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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 20, 2022 18:56:59 GMT
Hi everyone, I have recently had some bespoke slides and Hawaiian steels (tone bars) made for me by Ben Burrow in Ebbw Vale, Wales. I really didn't need any slides or steels right now, but I heard about his work and was interested to see it for myself. I asked Ben to make two slides and two steels to my specifications. I ordered two of each because if something like this is good I like to keep a spare in case one goes missing. I am absolutely thrilled with Ben's workmanship and with his excellent service and customer care. We communicated by email and by phone to make sure all the specifications were correct and before sending me them, Ben sent me photos so I could see exactly what he had made and if I wanted any adjustments done to them before he sent them to me. The tone of these is excellent, probably the nicest pure steel that I have used. They have a sweet tone, brighter than German silver and they are so highly polished that there is virtually no string noise at all. I love my German silver DaddySlides, but they need polishing to keep them pristine, which is all fine until you're busy and then it becomes a problem. I have already recorded a track for my new album with one of Ben's steels (tone bars) and I am sure I will record with one of the slides next week.  This is a photo I took of the slides and steels Ben has made for me. In addition to the amazing quality of his work, Ben's prices are realistic and affordable. I can't recommend Ben's work highly enough. Here is a link to Ben Burrow's website - bensbarsandslides.weebly.comI should add that this post is NOT an advert. I paid full price for the slides and steels and Ben does not know I am posting this. Craftspeople like Ben deserve to be supported. Shine On Michael  PS: I know that people call them tone bars these days, but for most of the past hundred years they have been called "steels" and when they are bullet shaped "Hawaiian Steels", so I'm just being awkward and sticking to what I believe is the real name of this tool :-) |
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Post by catsmiler on Jan 20, 2022 20:05:17 GMT
I am sure that our slide collecting guru, Lew, will be posting but, based on his recommendation, I too have a couple of Ben’s slides. An ally bronze and a stainless steel. As Michael says, flawless craftsmanship, top notch customer service and all at a reasonable price. I couldn’t recommend highly enough.
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Post by purpleorange on Jan 21, 2022 11:49:14 GMT
Lew has also put me onto these slides.
Quality is on par with DaddySlides and they are much more affordable, it's a no-brainer.
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Post by snakehips on Jan 21, 2022 12:26:23 GMT
Hi there !
How much do those slides weigh - and how long is it ?
(that way I might roughly estimate how much one to my prferred length would weigh)
I think they would probably be too heavy for me.
I like wide external diameter slides - but larger diameter in metal would usually bring the weight up too much for me.
Diamond Bottleneck "German Glass" slides are about as heavy as I care to go.
They certainly look good though.
Many thanks !
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 21, 2022 13:28:31 GMT
Hi there ! How much do those slides weigh - and how long is it ? (that way I might roughly estimate how much one to my prferred length would weigh) I think they would probably be too heavy for me. I like wide external diameter slides - but larger diameter in metal would usually bring the weight up too much for me. Diamond Bottleneck "German Glass" slides are about as heavy as I care to go. They certainly look good though. Many thanks ! Here you go. Speak to Ben, he will be able to give you a pretty accurate weight estimate. Slide - Length - 70mm internal diameter - 22mm Wall thickness - 3mm Outside diameter - 27.5 / 28mm  Steel - 78mm x 19mm rounded bullet end and concave indent for my thumb and nice rounded end around the indent.  Shine On Michael  Attachments:
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Post by lonelyjelly on Jan 21, 2022 14:40:11 GMT
You took your time but I'm glad you finally bought yourself some, Michael 🙈😉😎. They look gorgeous.
Ben is a seriously top bloke to deal with and incredibly good at making slides and steels 🙂 I currently have two ally bronze (extremely hard material and similar sound to German Silver), one each of brass, phosphor bronze and stainless steel, and one Hawaiian Steel.
I can't recommend him highly enough.
Best,
Lew
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 21, 2022 19:15:53 GMT
Ben's work is absolutely excellent.
I have a phosphor bronze steel that was made for me 20 years ago. I find it a bit too hard, or maybe cold in some way, not like German silver at all which has a dark warm tone and feel. Having said that I am sure I will order one just to see what one of Ben's is like.
