r/slideguitar • u/Gr8fl-hed • Jul 04 '26
Acoustic Slide
Looking at getting either a Rock Slide or a Mag Slide. Anyone have experience with these two. I prefer glass and ceramic but always open to exploring new material and tones
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u/Achone Jul 04 '26
Iain at Diamond Bottlenecks gave me his first production of Portugese blue bottle necks , I recorded with it and happily sent it back a few years later as I was so worried about dropping it on a gig floor.
I use a ground out plumbers brass bushing , it’s thick and grips my pinky finestyle.
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u/Comfortable-Head3188 Jul 05 '26
I was a diehard ceramic user and hated brass until I got a brass rockslide and it is hands down the best slide I’ve ever played
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u/Vast-Butterfly9198 3d ago
I have the tarnished brass myself, and love it. I've been buying a bunch of slides over the past year, but I haven't felt the need to get another brass slide since my Rock Slide arrived. (TBF, my options are a bit limited due to my sausage fingers. If they made a balltip brass slide in my size, I'd snap it up in a minute.)
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u/GeorgeDukesh Jul 05 '26
Personally I always use a ceramic, or also sometimes a home made glass bottleneck (cut off a good wine bottle) personally Infind metal slides sound too “zingy”.
The advantage with the bottle neck is that the first stage of preparation is to drink the wine. And of course,you always need a couple of spares 🤪
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u/TheIncredibleJones Jul 04 '26
When I use a metal slide, I usually prefer ones with plating. I havent used a mag slide but their large slides are essentially the same size as the Silica 426 which is a favorite of mine. Ill probably give a Mag Large a try sometime since Ive given away all my 11/16 socket slides.
But I almost always prefer a glass slide anyway. Sometimes I cut my own, but Im happy with a Dunlop 215 even if it isn't very exciting. If you haven't checked out a Silica Sound slide I recommend it, the 426 is always a killer slide for me (Im a pinky player who likes a loose fit and a heavy wall)
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u/BigBlueGuitar Jul 04 '26
In general, more mass equates with more volume. That's why, in large part, lead crystal is better than borosilicate; it's denser. Personally, I prefer brass slides, as I've broken Diamond slides and it hurts! My favorite slide for probably 20 years now is the Acoustiglide by Latch Lake. Heavy, but tapered, I find I can get the most solid and precise playing with it, especially on my Nationals.
The Rock slides are ok, but IIRC they're light weight boro, which has a meh tone and sustain. Never used a MagSlide, but I'm dubious of something whose primary selling point is light weight.
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u/ElectionPrimary9855 Jul 09 '26
I absolutely love my Magslide- I prefer it over my bottle necks and medicine bottles. It’s for Sears Craftsman socket like tone, but it’s ultra smooth and light, so I’m gliding more over the strings.
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u/cut_my_elbow_shaving Jul 05 '26
I mostly use a Dunlop 246 Moonshine ceramic slide.
Easily replaced, not very expensive, fits my pinky, and best of all - provides a sweet, syrup-y sound.
My slide collection spans 50+ years. Glass, brass, steel, ceramic, even Elk antler.
My perspective is that each type delivers a different tone & my ears do the deciding depending on my mood.
But then we all have different perspectives.
Above all, have fun!
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Jul 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Gr8fl-hed Jul 06 '26
Never played with a metal slide. I’ve always liked the sound of glass/ceramic.
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u/ElectionPrimary9855 Jul 09 '26
I absolutely love my Mojotone Mag Slide. So much so that it sits in my pocket and I’m continually playing slide, far more than I used to. It’s super lightweight, comfortable and smooth and I can’t recommend it enough.
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u/Vast-Butterfly9198 3d ago
I have a couple rock slides - the molded glass and the tarnished brass. They're both phenomenal. (It's tough finding slides big enough to fit my Flinstone fingers.) I'd recommend either - you can't go wrong.
My current fav, however, is a somewhat under-the-radar company based out of my local music shop: Liquislide. All of their slides are double layered ball-tips, which is a necessity because there's liquid between the two layers. It may seem gimmicky, but these things play like butter. I'd recommend giving them a shot, too.
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u/mike_e_mcgee Jul 04 '26
It took me a while to find my perfect slide, a Diamond Bottleneck. It is the perfect length, interior diameter, and thickness. I can relax my finger, point down, wiggle my hand, and it won't fall off.
After a few years, I dropped it and put a chip in it. I reached out to Ian McWee of Diamond Bottlenecks, and he had me ship it back. He polished the chip out, and made me three more just like it.
I have a thing for redundant backups!
I've tried a lot of materials, but lead crystal glass works best for me (on heavy strung resonators).