Home-made Slides

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ibanezrocks

ibanezrocks

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How exactly would you make a slide out of a bottleneck, and how would you remove the neck from the bottle, and smooth out the edge? What kind of tools would be required? Is this at all practical or are the bottles that are available now too thin?
 
I've never tried, and candidly, the low cost of slides seems to eliminate the effort.

I think I read that you have to heat the bottle and then use an etching tool to score the glass with enough of a groove that you can break it off. I beleive you then simply sand down the edges.
 
Much easier to buy one, but first find a bottle with a neck that's long and straight enough for you (and big enough to get your finger into).. score the breaking point with a glass cutter, then break it off by hitting the bottom section of the bottle. It should break along the score.

When I did it I wrapped up the section that I was trying to keep with masking tape.. dunno if that helps, but it worked for me... For sanding I went to the side of the road and grinded off the sharp edge by scraping it on the road and curb. It may take a few practice bottles until you get one to break just right.

watch out for your fingers. Cutting them with glass sucks! :eek:
 
You can probably find a glass cutting kit at a local hobby store like Hobby Lobby or Micheal's. The directions when I did it said to score the glass then put it in hot or boiling water, then cold or ice water. The bottle broke right along the score.

I have no idea what to use to get the glass to an acceptible rounded edge tho... otherwise you can be a pioneer of using blood as a tonal ingredient.
 
Tadpui said:
You can probably find a glass cutting kit at a local hobby store like Hobby Lobby or Micheal's. The directions when I did it said to score the glass then put it in hot or boiling water, then cold or ice water. The bottle broke right along the score.

I have no idea what to use to get the glass to an acceptible rounded edge tho... otherwise you can be a pioneer of using blood as a tonal ingredient.
Click to expand...

A Dunlop glass slide is freakin' $4 at Musiciansfriend! . That glass cutting kit is how much?
 
Tie a thickish string or twine around the bottle neck where you want the break to be and cut the loose ends at the knot. Soak it with lighter fluid, kerosene, alcohol, deisel fuel or other flammable fluid and light it.

When it's burned and about ready to go out, plunge the bottle in cold or ice water. It should break cleanly at the string line, and you can use a sharpening stone or emery paper to smooth and bevel it.
 
Do you prefer glass?
If you look around there's all kinds of stuff you can make into a slide.
I use a brass motor bushing,it's heavy and dense,giving it great sustain.Also it mellows out the brightness.
I've read that Johny winter uses a polished piece of electrical conduit.

I'd really have to like that bottleneck to go through the trouble of cutting it off though.
 
I already have a glass slide, this isnt to save money, this is just for fun.
 
It's a good thing you guyz are talking about glass guitar slides. I almost had to call the bong police. :D :D :confused: :D :D
 
i use a couple kinds of slide.
the one i made that sounds the best is a bath tub stopper made of brass and kind of modded out a little and then polished off real well
another slide i made out of a bud light bottle neck
then i have one made out of a steel bearing that was long and round and of course very smooth also very heavy as its made of tool steel.
and of course my first slide was a craftsmen socket that fit my finger
after all they are under warrenty for life!
 
guitar junkie said:
and of course my first slide was a craftsmen socket that fit my finger
after all they are under warrenty for life!
Click to expand...

I'm heading out to my toolbox....
 
There is a store in Memphis that sells hand made slides from wine bottle necks. I bought one when I was on the road there.

Here's how they make them:

Thick green glass wine bottle;

Fairly thick (bottom E string) non-wound wire

Place around the neck where you want the break to be

Twist very tight, leaving enough to heat over gas (or electric I guess) cooking ring

Heat until red (white!) hot (the wire, not the bottle ;) )

Keep hot for a few minutes

Gently tap top of bottle to break (perhaps plunging into cold water would work too - I'm guessing)

sand down as required.

The one I bought cost $10 - seems like a lot of work to save $10.
But whatever rings your bell, eh?

Or you could go to Encore Music on Portage and see what they have in stock?

Have fun
 
Well...

If you really want to have some fun, then do it the old fashioned way - hold a tallneck Bud upside down, smash it over your drummer's head and - voila - instant guitar slide!

Sorry, but someone had to say it. Cheers, Rez :D
 
RezN8 said:
If you really want to have some fun, then do it the old fashioned way - hold a tallneck Bud upside down, smash it over your drummer's head and - voila - instant guitar slide!

Sorry, but someone had to say it. Cheers, Rez :D
Click to expand...
A couple of the bars I played at, the customers would do that for you for no extra charge! :eek:

The chicken wire didn't always keep them off the stage.... :rolleyes:
 
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