Tone bars

For people who build steel guitars

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Mike Preuss
Posts: 154
Joined: 3 Apr 2021 11:22 am
Location: Mount Vernon, Washington, USA

Tone bars

Post by Mike Preuss »

What type of steel are tone bars typically made out of?
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Brett Day
Posts: 5419
Joined: 17 Jun 2000 12:01 am
Location: Pickens, SC

Re: Tone bars

Post by Brett Day »

Some bars are made of stainless steel, some are made of chrome, and there are also polymer bars, which have a polymer coating to make the bar easier for players to hold and grip. Steel guitarist Paul Franklin uses a BJS 7/8 diameter twelve string chrome bar
Last edited by Brett Day on 29 Dec 2025 11:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Brett Day-Jackson Blackjack Custom SD-10, Gretsch G9210 Boxcar Dobro, GoldTone Paul Beard Signature Series Deluxe Dobro
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Jerry Overstreet
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Joined: 11 Jul 2000 12:01 am
Location: Louisville Ky

Re: Tone bars

Post by Jerry Overstreet »

John Pearse describes their all SS steel bars as being made from 440 stainless steel. I'm not sure if I've ever seen any other builder's specs.

Some metal bars are crafted of brass then hard chrome plated.

I do not know if there are chrome plated tone bars built with steel before plating.

I believe BJS bars are chrome plated but I do not know what the base metal is. I remember reading somewhere that it is hardened tool steel but I can't verify that.

Other branded bars from way back and 70s, 80s, 90s, including the George L's bars were some grade of stainless steel.

I don't know who manufactured them, but Emmons, Sho-Bud and several other bars with steel brands were all crafted of stainless steel.
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Mike Preuss
Posts: 154
Joined: 3 Apr 2021 11:22 am
Location: Mount Vernon, Washington, USA

Re: Tone bars

Post by Mike Preuss »

Thanks guys!
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