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Author
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Topic: Scheerhorn bar
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Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 28 January 2006 11:53 AM
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Hi folks,I'm just checking out the Rob Ickes dobro instructions DVDs (which are great!), and I think the Scheerhorn bar Rob uses seems really handy for acoustic slide and dobro. But at $55, is it really twice as good as the SP-2 bar I'm currently using? I love the SP-2 for electric lap steel, but this Scheerhorn seems more suitable for dobro/acoustic lap slide. It would be great if anyone who has used both bars could offer some advice? And what about the $80 stainless steel version!? Many thanks, and I hope everyone is having a good weekend! Fred[This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 28 January 2006 at 11:55 AM.] |
Joey Ace
Sysop From: Southern Ontario, Canada
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posted 28 January 2006 01:58 PM
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I own both. The Scheerhorn fits my hand better.
The Shubb is too bulky, I only keep it for emergencies, and haven't needed it yet.I don't hear a difference, only feel one. My Scheerhorn is SS. I got it from Rob.
Expensive, but I'm worth it. Besides I plan to keep it for life. That's only a few bucks a year (I hope). |
Jim Jasutis
Member From: Tampa, Florida, USA
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posted 28 January 2006 02:17 PM
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I have a question about the Scheerhorn. I just watched an instructional video that used one. From the looks of it, the front and back section are kind of rounded, and slanted. Doesn't this make the bar harder to grip when doing slants, especially reverse slants.At first I didn't think this would be a big deal in accoustic playing, because I didn't think the music used many slants, but more and more I am seeing slants showing up in the instruction material I have, even some of the early stuff. That is one of the things I read about the SP2 was that it was designed to help with slants. |
Al Sato
Member From: Texas Hill Country
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posted 28 January 2006 02:49 PM
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I usually don't have any difficulty at all doing forward or reverse slants with my chrome Scheerhorn under normal circumstances. It doesn't feel any more difficult than a bullet bar under normal conditions. However, I did drop my bar once last December (for the first time ever) when we were playing an outdoor gig in about 40 degree temps doing a tricky sequence of forward and reverse slants. I decided that cold weather dictated the use of only straight-bar positions. It's a lot harder to show off when your bar is on the ground. :-( I've never dropped a bullet bar but I'm usually using a bullet bar with an electric steel with legs and not dancing around with a dobro. Bottom line is that I think it's probably not much, if at all, harder to slant with the Scheerhorn. Al ------------------
So many stringed instruments, so little time... |
D Schubert
Member From: Columbia, MO, USA
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posted 28 January 2006 07:15 PM
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I have a number of grooved bars -- including Shubbs and Dunlops -- but the Scheerhorn is the one I look for first -- more precise, more comfortable, makes me play better -- |
Bill Blacklock
Member From: Powell River, British Columbia, Canada
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posted 28 January 2006 08:40 PM
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I own several different types of bars but since I bought my stainless Scheerhorn I never use any of the others. I use it on all my 6 string weissenborns and
lapsteels it even works well with the heavy guages on my Celtic Cross baritone (.80-19) |
Keith Cordell
Member From: Atlanta
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posted 28 January 2006 11:52 PM
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I have a Scheerhorn, a Tipton and a Lap Dawg (Dunlop). I almost always go for the small company products, but the Tipton and the Scheerhorn get no use out of me; I use the Lap Dawg. The Tipton will be seeing another "for sale" posting shortly, as I can't use it. |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 29 January 2006 05:49 AM
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Remember, the Scheerhorn bar is, in essence, a copy of the Tipton bar, which Ron originally made for Jerry Douglas. Jerry VERY seldom uses slants, but the slanted (pointy) ends of the Tipton/Scheerhorn bars are a little easier for the fast single string hammer-ons and pull-offs that Jerry does.
