Slotted bar?

[David Friedlander]

I’m sure most of you, like me, have a nice collection of bars. This one seems to be easier to hold, and I just love the way it feels in my hand. I just can’t remember where I bought it… I’m concerned that should I lose it, I would never be able to replace it. Any of you guys know where to get something like this

[Jerry Overstreet]

Seems to me that Carter had those grooved bars in years gone by. Probably Brett Day will know.

There was also a Robert Randolph bar like that. Maybe it was the same one. Not sure, but Brett will know.

[Brett Day]

Yes, Carter had one called Sacred Steel. I actually have one of those bars

[Brian Lee]

Hi David,
Shubb has a bar that's in between a classic Stevens side groove style bar and a bullet bar. It has side grooves like a Stevens, but with a rounded lower front tip like a bullet bar. Here's a link to it: https://shubb.com/product/guitar-steel-sp1/

They also have two Robert Randolph models, which may be the ones Jerry mentions. They don't have the rounded tip, but are a little heavier than the one in the link. All of the Schubbs are somewhat short - 3.25".

I tried the linked one for PSG, but to my ear it didn't have the punchy tone that a heavier standard bullet style bar has. Easy to hang on to though. The bar that you show looks great- I can see why you want to find a back up! Thanks for the identification Brett!

[Norman Evans]

viewtopic.php?t=397294&hilit=norman+evans

[HowardR]

Yes, that is a bar that was sold by Carter........they had 2 styles......the one shown has 2 side groves, and the other style had 2 side groves plus a top groove.....they were also available in a couple different lengths....10 & 12 string.......they weren't around for very long.........I bought one of each style.......

[HowardR]

carter bar (3).jpg

[Karlis Abolins]

A few years ago, I attended a steel guitar seminar in Port Townsend, Washington. One of the sessions was conducted by Chuck Campbell of the Campbell Brothers. I noticed that he used a slotted bar and asked Chuck about it. It was a custom-made bar around 1 inch in diameter with cutaways on both sides. In sacred steel playing, the bar is sometimes lifted rather than slid to change positions. The cutaways make it much easier to lift the bar.

Some time later, I had one made for me. I don't remember the name of the machinist who made it. The one I had made is 1 inch in diameter and 3 9/16 inches long. It weighs about 11.8 ounces (heavy!). I later had an experimental stubby bar made which is only 2 5/16 inches long rounded on both ends. After reading this post, I dug out the bars again. The BIG bar is a dream to use. I essentially just move it around on the strings with barely any downward pressure.

bars.jpg