I had a bottle that was served to a friend and me at a restaurant. The neck looked nice and parallel and so I thought I would have a go at making my own glass slide (I have made metal ones before but not glass). I found this video on YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNfyWl4N6Xs"It is one of the ones put up by Back Porch Mojo and it shows the process really well, using a Dremel and a diamond wheel. So I got some discs on eBay and used my normal drill fixed to the kitchen table. The only thing is that the edge is not quite as shiny as the rest of the bottle.The really good thing is that you can use them as a reminder of a particular occasion (in this case, a friend coming over from the US to stay for a few days).
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The idea of the cutout is fantastic. I've just been to the shed and made a similar one and the notch feels really good. As suggested, I cut it at about 45 degrees, almost from the seam line. Also, great tips on the polishing slides. I have cloth grades from 800 down to 12000, but I'd never thought of using it on glass.
Yes. I think you are quite right about the control. This is quite a big heavy slide and it feels great when doing vibrato, but it doesn't feel at all unwieldy and I think that is because of the control you mention and the fact that the contact area around the base of the finger is so much wider that the weight is spread.
No, it's defenitly got the full blown Mojo thing goin'. I like the finger cut, I would have to think that would give you more control also. I can't get over how good your slides come out, top notch! Thanks for the tips! Polishing slides sounds like a good job to do sitting on the porch of the cabin watching the Missouri river roll by and enjoy a cigar or two along with a few ice cold Coors. I'll give it a lash tonight, Thanks again John!
I used emery polishing paper (which has to be used with oil and not water, but wet and dry would do just as well), steel wool and finally a polishing mop on a grinder with polishing soap. I might try emery paste or diamond paste on future ones. Here is an example of the much deeper cutout (not yet fully finished). Incidentally, this is from a champaign bottle to be used on a 6 string with a radiused fretboard. Does that give it some sort of reverse mojo?
I have done a few of these since then and find that it is better to make the slide a lot longer and cut a much deeper notch. If you look at it from the end and imagine a line cutting through the centre (about where the lines are), cut from there at about 45°. If you use the slide on the pinkie and want it to go to the bottom of the finger it needs to be cut at a different angle.
Hey John, I like the mod you made on the slide. I am working on a dozen or so slides out at the cabin and I'm going to try this out as I am not a fan of playing on the bottle seam, my playing sounds enough like someone killing a cat without adding the seam to the noise. What did you sand the ends with to get them so nice?
Comments
Hi Diglydog and Garrett.
Many thanks to both of you for the comments.
All the best.
John
Good looking slides!
The idea of the cutout is fantastic. I've just been to the shed and made a similar one and the notch feels really good. As suggested, I cut it at about 45 degrees, almost from the seam line. Also, great tips on the polishing slides. I have cloth grades from 800 down to 12000, but I'd never thought of using it on glass.
Yes. I think you are quite right about the control. This is quite a big heavy slide and it feels great when doing vibrato, but it doesn't feel at all unwieldy and I think that is because of the control you mention and the fact that the contact area around the base of the finger is so much wider that the weight is spread.
No, it's defenitly got the full blown Mojo thing goin'. I like the finger cut, I would have to think that would give you more control also. I can't get over how good your slides come out, top notch! Thanks for the tips! Polishing slides sounds like a good job to do sitting on the porch of the cabin watching the Missouri river roll by and enjoy a cigar or two along with a few ice cold Coors. I'll give it a lash tonight, Thanks again John!
Hi.
I used emery polishing paper (which has to be used with oil and not water, but wet and dry would do just as well), steel wool and finally a polishing mop on a grinder with polishing soap. I might try emery paste or diamond paste on future ones. Here is an example of the much deeper cutout (not yet fully finished). Incidentally, this is from a champaign bottle to be used on a 6 string with a radiused fretboard. Does that give it some sort of reverse mojo?
I've had that nickname ever since I was just a Madpup. What do you sand the ends with to get them looking that good?
Hi Maddog (great name, by the way).
I have done a few of these since then and find that it is better to make the slide a lot longer and cut a much deeper notch. If you look at it from the end and imagine a line cutting through the centre (about where the lines are), cut from there at about 45°. If you use the slide on the pinkie and want it to go to the bottom of the finger it needs to be cut at a different angle.
I will maybe get some more photos up.
All the best.
John
Hey John, I like the mod you made on the slide. I am working on a dozen or so slides out at the cabin and I'm going to try this out as I am not a fan of playing on the bottle seam, my playing sounds enough like someone killing a cat without adding the seam to the noise. What did you sand the ends with to get them so nice?
Hi Andy.
Thanks very much for the comment.
All the best.
John
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