Who makes the best bars now?

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 25 Mar 2020 2:37 pm

I need some new bars...I really liked BJS bars but I guess there'll be no more of those...

I don't want porcelain,ceramic,unobtanium,etc...

Just want good smooth,slick bars...

TIA!

SH

Mark Robinson · Post by **Mark Robinson** » 25 Mar 2020 3:07 pm

Why no more BJS bars, Steve?

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 25 Mar 2020 3:07 pm

For me, BJS. As far as I can tell, Butch Gardner continues to make these - https://www.bjsbars.com/

Butch Gardner
163 Longmire Rd
Three Way, TN 38343
Cell: 731-414-4038
email: bjsbars@hotmail.com

Leon Champion · Post by **Leon Champion** » 25 Mar 2020 3:10 pm

B J S IS STILL IN BUSNESS OWENED BY BUTCH GARDNER. CLICK ON LINKS AT THE TOP OF THE FORUM.

Steve Hinson · Post by **Steve Hinson** » 25 Mar 2020 4:06 pm

Thanks,fellas!Good news for me!

SH

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 25 Mar 2020 4:14 pm

I was going to say BJS so now I'll say it

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 25 Mar 2020 4:39 pm

Steve Hinson wrote:Just want good smooth,slick bars...TIA!

SH

That would be a BJS bar.

https://www.bjsbars.com/

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 25 Mar 2020 5:23 pm

BJS About 25 years.

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 25 Mar 2020 6:17 pm

I just ordered an BJS a couple of weeks ago and Butch delivered it within four days and it’s great!!

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 25 Mar 2020 9:23 pm

Another vote for BJS. But 2 close seconds are the Red Barn bar with the brass insert in the tip, and the John Pearse frozen bar. On a scale of 1 to 10, with BJS being 10, I'd rate both these bars at 9.9.

Then there is the zirconia bar, which is so unlike the others it defies comparison. It's a great bar, but it alters the way the notes decay. Some people prefer this, some don't like it. My wife, who is not a musician, can tell when I use it.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 25 Mar 2020 10:30 pm

Steve, I use a 1" Pearse bar, and I'm very happy with it.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 26 Mar 2020 5:45 am

Another vote for Pearse bars!!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 26 Mar 2020 6:32 am

Steve Hinson wrote:I need some new bars...I really liked BJS bars but I guess there'll be no more of those...

I don't want porcelain,ceramic,unobtanium,etc...

Just want good smooth,slick bars...

TIA!

SH

I really want one of those unobtainium bars.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 26 Mar 2020 7:11 am

been using B.J bars since late 79...

p.w

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 26 Mar 2020 7:14 am

Second to BJS would be Pearse, which I use with complete satisfaction on my Williams with its 24¼" scale.

The BJS is slightly heavier and gets the best out of my long-scale (25½") Excel.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Mar 2020 7:23 am

I agree with Mike.
My choice of bars is between the BJS or the Zirconia.
Both great bars!

Erv

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 26 Mar 2020 7:40 am

I have 3 Pearse bars thatc really like!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 26 Mar 2020 8:54 am

If you haven't tried the BJS, John Hughey model, you don't know what you're missing.

Erv

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 26 Mar 2020 11:20 am

I have a BJS 7/8" bar that is awesome, but my main bar is a 1" Nu-Generation bar. I wish I could afford a 1" BJS bar. I also have a Jim Burden 12 string Bullet Bar that I used when I had a 12 string. All are great bars.

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 12 Apr 2020 3:44 pm

I have two John Pearse Cryo's that I like a lot! A 15/16" x 3 1/2", and a 7/8 x 3 1/4".

I use both on SS and nickel strings with no drag whatsoever.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Apr 2020 6:04 am

BJS is the Cadillac of bars.

Erv

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 13 Apr 2020 8:33 am

I agree with Erv. BJS is the best. But it's only (to paraphrase Rachel Maddow,) a teeny tiny itsy bitsy smidgen better than the Pearse and Red Barn. I have all 3 in the sidecar of my pak-a-seat, and use whichever I happen to grab. The difference between them is negligible. The only way to notice it is to compare them.

A couple of people here have mentioned the Pearse bar, but nobody has mentioned the Red Barn. This is the bar with the brass insert in the nose, to give it a little extra weight. These are also excellent bars, up there in the same league as the Pearse, and 99.9% as good as the BJS.

I have 2 of these, and I keep one of them at home at my woodshed workstation. I use it whenever I practice, and I'm completely satisfied with it.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 13 Apr 2020 8:45 am

Agreed, BJS is the rolls royce of bars, i've had a few cheapo's to get me through some overseas work in the past, but the weight mass and finish was not nearly as good, and you can hear and feel it across the strings.

I ordered a new BJS in october for an overseas trip, it arrived in a few days, well packaged and very lovely.

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 13 Apr 2020 8:51 am

I love Basil Henriques EZZEE - SLIDE bars.
viewtopic.php?t=333539&sid=a2fa56981e69 ... 8a247ca47a

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 13 Apr 2020 2:10 pm

I'm thinking the Pearse bars are the "Maserati Countach" LMAO!

The Ernie Ball is definitely the Crossely Business Coupe of bars. Ha!

Some of the finest tone I ever heard was a kid playing a SHO~BUD Maverick with a Snap On 7/8" deep well socket.

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