Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Gus on May 4, 2014 at 5:35am

I tend to like acoustic strings for wooden boxes and electric strings for tin guitars. I need to get into cheaper ones, though...raiding my full sets of D'Addarios for CBG use is wasteful and expensive.

I've got a shiny brass Dunlop slide that's pretty thin that I use most of the time, one of those heavy tapered Dunlop not-shiny brass numbers that I use on the acoustic-stringed guitars, an imitation Duane Allman Coricidin bottle that I only use for tin guitars, and only then if I'm not playing rhythm guitar. And there's a short, incredibly heavy chrome guy I used to like for playing slide on my non-homemade six-string, but it's fallen out of use lately, in favor of the thin brass one.

None of these were ever purchased with any real intent...I just ended up with a buncha different slides over the years.

Slide is good in general for error-masking. Hit a wrong note or miss the place you meant to slide to, just mute and go "chucka" a couple times on the strings while pulling an attitude-y kinda sneer-y face. Makes it look like you meant to do it.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on May 4, 2014 at 5:39am

I've used the same strings for years. GHS boomers. Just natural to put them on my first build. As slides go I like Clayton standard wall. They're thin and light. Easier for me to control. Especially over frets on guitars set up for light string action.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 4, 2014 at 5:55am

Hmm.  Rat, light is good in some ways for slides.   Maybe more so for people using their pinky finger.  I think you might save some money and get close to the same results with cheap strings.   Many of us end up stringing up then taking them off to do something.   Cheap is good for that.

 

Gus, I think Gitty's cheap strings are good.   I often use Musicians Gear strings from Musicians Friend.   $2.29 for six in electric and $2.49 for acoustic.   I would not put them on a high end factory built- but otherwise, I like em very fine. 

 

Gus, I bet a lot of us have 4 or more slides.   Good advice on the mistake covering.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on May 4, 2014 at 5:56am

In my opinion, cheap strings just aren't worth saving a dollar on. I won't even use them on my "Make and Play" workshop guitars, where I really need to watch the pennies, because I just can't risk the unreliability of string breakages. Since switching to d'Addario strings I've had just one string breakage in 30 workshops...that's over 2200 strings and just one break due to overtightening.  I've tried cheapy nickelwound strings and had really poor electrical performance from them..really weak and unbalanced output. Also, with some cheap strings, when you uncoil them from the pack they still have a lot of curve on them, due to the cheap steel core...a decent brand name string will be are near as dammit perfectly straight after you've uncoiled it from the pack. Your sound starts with the strings...

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Gus on May 4, 2014 at 6:21am

My sound actually starts with delusional thinking, but you make a good point. I haven't broken a string on a box yet, and I tear into 'em with metal fingerpicks a lot of the time.

I still have...a few...leftover low E, B and E strings to figure out a use for.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 5, 2014 at 1:17am

Gees, I missed in Chicken Bone John's strings photo - he has a brand of strings named for him!   Wow.

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Permalink Reply by Hippy Chip on May 4, 2014 at 6:23am

I have tried many different kinds of strings on my CBGs, and now I use only D'Addario nickel wound electrics 10-46 guage. I have used them on my electric guitars for 30+ years, so why change now?

I have glass, brass, copper, aluminum, and stainless steel slides (I make my own) I like the stainless ones the best :)

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 4, 2014 at 6:29am

Well, when I say I cheap strings sound fine to me, keep in mind that I am getting pretty darn hard of hearing!    But they do sound good to me.  :)

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 4, 2014 at 6:30am

But what about the electric vs acoustic string question?

 

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Permalink Reply by SlowHound on May 4, 2014 at 6:52am

Prefer brass, but have glass, ceramic and bone too. My heavy brass just feels the best.

Stared with D'Addario acoustics but switched electric Slinky 10's. They're easily available for a little more than $4 a pack from our local Best Buy. The D's are fairly priced too but the Slinky's sound good to me on acoustic and electric builds. The D's not so much.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 4, 2014 at 6:54am

Ahh, another vote for electrics. 

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Permalink Reply by BUGGY (C) on May 4, 2014 at 7:25am

I use a ceramic one at the moment
A joe perry this has replaces a piece of copper
Tube that lived in my pocket or years.

One of the quietest slides I have played its
A John Maw bottle slide. His is cut away for finger too
Awesome.

Also have Robert Johnson one and a Pork Nuckle

Me an John compared them all one night and his won!
But that's until I get one I'm saving for!

I note with a Pork nuckle the weight stops
String noises so is good but heavy.

I can see why it is a personal choice

Strings cheap Chinese acoustic ones
Are magnetic as they have so much steel in them

Cheap Electric ones are good

If you have an acoustic guitar the martin
Ones do make a difference
I have them on a Russian guitar and they sound
Great.

In my mind nylons can't play the blues!
Except on a uke .

Cheapest slide - copper tube
Most expensive - Robert Johnson reissue
Quitest- a John Maw glass blue one.
Favourite - ceramic
Worst - a melon

Hope this helps..
If you need a comparison let me know.

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