Slide Materials

Re: Slide Materials

I use the Joe Perry ceramic slide Bluedave and Scottish mentioned. I have a metal slide as well, but I much prefer the ceramic one. The only problem I have with it, like Bluedave, is that it's a bit snug on my ring finger.

This thread has me wanting to check out glass. What's the best way to make a slide from an actual bottle?

- Keith
 
Re: Slide Materials

I love using both glass and steel, but I've discovered that I get more sustain from a steel slide so that's kinda my go to. I have a few glass ones, but I don't like how light they feel. I would like to experiment with some really thick glass slides.
 
Re: Slide Materials

thespricket..I'm tellin' ya. Go buy a bottle of Matuse wine...Drink the wine..It's not bad. Be careful breakin' the neck off and grind it down...You won't be sorry.......Cheers
 
Re: Slide Materials

I could never find a hollow slide I ever got along with. But, I found that a short piece of 5/16" brass rod, held between my fingers offered better control, and a better view of the fretboard for more accurate placement.
 
Re: Slide Materials

Sludgenutz said:
I could never find a hollow slide I ever got along with. But, I found that a short piece of 5/16" brass rod, held between my fingers offered better control, and a better view of the fretboard for more accurate placement.
Click to expand...


That's kind of innovative. I'll have to try that myself!
Thanks for bringing it up...
 
Re: Slide Materials

I could never find a hollow slide I ever got along with. But, I found that a short piece of 5/16" brass rod, held between my fingers offered better control, and a better view of the fretboard for more accurate placement.
Today 05:13 PM
Click to expand...

that's kinda one of the ways in which slide was developed origionally, with a railway stake or a knife. i tried knifes and stuff for a while but i find hollow slides are way easier to play
 
Re: Slide Materials

Half the trick & tone to good slide playing (I still suck...) is in the setup of the guitar & how you play it.

Higher action, heavier strings... and playing with 'yer fingers rather then a pick. The fingers don't only help with muting, but provide a far meatier tone.

Watching Derek & Warren from a stones throw & getting the setup dirt from their respective techs did worlds for me...

Choice of slide is paramount as well... and it can vary with the guitar.

Latchlake sent me a bunch a few years ago & I've taken a liking to their medicine bottle & slide right tapered thing.

http://www.latchlakemusic.com/guitar_slides.html
 
Re: Slide Materials

Setup/guitar is true. I suck too!

I guess one could do an Al "Blind Owl" Wilson, and use a preamp tube cover!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V55FfDnkQ6o

I'm not up those vintage preamp tube covers guys...do you think it's steel, or aluminum? I've only seen aluminum covers.



Along with what I said about using a brass rod earlier, my other fave was an old nickel plated brass BIC lighter cover...the stoner kind, with an old lighter stuffed inside. It was nice and accurate, but too light.
 
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Re: Slide Materials

Pink Unicorn Horsey said:
I use the Joe Perry ceramic slide Bluedave and Scottish mentioned. I have a metal slide as well, but I much prefer the ceramic one. The only problem I have with it, like Bluedave, is that it's a bit snug on my ring finger.

This thread has me wanting to check out glass. What's the best way to make a slide from an actual bottle?

- Keith
Click to expand...

The best way that I have had success with is the way that most of the old Blues guys did it. Dip a piece of string in kerosene and tie it around the neck where you want it to be cut. Then light the string and allow it to burn. Then trow the bottle in a cool bucket of water. Don't place it in throw it in because the bottle will break and it will usually break right where the string was tied. Then all you have to do is work the edge with wet/dry sand paper with a lot of water (wear gloves because you can get cut on the sharp edges. The only major problem with this type of bottle neck is it still has the lip where the cap/cork went. I prefer a straight or slightly flared slide. the ones with the bottle top are useless to me. Real bottle necks work really well. I have a few. Whats cool about them if you want a real growly type of slide sound you can use the seam on the bottlneck. If you don't want this sound then just roll the slide over so the seam is not hitting the strings. Very cool.

Now of course the other way is to invest in a decent glass cutter. I have several, but I don't have as much success with this. There is a knack to working with a glass cutter that I have not mastered. I break more than I cut.
 
Re: Slide Materials

Sludgenutz said:
Setup/guitar is true. I suck too!
Click to expand...

Once I raised the action & went to some heavier strings... using my fingers and a slide that not only fit my finger, but wasn't so heavy I couldn't control it... my slide playing started to go from really sucky to only kinda sucky.

I have two guitars I use for slide, an '86 Melody Maker with 5-strings and a slight neck warp & fairly high action. That stays tuned to open G...

The other is an '02 LP special with a medium high action and .11's... If I wasn't playing slide I'd drop the action as it's a bit stiff for 'normal' playing but with the action too low you don't get the tone & end up banging the slide into the frets.
 
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