slide guitar

[skydog52]

Andbody out there have any information on the best set up for playing slide guitar?

Would it be better to leave it to a good tech?

[skydog]

A lot depends on whether you can afford to dedicate the guitar to slide only, or if it has to do double duty.

[skydog52]

I am definitely going to dedicate one guitar to slide.

Is there a general rule of thumb on string height, or is it

a matter of preference and feel?

[slider313]

I use the same guitar, standard tuned, for slide and standard playing. If you open tune then you may want to have a guitar just for slide duty. I find touch and damping are the most important factors.

[skydog52]

Has anybody ever used an extension nut? I found one at stewmac.com.

It's less than $4.00, for that price I guess I can't go wrong trying it.

[JohnCovach]

I've got an American Tele with a busted truss rod, which leaves the neck pretty bowed.  I raised the action and use it for slide--it sounds great!

[grayta]

Andbody out there have any information on the best set up for playing slide guitar?

Would it be better to leave it to a good tech?

 

Nah, you can do it.  Put a little bow in the neck, raise the saddles a couple mm and tune to an open G.  Off ya go!

[Heritage4]

Has anybody ever used an extension nut? I found one at stewmac.com.

It's less than $4.00, for that price I guess I can't go wrong trying it.

I've used one and it works well. Gives you more of a Dobro feel. Personally I use a brass slide with the action a little bit higher but not so high I can't play standard on it in standard tuning. I use a brass slide because for my ears glass and chrome/steel always sounded to thin and lacked sustain. The SG you've got makes a great guitar for slide work in terms of upper fret access and tone. My two cents.

 

Heritage4

[skydog52]

Thanks Heritage 4. I will order one and try it on the SG.

What open tunings do you work in? Any tips on getting started?

[yoslate]

Skydog:

 

After playing quite a while, I'm just coming over to slide.  Something really simple that's worked for me and been fun to boot is thus: drop down to open D - G - D - G - B - D.  Chords sound great, and the patterns for licks are coming right along, the transitions from one note to the next are very natural to both the ear and the feel.  Not planning to acquire the "Robot-Guitar" any time soon, I've dedicated my old Frankenstein Strat (kind of an unstable neck) to slide...easy to pick up and just go.  Talented slide players have my sincerest admiration, especially those who wail in standard tuning!

[Heritage4]

Skydog, many moons ago when I started playing slide I experimented with several different tunings. The two that I tend to favor are either standard tuning or an open E chord, from low to high: E,B,E,G#,B,E. Works great for blues ("Dust My Broom") and for country. Hope that helps.

 

Heritage4