The Rock Slide Guitar Slides

[ReevesRd]

I have never been satisfied with my slide guitar playing technique. I have tried different slides made from a variety of materials. I have tried different sizes and different fingers. I have been more successful with the glass pill bottle-type slides (Dunlop Blues Bottle Wall Glass Slide). I usually wear slides on my ring finger. I feel finding the right slide is of the utmost importance. So, my search for the right slide continues.

The Rock Slide Molded Glass Guitar Slide is tapered inside (thicker at the end for a better tone with less movement). Has anyone tried this slide?

What slides do you prefer to use? What type of material (glass, ceramic, brass …) do you like? On which finger do you wear your slide?
Any input on your experiences of playing slide guitar is appreciated.

 

[shihan]

I agree with you that the right slide is very important. I prefer this size brass slide. I like the growl it gives, as opposed to the smoother steel or glass slide. Bigger slides seem cumbersome to me; this size isn’t too heavy, while still giving good sustain.
I have used my ring finger, there are advantages to that, it frees the pinky for fretting work, but I settled on the pinky as best for me. I’m not a good slide player, but I like it and enjoy working on it. good luck in your quest!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

My favorite is a little steel tube a friend found in his garden. It's short and heavy, with a loose fit. I use it on my roundneck reso and sometimes on my dreads.

I also have about ten pill bottles from antique stores, junk shops, and flea markets. They're always fun for acoustic and electric. My favorite is a narrow green bottle I got at a Vermont flea market for two dollars. And I have a ratchet wrench spark plug socket I got at a junk shop for about three dollars. It's top-heavy, which makes a nice quaver when I use it.

For electric, I have a very short pill bottle, not even as wide as the nut. Feels good, sounds good.

I wear 'em on my pinky so I can fret with the other three.

And I have a wood and steel bar for playing squareneck reso. Don't know the make. It came with the guitar.

Now you know!

So what do you mean about not being satisfied about your technique? What's wrong with it? Is it anyhing that mroe practice won't fix?

 

[ReevesRd]

So what do you mean about not being satisfied about your technique? What's wrong with it? Is it anyhing that mroe practice won't fix?

My slide playing is okay, but it doesn't sound as clean as I'd like. The pill bottle that I've been using is too loose. Finding a better-fitting slide would help. My local music store doesn't have many slides in stock. Buying online is my next option. However, hunting the local antique stores might be a good idea. I may get out this week and hunt for some pill bottles.

The Rock Slide glass guitar slide seems like what I'm looking for.

It's shorter, and tappered inside to fit your finger.

 

[Midnight Toker]

I prefer different slides for different guitars. For my reso, a heavy glass as it brings out the notes you want and less off the surrounding string noise. (Plus a much warmer tone!) My fav being a tapered one made from an old wine bottle neck. https://www.ebay.com/itm/192100765386?hash=item2cba190eca:g:UzEAAOSwx2BchTZQ&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAA8LIgI0Nx5iJZF3wnkPn8zMI7c8ceZFDgCFyd4I68lrxzeWFBHUpRy/v8Y0NjM6R6IMBKXuKlTMDevl98au+ZDEenPCTBngAO7kVIWYxlP28jh0YVU5Cu6tRKdxsWmz3iPxTXEfYLDjRfhgYRZ+CYS58L4TSEzBiSQNc7cklApFIvl84yGo4cPZqzXxC+RjaXWj94kTdX2kZHG7tZYpNQvgQ5ATwPmOLH8hKIpLYYvNcZiOGWjrm834oyYIasF3aZv97F4pfPfWIUfNN4D9CkC+wY5ThCpm0cpUNdeoHwlraj1BIoW+Q8f/QlfgqZzzA9cw==|tkp:Bk9SR7Kx7pavYw

For electric, I actually prefer a heavy chrome slide.

For open tuning I typically wear it on my ring finger. For standard tuning, on my pinky so I can still play basic maj/min chords w/ the slide on.

There was a great band in the DC area in the 70’s that had a guitarist (Ernie Lancaster from Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band) who permanently wore a 1” brass ring on his middle finger between the 1st/2nd knuckle that still gave him full mobility to play normal lead guitar, but also gave him the ability to throw in slide licks at will, which worked great w/ standard tuning as he could only cover 2-3 strings at a time. I’ve always wanted to try that!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Too tight and narrow for this boy. I like to bend my pinky and grip the top of the tube.

Looks like you've got a good thing going, though!

My slide playing is okay, but it doesn't sound as clean as I'd like. The pill bottle that I've been using is too loose. Finding a better-fitting slide would help. My local music store doesn't have many slides in stock. Buying online is my next option. However, hunting the local antique stores might be a good idea. I may get out this week and hunt for some pill bottles.

The Rock Slide glass guitar slide seems like what I'm looking for.

It's shorter, and tappered inside to fit your finger.

Now I get it. Happy hunting!

Also, if you haven't already, try different fingers. I tried a few before settling on the one that works best for me.

 

[Brick]

I've got both a steel, and a blues bottle glass slide. I like the sound of the blues bottle, but find that the looser fit makes it a little less consistent to work with. Running the slide on my pinky makes the most sense to me as I have more fretting options with the slide on my finger.

