BJS Bars

Mark Kelchen · Post by **Mark Kelchen** » 23 Nov 2002 5:59 am

What is the difference between these BJS bars and others such as the Dunlops? Being a new steel student??? I am curious as to the differences. BJS seems to be talked about real high on these forums. Are they worth the bucks and would I be able to tell the difference?

Ian McLatchie · Post by **Ian McLatchie** » 23 Nov 2002 6:41 am

Are they worth the bucks and would you be able to tell the difference? You bet. I'm on my second BJS bar now only because I lost the first one. This one's five or six years old and the chrome still shows no sign of wear. The Dunlops I used before were pretty well worn out within a couple of years. The BJS also feels better in the hand and sounds noticably better, due probably both to the higher quality chrome and denser core. Worth every penny.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 23 Nov 2002 7:44 am

It is the quality of the chrome and chroming process that is the difference.
BJS.....is far superior.
Ricky

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 23 Nov 2002 8:02 am

Does BJS make custom bars? I need a 7/8" short one for 8-string. Why would not a solid stainless steel bar be better? Highly polished, isn't it as good or better than chrome plating? I know that stainless steel already has the chrome in the alloy.

Rick[This message was edited by Rick Collins on 23 November 2002 at 08:07 AM.]

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 23 Nov 2002 8:31 am

Mark, BJS IS the way to go. I had other brands, but nothing works and feels like a BJS.

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Session 500, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 23 Nov 2002 8:35 am

I use a BJS bar and just love it. The only problem I have is it just too slick! I have really dry hands and sometimes I have a problem holding on to the bar.

Here is an informative link from the Archive.

Click Here

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Buck Grantham R.I.P. · Post by **Buck Grantham R.I.P.** » 23 Nov 2002 8:37 am

The BJS bar is far better than any other bar I've ever used. It stays perfectly smooth so you don't get any string noise. And it holds up very good. It is worth the money. I wouldn't use anything else. ( I think it is the best there is) It helps me produce the tone I like on my guitar.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Nov 2002 8:57 am

Rick:
I don't care what anybody says, there is more drag on the strings with a stainless bar. A chrome bar has a much smoother finish.
Also, Bill is the nicest guy you will ever have a chance to deal with!
Erv[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 23 November 2002 at 08:58 AM.]

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 23 Nov 2002 9:13 am

I was not able to persuade Bill Stroud to make a custom (longer) bar for me.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 23 Nov 2002 9:54 am

Hi Mark, fine bars, no argument here. I have one of these...I believe these are chrome plated. I also have some other bars that are solid stainless steel...my preference. . Geo. L's has a really good stainless bar...Actually you can't go
wrong with any of the name brands...like everything else, it's just whatever best suits your needs, and whether you prefer chrome plated or stainless steel. For the ulitimate in custom made bars to your specifications or standard size bars, you can't do better than Jim Burden's Bullet Bars...Great stainless bars at a very reasonable price....good weight and perfect machining.

[This message was edited by Jerry Overstreet on 23 November 2002 at 09:56 AM.]

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 23 Nov 2002 9:56 am

First of all, I own 3 BJS bars and have used them heavily... they show NO signs of wear, and one of them is 14 years old!

I actually only bought two of the bars, though I've owned four. The first bar I bought developed some insignificant wear on the chrome near the base of the bar but didn't affect the playability of the bar at all. Bill Stroud saw that and told me it was from a small batch delivered from an inferior plater. Though I said it was still a perfectly good bar, he took that one from me and insisted I take another brand new one. I also bought a Hawaiian-size bar from him.

I later received a second pedal steel bar when I bought a guitar from a guy around here. I sold the steel but I kept the bar. It too is still in perfect shape through God-knows how many owners and what kind of treatment it received.

As has been said, they are super smooth. And they actually will change your sound slightly. You may even have to adjust your left hand technique a little bit.

Though I use the BJS bars almost exclusively, I do have good things to say about the John Pearse Cryogenic bar. It too is super hard and a "fast" bar, with little drag on the strings.

I will also be receiving, in a day or two, a new bar developed by an old Texas music acquaintance of mine that is being marketed by Dunlop. It too has a new-technology plating process, so look for an opinion from me shortly on that puppy as well. I'll have more information shortly.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

JACK HEERN · Post by **JACK HEERN** » 23 Nov 2002 10:43 am

Nothing out there to my knowlege to compare with them. Hard as a mad wife's heart !!!
Great guy to know or deal with !
jp[This message was edited by JACK HEERN on 23 November 2002 at 10:45 AM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 23 Nov 2002 10:46 am

I played with a BJS bar for 20 years. Then I thought "It's about time to get new one", thinking that maybe it had worn down and a new one would be better.

