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.
I have used a Dunlop 'Long Dawg for many years along with a Ron Tipton bar..
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
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Originally posted by Lounge PrimateI find the stainless models have more friction, are a little “grabby” compared to the chrome, which I find is much more slippery.
My experience, exactly. The chrome Lap Dawg seems way more slippery than my stainless Scheerhorn. So far, I'm good with it!
I concur with all of these observations. Well stated!
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Originally posted by resotomI have used a Dunlop 'Long Dawg for many years along with a Ron Tipton bar..
I use a Long Dawg too
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.
The Shubb bars are now stainless steel, at a more reasonable price.
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Originally posted by MarkinSonomaI'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.
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.
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.
Regarding "grabbiness", I should say that I often use a string lube product, such as D'Addario XLR8 or GHS Fast Fret, on my strings before playing. My reasoning is that I have metal-on-metal contact, both with the bar and with my finger picks, so it seems to me a tiny amount of lube is a Good Thing. Of course, YMMV.
Maybe this is why I've never perceived the Scheerhorn bar to be grabby?
