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Tone Bars 101
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 12:50 pm
by admin
Richard: Would you please say a few words about tone bars. Did RIC have a line of tone bars at some point? Do you find that a particular make brings out the best tonality on Rickenbacker Lap Steels?
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 11:06 am
by rshatz
Peter,
I have never seen or heard of a tone bar with a RIC name on it.
One could probably write volumes about tone bars. They vary greatly in size, shape and composition. While size and shape have subtle effects on tonality, the composition of the bar has a huge effect.
I play blues almost exclusively and prefer brass bars, which produce a very fat and raw tone. Hawaiian players like a more mellow sound and many use Bakelite or lucite. Country players like more brilliant tone and most use chrome plated steel or stainless steel.
I have obviously generalized here. Tonality is very subjective. To each his own.