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Post by Bill Stig on Feb 28, 2007 15:22:58 GMT
Some years ago I was boring a friend of mine about slides, and how I couldn't find one of a suitable weight. He worked for shell at the time, and offered to make some. Eventually he came back, having burnt out the drill, with 2 made of brass and 1 made of steel. I found the heaviest brass one - 8 grammes, sounded the best for acoustic and the light brass one I used for electric. I don't know if I was imagining it, but the brass sounded slightly warmer than the steel, but the extra mass definately makes a difference. I had them made to the length of my little finger but very loose fitting as I hold it in place with the next finger. This allows me to let the weight of the slide move from side to side for fast vibrato. I still use them now as I've never found anything better.
I'm now looking for the perfect steel as I play more lap style now. I use a shubb SP2 which is like a stevens bar with a rounded end like a bullet bar, but only one end is rounded presumably so that it can be used like a stevens bar as well to facilitate pull offs. However I keep picking it up the wrong way round and jam it into the strings, it would be ideal if both ends were rounded. Does anyone know if there is anything like that out there?
Bill
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 28, 2007 16:22:08 GMT
My favourite slide and Hawaiian bullet were made for me in 1990 by a friend. Both are solid steel rods that are 'hard chromed' like engine parts, rather than regular chrome which is useless. Brass is wonderful, but for me I don't like the fact that it needs polishing to keep its tone, so I use steel.
Regarding your question about steels. No, I don't know a double-ended one. Have you ever tried a Hawaiian bullet. It is harder to begin with, but once you are used to it, it is a better tool for angle chords and smooth runs.
Shine On, Michael.
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Post by Bill Stig on Feb 28, 2007 21:09:57 GMT
HI Michael, I do have some bullet bars but I'm always frightened of dropping them, I don't any problem angling the shubb though. Maybe I'll give it another try.
It's interesting what you said about the hard chrome as I keep having to rub all the scratches out of the shubb and most of the chrome's come off - that's another thing I'll have to look into - maybe getting something made. I don't know why, but my brass slide has kept in pretty good condition over the years without having to be polished and I've not treated it gently. Maybe it's some kind of toughened compound.
Bill
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 1, 2007 9:37:55 GMT
Hi Bill,
The chrome on the Shubb is probably just regular 'chair-leg' chrome and is useless for a durable steel or slide. I would definitely recommend getting it polished and then plated with hard chrome. It is not easy to find hard chrome platers these days, but they're out there!
Shine On, Michael
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Post by Blues Pertti on Mar 3, 2007 7:24:48 GMT
Hi,
I have been using quite heavy Martin steel slide. Do you have any experience on that?
Pertti
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Post by Bottleneck John on Mar 3, 2007 10:27:47 GMT
If it feels good to you, it is good!! Simple as that, LoL!! I have glass, brass, bronze, porcelain, stainless steel.. And I tend to use glass mostly followed by the bronze(heavy)..!! I had a glass slide I made myself from a bottleneck, recently at a gig I dropped it on the floor and... Too bad, it was my favourite!
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 3, 2007 10:28:40 GMT
Hi Pertti, No I have no experience of using a Martin Steel Slide. I like heavy steel slides, that is what I use on National guitars.
Shine On, Michael.
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Post by Bill Stig on Mar 3, 2007 10:50:31 GMT
Hi Pertty, I've not used a Martin slide, but the fact that you say that it's heavy is a good thing - more mass seems to give a better, fuller tone. It doesn't seem to make that much difference whether it's steel or brass. I can hear the difference when I try the two mettles next to each other but it's so small as to be insignificant and, as Michael has said, steel is harder than brass, and therefore stays smoother longer. In the end it's how you use it that counts. I'm not keen on glass slides, but most sliders I know sware by them. Bill
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Post by mirrormist on Mar 6, 2007 21:29:51 GMT
Hello Just wanted to show you my “Steamroller” It is absolutely beautiful…my pic doesn’t do it justice It was crafted for me by Ian McWee of “Diamond Bottlenecks” Phosphor bronzed lined with gorgeous seams of copper and green flecks running though the translucent outer glass tube…fabulous! I have called it my “Steamroller” because of its bulk…but its size is deceptive as the weight is perfect with super balance and just so comfortable on my finger. The Customer Service and attention to detail was first class…thanks indeed
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 6, 2007 23:33:38 GMT
It's beautiful Anthony. Do you know James Taylor's 'Steamroller Blues'?
Shine On, Michael
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Post by Ian McWee on Mar 7, 2007 9:41:33 GMT
Cheers Anthony ! That's a superb photograph - may i have a copy of it for our next website up-date please??? "....i got those Steamroller Blues...just rolled into you town...." what a great song ! Slide On! Ian.
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Post by robn on Mar 7, 2007 9:50:43 GMT
Wow Anthony, What a great looking slide! And a cool background to the photo Do you always use nickel strings on your tricone? Robn
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Post by mirrormist on Mar 7, 2007 22:17:00 GMT
Hi Michael...there was a more up tempo version with some nifty slide that i prefered but i can't recall who sang/played it....Fire & Rain sorta put me off James Taylor (steamroller blues wasn't the flip side of the single was it?)...i recall someone playing fire and rain to death on the jukebox in the bar of the Severn Stars...71 if my memory serves:)
Hi Ian...thanks again...sure you can use it...i would be delight.ed..thanks
hi robn...the strings are mm pb's...i just made the background monochrome in order not to distract too much from the "Steamroller"...if you have a look at the reflection at the base of the slide you will note that there aren't any colours:)
Regards
Anthony
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Post by robn on Mar 8, 2007 0:34:04 GMT
I did wonder about the reflection but thought it had been bleached out by the flash.
It is a very effective photo Anthony - the background looks Art Deco (I've never thought about it before but it's not surprising I suppose as tricones were originally from that period so National may well have been influenced by the cutting-edge designs of the era). My good lady and I are going to buy a new digital camera in the next few weeks - your photo has given me a few ideas to try out when it arrives.
I went through a phase of using nickel strings on my wood bodied reso when it was fitted with a quarterman cone and ebony capped saddle - in an effort to control some of the unwanted overtones. I tried a set again this evening now the guitar has a maple saddle and NRP cone - they were way too dull compared with phosphor bronze, so it has just been re-equipped with MM PB Newtones - much better ;D
Robn
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Post by mirrormist on Mar 10, 2007 23:02:41 GMT
Hello Robn...Tricones are a masterpiece of art deco design imo:)
The digital camera i used was a cheapo model...the software is adobe cs2 which is an industry standard...if you blow the pic up you will see just how crudely worked it was though:)
for web publishing you don't need to purchase a fancy expensive camera and some come with a decent software package.
i look at it as being creative on a cheap guitar with a good set of strings:)
Regards
Anthony
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