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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 13, 2013 at 5:09am

If it is fretless and you are playing with a slide, it doesn't make any difference how high they are.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Brown on March 13, 2013 at 5:27am

Thanks for that.

Is there an optimum height for a fretted CBG that you can use a slide on without clicking over the frets and also play with your fingers without having to force the strings down from a great height.

Don't think I have asked that question very well but perhaps you know what I mean.

My fretted CBG seems to catch the frets too easily.

Tony B

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 13, 2013 at 7:12am

That can be a complicated question to answer.

Many slide players spend most of their time fingering the lower frets and sliding the higher frets, which in my opinion give the player the most flexibility. So, if you keep the string height lower near the nut, and higher near the bridge, you get the best of both worlds.

A good starting point would be roughly 3/16 inch at the 12th fret. But, the type or gauge of the strings you use will make a difference too. Lighter gauge strings will give more when using the slide.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on March 13, 2013 at 8:26am

When I make fretless guitars, I go for an action at the nut as low as I can get away with, around 1mm, and about 3-4mm at the 12th fret..that gives enough height to use the slide cleanly but still allows the strings to be stopped by your fingers. In my view, there's more to playing slide than just slide, so I like to be able to use my fingers and the slide..it gives the potential for way more expression, with fingered bass runs and chords as well as slide work.

The more experienced a player you are, the lower an action you can cope with for slide...but having a good amount of tension in the string helps...light sloppy strings don't help slide playing at all.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Brown on March 13, 2013 at 8:31am

Thanks for all that good info guys.

I never know whether to talk Inches or Centimeters these days.

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