I will no longer be taking any more Dobro bar orders after February 29, 2008 because I have more than 50 orders at this time and I'm retiring from "My Hobby" after June 3, 2008.

I make Dobro bars to meet your needs or specifications from any type of wood you prefer, exotic or domestic hardwood. My Dobro bar is made using exotic hardwood [iron/lead wood] and I fasten it to a piece of stainless steel with glue.

I'm now using a new procedure in making my Dobro bars. I'm bolting the wood and steel together so they can never separate, even if the bar is dropped on an extra hard object, like concrete, a rock or tile.

I have been playing around with the dobro about 12 years or more. I've tried many, many dobro bars, and never have I had on feel so right in my hand as the bar I just received from Snake. Thanks for helping me to be able to play better!"

Jack I. Hopkins: North Carolina

It takes me 6 to 10 hours to make ONE bar that I'm proud of and I know my customers will be completely satisfied with. I make the Dobro bar as if I'm going to use it for the rest of my life. My bar will wear out a 10 or more Stevens dobro bars/slides or steels because I use Stainless Steel only.

straight end barslant end barlignum vitae bar

I can make a bar any length that you want ... short or long. The standard length for most Dobro bars is 2-7/8 inches long, but I can make it shorter or longer depending on what you want.

My Snake Bars are FREE; however, a "Happy Birthday Snake Present" of $60 would be greatly appreciated to help offset my expenses. I make Dobro bars Strictly As A Hobby trying to put a Dobro bar in every Dobro players hand and leave something behind to be remember by; when I'm dead and gone.

My bar gives you full control over the bar, not the bar controlling you. Pete Smith the best Dobro player that I have ever heard [on this planet] says I make the perfect Dobro bar [at least for him] and he had been using a Stevens bar for 35 years. Pete plays Dobro for a BG band called "Low Profile" ... in my opinion, they are the best. The Snakewood ... actually looks like a snake's skin. None of the exotic woods that I use except Zebra wood will float in water. The reason is water is 1.0 All the exotic hardwoods that I use are from 1.20 to 1.37 gravity weight. Snakewood is 1.35 ... the top bars in the group picture below are snakewood.

Bar Prices

Wood Type Straight End Slant End
Standard: $39.95 $49.95
Exotic: $49.95 $59.95
Shipping: $4.05 $4.05

To order, or for more information please e-mail: Dobrodaddy44@aol.com

When you email, please include the measurement of your index finger. Place a ruler in between your index and middle fingers and give me the measurement of your index finger only.

To order, or for more information please e-mail: Dobrodaddy44@aol.com

Pickers Who Use Snake Steels

You can ask them what they think of my bar. About … 70 Dobro players have one or more of my bars. I have 5 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ronnie [Lightning] Daeke … Lightning and his Lightning Bolts BG and Country band … Henderson, NC
Pete [DobroPete] Smith … Low Profile BG band … Petersburg, VA
Philip Meade … The Virginia Slim … Comedian and Dobro player … Aylett, VA
Dennis Reamy … Flatland Grass BG band … Richmond, VA
Ernie Tanner … Sourwood Mountain BG band … Franklinton, NC
Chris Hart … In The Tradition BG band … Lynchburg, VA
Ronnie Snead … Snake and his Rattlers Country band … Richmond, VA
Doug Shannon … The Ozark Country Band … Winona, Missouri
Ervin [Snake] Harris ...Snake and his Rattlers … Country band

Testimonials

These comments (used with permission) are unsolicited posts to the ResoNation Forum.

"I've been playing Snake's bars in different styles, sizes and woods for about a month now, and boy are they good bars! You're truly missing something if you haven't tried one. He makes a superior toned bar at a reasonable price. In fact, for as long as it takes him to make one, he's not making much on it, to be sure.

As others have said, this is a country gentleman, who just wants people to be happy playing their dobros, and will do whatever it takes to make his customers satisfied with their bars. You call the shots for grip-length, height, width and bar length, and whether slanted or straight ends, and what kind of wood you would like. Not much more you could ask for! Snake will help you figure it all out, so don't worry with all the choices. And, you'll be playing better, because the bar fits you, instead of the one size doesn't fit all bars most of us started on.

