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Author
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Topic: Burdon bar versus the Pearse crogenic.
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Dan Sawyer
Member From: Studio City, California, USA
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posted 26 November 2004 01:18 PM
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Maybe some of you experts can enlighten me. I would like to get a better tone bar. The one i've been using is the Dunlop Jerry Byrd bar (3/4 x 2 3/4). This size works well for me. Can you guys compare the Burden bar versus the Pearse crogenic. I'm interested in the tone differences and also weight.Ok, i need a built in spell checker! I meant to say "Burden" and "cryogenic". Sorry about that. [This message was edited by Dan Sawyer on 26 November 2004 at 06:37 PM.] [This message was edited by Dan Sawyer on 26 November 2004 at 06:39 PM.]
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Stephan Miller
Member From: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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posted 26 November 2004 03:25 PM
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Dan--I'm certainly no expert, but the Pearse Thermo-Cryogenic bar weighs 5.2 oz. and is 3/4" by 2 7/8". So far I've used mine as a backup to the Red Rajah and Black Phoenix bars, in the "JB" size you have now. I like 'em for the powder coating that makes for slick sliding and ease of grip (it's sort of adhesive), but eventually, even with the new edition of the Black Phoenix, that coating will chip or scrape off. That's when I go back to the Pearse for a while...its tone is as good as any other bar I've tried, but I haven't gotten around to the Dunlop yet.
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Pete Grant
Member From: Auburn, CA, USA
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posted 26 November 2004 04:41 PM
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I have all three sizes of the Pearse Thermo-Cryogenic bars. They are the best by far I've ever used, though I'm not familiar with the other bar you mentioned.I thought they were ding-free until I dropped one from about three feet onto a sharp rock the other day. That was the first and only ding in several (seven, maybe?) years. All my other brands of bars have not been anywhere near that fortunate. |
Kevin Ruddell
Member From: Toledo Ohio USA
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posted 26 November 2004 06:32 PM
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Are the Pearse bars easier to hang onto than the Dunlop bar ? In the fall and winter my hands are so dry it's tough to keep a grip on the Dunlop when slanting and moving it around unless I use a little dab of the grip creme on my thumb and first two fingers that Elderly Instruments sells. I clean the bar and strings after playing when using it. I can hang onto my Shubb SP1 bar, but it's tough to do reverse slants because of the extra length. Plus the bullet bar sounds just right .The 2 and 3/4" length bar is just right for the slants. |
Dan Sawyer
Member From: Studio City, California, USA
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posted 26 November 2004 06:36 PM
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Pete, the website is: http://www.bulletbars.com/index.html. i spelled it wrong. They're made out of stainless steel and he will make your bar in any length.[This message was edited by Dan Sawyer on 26 November 2004 at 06:40 PM.] |
John Bechtel
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.A.
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posted 26 November 2004 07:06 PM
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I have (4) Tone-Bars, in 3/4” Dia..
1). ‘Phoenix’ Red Rajah (2 3/4”)
1). J.B. Dunlop (2 3/4”)
1). Custom-made Stainless (2 7/8”)
1). J. Pearse Hawaiian (2 7/8”)
My favorite of those that I use, is the J. Pearse Thermo–Cryonic Hawaiian.------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom [X2]
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here
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Rick Alexander
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 26 November 2004 07:38 PM
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Of all the bars I've tried, I think the Jim Burden Hard Chrome bar is the best for tone and sustain. It slides smoothly along the strings and is less likely to slip out of the hand than a coated bar. Jim makes custom lengths - for 8 string 3/4 by 2 7/8 (or 2 13/16) is probably the best size, as his 2 3/4 doesn't quite cover all 8 strings like the Dunlop JB does, due to the contour of the nose. Burden Stainless Bars are excellent, and Burden Hard Chrome Bars are as good as it gets. Many bars at the bottom of this page . . http://rickalexander.com/BigSteel ------------------
Rick Alexander
57 Fender Stringmaster T8, 57 Fender Champ, Remington Steelmaster D8, 47 National New Yorker - Music Man and Peavey Amps . .
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Dan Sawyer
Member From: Studio City, California, USA
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posted 27 November 2004 03:26 PM
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Thanks everyone for the advice. |
David Siegler
Member From: Mill Valley, CA USA
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posted 01 December 2004 11:26 PM
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Has anyone tried the Red Rajah - ZipCity Stainless Steel bars from Chuck Brattain? "This is a solid Stainless Steel guitar bar polished and frozen and kept frozen for seven days. This makes the metal harder so it glides smoother over the strings."
http://www.aguitarcenter.com/category.html?UCIDs=697662 |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 02 December 2004 06:32 AM
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I posted this review about two months ago.Here it is again. ------------------------------------------
I just received my new Jim Burden Bullet Bar and am very impressed.
Here are the specs: Size: 2 3/4" x 3/4"
Weight: 4 7/8 ounces or 138 grams
Material: Stainless Steel with a hard chrome finish
Price: $45 includes shipping The first thing I noticed was the bullet tip. It's slightly more pointed than the 919 Dunlop bar of the same size (very slight). Almost tapered, but not quite. I didn't know how this was going to play out but I soon discovered that this shape helped my split-string slants play more in tune. The thumb indent at the back of the bar is perfect. It's deep enough and angled correctly. This makes for a quick and solid thumb placement during revese slants. The hard chrome finish is mirror perfect and flawless. The bar is evenly weighted which makes it feel very secure in your hand. The consistent weight cuts down on 'bar-chatter' on the lower strings when you are playing full chords. The bar is virtually silent as it slides very smoothly across the strings. IMHO if you are a Dunlop 919 JB Stainless Bar user you may want to consider this bar as an upgrade. The extra weight and more solid feeling will help your playing. Of course there is a significant price difference... $20 vs. $45, but I feel the benefits of the Jim Burden bar are worth the price. Also, Jim is quite good at matching any spec you give him. If you want the bar slightly longer or shorter etc., he can handle it. Now that I think about it, $45 for a bar made to your specs and of this high a quality is a bargain.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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