Tribo-Tone Slides >NEW PRODUCT

[Michael Messer]

Whilst trawling around on the Internet today I found the website of a new company making slides. Well....I always thought they were 'steels' and 'Tone-Bars' but that name appears to be changing.

These slides/steels are based on a 1930s Nick Manoloff design, which were quite popular back then.

Tribo-Tone Slides - here's a pic and some blurb from their website.



Tribo-Tone™ slides generate only the pure notes and musical tones intended by the artist.
TRIBOLOGY: the science of reducing the frictional forces and wear between interacting surfaces in relative motion. www.stle.org

A common artifact of slide guitar music is the hiss, grind, and squeak noise created by dragging an object across the guitar strings. This noise was never part of any design criteria but by default has remained an almost standard, yet unintended feature.

Tribo-Tone™ slides all but eliminate this un-musical, un-intended noise. This puts the musician in control of the sound. By improving the signal to noise ratio between the guitar player and their instrument, notes are free to ring true and clear. In addition to noise attenuation, Tribo-Tone™ slides have other advantages.
· Virtual elimination of hiss, grind, and squeak noises
· High signal to noise ratio for the cleanest, clearest tones
· Low friction for fast fretting
· Easy to grip and hold
· Made from materials that will not chip, break, rust, peel or corrode
----------------------------------------------------------

Interesting. I have written to them asking if they will drop by and tell us more about their slides.

www.tribotone.com/index.html

Here's a few I found earlier.....


Shine On,
Michael.

[Ian McWee]

Yep - these slides (tone-bars) have been in the pipeline for a few months now. Eric Ebner is using a virtually indestructible plastic called 'Delrin' which, as he's informed us, doesn't chip, scratch or dent (welcome to the 21st. century ;D!). I'm also very intruiged by the tone of these beauties - so much that Eric is sending me a 'special edition' to try out.....and i don't play lap-slide !!

Slide On!

Ian.

www.diamondbottlenecks.com

[rickS]

Hey Michael - who's been photoing the inside of my gigbag?!!

[Deleted]

These new Tribo-Tone slides look pretty interesting, especially as I’m starting to dabble with lap style playing. I’m intrigued by the use of plastic. Delrin is Dupont’s trade name for acetal resin, otherwise known as polyoxmethylene (POM). It’s a very tough, durable material that’s commonly used in engineering as a metal replacement, for example spur gears are often manufactured from it. I assume that they’re using a mineral additive to increase hardness. It should work well as a slide, although I’m not entirely convinced of it’s advantages over more traditional materials like glass or steel. Plastics are usually, but by no means always, specified as metal replacements to reduce cost, weight and improve manufacturability. Perhaps Delrin offers other advantages in terms of reduced string noise and improved tone, as the maker claims. I guess I won’t know unless I try one.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Blisters,

I am hopefully getting a Tribo-Tone for review. I have the same reservations as you about plastic versus the proper stuff like metal & glass. I also have the added advantage of seeing quite a few of the old 1930s ones.

I do not want to comment in any way about this product until I have tried it.

If I were you and starting out playing lap steel guitar I would learn with a metal Hawaiian bullet.

Rick - that photo is of the inside of my jacket pocket!

Shine On,
Michael.

[Deleted]

Hi Michael,

I am a little sceptical but as you say, we shouldn’t judge the product until we try it out.

My head’s been turned recently by all the talk of Weissenborns on the IGS forum. I’ve always loved the sound of Ben Harper’s slide playing, then I saw one of my favourite players, David Gilmour, playing a Weissenborn I started to pay more attention to lap style. I also think they’re beautiful looking guitars, I’m very tempted by those made by Lazy River. I’ve resisted so far because I’ve still got a long way to go with learning standard bottleneck style but I don’t know how long my resistance will last. I really should spend the money on getting a better resonator to replace my Johnson but those Weissenborns are so tempting.

Cheers, Iain.

[robn]

You dont "need" a weissenborn Iain (but those Lazy Rivers are just sooo cool )

Start with an old flat top and a nut riser today! You'll want to get some practice in before your Lazy River arrives (let's face it - you will end up ordering one ;D)

I'd love to have one myself but I'm still working on "The Management" - Perhaps Christmas

Robn

[Deleted]

Hi Robn,

You’re absolutely right, I will get a Lazy River eventually. I know I will, I’m just trying to be resolute and not give in to temptation. I know my resolve will break, it’s just a matter of time. I’d give it a couple of weeks max.

I’ve been trawling around eBay on the look out for a cheap flat top I can convert with a nut raiser (you’ve got an old classical haven’t you?). I’ve not seen anything I fancy yet but will keep looking. I’ve probably not plumped for one because I know I really want a Weissenborn. The true test will come when I receive the new Bob Brozman lap style DVDs I ordered a couple of weeks ago. They’re very good apparently but I’ll probably have to wait until Michael brings out his lap style DVD to really make any progress. Bob’s very entertaining but usually a bit daunting for a beginner.

