ShubbSP2 Solid Stainless Steel Slide - Semi-bullet Tip with Double Cutaway

I'm just learning lap steel guitar and started with a Stevens bar, which is cut straight at the ends. I found the ends were snagging on the strings. Certainly as my technique gets better I'd learn to avoid this problem, but then I tried this SP-2 and it immediately made playing a lot easier and better sounding. It's heavier than a Stevens bar which helps prevent buzzes, and the contoured ends keep me from snagging strings inadvertently. I got the SP-2 because I'm playing 6-string and the length is just right. The SP-1 is a little longer and would be the choice if you're playing 8-string lap steel. Glad I gave this bar a shot, it's helped immeasurably!

Dunlop Shubb Stevens Pearse Peter Grant Design Tone Bar SP2Tone bars are used play lap steel guitars, pedal steel guitars, Dobroes and Hawaiian style guitars with a high action, often tuned to an open chord. They are designed for use on a guitar that is held horizontally, on your lap, on a table, or at your waist with a strap.To use a tone bar, hold it firmly and slide it up and down the strings while you pluck or pick the strings near the bridge with your other hand. With practice you can perform gliding glissando notes, notes between frets, slant chords with the tone bar at an angle, hammer-ons, and pull-offs.I compared Dunlop RR1, SP2, Long Dawg, and Ernie Ball M bullet tone bars for this review. Test guitars included a 2021 Martin 00-15M acoustic with a custom bone nut and bridge, a 1970 Lotus F215 acoustic, and a 2011 Gretsch G5715 Electromatic Lap Steel guitar. All guitars were strung with Dunlop extra-light strings.DESCRIPTION: The Dunlop SP2 is a rounded tone bar with a ball tip and an integrated grooved steel handle that will accommodate two or three fingers or can be held between finger and thumb. Mine weighed in at 5.8 oz — it was 0.75 inches wide and measured 3.1 inches from end to end, although the rounded end means you only get 2.88 inches of the bar in contact with the strings. It is highly polished stainless steel. The package said made in China.COMPARISON: The Dunlop SP2 is narrower than the Dunlop RR1 and the same width as the Dunlop Long Dawg. Its string contact area is shorter than the Dunlop RR1 or the Dunlop Long Dawg bars because of the rounded ball end. The string contact area is about as long as the heavier Ernie Ball Medium. The Dunlop SP2 weighs very slightly more than the Dunlop RR1 and Dunlop Long Dawg. Its price is comparable to other tone bars.SOUND: you get a very pure, almost antiseptic sound from this al- stainless steel bar.HELPFUL HINT: Measure the width of your strings before buying this tone bar. Only 2.88 in of the bar is in contact with the strings because of the rounded ball tip, and if it is too short, you may not be able to cover all the strings for a chord or a slant.

The curved tip allows for smooth movement and sound when going up the strings. I wish I had started out with this bar. I might like it even more if it were slightly smaller to fit in my hand better, but it's very nice!

Love this slide. Of course preference is the real variable, but the weight on this is just what I need. It's not as long as a lot of other slides -- although it's not "short" -- and it's a few ounces heavier -- although not heavy -- so it's got a good weight without taking up too much real estate and it doesn't strain the hand to hold or play. And the bevel/bullet on one side and flat end on the other keep playing options open.

I purchased this as a gift. My husband injured his fingers on a table saw and can no longer play his guitar. He is now playing a dobro. I wanted him to have different bars to try to see what works best in his injured hand.

When looking to upgrade from the cheapo that came with my dobro, it came down to this Peter Grant design or a bullet model. Tried the bullet, but it was way too challenging to hold and not much good for really strong pull-offs. This Pearse does the trick and came at a reasonable price.

This bar is great, very friendly for a new or exp user

Really like this one...I find the round end good for single string play which is different to my lap dog steel.