Slipping into Slide

I'm no expert, so take the answers with a pinch of salt.
1: Enough to make it feel comfortable without feeling loose.
2: Having got a slide with flared sides, I can tell you - there's no reason, don't do it, unless you have an old Fender with 7" radius.
3: Dunno, try and tell us how it went.

The fit of the slide can be quite variable and is strictly a matter of personal preference. My favorite of the moment is a big Dunlop brass slide that I could put my big toe in. I curl my pinky inside it and it works fine.

The only reason for a flared slide is to fit a steeply arched set of strings.

Wine bottle necks often have a slightly concave profile that matches the string radius of many guitars. Most of my slides are straight sided and work fine.

I'm not a fan of flatwound strings. Too dark sounding. Some people like 'em, though. The scraping noise of the slide on the strings is part of the sound, as is knocking the fretboard now and then. Like finger squeaks on acoustic. You'll get cleaner with practice and it'll reach a level that's not intrusive.

Tx for the replies!

same as above. stay away from flatwounds.

jazz guitar players traditionally used them because they didnt have long sustain. that way those fast arppegios and jazz runs they do dont mush together.

I like half round strings. and nickel too.

1/2-rounds = genius! Thanks.

Related question: Are 11s okay for drop / open tunings, or would you all recommend 12s instead?

I like the 12s. Lots of folks use 11s. Personal preference. You'll find that the bigger the strings, the easier the sliding. A tight string supports the slide better. But when you get your "muscle memory" developed well enough to stop the slide in the right position without relying on string tension to resist it, you can slide on 8s when you want to.

And round wounds are the way to go. That string noise is supposed to be there. And the constant vibrato on the rough surface of the strings produces infinite sustain, like bowing a violin.

I agree with dogbite, I like nickel strings, for acoustic as well as electric.

I still believe half rounds are good for slide. I cant complain as I have all the sustain one can have.

it's subjective eventually.

I use 11"s with no problems. heavier strings are a plus.

got to agree with the man...ricochete for the most part.

Thanks guys.

One more question (for now :wink: ):
Wound or plain 3rd string - does it matter?

I'm looking at the Ernie Ball "Beefy Slinky" nickel round set, 11-54, with a 22-gauge plain 3rd - jeez that's fat! MF actually calls them Drop Tune strings. I've had standard EB 11s before and didn't think much of them, but these look interesting.

Then there's the nickel round D'addario XL115s, which they call Jazz / Blues strings, 11-49. There are two types; one has a .21 wound 3rd, the other has a .18 plain 3rd.

Any experience with these strings? Others you'd highly recommend trying?

Ernie Ball slinkys are my mainstay. great for the price.

those should be good strings.
please be aware of proper string tension when using an acoustic.
certain tunings need certain gauges.

wound third. many many players want that.

I dont currently, but when my reso arrives I'll be sure to get a wound third.

having the right string tension is important for good tone and feel.

My .012-.052" electric strings have a plain third. All of my acoustic and reso string sets have a wound third. it's not something I obsess over, but some do.

Thanks again for the help, everyone.

I'm going to GC today to try a few slides and see how they feel. And I didn't even ask you about glass vs. brass vs. ceramic! (Already decided on glass for electric, thanks to other threads in this forum.)

I'll experiment with strings, probably starting with the D'addarios - a little cheaper, and the wound 3rd might be a little easier to bend (smaller core.) Can always go beefier if necessary.

Cheers!