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un equal string height with slide

This might be a playing section question, might be sitting on the fece sort of thing.
I have the socket wrench slide, 3 strings, cigar box in hand and trying to slide around in that first string, alley cats are my friend. I was leaving the action a little high, so when I fret the secnd fret (with my finger) the string clears the first fret easily, figured I could go down easier than back up.
BUT when I look at the strings they are not the same hieght exactly. I was shooting for the strings being half way into the slot cut for them, but the last 2 strings are wire wound and much fatter and the first skinny string. So the first skinny string I want to slide on is a hair lower. Do you follow me so far.
Would in your opinion think the low string thing would cause some slide buzzzzzz, or is it just me being a bad player, I can take it be honest. The buzz is slide only freting it is fine. I cam lower the other 2 strings to come in line, it was something I did not notice until I tried out the slide thing. Or should I save my time for more practice. I did use my fingers behind the slide to dampen the strings.
Cheers Ron.

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Permalink Reply by YeahDoIt on September 7, 2010 at 11:51pm

A metal slide gives a buzzy sound anyway. You might try a glass slide and observe if the buzz disappears. A shot glass might work if you don't have a glass slide.

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Permalink Reply by L.J. on September 8, 2010 at 12:08am

I always try to make the strings as even as posible. If I leave anything out of line a lil it would be my middle string(3string) and I would leave it just a tiny bit higher. That way I can rock the slide back and forth letting the top string(fat one) alternate open and fretted at the 5th position. It gives it a nice lil bit of extra. If you leave it too high it will pull sharp when the slide is on so I only do it a tiny bit.
When I make my bridge I put it straight in the vice and eyeball it as close as possible. then I string it up and lay it down so I can look from the side. If they are out of alignment you can loosen the string a bit, file it a lil at a time untill it looks level across the top of the strings.You could probably use a straightedge if you needed too.
The string will buzz if its too low. It will also buzz if the inside of the nut/bridge is too low. Meaning the portion of you bridge and nut should be the highest point after they are filed on the inside of the guitar. (inside meaning closest to your soundhole or where your strumming occurs)

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 8, 2010 at 2:05am

So I'm hearing that you seem to have buzz caused by the lower (wound string that is on the top side of the neck) being a little too high. Unless its REALLY high which I doubt being it seems you and I cut nuts the same -- that is we try not to sink the strings halfway into the nut -- I don't see much issue there. Check the 'level' across the strings at the nut. I bet you they are not as bad as you think.

So what to do. Since I don't know your style of playing the best thing I can say is practice until you get what you want. I also assume you put a finger behind the slide to mute when you can. Other than that...

Best of luck. Slide can be a bitch sometimes.

-WY

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on September 8, 2010 at 2:23am

Here is some advice I discovered over the years about setting up guitars for slide correctly.
Many people believe the string height from the fingerboard (action) needs to be higher for slide than for regular finger style.
This is not true. Bottleneck style is actually finger picking style with the addition of a slide.
So, you want to fret notes too.
The strings should be the same height across the whole fingerboard.
You create the correct string tension for the slide to ride on by matching the tuning with the string gauge.
So, basically you can either set the instrument up high like open A (EAEac#e) / open E (EBEg#be) using lighter strings or tune lower than standard like open g (DGDgbd) / open d (DADf#ad) using heavier strings. You can't have it all on one instrument, but a capo at the second fret solves this problem.
Certainly using correct technique and a heavy quality slide is important.
Please check out my series of instructional video CDs. I believe you will find they will answer your questions and help you develop good technique.
http://shop.ebay.com/njmikeb/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&a...
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to write if you have any further questions. Enjoy, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on September 8, 2010 at 10:54am

I think this about covers all the options, if not enough to keep me messing with it for a while, thank you all for taking the time to help me out. Since this action is overrated i will lower the strings some and see if I can get them all in line.
Keni, I have 2 of your CD's and another 2 on their way as we speak, it is from these CD's that I have started in on playing. They are great CD's I am enjoying them and imagining myself playing as well as you do.
Cheers Ron.

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on September 9, 2010 at 3:26am

Thank you Ron for your purchases. It has always been my hope as a music teacher that my students will learn from my lessons and be able to play better than me and take the music further than I could ever have dreamed. It would be especially rewarding if one of them made it to the Big Time and when asked how did they learn to play, replied, "from Keni Lee". LOL Thank you for your support. As always feel free to write if I can be of any assistance. Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee