• From: northern England
  • Registered: 2006-12-03
  • Posts: 36

Topic: bottle neck slide guitar

Hello everyone, I hope you can help.

I wouldn't normally post a question on this section of the forum as I don't tend to play very much acoustic guitar.  However, I thought that for this query, you acoustic guys may be a bit more knowledgeable.

I needed a bottle neck for one song I play and, rather than buying one, I cut a piece of 22mm copper pipe (which I had knocking around in the garage) to the right length with a pipe cutter, rubbed the ends with wire wool to remove any sharp edges, and used that.  Looking around the internet (not that hard I must admit) I couldn't find anyone selling copper bottlenecks.  Lots of chrome, brass and glass but no copper.

Is there a reason why no one sells copper bottleneck/slides?  Do they react with the strings badly and cause them to corode?  Do they effect the magnets in the pickups?  Is it a tone thing?  Does everyone secretly do this and I've just missed it?

Just wondered really as I've cut three (in case I loose one which I tend to do a lot) and they've cost me nothing.  2 meters of copper pipe at B&Q is about £18 so how many bottlenecks can you get out of that?(yes I know it depends on how long your fingers are but you get my drift).

Just curious

Thanks

  • zguitar
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  • From: Mentone, Ca
  • Registered: 2009-01-10
  • Posts: 1,367

Re: bottle neck slide guitar

I know nothing about slides but I do know a little about metal. Copper is very soft. I would think that your guitar strings are harder than copper therefore the slide would wear very fast. I'm surprised that you found brass slides as brass is very soft also. But being as how brass is used for wind instruments I would guess that it has good sound qualities. Copper probly not so much. That's my 2 cents.

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  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
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Re: bottle neck slide guitar

Copper's not slippery.  Stainless, glass, and polished brass all slide over the strings fairly well.  Comparatively, copper grabs.  Polish it up and see how it works for you.  If it works for you, it works well enough. 

- Zurf

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  • dino48
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  • From: los banos,california
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 6,801

Re: bottle neck slide guitar

Iam not positive but I am fairly sure they use glass,I know russell harding here at chordie was playing a song on you tube and he sounded great. Maybe he will see this soon and help you.

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  • From: Texas
  • Registered: 2007-07-31
  • Posts: 950

Re: bottle neck slide guitar

I got a set of three for christmas, not that I ever learned to play them very well. They were brass, stainless steel, and
glass. I don't know anything abouy metal ( or
much about slides) but I think those are your standard types. The old blues players reportedly used empty glass
perscription bottles, and I've heard of playing with a case
knife. Just getting
one from the music store cant be TOO expensive right? And they look cool sitting around the rest of my knick knacks anyway!

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  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
  • Posts: 2,446

Re: bottle neck slide guitar

Fundamental theorem of Chordie: zguitar + Zurf = perfect answer.

too soft. too grabby.

  • From: northern England
  • Registered: 2006-12-03
  • Posts: 36

Re: bottle neck slide guitar

thanks guys.

I only use a slide for one song at the moment and, if I'm honest, it does feel like it drags a little although I put that down to me.

At least I know I'm not actually damaging anything (apart from everyones ears)

Thanks again

Shaun