NZGuitars.com

Righto, having a bit of a slide appreciation moment currently and need to buy one to learn how... from a bit of reading I get the feeling that a heavy glass slide might be best for electric? I don't really wanna alter the action on my gretsch for this, so hopefully its moderate action will be ok? gonna do the open tuning thing tho', hopefully it won't be too cheesy with 10's on it?

Glass... dunno... might break. Metal is probably more practical. I have a bunch of them (glass, steel, clay, brass...) but the sound diff between the metal ones is not huge.

I have glass, plastic, chrome and brass slides. I can't tell the difference, either Vince.

I have glass and brass jetslides and glass and steel normal slides. I find the brass jetslide best for electric.

I have a glass and a brass and I think there is a huge difference in sound, but then I use them with a good chunk of gain so that may be a factor ..... my action in general is to low and that definitely effects the tone

You want something light with that guage, so Pyrex - the ones that look like glass - or a light chrome will probably be best. You're doing yourself no favours learning with a light guage and I've found I actually prefer playing 13's for slide. Cos then I can bash the shit out of them with a great big thick brass slide I have. I often use sockets too on my little finger, cheap and free if you have a socket set.
Buy a selection, they are all different. I got a pair go brass/Pyrex from Ashton (of all brands) that I really like and cheap for 2 slides.

Yep. Gotta say the difference is quite a bit. My main slide for a number of years was a bit of the end of some old M/C handlebars a mate gave me. Still got it. Quite a trebly harsher sounding slide which i like for higher gain stuff. The glass is a Hoolahan style. Much less agressive sounding and warmer and easier on the strings. Also very comfy and you can sort of flick it round your finger to get it out of the way when you dont need it.

Eruera wrote:I have glass and brass jetslides and glass and steel normal slides. I find the brass jetslide best for electric.

Boom. I had seen one of these (jetslide) in a vid but never knew what it was called and therefore couldn't track one down. Cheers!

willow13 wrote:I have a glass and a brass and I think there is a huge difference in sound

Yeah, but I don't think I can hear much difference between types of metal slides.

dunno, I can hear and feel a difference between brass and chrome (especially if its a socket and you rasp the stamped in lettering on the string ) And I have tin ears, theres a definite feel difference too. Theres more difference between light and heavy though. I'm currently gassing for some ceramic ones but I'm loathe to fork out all that cash when the in-laws are potters. So tis a case of paying them a visit one weekend and getting them to help me make a few They are really good, like old glass and nice and light.

Steer clear of the planet waves coricidin bottle types, apparently they are glass but you may as well just use a cheapo pyrex, I thought it was a bit shit. Really pyrex are hit and missy too, some are ok (really impressed with the Ashton) but I have one dunlop thats a bit dead and one thats ok.

I got one of these reversible ones a few weeks ago


but I guess my fingers are a bastard size as I just can't get it comfortable without a sticking plaster Good idea but I reckon I can whip my slide off quicker than turn it round.

Thanks guys, some great advice here

For reversible slide, this is what Scott Holliday uses. Seems to work great for him: http://www.jetslide.com/index.shtml

I use a standard Dunlop medium glass slide. Not that it matters much as I am a flat out awful slide player.

Went for a walk at morning tea down to CJ's which is a block or so away from work, got myself a 19mm dunlop brass slide, the smallest Ashton glass or brass ones they had were 22mm, otherwise I would have got those as I intend to use it on my little finger so I can still play notes with the other 3... Missus is away for the weekend, so will have plenty of time on my hands at night to play guitar

jeremyb wrote:Went for a walk at morning tea down to CJ's which is a block or so away from work, got myself a 19mm dunlop brass slide, the smallest Ashton glass or brass ones they had were 22mm, otherwise I would have got those as I intend to use it on my little finger so I can still play notes with the other 3... Missus is away for the weekend, so will have plenty of time on my hands at night to play guitar

Starting to sound like a blues song already.

You know you're getting somewhere when the cat seems less freaked out.