What’s going on.

[Ben's bars]

Are my bars any good. 
Ive been making my bars for quite a while now and because im always hearing good things about them I keep making them when asked. I don’t make many but just recently business has picked up probably due to BJS not making any at the moment. However I have concerns over my product because of a complaint I’ve just received and wondered if any of you could throw any light on what the problem is.
He was impressed with it to start but after just an hour of playing he said it started to feel different and noticed scratches. See photo. He is using new NYXL 11-38 strings.
I feel that what sets my bars apart from others is the mirror finish I put on them but a finish of that quality can mark just by rubbing it with newspaper let alone metal strings. So although I’m aware that they must get scratched up, ultimately the surface should stay smooth and still perform better than other stainless bars such as Dunlop which when I examined one you could still see the marks from the linishing/ grinding process. I always use the same grade 316 stainless steel from a reputable supplier and the bar in question was from a length which had been used for other bars with no problems reported. When I first started making them I compared mine with a Dunlop by cutting it in half with my bandsaw and found that the Dunlop bar cut much easier, indicating that I’m using a harder grade of stainless than them as well.

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

H Ben.
I have had two of Your bars and have never found anything to complain about. I admit My go to bar is a chrome (John Hughey) or sometimes one of Basils bars.
I did buy a stainless bar from another source many years ago and I immediately felt it drag on the stainless strings I was using at the tme.
I have never felt any drag on Your bars and I recommend them often to players who perhaps do not want to lay out a lot of £. The finish on Your bars is unbelievable.
Best regards
Billy

[Ben's bars]

Thanks Billy. That’s good to know.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

I have sent loads of wanna be players to your bars Ben the quality and workmanship is beyond question 99.9 of people I help use nickel strings but stainless against stainless is a no no. I think its that way round I know its been discussed on the US forum.
Nothing wrong with your bars keep doing what your doing....

[Haddock]

Hi Ben
I think you know already what I think of your bars as I’ve bought 4 of them! Quality is superb and the price is ridiculously cheap! I’ve been using my Basil Bar for a while which is obviously a lot slidier and quieter on the strings but cant match the sustain of a steel bar. Out of interest, I did a test recently comparing your bar to an Eezy slide and recorded some files to look at on the screen with no volume pedal or trickery. Your bar sustains nearly 60% longer than the polymer one! And subjectively, I find the notes of a chord clearer. I still like the Basil one for lower string work as it’s quieter on the wound strings which in my case go up to a gauge 80!
Keep up the good work!
Cheers
Calum

[jonshack]

I've also recommended several new players try Ben's Bars – I just talked to student who has had no problems using one with NYXL stainless steel strings. I could be wrong but since it's only the front half of the bar that's scratched in the pic it seems unlikely that stainless is the issue (nickel string sets only differ on the wound strings, all plains are stainless steel). Even with extra finger pressure at the front end you'd expect the back to get somewhat scratched if stainless wounds were the culprit.

I wonder if the player is using some sort of string cleaner or treatment that is causing abrasion? Even my beat up old Dunlop bar didn't get like that after many, many hours so something strange is going on.

Unless you get some more information or other customers having problems I'd carry on as you are Ben, doing a great job!

Jonathan

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Jon, my unwound strings from SIT are not stainless here is info from the man in charge
Regarding the unwound strings, they’re made from hard-tempered steel. Stainless steel isn’t used for these because it would stretch too much, be prone to breakage, and not hold pitch properly. These are tin-plated steel wire.

[jonshack]

Thanks John, good to know about SITs. Looking again at NYXL's they seem to be nickel wound anyway... for some reason I thought they offered both a la Ernie Ball. The unwounds are described as "high-carbon" steel, not exactly sure what that means for this situation.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

[b]I have been using S.I.T strings since I had a tour of the factory[ with the founder Virgill Lay in 2008 I figure if Buddy Emmons put his name to them they gotta be good enough for me./b]