joebee - Posted - 03/26/2025:  07:53:10

I was in the market for a 2nd slide and I have been using a Scheerhorn for ~20 years, so I thought I'd just buy another one, but I didn't want to pay $110! This led me to find the Dunlop Lap Dawg and to give it a try for about $40. To my hand, it is reasonably close to my Scheerhorn bar. The main differences I see are that the Dunlop bar is chrome plated brass vs. solid stainless steel on the Scheerhorn. Also, the edge of the bar used for pull offs is a good angle but the tip is not quite as sharp as the Scheerhorn. I haven't weighed the two, but the Dunlop bar feels like it might be a bit heavier. I'd prefer solid stainless since you can (re)polish these again and again, but a $70 price difference is pretty big.

I've seen some comments here on the forum regarding the Lap Dawg size being small. I like my Scheerhorn bar, which is considered to be small by many, so I'm again pleased with the Lap Dawg.

Overall, I am pretty pleased with the Lap Dawg bar for the money. It is as close as I have found to the old Scheerhorn bars, and costs about half of what the Scheerhorn bar originally cost me. If you're looking for a Scheerhorn bar and wonder if the Lap Dawg would be "close", you should get one as I think its definitely worth a try.

resotom - Posted - 03/26/2025:  08:21:29

I have used a Dunlop 'Long Dawg for many years along with a Ron Tipton bar..

Lounge Primate - Posted - 03/26/2025:  12:52:47

Re: chrome on the Dunlop.  I prefer the chrome Scheerhorn bars to the stainless versions. I have both.

I find the stainless models have more friction, are a little “grabby” compared to the chrome, which I find is much more slippery. I guess some like less slippery stainless on strings.

Edited by - Lounge Primate on 03/26/2025 12:54:55

joebee - Posted - 03/26/2025:  13:36:35

quote:

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Originally posted by Lounge Primate

I find the stainless models have more friction, are a little “grabby” compared to the chrome, which I find is much more slippery. 

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My experience, exactly. The chrome Lap Dawg seems way more slippery than my stainless Scheerhorn. So far, I'm good with it!

JC Dobro - Posted - 03/26/2025:  15:25:13

I concur with all of these observations. Well stated!

FrederickPatterson - Posted - 03/26/2025:  16:07:25

quote:

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Originally posted by resotom

I have used a Dunlop 'Long Dawg for many years along with a Ron Tipton bar..

I use a  Long Dawg too

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 03/26/2025:  21:48:56

I'm sort of on the fence re chrome anything vs. stainless steel. I have multiple bars of both. 

Stainless steel can be buffed and repolished. Chrome has to go to a shop to be re-chromed.

In the past couple years I have been playing a chrome Tipton more than anything else but for a number of years prior my go-to had been a stainless Scheerhorn. Even so, I never felt like the stainless Scheerhorn was "dragging" and slowing things down. 

Have never played a Lap  Dawg but who knows, there could be one in my future. 

As far as the size of the 'horn bar, as I have posted here in the past - Rob Ickes has been a Scheerhorn bar guy for many years. He has big hands and the long fingers of a concert pianist. The somewhat smallish profile of the Scheerhorn bar has never seemed to affect him, one way or the other. 

SamCy - Posted - 03/26/2025:  22:29:36

The Shubb bars are now stainless steel, at a more reasonable price.

shubb.com/product-category/ste...des/#shop

JC Dobro - Posted - 03/27/2025:  04:45:36

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkinSonoma

I'm sort of on the fence re chrome anything vs. stainless steel. I have multiple bars of both. 

Stainless steel can be buffed and repolished. Chrome has to go to a shop to be re-chromed.

In the past couple years I have been playing a chrome Tipton more than anything else but for a number of years prior my go-to had been a stainless Scheerhorn. Even so, I never felt like the stainless Scheerhorn was "dragging" and slowing things down. 

Have never played a Lap  Dawg but who knows, there could be one in my future. 

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FWIW, my experience with stainless is more of the occasional "scrape" - not so much a grab that slows things down.  It's both a sensation (feel) thing, and it's audible for a split second.  Never pondered what causes it, as it seems random.  And it's never enough of a problem for me to consider ditching stainless steel bars.

The duller edge on the Lap Dawg (vs. the Scheerhorn) may or may not be an issue for individual players.  I do like picking up the 'Dawg now and then for the slicker glide, as was noted by others.

JC Dobro - Posted - 03/27/2025:  07:47:22

Upon further review  

There is some minor "grabbiness" on my Scheerhorn SS, relative to the Lap Dawg chrome.  I only notice it when doing A/B trials back-to-back.