What is the best technique and tools to making a bottleneck glass slide? I heard that twine and lighter fluid was the best, but I have heard other ways.
"Whoever said that college kids can't play the blues, hasn't seen a 6 year tuition bill."
-the haggard slider
I don't think twine and lighter fluid will work well. Neither does heating over a candle flame.
I've made them by scoring a line around the neck with a glass cutter and then separating the neck either by alternately dunking it in boiling water and ice water (when it works, it separates cleanly with a sharp "ping") or by tapping it with a mallet as the scribed line rests against a sharp edge. Wear eye protection. Then sand the edges smooth, outdoors, with silicon carbide paper. Don't breathe the dust. "Flame polishing," as used with laboratory Pyrex, doesn't work. It'll crackle and spall off tiny bits of supersonic red-hot glass, that you don't want to get hit by, and leave a ragged, sharp, ugly edge.
You'll have some bottles break however you do it. Collect several.
Several folks have recommended sawing them off with tile cutters. That's the high tech method.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Here you go haggardslider - make yourself comfortable with a large drink & check out all these ideas.....there are pretty much EVERY conceivable method of making your own bottleneck listed on the link below - and if you ever get tired of tryin'....we can possibly help :wink: Good Luck!!
http://www.guitarseminars.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000604.html
Happy Slidin'
Big D.
...and if you ever get tired of tryin'....we can possibly help :wink:
http://www.diamondbottlenecks.com :DThink you could handle it, Ian? :lol:
(Most sliders agree that Ian's company makes the best glass slides on the world market.) :D
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Thanks Ric :lol: ...i'm pleased to say we're getting better with practice! :wink:
Happy Slidin'
Big D.
http://www.diamondbottlenecks.com
P.S.....Hey Ric - i need to chat to you soon about something totally non-musical - expect a P.M. in the next few days buddy :wink:
I was in England, over the weekend and spoke to BigD a couple of times on the phone, not only is he a really nice and helpful guy, he makes darn good slides, too. I'm now the proud owner of a Diamond Bottleneck "Ultimate" slide. It is not only good looking (blue/grey swirl effect), but the lead crystal sounds really meaty, but I'll write a more detailed review, with some mp3 sound comparisons with the other slides I have (one glass, one metal).
I started with nothing - and I've still got most of it left.
Did you know that the word "gullible" is not in any dictionary?
Greybeard's Pages
My Articles & Reviews on GN
Many thanks Graham - it was great talking with you too & i'm really pleased you like the slide! :D And you're also a hive of great information too, so if anyone on here needs some pointers regarding getting 'that' tone for recording and gigging - Greybeard is the man to ask :wink:
Happy Slidin'
Big D.
What - Greybeard in England, you didn't even let me know you were coming or give me a ring ( OK you haven't got my nunber but still....)
We could have played "spot the riff" well into the early hours, got drunk on Tetley Bitter, and compared whiskers......
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Not glass, but I may as well mention it: A friend of mine uses pieces cut from discarded bicycle handle bars. They are about the same as the commercial chrome plated steel ones.
Personally, I've never found a bottle neck which I liked well enough to go to the work of cutting and polishing it.
Phangeaux
BadBadBlues
