Best slide for guitars not set up for slide only?

[cragginshred]

I've tried some bigger glass ones and they clunk on the frets whereas my plastic type slide is perfect but I cannot find the same one anywhere.
Would a ceramic slide be the next light one?

Links are great too. I type in 'plastic slide' and all glass come up so I'm not sure if it is pvc or?

Thanks!

 

[itchyfingers]

Crazy, I don't think I've ever seen a plastic slide! You could get a brass slide, they're ususally thin and lighter than glass, but might not be the tone you want.

The unpopular answer tho - you need to put in the hours and work on your technique. There should be no clanging or clunking on frets. You need to have a super light touch with your left hand, not just the slide, but the index finger muting behind the slide. Then your right hand needs to mute all the strings except the one(s) you're playing.

 

[Achilles]

Crazy, I don't think I've ever seen a plastic slide!

Same. Think the OP might mean ceramic. @cragginshred

 

[cragginshred]

Crazy, I don't think I've ever seen a plastic slide! You could get a brass slide, they're ususally thin and lighter than glass, but might not be the tone you want.

The unpopular answer tho - you need to put in the hours and work on your technique. There should be no clanging or clunking on frets. You need to have a super light touch with your left hand, not just the slide, but the index finger muting behind the slide. Then your right hand needs to mute all the strings except the one(s) you're playing.

I hear ya but most slide players have high action right? I use slide for one song of 40 so.... I just refuse to lug one dedicated guitar with higher action to a gig for one song

Mine ay not be plastic but it's not glass or ceramic -maybe pvc. I will work on technique for sure but reality some slides are bigger and heavier which makes them more likely to clank.

 

[Achilles]

but reality some slides are bigger and heavier which makes them more likely to clank.

Shubb AXYS Reversible Guitar Slide

Brass Slide with Reversible Open Design

www.sweetwater.com

 

[Eagle]

Lighter the better.

 

[itchyfingers]

I hear ya but most slide players have high action right? I use slide for one song of 40 so.... I just refuse to lug one dedicated guitar with higher action to a gig for one song

Mine ay not be plastic but it's not glass or ceramic -maybe pvc. I will work on technique for sure but reality some slides are bigger and heavier which makes them more likely to clank.

Oh definitely - if you have a dedicated guitar for slide, the higher the action the better! I'm in pretty much the same boat as you, slide comes out for one or two songs a night, and I don't wanna bring extra guitars. I went down a similar rabbit hole as the one you seem to be entering; mini-slides, brass slides, guitars tuned to G or D standard with monster action. In the end tho, dedicating a few minutes of every practice session to working on slide technique on a guitar with normal action and standard tuning was worth the endeavor.

 

[woody]

I've tried some bigger glass ones and they clunk on the frets whereas my plastic type slide is perfect but I cannot find the same one anywhere.
Would a ceramic slide be the next light one?

Links are great too. I type in 'plastic slide' and all glass come up so I'm not sure if it is pvc or?

Thanks!

Wearing the slide a lot might help with the clunking.
You've got to get used to the weight. Just wearing the slide as much as possible every day will help you to feel more comfortable with the slide and to control the weight.
The next step could be practicing to drop the slide onto the strings without the clunk. Just drop it an lift it back up, rinse repeat.
It's stupid stuff, but it's the basic mechanics. It really helps to spend some time there.

 

[cragginshred]

Oh definitely - if you have a dedicated guitar for slide, the higher the action the better! I'm in pretty much the same boat as you, slide comes out for one or two songs a night, and I don't wanna bring extra guitars. I went down a similar rabbit hole as the one you seem to be entering; mini-slides, brass slides, guitars tuned to G or D standard with monster action. In the end tho, dedicating a few minutes of every practice session to working on slide technique on a guitar with normal action and standard tuning was worth the endeavor.

Nice, what type of slide did you end up with? The one i have works great i just need another one to keep in my case to always have it with me

 

[itchyfingers]

I cannot for the life of me remember the brand name, but my local mom n pop (shout out to Moze Guitars!) had these hand blown glass slides, and I found a light one that fits my middle finger perfectly.