Detail 01
Brass construction
Heavy and dense. Mass drives sustain and volume on a lap steel, where the bar does all the work.
Product detailSKU #1274228082331
DunlopChrome Plated Brass Ergo Tonebar
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Chrome-plated brass tonebar for lap steel and Dobro. Contoured to sit in the hand rather than be gripped, which reduces fatigue on long sets.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Lap steel and resonator players working long sets
- Anyone whose hand cramps holding a straight bullet bar
- Players wanting brass mass for sustain and volume
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Standard guitar slide players — this is not a finger slide
- Players committed to a traditional round-nose bullet bar grip
- Anyone wanting the softer voice of a glass or ceramic bar
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Chrome plating
Harder, slicker surface than bare brass. Glides more freely across strings and resists tarnish from hand oils.
Detail 03
Ergonomic contour
Shaped to rest in the palm and fingers instead of being clenched. Less hand strain across a full set.
Detail 04
Solid bar, not a tube
You lay it across the strings rather than wear it. Requires a lap-steel technique, not standard fretting.
Detail 05
Metal on strings
Bright, cutting attack with plenty of ring. Also unforgiving of imprecise placement and sloppy muting.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Built for lap steel and Dobro, not for wearing on a finger
- 02Steel-bar playing needs high action — standard guitar setup will buzz
- 03A heavy bar dropped on a top will dent it; keep it secured
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01What's the difference between a tonebar and a slide?
A slide goes on your finger for standard-position guitar. A tonebar is held in the hand and laid across the strings of a lap steel, resonator, or Dobro played face-up.
02Why an ergonomic shape instead of a bullet bar?
A bullet bar is gripped between fingers, which tires the hand over a long set. A contoured bar rests against the palm and fingers, spreading the load and easing fatigue.
03Can I use this on a regular guitar?
Only if the guitar is set up for lap play with raised action, usually via a nut extender. On a standard setup the bar will hit frets and buzz.
04How does brass compare to a steel bar?
Brass is warmer and slightly softer in attack than hardened steel, while still louder and longer-sustaining than glass. Chrome plating adds a slicker feel across the strings.
