Good Electric For Slide Use

[Mojoe01]

I've decided (again...) to try and teach myself how to play slide, and have been using my telecaster for the time being. I was just curious about what kind of preferences people have about slide on electrics. Duane had his LP's, Derek Trucks has his '61 SG, etc. What do you guys prefer? How do humbuckers compare to single coils, what kind of body construction (solid, semihollow, etc) woods, neck joints, etc, contribute to a quality sound for slide.
Also, what kinds of slides do you prefer? I've been having a lot of fun playing with different objects and seeing the difference in tone. My parents run a glassware and ceramics company, which gives me a large pool of slide substitutes to pull from. (Lots of little novelty shot glasses and stuff which make for some pretty unique slides)
This isn't meant to be any kind of formal post with exact answers to the questions, just getting some banter going about slide guitar, etc, seeing what people have had experience with and what they liked.

[Benjy_26]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

For me it's either my LP with a PG set in standard tuning (10-52) or my Sheraton with a Phat Cat set also in standard tuning (10-52). I like to play slide with a thick brass one and a smooth, fat OD tone that sings.

I try to shoot for a Warren Hayes kidn of vibe.


I need to practice.

[Mojoe01]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

lol, practice? See, I find it more fun to discuss it (hence, the thread) than actually work on getting better
I've actually been teaching myself by watching the Allman Bro's "Beacon Theater" DVD and just copying what Derek and Warren do (which isn't the easiest way, but...oh well) I have my tele in E for Derek and my LP in STD for Warren. I have a very short attention span though, so I force myself to use the tele, since I don't know anything in open E. Whenever I play the LP, I can't stay focused. As soon as I get the slightest bit frustrated, I just resort back to what I know, and the slide-playing stops right there.

[Benjy_26]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

lol, practice? See, I find it more fun to discuss it (hence, the thread) than actually work on getting better
I've actually been teaching myself by watching the Allman Bro's "Beacon Theater" DVD and just copying what Derek and Warren do (which isn't the easiest way, but...oh well) I have my tele in E for Derek and my LP in STD for Warren. I have a very short attention span though, so I force myself to use the tele, since I don't know anything in open E. Whenever I play the LP, I can't stay focused. As soon as I get the slightest bit frustrated, I just resort back to what I know, and the slide-playing stops right there.

I completely agree with you bro!

Listen to Warren's work on the first Blues Traveler album. It's what got me interested in playing slide. Amazing tone and playing.

[Mojoe01]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

Holy crap, I didn't even know that was him! I'll definitely have to pull that out when I get home from work (thats right, I'm getting paid as we speak!)

[Benjy_26]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

Holy crap, I didn't even know that was him! I'll definitely have to pull that out when I get home from work (thats right, I'm getting paid as we speak!)

He plays on "The Mountains win again" . BTW, I'm at work too. Hope my boss isn't on the board!

[sooperunkn]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

Jimmy Page used a Danelectro for In My Time Of Dying which is some amazingly dark and scary stuff! Not what I'd consider a typical slide sound. It kind of sounded like a Dobro plugged in... awesome! Definitely gave an evil Delta blues kind of sound! You can see him playing it live on the recently released DVD set... unreal!!!

[beandip]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

Anything can be used for slide. Slide is all about the vibrato and feeling, and less about the tone, ya know? RL Burnside uses a Squire strat, and Jonny Lang uses a tele. It's all about the way you play. Check out "Feelin Bad Blues" by Ry Cooder. It's really easy to play and it gets you off on the right foot. If you wanna hear the song, it's in the movie Crossroads (w/ the Karate Kid), the scene when they're in the hotel and Willie says "The blues aint nothin but a good man feelin down cause of his woman".

[Mojoe01]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

lol, i remember that movie...horrible movie, but some nice guitar playing. That duel between the karate kid and steve vai is too much though
(if i ever try bending a note so hard i fall over, its time to give up the instrument!)

[beandip]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

LOL, no kiddin man. And Ralph couldnt cop Ry's licks if his life depended on it. I saw him mess up so many times. Now if Ry and Vai deuled, that would've been one hell of a movie.

[mrid]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

Check out the Gibson Nighthawks. They're very small and light and have great stock pickups.

[Curly]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

I have a tele set up for slide, with open G tuning, and a JD/ Hot neck combo that sounds fine. I like the clarity of single coils, and the tuning stability of my tele, but I also fatten up the tone with some OD or Distortion. I notice that a lot of slide players use comp pedals, too.

I use a Dunlop 215, medium pyrex for most stuff, but I have a small coricidin bottle that's a little better for picking out lead lines. I like the tone of glass, but I've thought about experimenting with a chrome slide lately, to go for more of that Lowell George tone.

Duane was without doubt a beautiful, lyrical slide player, but I also like Ry Cooder, the late Lowell George, and Sonny Landreth, as well as David Lindley.

I made a couple slide demos here:
slide demos

I don't pretend to be a slide player, but I try to get a good tone, and go from there. It does take some commitment, though.

[Mojoe01]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

Yeah, I actually plan on picking up a coricidin bottle today after work. A friend of mine and I decided to go over to guitarcenter after we get off work, and I've been jones'n for one of these for a while now, so I'm just gonna bite the bullet and finally buy one. Its crazy, I can drop a few hundred on an amp on ebay like its nothin, but then I hesitate to spend $6 on a slide.

[BS123]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

Well, I use my Variax for slide and my 52 RI. I mostly use the middle position because of the punch and clarity.

[kmcguitars]

Re: Good Electric For Slide Use

IMHO a good guitar for slide is one that NOT to good,Or one that has
neck issuse. I know it sounds crazy ! But if your on a budget It's the best
way to go. Aslong as you can put heavy gauge strings on it and it has
a good bridge PuP it's G.F.S.(good for slide) A 61' LP/SG is
is the dream slide guitar. But where talking big $$ for something your
gonna raise the action on?? I wouldn't spent top dollar on a guitar
to use just for slide. I did a neck repair on a EPI LP. The neck wes
broken at the 3rd fret (his mother ran it over!!) The repair came
out good, But I told himThe trust rod may not work after. Sure
enuff the trust rod was fubar. But it was perfect for slide.
Just my two cents