 

[Ross]

Years ago I bought a thin-walled glass slide. Not much later I clumsily dropped it and it shattered.
I bought a chrome steel slide (don't remember the name). I use my pinky for sliding; the diameter is bigger than the finger but if I bend it slightly it fits well and I can control it easily. Sounds good on my M75, too.
A friend gave me a large, thick-walled glass slide. It's quite heavy and much too clumsy for single-finger use. I passed it on to a dobro-playing friend and he loves it.

 

[ReevesRd]

My score from the antique stores today.

The clear one and the small brown one work well. Both fit my ring and pinky fingers. The clear one has a little more weight at the bottom.
The tall brown one had a rusted-on cap with something still inside. I managed to get the cap off and cleaned it out. It will fit my pinky, but it's tight. So far, I like the clear one best.

 

[crank]

I've got a brass one I use for one guitar. It fit my finger but was long and a machinist friend shortened it for me. I've broken several glass slides over the years and I use my current one for 3 other guitars, I have a chrome and a ceramic but just got them to try them and never use them.

I use it on my ring finger. Pinky isn't long enough to control it.

 

[ReevesRd]

a ceramic

I want to try a ceramic slide. I'll have to add that to the list.

 

[wileypickett]

If you're playing slide in the conventional position (not lap style) and you aren't raising the strings at the nut, I've found the best slides are ones that are flared, so they match the convex radius of the fretboard.

I play in open tunings and I find that when I use straight-sided slides I get buzzing when I play full barre chords.

Here's a flared / concave one in brass:

Dunlop 227 Concave Brass Guitar Slide- Heavy/Medium | eBay

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">New in package. </p>

www.ebay.com

Here's one in glass:

Real BottleNeck Guitar Slide True Flare Hand Polished Glass Best in the US | eBay

The best bottleneck I ever played! Great bottleneck slide. Carved flare sides then polished. Killer slide. 2 3/8" (61mm) long with slight smooth flare. nice inside taper on these. Killer slide. As good as you will find anywhere.

www.ebay.com

I bought one from this seller (who makes each one to order) a couple years ago. Really nice IMO.

Worth taking a look at his other items for sale, too. He has a bunch of styles.

Glenn

 

[ReevesRd]

I bought one from this seller (who makes each one to order) a couple years ago. Really nice IMO.

Worth taking a look at his other items for sale, too. He has a bunch of styes.

Thanks, Glenn. This is the same guy @Midnight Toker spoke of above.

Generally, I play single or double-strings when playing slide. I can see where a concave or flared slide would help in open barre chords.

 

[Brick]

If you're playing slide in the conventional position (not lap style) and you aren't raising the strings at the nut, I've found the best slides are ones that are flared, so they match the convex radius of the fretboard.

Hmmm.....I hadn't considered that. I'll have to give one a try

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

PS -

Some players say that ceramic slides offer the best of both worlds: the shimmer of glass and the attack of metal. I've never tried one, but you might like to.

 

[Guildedagain]

Has anyone tried this slide?

Yes, I have a couple.

They were invented by a friend of mine Mark Morse - guitar shop owner and collector extraordinaire - who passed on some 20 years ago, and the slide business handed to his nephew Danny Songhurst who built some pretty impressive guitars, may still be building them.

They are great slides, probably the best I have in glass and brass except for a couple home made slides, my favorite being an old Craftsman spark plug socket I cut down.

Sad to see inflation hitting so hard on the prices, twice the old prices, but the comfort level, grip and weight are unmatched by other slides.

Moulded Glass Guitar Slide

Moulded Glass Rock Slides are individually hand moulded by master lampworkers. These have all the same features as our brass Rock Slide® with the Knuckle Cut, Finger Rest and Tapered Interior. Th…

therockslide.com

This would be a good time for slide collection pics?

 

[crank]

PS -

Some players say that ceramic slides offer the best of both worlds: the shimmer of glass and the attack of metal. I've never tried one, but you might like to.

Mine just sounds more muted and deader than my brass, glass or chrome. But that could just be me.

 

[shihan]

Yes, I have a couple.

They were invented by a friend of mine Mark Morse - guitar shop owner and collector extraordinaire - who passed on some 20 years ago, and the slide business handed to his nephew Danny Songhurst who built some pretty impressive guitars, may still be building them.

They are great slides, probably the best I have in glass and brass except for a couple home made slides, my favorite being an old Craftsman spark plug socket I cut down.

Sad to see inflation hitting so hard on the prices, twice the old prices, but the comfort level, grip and weight are unmatched by other slides.

Moulded Glass Guitar Slide

Moulded Glass Rock Slides are individually hand moulded by master lampworkers. These have all the same features as our brass Rock Slide® with the Knuckle Cut, Finger Rest and Tapered Interior. Th…

therockslide.com

This would be a good time for slide collection pics?

Sure, I’ll play.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Mine just sounds more muted and deader than my brass, glass or chrome. But that could just be me.

Or the slide. Anyhow, ceramic slides have no appeal for me.

 

[ReevesRd]

So, I've ordered a Moulded Glass Rock Slide. After looking at several different slides, these seem like what I want.
Looking forward to trying it out.

What do you guys think about the Black Mountain Slide Ring? I like the idea. I've seen a few other slide rings while hunting slides.
I am interested to try out one of these.