How to set up an acoustic for slide?

Mark McLean · Post by **Mark McLean** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:10 pm

I have a D-18 copy made in the 70's by Terada. It is a nice solid back/sides mahogany and sitka guitar that I found in a pawn shop for a good price. I would like to set it up for playing slide (I have never played slide before - but keen to learn). I am thinking that I will probably play with it in my lap, rather than standing.

Anyway - what tips can you all give me about setup? I'll make a new nut and saddle. Are a straight nut and saddle better than radiused ones? What is a good height for the action at the 12th fret? What about neck relief and string gauge? Any other tips?
thanks
Mark

jeffhigh · Post by **jeffhigh** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:01 pm

If you are playing lap style it is a totaly different setup to playing bottleneck.
You want to have a flat surface across the top of the strings so your steel can stop all the strings at once with minimal force so yes you want flat nut and saddle.
String height is a bit of a personal preference depending on how heavy handed you are say about 6mm at the nut and 10mm at the 13th fret between top of frets and underside of strings
neck relief is unimportant since the string should never touch the frets but it will look better if you keep it adjusted straight.
String sizes depend on the tuning you are going to use, a common one is open D which is like a first position e chord tuned down two semitones DADF# A D.
I am currently using a dobro set but you can use a medium guage set and repace the first 2 string with a 16 and 20

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:27 pm

G'day Mark,

Well Jeff has provided some excellent advice there.

If you want some playing tips just send me an email. I have some slide tabs you may be interested in too that I can send you. I also have a tutorial on open tunings if you would like a copy! You will need a tone bar also and a good all round bar is a Shubb sp2. Maybe a thunb pick and some finger picks too. Tone bars, picks etc are a personal thing so have a look around and try out a few. Slide is great fun and takes guitar music to a different place.

Have fun

Cheers

Alan

Mark McLean · Post by **Mark McLean** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 3:27 pm

Thanks Jeff - just what I needed to know. I'll start with those specs and then play around with it.

Alan, that is very generous - and I will take you up on the offer of the tutorials. I'll send you an email today.

cheers

Mark

Hippety Hop · Post by **Hippety Hop** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:16 pm

Here's a classical-lap slide conversion.

But they're definitely not playing classical music.

Cheers Hip.

Mark McLean · Post by **Mark McLean** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:31 am

Will I have to grow one of those beards?

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:32 pm

Mark McLean wrote:Will I have to grow one of those beards?

Only if you intend playing slide seriously.

fingerpickengood · Post by **fingerpickengood** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:30 pm

Lucky I already have one,

Check out Kelly Joe Phelps and Harry Manx for great converted lap steel players

Michael

fingerpickengood · Post by **fingerpickengood** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:16 pm

Beard that is

some inspiration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSoGIlXG0TY

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:50 pm

Wow, ZZTop!

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 7:15 pm

Those guys are not very safety conscious....only a matter of time before they get their bldi beards caught up in the strings.

Theyre obviously playing classicals because they cant afford banjos

Mark McLean wrote:Will I have to grow one of those beards?

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How to set up an acoustic for slide?

How to set up an acoustic for slide?

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