Uniform elastic bars are sometimes used as mechanical guides for stress waves. Along physically non-homogeneous bars, however, elastic disturbances continuously suffer from distortion during propagation. This can be avoided if, in addition to this non-homogeneity, geometrical non-uniformity is also artificially introduced in order to keep the 'mechanical impedance' constant along the bar. An elementary analysis is presented to illustrate this possibility for initially non-dispersive waves, followed by an application in the field of materials testing at elevated temperatures using a split Hopkinson bar.