BJS Tone Bars

[Robert Herr]

Any idea when BJS Bars will be available again?

[Bruce Coffman]

I sent an email to them last night with the same question — will update if/when I get a response.

[Robert Herr]

Thaks

[Jerry Contois]

I just received a return phone call from Butch Gardner BJS Owner, Now Retired. He informed me that he is expecting a young man to take over the production of new bars at the beginning of 2026. Butch says he is trying to keep up and maintain the website (bjsbars.com) helping to get information over to the new owner./jc

[Robert Herr]

Thanks for the update.

[Colin Boutilier]

Excellent. I want to try a 12 string length one. I didn't realize how great my BJS was until I accidentally grabbed a cheap dunlop one out of the bag.

[Dale Rottacker]

Excellent. I want to try a 12 string length one. I didn't realize how great my BJS was until I accidentally grabbed a cheap dunlop one out of the bag.

BJS bars are the best I've ever used, hence I have several. I wish someone could explain the difference in a 10 string and a 12 string bar. INTUITIVELY, you'd think a 12 string bar would be 2 string spacings longer, (or at least I would think that) however they are not.

[Colin Boutilier]

Excellent. I want to try a 12 string length one. I didn't realize how great my BJS was until I accidentally grabbed a cheap dunlop one out of the bag.

BJS bars are the best I've ever used, hence I have several. I wish someone could explain the difference in a 10 string and a 12 string bar. INTUITIVELY, you'd think a 12 string bar would be 2 string spacings longer, (or at least I would think that) however they are not.

As far as I'm aware, the "12 String" nomenclature is just marketing applied to longer bars by some of the suppliers. They really should be sold by Diameter and Length, but I guess 6/8/10/12 string lengths are probably intended for general music-store sales people who have never sat behind a console in their life.

[Dale Rottacker]

Excellent. I want to try a 12 string length one. I didn't realize how great my BJS was until I accidentally grabbed a cheap dunlop one out of the bag.

BJS bars are the best I've ever used, hence I have several. I wish someone could explain the difference in a 10 string and a 12 string bar. INTUITIVELY, you'd think a 12 string bar would be 2 string spacings longer, (or at least I would think that) however they are not.

As far as I'm aware, the "12 String" nomenclature is just marketing applied to longer bars by some of the suppliers. They really should be sold by Diameter and Length, but I guess 6/8/10/12 string lengths are probably intended for general music-store sales people who have never sat behind a console in their life.

I suspect you are correct ... I can tend to take things literally ... It always seemed to me that a 10 string bar would cover 10 strings and 12 would cover 12. If I order a 12 string pickup, I would expect it to cover 12 strings ... that said IF a 12 string bar actually covered 12 strings and I was using it on a 10 string guitar it might be a hair awkward to handle. And THAT said, I think you're correct, Diameter and Length would be more revealing, cause the difference between 10 and 12 isn't even a full string spacing difference (though I have neither in hand right now).

[Bobby D. Jones]

Look here on the forum for Mr. Franklin's post about bar diameter and length. Has a lot of good information.
What you want for control, Is a bar that fits your hand, Not the guitar.

Because of my narrow long hands, I had problems for years controlling a 10 string (1" X 3 3/8") bar, When I bought my first 12U, A 12 string (1" X 3 3/4") bar was with the guitar. I tried the the bar, And it fit my hand much better. Contacting the V between index finger and thumb, Gave much better control.
The bad thing was, The bar weighed 11.5 oz, Fast movement up or down the neck was risky.
I took the 1" X 3 3/4" bar, Kitchen scales to a friends lathe. Protected the bar with copper strips from chuck jaws. Started drilling out the bar, Going with next size larger bit, Then weigh bar. When I got the weight down to 9.7 oz. The bar just seemed to become a part of my hand.

Diameter, Length, weight and bar metal, Need to be considered when choosing a bar.
I think BJS bars at 1 time had a John Huey Series of bars, That was drilled out for lighter weight, handling and control.

Happy Steelin

[Larry Ball]

Anybody ever try a bar made by “Show-Pro”. I see them advertised on their website.

[Brett Day]

Look here on the forum for Mr. Franklin's post about bar diameter and length. Has a lot of good information.
What you want for control, Is a bar that fits your hand, Not the guitar.

Because of my narrow long hands, I had problems for years controlling a 10 string (1" X 3 3/8") bar, When I bought my first 12U, A 12 string (1" X 3 3/4") bar was with the guitar. I tried the the bar, And it fit my hand much better. Contacting the V between index finger and thumb, Gave much better control.
The bad thing was, The bar weighed 11.5 oz, Fast movement up or down the neck was risky.
I took the 1" X 3 3/4" bar, Kitchen scales to a friends lathe. Protected the bar with copper strips from chuck jaws. Started drilling out the bar, Going with next size larger bit, Then weigh bar. When I got the weight down to 9.7 oz. The bar just seemed to become a part of my hand.

Diameter, Length, weight and bar metal, Need to be considered when choosing a bar.
I think BJS bars at 1 time had a John Huey Series of bars, That was drilled out for lighter weight, handling and control.



Happy Steelin

I was looking at BJS' website and I think you can still get the John Hughey bars.

[Erv Niehaus]

You can't hardly beat the John Hughey bar.
It is drilled out so the 15/16th bar weighs about the same as a 7/8th.