Are there any commercially made 5/8" diameter bars?

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 23 Apr 2009 9:48 am

Does anyone make 5/8" diameter bars, other than some of the high-end makers? I'd like to try one out, but don't want to invest a lot in a bar until I know whether or not I will like it.

Thanks,
John

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Apr 2009 12:50 pm

John,
I've got an old Oahu 5/8" bar and it's sure nothing I would want to use.
It's more like something you would give a 10-12 year old kid to use.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 23 Apr 2009 2:44 pm

Back in the very early 50's, I used my first 10-string Tone~Bar with my Eddie Alkire EHArp. It was a 5/8” Alkire Bar! I really never felt comfortable with the 5/8” dia.! I personally wouldn't recommend anything less than 3/4” dia., except maybe the Tapered 3/4” to 5/8” Bigsby eight-string bar.

Stephan Miller · Post by **Stephan Miller** » 23 Apr 2009 4:58 pm

Big John, what was the length of that tapered Bigsby 8-string bar?

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 23 Apr 2009 6:44 pm

I used a 5/8 bar for years, but when old age came along, I had difficulty holding onto it, so went with the 3/4 size. Jeff Au Hoy used a 5/8 bar when I saw him play. I would think that some women would use a small bar like that.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 23 Apr 2009 7:45 pm

Stephen; I have no remembrance of the length of the Bigsby Tapered-Bar! I had one way back in the 50's, but; the general length of an 8-str/ bar is approx: ±3”. If anyone would know, I would expect Todd Clinesmith would be the one to ask about that! He might even supply them!

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 23 Apr 2009 7:59 pm

Stephen,
Just happens that I still own an original Bigsby
tapered 8 string bar which I purchased from
Paul.
The length is 3 7/32" Tapers from 3/4 to 5/8.

The bar has been hollowed out and filled with aluminum.
After about 40 years of use, the chrome plating was
starting to wear off, so I retired it from daily use.

Blake

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 23 Apr 2009 8:07 pm

Send it to Jim Burden for re-hard-chroming! Then it might last 80-yrs. more!

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 24 Apr 2009 1:37 am

Good idea, John. When I retired it, I replaced it with one of Jim Burden's bars.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Apr 2009 6:12 am

I really like a tapered bar when playing lap steel.
I have a couple of "Chase" tapered bars from years ago. They are approx. 3 1/8" long and taper from 3/4" to 5/8". They are chrome bars and after a while, the chrome likes to pit.
I acquired another tapered bar a few year ago and it is a little longer, approx. 3 1/4". It also tapers from 3/4" to 5/8". This bar is stainless steel and should hold up better. A fellow forumite sent me this one.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 24 Apr 2009 6:46 am

The Gryphon stainless steel tapered bar sold by Gryphon Stringed Instruments of Palo Alto, CA is probably the closest thing you'll find currently.

John Bushouse · Post by **John Bushouse** » 24 Apr 2009 7:44 am

I've got both a Gryphon tapered bar (5 oz.) and an old Chase tapered bar (3.4 oz). I like the smaller tip of the bar, so I thought I might try a bar that's 5/8" but not tapered. I have some problems on slants with a tapered bar because I think I use the right side of the bar as a visual reference instead of thinking along the center line of the bar.

But it sounds like my choices are on old bar, or a Tribo-Tone.

Lynn Oliver · Post by **Lynn Oliver** » 24 Apr 2009 8:21 am

John Pearse makes a 5/8" bar.