

Needless to say, I still have the bar. $:\$

C. Brattain · Post by **C. Brattain** » 27 Jul 2007 11:59 am

Some one gave Danny a Black Phoenix bar and he wanted to exchange it and I told him I could exchange it for a new Double Coated Red Rajah for $20.00 Shipping and Handleing.

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