Help! Johnathan, what's the diffference between a Sitar bar and a standard steel bar. They look the same to me given the weight and size consideration. Baz.
Baz - it has a flat surface milled along the length of the bar about 10 - 12mm wide. If you put that flat part on the strings they "zing" like a sitar. The bar can also be used as normal by turning it round so the flat is up. Try playing with any piece of flat metal and you'll get the effect. If you use something light (maybe a bit of aluminium square bar, even hard plastic or wood) with a narrower flat surface (8mm ish) you can get a banjo effect - wouldn't that be useful
Tony, thanks for that, well explained. I've got some flat bars but never tried them on Pedal steel. Ya live an learn eh! Slimbo, more good stuff, thanks for that too. I'm already sawing up an old broom handle I wonder what that will sound like ps. anyone fancy a real sitar I've got one stored away somewhere just needs a bit of bodywork, one careless owner