How To Choose A Bottleneck Slide! Is Glass, Ceramic or Metal Best?

Here we delve deep to help you choose a bottleneck guitar slide.
You may be looking at glass, ceramic or metal slides and wondering how different they sound?
This video should open the door so you can
play slide guitar knowing which product is best for you.
Check out Dunlop Slides, Diamond Bottlenecks, Celestal Slides and Silica Sound.
All excellent peoples msking excellent slides.
Links mentioned In the video;
🎵
Beginners slide video - • How To Play Slide Guit...
🎵
Open D & G video - • How To Play Blues Slid...
🎵
Open G - • How To Play In Open G ...
Podcast - Ian from Diamond Bottlenecks - podcasts.apple...
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Thanks for looking!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Support us by clicking the description above and... 🎯Put something in the tip jar. 🎯Subscribe to the mailing list. 🎯Find us on other social media. Thanks all! ❤️❤️❤️

[@b.p.7153]

I must have spent $300 on fancy slides, and I still do not know how to use one properly! 🙄 Thanks for the info. 👍

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Like all good guitarists! Try last weeks video which does a deep dive on basic techniques. 🎯

[@wayne00k]

Martin, you and Jack are an absolute wonder and a joy to listen to. I especially want to thank you both for sharing these "how to" videos. Not many play this style in my area and you both are so thorough that it is like sitting in on a great conversation of craft and tools. Thank you both!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s kind! Thanks. We just want to help and share the good stuff where we can. 🎯

[@gammaraygem]

I used to have a Dunlop copper slide that was a ring with a 1/3 part of a traditional slide soldered on it. Covers only 2 or 3 strings but has the advantage one can play chords. I wore it on the little finger. After a fire it turned into a solid puddle, and I never found another one. "Jet slide" (at Thomann) I tried, but not ideal and expensive. The glass one is vulnerable. My most recent one is the Black Mountain slide ring, it covers only two strings but one retains full agility for making chords. Black Mountain also has some interesting thumbpicks that I personally really like. If you struggle with the regular thumbpicks(like I used to) this may be a solution. Cheers !

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Interesting curveballs here. Going to check all these out now!!

[@jackieinch3455]

Hi Martyn. First of all I want to thank both of you for a wonderful night at the wine vaults in Bath. I loved every minute of it. I’m the lady who spoke to you about slides. I watched the video with Ian McWee and after talking to you placed an order with him. I am now the proud owner of 3 glass bottlenecks. They’re great and Ian McWee is a very lovely and helpful man.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hey Jackie. Ian is truly wonderful. A great guy. Was lovely chatting. It’s lovely you’re using the guitar to keep the memory alive. Get in touch for any help if you need it while learning this stuff! Email is best. Thanks. Martyn

[@thomaswilleborts8842]

High Martin, It is like you've said that almost everyone is starting with a light-weight dunlop glasslide. After this most often it is going to be a chrome or metal-one and the others will follow next. I do love the ceramics! Thanks for the video and greetings for Jack 2, T.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They do and they’re perfectly fine and do a great job. I hope this video helps others get a sense of better slides quicker and how great ceramics can be.

[@ProfessorHumblesDelusions]

I started with the standard glass slides, but recently picked up an Ariel Posen Rock Slide for my pinky finger. I like that it has the ball end so the end doesn’t get caught on the strings.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Heard good things about these. Think I’ll have to get one. 🎯

[@stevemindurown182]

Mate! You really nail vids. For me the Pyrex is very bright, especially on the acoustic. Valid, invaluable points on guitar type, slide material, weight, thickness and string gauge, of course it's subjective. But completely agree on the fit of the slide! Watched vids where some are saying angle your finger inside the slide if it's ill fitting. Watched another one of your vids and the dangle and it don't fall is the rule of thumb for me with a slide. Lack control otherwise, on a style of playing that is all about control.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! Whatever works for the individual is important but I’m hoping we at least add to the patchwork quilt of ideas out there and add parts perhaps others don’t. It should be easy to control the slide as a number one and nowadays you can get bespoke made items very affordably so hopefully people get that from these. Thanks. 🎯

[@stevemindurown182]

@@TheWashboardResonators Def add loads! Unbiased and informative. As you say whichever works best for folk, personal preference etc. Many thanks Martyn 👍👌

[@maxwellfan55]

Personally I wouldn't pay a premium but the Daddy did sound fat and juicy, that's my choice, especially with a custom fit. You are right saying different slides sound very different on each guitar, depending on how hard you play them. Ceramic ok but a waste of money. They break by knocking or dropping them. Can't have that on a session.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Different strokes for different folks as as always. The Daddy is an exquisite piece of work. 🎯

[@maxwellfan55]

@@TheWashboardResonators Yes. I also play slide on fretless mountain banjo (open D), do I get another thumbs up for that haha? Happy new year, friend.

[@shkibby1]

I like the cut outs on The Rock slides and use brass on my acoustic and resonator (I love the muddy clanginess) and use ceramic on my electric as the mounts and dismounts tend to be cleaner. I will say, the small ones are short and maybe don't cover all 6 strings. I can't speak to their mediums or larges as my pinky isn't that big

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Oh yes, Rock slides. Nice nice nice! Agree on ceramic regarding the dismounts. Thanks for taking the time to share the info!! 🎯

[@charlie-obrien]

Very helpful. I have the Dunlop pyrex, that I got just for my Dreadnought acoustic, but I have a Recording King resonator on order and wanted to check out the different materials sounds for that because I wanted a more authentic delta blues sound. Now I'm leaning towards the wine bottleneck or the ceramic.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Get one of each!! They’re all useful!!

