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What is your favorite slide and slide material? ( and more)

Posted by Uncle John on January 9, 2017 at 8:14pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

  1. What is your favorite slide?

  2. How many do you have?

  3. What slide material do you favor?

  4. What material do you not like so much?

5. Do you have in slide technique advice?

Pinky finger: my fave, a tapered Dunlop brass.    Ring Finger, 1B.  A ceramic by Dave Lynas -which I like better on some songs.   Badfinger a bottle neck from my friend, the Maddog.     Pointer finger, a big socket HEAVY!    Thumb- I really like a shot glass for a lap diddley.

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Replies

  • Lane Martin January 24, 2017 at 5:10pm

    What is your favorite slide?  Glass (or Pyrex...I forget)

    How many do you have? 1 glass, 1 toolbox full of steel, err, sockets. lol  Actually only a couple of those fit my fingers.

    What slide material do you favor? Glass for now. I've got a metal housing off a small electric motor that's pretty good on the diddley bow (which needs a photo posted), but it needs tape on the inside to improve the fit.

    What material do you not like so much? Haven't tried enough to judge. I need to get some copper from the store to try that. I may polish one side to compare.

    Do you have in slide technique advice?  Not in the least.

  • Dustin Aurand January 21, 2017 at 8:22pm
    Here's a question for you. I've been playing Slide for a while, so I know how to do it. However, I Slide, and often get a sound that I can only describe as a car going over a bridge. Ba-bump. It seems like a common occurrence. Do my frets need to be worked on, new strings, or higher action? Thanks.
    • Uncle John > Dustin Aurand January 21, 2017 at 8:37pm

      I'm no pro, but a little higher string height helps me do that less on a fretted guitar.   Funny, a little bit of fret rattle is fine when someone else does it, but unwanted when I do it.

      Do be sure to drag your index on the strings behind the slide to reduce unwanted noise.

  • Bugsy Reese January 21, 2017 at 5:57pm
    Hey all. I cut off a piece of copper pipe, for my slide. Tried glass not a fan. I'm new to building and am going basic all the way from free cigar boxes to a 1x2x6 board for under 3 bucks. Most money I spend is on strings.
    • Uncle John > Bugsy Reese January 21, 2017 at 7:42pm

      There is or was a group here on CBN called, I think, Low Budget Builders.   That is really the CBG heritage.  

  • Dustin Aurand January 21, 2017 at 9:50am
    I see people talking about using red and green Tobasxo bottles. Do they use the bottlenecks, or what?
    • Uncle John > Dustin Aurand January 21, 2017 at 9:58am

      Remove the labels and use them as they are for lap style.  Someone here cut one down for a more regular type slide.  I think it would be too large on my finger.

  • cigarBGuitarEfx January 21, 2017 at 1:55am

    My favorite is an old brass slide that I bought on eBay. It was advertised as being from the 60's-70's. It's just long enough to span 3-4 string cbg's and it's the perfect size for my ring finger to have the best control.

  • crossroads January 20, 2017 at 11:33pm

    i will use anything i can get my hands on. 

    i would like to try a ceramic but they are just way to spendy for me.i can not in good conscience pay over $10 for a slide (on a fixed income). ( i know there is a lot of work in making a ceramic)

    right now i am using a dunlop $7.50.... forgot the number fits nice a tad longer then i want....

    i usually get to liking a slide and end up giving it away with a guitar i have made... i may try polishing up some copper from the local Ace store (a good hint from this thread)... have not figured out how to cut a bottle. neck yet

    • Uncle John > crossroads January 21, 2017 at 8:41am

      Like you, Crossroads, I've given up a few slides along with guitars I have sold or gifted.  Yup it's cool to use used, found, free and cheap objects for slides.   You say you want to try a ceramic slide, but not pay too much.  Check out Dave Lynas's photos here on CBN.   He makes some really nice slides and I think in your desired price range.   He does a lot of art, building and playing - and he may be ready to get back in slide making mode.   Good guy.

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