I’ll let you know when I’ve ordered the Lazy River (probably lunch time).

Cheers, Iain.

[robn]

Hi Iain,

My classical guitar conversion was an experiment that has (just) worked. I wanted an acoustic lap guitar and that old classical was the only thing to hand. It sounds pretty good, but the tuners are pants and wont take the strings above open C, and its a bugger to fine tune. However, I've recently discovered that my Shubb dobro capo fits it perfectly - that's a billy bonus!

I bought the tailpiece, bone nut and saddle blanks from Highly Strung - just phoned up and placed the order and they arrived next day.

www.highlystrung.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Bone_Blanks_for_making_nuts__saddles__etc__148.html

If I'd had a steel strung acoustic lying around the house I would have used that as I wouldn't have needed the tailpiece. - I could just have fitted a tall nut and new level -topped saddle blank.

Robn

[LouisianaGrey]

"Eric is sending me a 'special edition' to try out.....and i don't play lap-slide"

I do, Ian (hint....)

I have made dobro bridge inserts from Delrin. It's slippery but I usually think of it as being fairly soft (if you sand it with coarse grit it tends to go fuzzy) so I think Iain might be right and there must be something else in there or it's a different grade from the stuff I've got.

[robn]

Pete,

Could you drop me a PM with the price of the Delrin bridge inserts - I'd like to try a set.

Michael - I've not tried a bullet bar, I use a Shubb S-P II as my favorite but also have a Stevens steel and a Shubb GS (very comfortable but a bit light). I fancy one of Ian's glass bars but, with the end of my first finger missing, I'm worried about it flying across the room! Could you suggest a typical size/make of steel bullet bar that would be good for starters. I'd like to see if I could hang onto one

Robn

[Michael Messer]

Hi Blisters,

My comment about learning with a metal bullet was not because of any doubts about the Tribo-Tone bars, but because one should always learn a craft with the basic 'old school' tools, rather than any kind of new innovation. But I guess I am 'old school' too

I may change my mind when I try a Tribo-Tone bar!

Shine on,
Michael

[Deleted]

Hello everyone,

Thank you Michael for inviting me to your forum. I've been a 'regular' on the IGS forum since 2002. I’m an amateur lap style acoustic steel player from Austin, Texas. Meaning I rarely get money for performances and never wanted to pursue it as a career. I am a big consumer of music and enjoy playing songs for and with family and friends.

I'm very excited about my ‘new’ Tribo-Tone slides and in seeing them being played by other musicians. Gear is only one part of the equation, but it’s really about the music. I started this reply by writing all about the world of engineering plastics, the technical aspects of it, the many different families and formulas there are ect…but quickly realized how boring it was and how far away from the goal of creating MUSIC. Music is the goal. So I deleted it and started over. I can talk for hours about plastics and science in general if you want to shot me an email.

After 6 years of experimentation I’ve tried about every type of plastic (and other) formula on the market that was reasonably available and chose the best ones for Tribo-Tone. I can report that it works and will leave it up to others to comment further on my designs. Never forget too that we are all individuals and can be expected to prefer one widget over another which is quite natural. I prefer plastic finger picks for example but many play metal. I’m also not looking to get rich from building slides but am looking to be enriched by my efforts. Just finding this forum is a verification of that process. I also love to solve problems, build, and create beautiful things.

Most of the slide information can be found on my site: www.tribotone.com please visit and send me an e-mail if you have a question or would like to try one for yourself. My next goal is to put some of my music on the site; either in video format or audio MP3. I can’t wait to share my songs with others! Of course… I will be using one of the worlds sweetest sounding slide bars while recording:)

Peace and good music,
Eric Ebner
www.tribotone.com

[Michael Messer]

Hi Eric,

You are very welcome to our forum.

Thank you for your message. By the look of this thread, your slides are generating a lot of interest. I spoke to Ron at www.frets.co.uk yesterday, and he is interested to know what we think of the Tribo-Tone slides.

Keep in touch & good luck luck with your venture,

Shine On,
Michael

[Deleted]

Michael,

I watched a bit of your work with the National Hawaiian on YouTube. Good stuff! Only a 25 second long clip for some reason… but that’s certainly a venue where Tribo-Tone will shine most ‘nahenahe.’ My hope is that you and your new bar will become great friends. Regarding the junk pile you started the post with and those old Manoloff bars… rest assured, we’ve come a long way since then.

I’m actually taking a break as I write this note and am building up some of the first Custom orders I’ve received. The first 3 happen to be located in various European Countries. That’s pretty exciting to me!

Every slide is thoroughly tested before shipping both on my 1928 Weissenborn style 2, and my 1930 style 1 Tricone Hawaiian. That’s without a doubt the best part of the job.

See you on the strings,
Ebner101
www.tribotone.com