The advantage of stainless steel over all other alloys is that it doesn't require polishing, which is a major advantage when you play as much as I do. Polishing is just not an option when you're out and about. I've tried it, travelling with my polishing kit. It's just a pain in the arse. Although I have used an electric shoe polisher in a hotel lobby a few times!
Shine On
Michael.
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Post by Stevie on Jan 21, 2022 19:43:19 GMT
I'd be casually interested to learn how your Wolfram Signature slide scores compared to these admittedly desirable highly polished works of art?
でつ e&oe ...
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 22, 2022 10:15:34 GMT
I'd be casually interested to learn how your Wolfram Signature slide scores compared to these admittedly desirable highly polished works of art? でつ e&oe ...Stevie, That is an interesting question because Ben's stainless steel slides are the closest thing to the Wolfram tungsten carbide that I have tried. The smoothness, lack of drag and almost zero string noise, is nothing short of amazing on the Wolfram and the Ben's Slide is almost identical in those areas. I am now interested to see if this is due to Ben's polishing and finishing skills, which I have a feeling might well be the case, because Ben also runs a metal polishing business. I always take the Wolfram out with me to gigs and sessions, but only use it occasionally. The reason for this is that while it does perform with all the qualities I have mentioned, it has always felt a little un-musical to me. For me it lacks the warmth in tone of other materials, it is also noticeably quieter than glass, stainless steel, hard chromed steel and German silver. These are the reasons that I never totally got behind it when Wolfram launched the Michael Messer model. I like it and I am very happy that I have it in my toolkit, but it is not a slide I use very often. I actually prefer it on electric guitars to acoustic and resophonic guitars. On a recording I did last Wednesday for my new album I used one of Ian's hand blown slides on my Fine Resophonic triplate and I got exactly the sound and feel I was looking for. We are living in a golden age of slide makers. To be able to choose which slide I will use when recording a track or performing, is something that didn't exist in the olden days when I first started doing all this. Your slide was your slide, and maybe you had two or three in a drawer somewhere. Shine On Michael |
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Post by Stevie on Jan 22, 2022 10:23:10 GMT
That's a brilliant, objective and considered response MM. It puts things into perspective within the constraints of a subject that can look a little like hyperbole to anyone outside of our obsession, and to a few within as well.
でつ e&oe ...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2022 10:56:15 GMT
Fitting that the steels come from Ebbw Vale, which once had the largest steel mill in Europe. Sadly long gone, like most other industry in the UK. The steels look fantastic, though I only use glass slides.
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Post by leeophonic on Jan 22, 2022 20:18:11 GMT
Michael also gigged just down the valley in a school in Abertillary a few years back, I was lucky to be at the gig, as I said to Michael it was only down the road (the road being the M4)
Regards
Lee
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 22, 2022 23:00:28 GMT
Michael also gigged just down the valley in a school in Abertillary a few years back, I was lucky to be at the gig, as I said to Michael it was only down the road (the road being the M4) Regards Lee I remember it well because we dedicated the evening to our friend Jesse Taylor who had just died. It was in 2006! Here’s a thread about it…. michaelmesser.proboards.com/thread/223/gig-abertillery-walesShine On Michael |
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Post by bod on May 2, 2022 18:19:55 GMT
Hi, just to say that I got one of Ben’s slides for my birthday the other month - stainless steel OD 28mm, ID 23 mm x 58mm. And I’m absolutely delighted with it in every way! I have 2 Diamond Bottleneck slides and a Daddy Slide, and this is right up there with the best of ‘em…
For others with a larger slide finger, it’s probably worth noting that although Ben’s website can give the impression that 1 inch OD is the largest he offers, it transpires it’s more that 1 inch is largest diameter bar that he routinely keeps in stock, but he is happy to make larger slides at a higher but still very reasonable price (mine was £30 including p&p). Clearly, this could lead to a slight delay whilst suitable size bar is ordered, but I was lucky in that he had recently made some 28mm slides for another customer and still had enough 28mm bar left to make mine.
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Post by michaelsegui on Sept 2, 2022 3:02:41 GMT
I received one of Ben’s slides in March. It’s now my favourite slide and is up there with my Ultimate Diamond Bottleneck and German Silver Daddy Slide.
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