Any idea what this gizmo is on Johnny Hiland's guitar?

[HAMERMAN]

There is some kind of "deck" between the neck and middle pickups on one of the Ernie Ball guitar's in this video. It seems like it's held on with suction cups and says something along the lines of "RunBart" on it. Just curious what it's purpose is.

http://truefire.com/country-guitar-lessons/ten-gallon-guitar/

[anotherfreak]

My first guess would be a "ramp" that's what it's called on a bass. It helps you not to dig too deep

[murkat]

John has very thick, built up finger nails. He digs in. the shim is there to limit the dig in.

He's pretty much blind as well.

[moozak]

lol a shim? not quite... it's called a RunBarr - it's a device that helps you speed pick by helping you to keep a shorter distance between your string and pick attack. johnny is a really nice guy... but famous for endorsing different guitars (then moving on) and anything that comes along... so this is just another one of his MANY endorsements.

www.ezrollguitar.com

[murkat]

lol a shim? not quite... it's called a RunBarr - it's a device that helps you speed pick by helping you to keep a shorter distance between your string and pick attack.

Oh, I'm sorry. I surly did not mean to be ignorant on the terminology or let alone the in depth detail of said product.

I was just going by on pure observation, posted picture of the lil dodad in the picture. I stand corrected.

I could make one in two shakes of a lambs tail with a fine piece of wood shim and velcro, and shim it under the strings

end result making a shim to control the height of ones picking attack, etc. blah blah blah.

whatever.

[Tres Aardvarks]

some bass players have been using something similar for years (I remember Gary Willis using it since the early 90s I think). Same idea (keep your tips from digging too deep). On the basses he used to play I don't remember seeing screw holes, but since Ibanez is selling to the crowd, they probably gave them the ability to remove it.

In the end they are all basically shims

[moozak]

lol a shim? not quite... it's called a RunBarr - it's a device that helps you speed pick by helping you to keep a shorter distance between your string and pick attack.

Oh, I'm sorry. I surly did not mean to be ignorant on the terminology or let alone the in depth detail of said product.

I was just going by on pure observation, posted picture of the lil dodad in the picture. I stand corrected.

I could make one in two shakes of a lambs tail with a fine piece of wood shim and velcro, and shim it under the strings

end result making a shim to control the height of ones picking attack, etc. blah blah blah.

whatever.

sorry, wasn't trying to be flippant with my reply, it was just me having a chuckle (hard to explain some moments when typing!)

some bass players have been using something similar for years (I remember Gary Willis using it since the early 90s I think). Same idea (keep your tips from digging too deep). On the basses he used to play I don't remember seeing screw holes, but since Ibanez is selling to the crowd, they probably gave them the ability to remove it.

In the end they are all basically shims

you know, you're right! it is basically a shim... so you nailed that one right off the bat murkat!

[anotherfreak]

I had a student that used his neck pickup to do the same thing, and he could burn!

[alantig]

John has very thick, built up finger nails. He digs in. the shim is there to limit the dig in.

He's pretty much blind as well.

Yep - legally blind. Some condition that prevents his eyes from working together, as I recall.

And his nails are also long and fairly pointed. Somewhere I have a picture or two from the early Experience PRS events that show his nails. His clinics and performances were a highlight for me every year. And he's a great guy, too.

[velorush]

some bass players have been using something similar for years (I remember Gary Willis using it since the early 90s I think). Same idea (keep your tips from digging too deep). On the basses he used to play I don't remember seeing screw holes, but since Ibanez is selling to the crowd, they probably gave them the ability to remove it.

In the end they are all basically shims

I thought that was what the P-Bass pickup was for! At least that's what Billy Sheehan says - he's pretty good at bass stuff.