Keith, let me know when you get ready to sell the Tipton. Mine's getting a few dings in it! |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 29 January 2006 10:00 AM
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This stainless steel "Horn" ... that Howard R. gave me ... has become my "main squeeze" ...Ever since I've gotten rid of those annoyin' sharp corners and edges ...  In the immortal word's of Jerry Seinfeld: quote:
What's up with that
  My thumb never touches the bar ... ever  Hmmm ... Thumbless ... like Iona I know ... different hand ------------------
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Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 29 January 2006 10:16 AM
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Rick, what kind of bar is that? Is it a modified Scheerhorn, or some custom job? Never seen a sculpted bar, other than the SP-2, with semi-bullet ends before.....  Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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John Bushouse
Member From:
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posted 29 January 2006 10:18 AM
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I'd love to know as well - my Scheerhorn certainly doesn't look like that. |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 29 January 2006 10:29 AM
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That's a stainless steel Sheerhorn bar ... that spent alittle time with me and my equipment ... ------------------
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Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 29 January 2006 10:56 AM
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Of course Rick, I should have known...  Ever considered doing this on a... umm.. you know, commercial basis? (Nudge nudge, wink wink.... ) 
Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 29 January 2006 02:03 PM
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quote:
commercial basis
I'm afraid my "commercial" days are over ... But I'll tell ya how I did it ... First ... Belt sander: 180 grit belt ... to "ease" the edges Then ... Disc Sander: 220 grit ... even up any "lines" Then ... Disc Sander: 320 grit ... remove 220 scratches Then ... Fine wire brush wheel (on bench grinder) ... remove 320 scratches / prepare for buffing Then ... To the Buffer: Sisal Wheel w/ Emery (black) Compound: Using welding gloves ... worked it till I couldn't stand the pain anymore ...  ... Literally ... Then .... Spiral Sewn Wheel w/ Menzerna Green SS Compound Then ... Loose Muslin Wheel w/ Menzerna Hi Gloss SS Polish
The Menzerna is $$$ ... but I sure like it.
------------------
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Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 29 January 2006 11:53 PM
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Thanks for all the input folks!So, how does the chrome-plated brass version stand up to the stainless steel bar? I guess the SS has durability on its side, but are there any other differences? I like the chrome-plated surface of my SP-2 bar - is the stainless steel as "fast"? |
Philip Tamarkin
Member From: California, USA
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posted 30 January 2006 04:39 AM
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Check out the E.G Smith stainless bar - comes with a nonslip area where you hold it, and a pattern of notches on the top that really keep it from skidding around in your hand. They can be seen and purchased on Ivan Rosenberg's site - paid about $40 for mine, which is a great price for a stainless steel bar. I used Scheerhorn bars before, and I think they're the nicest out there, but they now live in the bar museum that occupies drawer space next to the capo museum!The bar is a minor expense in the grand scheme of things, and it's important to find one you can live with happily. Don't give a thought to the cost! I forget who's responsible for the quote "when you buy the best, you only cry once", but it's right on the money. So to speak.[This message was edited by Philip Tamarkin on 30 January 2006 at 04:39 AM.] |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 30 January 2006 05:57 AM
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Here is the link:E.G Smith Bar Looks pretty cool! |
Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 30 January 2006 07:38 AM
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So, I had pretty much decided on one of the Scheerhorns, and now the E.G. Smith stainless steel bar is thrown into the debate. Any other E.G. Smith users out there? The "large sized" one in the link above, is the size and weight equivalent to the Scheerhorn? Also, could someone please enlighten me on the "speed" of these non-plated stainless steelbars? I love the feel of the chrome-plated SP-2 against the strings, and I'm looking for the same feel but a less clumsy bar for dobro playing. Thanks!