I'm very glad Snake asked me if I would like to try one of his bars. 4 bars later, I'm still smiling and sliding! Thanks Snake! Keep up the great job you're doing!"

Barry Hartzell, Pennsylvania

"I now have one of Snake's bars and really like it. It took a little getting use to as the bar is rounder than the others I have, but it really is comfortable and the sound is as good or better than any of the others. It's a keeper!"

Ron Mack, Spring Hill, Florida

"Tried a couple of Snake's dobro bars out during the weekend. These things are great! Has a good feel. Tone is far superior to the [other steels I've tried]. Hard to put down. There's some serious mojo in these things!"

Tar Heel, Rocky Mount, NC

"Snake has been working with me for about a month now and with his assistance, I've been testing bars to fit my style and more importantly, my hand. So far, I find the one I'm testing now is comfortable and has a great sound. Snake is a gentlemen and clearly works hard to make a bar to fit your needs. Check him out."

Bruce Bjork

"Snake, Cash that check. There is no way you are getting this bar back..It's Mine!!!! "

Dan

"Snake can really do Hank Williams and does most Saturday nights at the Ridgeway Opry, near Henderson, N.C. And, though he is making Tipton style slanted end bars, I have a couple that are flat ended and they work as well as my Swallows and Scheerhorn bars.

The heavy wood is very pretty and, of course, warm to the hand, but the billet of stainless steel he uses gives a very nice "chunky" feel. They are nice bars from a country gentleman I am glad I have come to know.

Snake really cares much more about getting his bars in players hands than about "sales" himself. He is retired. He is tickled pink that KBar and two or her young students are going to be giving his bars a go.

It's odd because I am large with fairly big hands, but the iron wood bar he made me is narrower at the top than any other I have held, with a smaller, less pronounced groove for the index finger, yet it fits like a driving glove."

Rod Trail Greensboro, NC

"Incredible - the only word I can say. I got 3 of Snakes bars today -
... As to comparing the sound, well it isn't really fair to do so. It's like comparing a Nascar Nextel racer to an old beater sedan. Much crisper PO's and way fuller sound. I am one super satisfied customer already and am looking forward to giving all 3 different styles a fair tryout."

DobroPilot, Victoria, B.C.

"I just recieved a few of snakes bars, and i must say they are wondeful. The more that I play them, the more i like the feel and the tone of the bar! The wood is very comfortable and with the rounded steel its easier to pull off slant chords and pull offs.

For anybody who is in the market for a new steel bar, I suggest getting in touch with snake and having him build you one! You won't be disappointed!"

Chris Stockwel,l Birch River ,WV

Snake, I think your bars have the best tone of any I have ever used, and I have been playing for thirty five years now.

Dennis Reamy, Richmond, VA

Links

Randy Pasley
Bluemoon Guitars and Music
210 S. Jefferson Ave
West Jefferson, NC 28694
(336) 246-3275
bluemoonguitars15@earthlink.net 

Bobby Poff Dobro and Guitar Straps

Beard Guitars

Tab Tabscott - Squareneck.com

Chris Stockwell
Dobro player extraordinaire!

Cedar Creek Custom Case Shoppe

Resonateur
The Reso Gathering Site

North Coast Metal Mart
Specialized in small quantity metals for maintenance, repair or hobby applications.
This is where Snake buys all his stainless steel.

Bluegrass Unlimited

BlueHatDesign Oregon Web Design

About Snake

I play a Beard resonator guitar [dobro]. My pride and joy is my 1964 Gibson "Hummingbird" flat-top guitar. I love "Old Country Music" and I'm Hank Williams Sr #1 fan. So that tells you a little something about me.

I'm retired from Va. Power and I'm 74 years old. If you need any domestic or exotic hardwood or you know someone that does, visit http://www.hobbywoods.com/

Snake

 

 

 

 

I will no longer be taking any more Dobro bar orders after February 29, 2008 because I have more than 50 orders at this time and I'm retiring from "My Hobby" after June 3, 2008.