Rocky Mountain Slide Company – Ouray Astro Dog Tone Bar Review

I play guitar and lap steel in a Roots/Americana band called Spuyten Duyvil and I was looking for something a little different for my lap steel.

…I just love them, I’m officially a fan!…

A warmer tone, lighter, feel, etc. I stumbled across the website and decided to contact them.

After a couple emails with Todd (Doc) Sigmier (owner/slide maker) describing what I was looking for, he suggested that I try the single cut Ouray Astro Dog Tone Bar.

That’s something you don’t get with other slide makers. A company willing to talk with you about your needs, and actually having such a diverse range of products to be able to find the right fit for you.

Features:

Hand crafted ceramic tone bar.
Single cut to the back design for comfort.
Bullet nosed end for more playing options.

Ease of use:

Super comfortable and fits in your hand like a glove. It actually feels better the longer you play with it. The ceramic actually gets warm in your hand and feels more “organic” than a piece of metal. It’s also lightweight and easy to move around with, especially for slant bar moves.

The bullet nose allows you to approach the strings in different ways and makes for smoother pull-offs.

Sound Quality:

Beautiful rich, singing tone with a sweet, yet sharp attack. Smooth sustain and clear, ringing harmonics.

Much warmer sound than a traditional steel bar, but still manages to cut through the mix.

Reliability:

I’ve been using it now for several months, (I’m also using his guitar slides now, too!) playing out regularly, gigs, travelling and touring, jamming, (I’ve even dropped it a few times and, miraculously, it didn’t break) and everything is working out just fine.

Overall Rating:

I’m sold, this little thing rocks!

A great alternative to a traditional steel bar, with tons more versatility, a great feel and a super cool look (which doesn’t hurt either, does, it?).

Since then, I’ve ordered some of his guitar slides as well, and I just love them, I’m officially a fan!

Whole lotta mojo goin’ on here… highly recommended!!!

This review was submitted by Guitar Jar contributor: Rik