Hey guys! Iam in my second build and I have a problem. It's a fretted 25 inch and... I want to know what would be the perfect string height for playing with both technics: slide and fingers?.
And... another thing: my build has a piezo + single coil pickup, what strings are best for a good tone and sound by both electronics? What tuning would you recommend?
Thanks
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I'm bookmarking this page on the laptop for this one post alone. Sooo much information I didn't know, hadn't already worked out and never even thought about needing to know! Thanks for sharing this.
String height for both fretted play and slide play is tricky. Strings that are too high will pull the fretted note sharp -strings that are too low will get a fret clack when using a slide. What I do is set the string height 3/32nds above the first fret - doesn't pull sharp when I fret and I can play with a slide with a light touch and not get fret clack. Learning to play slide takes a while, learning to play slide at that height with a light touch takes a while longer. This why most people use one CBG/Guitar for slide and one for fretted play. Could always make a double neck, one fretless and high string height for slide and one fretted.
So, for my first build, I should build it fretless?
If you intend to play with a slide, It is my opinion, that for the first time builder, the critical parts of locating, installing frets, and setting up a nice playable instrument can be an obstacle to a successful result. There's plenty of other issues to learn and overcome the first time.
I'll add that it of course depends somewhat on your expectations, but IMO, the precision required to get good results is intimidating to many novice builder, with good reason. It is not easy.
It can be done, and I don't want to discourage anyone, but leaving out that portion makes for a much easier, quicker project with more chance of success. And you can play it while you plan and build the next one, two.........
Juan, I am going to disagree somewhat with the perfectly good answers you have gotten so far, yet say at the same time they aren't wrong...... People can and have done it, I just cant recommend it for the beginner builder or anything less than a fairly skilled and experienced player.
After some extensive (and in retrospect, optimistic) experimentation, I would warn that this could be a bad idea. I have tried building a few guitars with the intention of making them useful for both styles, and found the best results I got were nothing more than a bad compromise at either. With one caveat that I will explain later.
First off, as suggested, unless you are very good at slide playing with a light touch, as suggested, you will find slide playing frustratingly hard if the string height is low enough for fretting. And the slightly high action needed in an attempt to compromise makes fretted playing almost as frustrating.
Secondly, I feel the best slide setup is often achieved with slightly heavier gauge strings than you would choose for fretted playing. This further aggravates the situation.
I would suggest the best simple solution is to build separate guitars for each purpose. And by the way, the slide build is far easier in my opinion than getting one setup right for playing well fretted. It has its challenges, so i am going to suggest considering going the easier route first time.
But heres my exception, if you have your heart set on building one for both styles: Make it easily convertable. You can make or acquire a piece that slips over the nut, and if needed, use either a second bridge, or a part that slips under it to raise it a bit, and the change over could be almost a simple as a retune.
"many slide players use frets at the same time."
Yeah, some pretty well too.
I have been building. setting up and repairing stringed instruments for almost 40 years. Playing to some degree for nearly 50. I cant deal with a slide at any string height that would allow fretted playing. Some can master it. Based on that experience, I just cant recommend trying it to a beginner.
As for the building aspect, If youve gotten to the point you can come close to nailing the action on your 20th build, I'd say you likely worked harder at it and paid more attention than most......
Again, building, beginner, theres enough to conquer on the first few tries without throwing in the expectation of getting a great fretted setup at first, much less a combination fretted/slide build. I just have to suggest its more realistic to build a few and gain experience and perspective.
Whats more discouraging, realistic advise, or struggling with a project you are building?
But please, do it your way of course. I would have no more listened to this kind of advise when I started building experimental instruments than I would have believed someone who told me a few years ago that I would be building, repairing and setting up fiddles and cellos. Didnt see that one coming. Gotta go where the demand is.
Thanks to both! I really appreciate the help, you guys are the best! hahahha Experience is what makes true master, and that's why I will take risks on this build. I will take all the feedback and make an hybrid between your advice and what Ia want to achieve.
Happy new year folks!
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