[This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 30 January 2006 at 07:39 AM.] [This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 30 January 2006 at 07:53 AM.] [This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 30 January 2006 at 07:54 AM.] |
David McAnelly
Member From: California, USA
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posted 30 January 2006 09:11 AM
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I use the E.G. Smith bar. All of my other contoured bars have been sitting idle since I got it. I got mine from Jim Heffernan's web site. I switch off between it and a bullet bar for dobro. For me it is the easiest bar to hold and manage of any that I've tried. |
Mark Eaton
Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA
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posted 30 January 2006 09:18 AM
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I am a fellow E.G. Smith user. I'm sure they are at least as heavy, if not heavier than a Scheerhorn bar.Along with an old Nick Manaloff bullet bar, this is the one I also use for 6-string lap steel along with the dobro. ------------------
Mark
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Jon den Boer
Member From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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posted 30 January 2006 06:09 PM
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Another happy EG Smith owner here, I use it for both Dobro and Weissenborn style. The large bar is very close in size and weight to a Scheerhorn bar. I know of a guy who is taking a Scheerhorn and sandblasting the sides for a better grip... I think this would be perfect.Just 2 cents of mine.. Jon |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 30 January 2006 07:24 PM
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Since I got the Smith bar, I retired my Sheerhorn to the pastures of Virginia....
Rick assured me visitation privledges, so I'll see it again in April....
[This message was edited by HowardR on 30 January 2006 at 07:26 PM.]
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Orville Johnson
Member From: Seattle, Washington, USA
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posted 30 January 2006 10:22 PM
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i use the dunlop version of the stevens steel (dunlop 925). costs about 20 bucks last time i bought one and i can do all the slants, hammer-ons, pull-offs a person would want to do. i've tried the scheerhorn, eg smith, lapdawg, etc and find them all harder to use. i think it depends on what you're used to. and none of them sound intrinsically better than another. the bar doesn't make any sound that is not directed by the barholder. |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
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posted 31 January 2006 06:02 AM
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quote:
Since I got the Smith bar, I retired my Sheerhorn to the pastures of Virginia
I remember that bar ... you showed it to Harry D. and me at Joliet '05 ... You said you got it from this fellow ...  |
Mark van Allen
Member From: loganville, Ga. USA
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posted 31 January 2006 01:47 PM
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A bar that really feels "right" makes all the difference. Count me in on the Smith side- best bar I have, and I've tried a bunch. Although similar in size/weight to the Scheerhorn, I think the cutoff is a bit sharper, pulloffs are a breeze. |
Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 17 February 2006 03:48 AM
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OK, now there is another E.G. Smith stainless steel bar owner in the world. Thanks everyone for the advice!It's a very handy bar indeed. My SP-2 feels very clumsy for hammer-ons and pull-offs in comparison (though I still love the SP-2 bar for everything else). One thing I noticed about the E.G. Smith bar, though - the playing surface is not completely straight (if I put it down straight on a table there is a small arched gap between the bar and the table surface). This doesn't seem to present any problem though. Has anyone else noticed this? I guess the E.G. Smith bars a very much hand made one by one, and are not perfectly symmetrical as mass-produced bars. Any comments? Thanks, Fred. |
Chuck McGill
Member From: Jackson, Tn
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posted 17 February 2006 04:53 AM
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OK guys. Where do we find the Smith bar? |
Greg Simmons
Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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posted 17 February 2006 05:03 AM
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try here:
http://www.jimmyheffernan.com/ ------------------
“I always knew that there was something out there that I needed to get to.
And it wasn't where I was at that particular moment."
-Bob Dylan
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Mark Eaton
Member From: Windsor, Sonoma County, CA
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posted 18 February 2006 04:25 AM
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Fred-they are not symmetrical by design. One side is "wider" or more "carved out" than the other, that is the side where your thumb goes. So I don't have to think about it every time I pick up the bar, I drew a little circle on the "thumb side" with a felt pen. After awhile this fades, so you have to re-draw the circle every so often. I suppose a dab of paint, if one had some lying around, would have a more permanent effect-or maybe a dab of nail polish. With a wife and two teenage girls in this house there is no shortage of nail polish-I guess I just gave myself a new idea.Anyway, you get the gist of it. ------------------
Mark
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Jon Zimmerman
Member From: California, USA
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posted 19 February 2006 12:47 PM
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Thanks to all youse guys..for doing comparison shopping FOR me. Was having qualms in a quandary-- Smith's bar is on the horizon now. ~JZ~ |
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