I ordered a new BJS bar, and when it came I sat down and compared the two. There was literally no difference in the feel or the sound of the two bars. The twenty-year-old bar has been dropped several times on concrete, and has countless hours of play time on it. I can only tell them apart by a mark I made on the heel of the old one.

BJS Bars rule!

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 23 Nov 2002 11:02 am

Changed my playing more than any other thing. Simply the best.

bob

Glenn Porter · Post by **Glenn Porter** » 23 Nov 2002 12:51 pm

Bill Stroud made a custom bar for me, and
it is the very best I have ever used in over
20 years, both on stage and in the studio.

GP

Roy Thomson · Post by **Roy Thomson** » 23 Nov 2002 1:05 pm

I have two.
I also have bars by other manufacturers.
No comparison. BJS is far superior!

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<A HREF="http://www.clictab.com/royt/tabmenu.htm ... abmenu.htm
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Buddie Hrabal · Post by **Buddie Hrabal** » 30 Nov 2002 6:36 am

The only reason to have 2 of these bars is, if you loose one you'll have a spare cause you ain't gonna wear it out. I have used BJ'S bar for quite a while and it still looks and sounds NEW. A purchase of a BJ's bar is an investment in your steel guitar playing
Buddie

Jerry Brightman · Post by **Jerry Brightman** » 30 Nov 2002 7:35 am

I've endorsed the BJS bars for nearly 20 years and there is a difference and yes, they are worth the money in my opinion.

Besides, Bill is a great guy to deal with!

Jerry http://www.slidestation.com

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 30 Nov 2002 2:23 pm

Yes, I have to agree, these are truly great bars. What makes them better? The material, the heat treating process, the incredible hard industrial chrome treatment(that won't come off), These are VERY expensive bars to build!
We at Steel Guitar Nashville decided to check out all bar manufacturers three months ago to see what was the greatest bar we could find. After much testing and research, we found one bar stood out above all others tested. Yep, you guessed it, BJS was the winner by far of all we tested. Is there really a difference? All players that tested the bars say yes! We did a hardness test along with several other tests, Yep, by far , the winner.
This is when we made the decision to keep this bar (in all sizes and legnths available) in stock at all times. We are proud to be a vendor of this fine product.
The new 15/16ths size seems to be a tremendous hit now and is out selling all other sizes Ten to one, A little bigger than an the 7/8ths,but smaller than an inch.
Greater sustain but easy to move. Tone? Nothing sounds like a heavy chrome bar, the harder, the better they last.
Bobby Lee, you are correct!

E-mail me above or: 615 822 5555

Bobbe Seymour
Steel Guitar Nashville
813 West Main Street
Hendersonville Tn,37075

Mark Kelchen · Post by **Mark Kelchen** » 1 Dec 2002 4:29 am

This is all good information guys. Currently I have a 7/8 Dunlop and a 1" (unknown mfgr) I acquired from a friend. I think the 1 sounds better but seems to drag on the strings moreso that the new Dunlop. After all the comments on the BJSs here, I think I'll go ahead and order one. What is your opinions on the new 15/16ths bars?

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 1 Dec 2002 5:18 am

I also use BJS bars, but the choice of size is individualistic. Personally, I have a "touch" of arthritis in my thumb so I use the biggest, fattest bar I can buy. For me, the smaller the bar the more problems I have with the thumb. I would probably use a smaller bar otherwise. www.genejones.com

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 1 Dec 2002 9:12 am

This same question is asked frequently on this forum-and as I have replied before-If you really want to HEAR the difference that the BJS bar makes-compare them on an ACOUSTIC (Dobro,National,Weissenborn,or whatever)to say a Stevens bar-you will hear the difference-the BJS gives the clarity of playing the srings open at the nut

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 1 Dec 2002 10:08 am

My story's similar to Herbs- I loved the BJS bar I had years ago but it was apparently from a bad batch, and developed some flaking of the plating. Bill replaced it with a brand new one, you can't beat that for service. Nowadays I use and endorse the John Pearce bars- there really is something to the cryogenic hardening process they use that enhances tone and playability. I really love 'em and the nicest people ever to deal with- but I recommend BJS as well!

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 1 Dec 2002 1:05 pm

I have endorsed and played BJS for 20+ years.
Great product and great guy!

Kenny Foy · Post by **Kenny Foy** » 1 Dec 2002 7:05 pm

Mark, After playin a different bar,being an amateur, the first time I laid a BJS bar on the strings I could tell the difference. The BJS made a tremendeous difference. So you can take it from the previous replies, because these guys know quality and BJS is quality. I just left Seymour's and he has a tremendeous selection. And if Seymour tested it as stated then you can take it to the bank that it's a fantastic.