In another thread on tone bars, I suggested trying lignum vitae. I received some quite humorous feedback. This, however did not deter me from trying it out. I found a gentleman in the area who made me a lignum vitae tone bar as well as a cocabola tone bar (the one on top is the cocabola). I just got them today and tried them out immediately. They are everthing I was looking for. They take the "edge" and overtones out of the strings. I can get a much softer and smoother sound. Contrary to what you may expect, they don't make the strings sound dead. They just decay more quickly. Both lignum vitae and cocabola are very dense.
I had them made as 1" x 4" for my 12 string universal.
If you can find some, try making a bar out of Pakkawood. It's resin impregnated under heat and pressure. Dekley's necks were made of it, people are making jewelry with it now, and it's also used for dishwasher-proof knife handles. Be advised that regular woodworking tools won't work though, you'll need to use carbide tipped tools.
Great Idea.I had a batch of custom bars made for 6/8 string out of industrial bronze at a local foundry,then had some of them hard chrome plated.The lap steel players liked the chromed ones, but the bluegrass/country dobro players liked the bronze.I have a few left over on the buy and sell.I think lots of players are looking for that special sound,and different materials in the bars will produce just that.
I've been thinking about this sorta thing for when I play my 6-string lap thru the SuperBro. The lap steel has too much sustain to sound natural, and I've been thinking a wooden bar would be the way to go.
These bars sound really great. I tried them without reverb and can charaterize them as strong in the lows and midrange. They cut a lot of the upper harmonics so chords sound fuller and clearer. When I do harmony scales and chord scales, the chords sound more distinct. When I do the same thing with my steel bar, the chords have more disharmonius upper harmonics.
Hello,
Well those bars are beautiful, and if the tone is what you say it is. Then, boy I have to try one. So, where can I get one, or two of those bar, hey!
thanks,
Skip
Hello,
Those bars are very beautiful. I've have made one in EBONY and i must say i like the sound very much. I try now to make one with a metal bar in it, to add a little more sustain. You can try every kind of hard wood, this depend on the taste of the player.
Good luck.
