Question Doin' the Electric Slide

[slinkster]

I've been having a lot of fun with bottleneck lately, and I set up an Ibanez strat (SA-160) for dedicated slide in open e tuning. Currently, I've got it working OK with a lime slinky set (regular 10's), but I would like higher tension to get rid of some fret striking, so I'd like to go up in gauge.

Am I right in thinking that the Not Even Slinky isn't going to work well because of that big honkin' plain third? Should I just go to Power (11's)? Is there a better option?

Thanks!

 

[DrKev]

I've never found plain thirds to be a problem but I can understand why some don't like 'em. You can of course buy a single wound G-string to replace the plain one. Buy 'em in a number of gauges and see what you like. The single strings (like all of their strings) are available from the Ernie Ball online store if you live in the US & Canada, UK & Ireland, or France.

If fret striking is a problem I'd raise the action higher. I found I eliminated a lot of fret striking by using a lighter slide and being very careful to use the minimum amount of pressure possible. If your guitar is dedicated for slide playing, string tension is practically a non-issue issue for your fingers so you can go as heavy as you like (which helps if you find the high-E string sounding a little feeble). You may need to get the nut slots cut wider but that also presents the possible advantage of having a new, higher nut made too which will help kill off any fret striking on the lowest frets.

I would also try different slides. Of course for my little fingers I found that most commercial slides were too wide and long. Try your local hardware store and find some copper or brass tubing that suits you. Cut to different lengths and file/sand the ends and edges very smooth. A custom slide will give you much more control and getting the length right can improve your playing enormously.

Of course I'm an unbelievably crappy slide player and it's something I only ever do once in a blue moon, under severe duress (though they usually never ask again)! You're probably way ahead of me already and all my advice here is probably old news to you!