[@taylorius]

"Cheapo Pyrex"... Just received mine yesterday, and am excited to get to grips with it. Well I was, anyway...😆

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They’re cheap and made of Pyrex! Perfectly fine slides. Gigged years with mine. Some of the other products though make it easier to play and sound better!

[@troublingleaf]

The celestial sounded almost identical to the diamond bottleneck on the SG, they were probably my favourites (listening through cheap headphones), I hated the metal slides until the big daddy came in, that was almost like you'd changed from singlecoil bridge to a humbucker neck pickup.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s interesting that the ones regarded as ‘the best’ really do come across as giving ‘more tone.’ A Diamond followed by Daddy is my choice and I’ve had them all.

[@BadCatParanormal]

Want all your guitars!!!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They’re all sooooo cool. We know! 😎

[@helencasabona2208]

I think I like the wine bottle slide best (I play a resonator). I’m concerned the Diamond one is too thick and heavy for me. I currently use a brass one which sounds more harsh than I would like.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

All worth a try. The thick ones sustain like metal but are really warm!

[@lewisford1541]

Nice video Martyn. I agree the ceramic slide really sounds quite awesome with high gain on the SG (if I could afford it I would get in touch about that guitar!). I've got a soft spot for glass in general though. Just to throw it in the mix the Rocky Mountain stone slides are worth giving a go, and my mate is selling his 'Red Jasper' model which might interest you. I'll message you directly on FB about it. Cheers

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks Lewis. I never got a stone slide but actually think I need to try one. It’s a really nice SG this one! 😉

[@lewisford1541]

@@TheWashboardResonators I wish re the SG! I'll DM you on fb

[@MrChegcelestialslides]

Thanks man, nice vid! 😉

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! Love the slide too. Check out that lovely strong mid on the electric guitar. Awesome sound and work by you.

[@johnsdog5839]

Nice Channel just discovered you; re-cone gasket, bizarre how discoveries are made, though the wooden Taylor Ebony slide range is the best thing since sliced bread and a worthy cause to support small businesses - developing country, trust me I've tried everything including Chinese jade. But, should I spend more dedicated time on this I would say hold the range of materials to hand to have tonal choice as you would in any instrument for any rendition. Intriguing idea - bored bronze, many years ago I was a lad and used to make brass instrument mouthpieces and the quality through each stage from raw bar to hand turning the final chatters and polishing by eye were the mark of quality, quite obviously affecting tone and resonance, they were solid smooth works of art, to match it for a slide, if only...

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Think this is why the daddy slides are so good. Just as you say with your experience of making mouthpieces. Tiny incremental parts of the process add up to make the final best quality. 🎯

[@Johngaltsghost]

Thorough - well done

[@TheWashboardResonators]

☺️

[@LoneWolf-McWeed]

Ceramic FTW

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎯🎼🎯

[@LoneWolf-McWeed]

@@TheWashboardResonators most sustain, bright bell resonance and great clean or dirty. I have a Justin Johnson Signature Ceramic Slide made in the USA by Jim Dunlop

[@LoneWolf-McWeed]

@@TheWashboardResonators also have a Derek Trucks Signature model but nothing holds a candle to that ceramic. Rock on guys 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@ralfdederichs1359]

Hi Martyn, nice video! I also own some slides from Diamond Bottlenecks and from Daddyslide. I mostly play them on my 2 Leewald Resonators (brassbody singlecone and woodbody tricone) and on my old *1956 Framus Parlor guitar. I feel and hear the differences of the slides on my Leewald woodbody tricone the most. You are absolutely right, it is the guitar-slide-fit! ;-) For me there are a lot of differences in different metal-material. If you - for example - focus on different materials of the Daddyslide slides (special bronze, phosphor bronce or german silver) the description on the homepage sums it up very well. By the way there are some other special materials for sildes, for example marble (from france, you will find them on facebook). That is another sweet sounding option! And: Do you know the clay-slides of Uli Kuder (one man pottery)? Everything he makes is handmade pottery. That's another nice option! Check him out! But finally: If I had to choose one of my slides it was the Daddyslide phosphorebronce or german silver. Cheers!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hey Ralf. Thanks for the info. Really useful information here. Thanks for sharing. I don’t know the clay ones but have heard of them. 🎯

[@ralfdederichs1359]

@@TheWashboardResonators Hi Martyn, there are several clay-slides on the market. If I am right there is also a small workshop in the UK - can't remember the name right now. Also those dunlop Boneyard slides aren't bad, they have thick walls. But for nearly the same money there are those small workshops. I prefer that, also you will probably find a better fitting slide to your needs. Uli Kuder (one man pottery) for example also has some bigwall slides as well and also very special thin-wall timble-style slides with really beautiful grafics on them. For some guitars those thin-wall slides work quite well (but I prefer the thick-wall clay slides). Really beautiful!

[@robertbrusellenglishguitarist]

Very good video, pity that there was no bone slide demonstrated.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Not sure how I’d do one!

[@OldMeanGeezer]

much better on the resonator guitar!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@bradenselkirk4930]

Honestly the biggest difference for me was from the cheap glass to the wine bottle. Huge change

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Very true. Tell you what. A cheap one on a distorted electric has its own thing. On acoustic instruments generally the more expensive the better.

[@jasonmoore4060]

Great!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!

[@gungfulo]

Hi The diamond green bottleneck slide.Could you tell me the wall thickness please nice and thick for the sustain. 4mm or thicker? Thank you.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

I’m out of the house now so can’t measure but 4mm sounds about right. You could go to Ian’s website and check the spec of message or email and he’ll tell you precisely what’s going on.

[@gungfulo]

@@TheWashboardResonators Thank you so much for the reply. I appreciate your time, and PS A great channel .

[@gungfulo]

I have emailed Ian. Thanks a million.

[@gungfulo]

Spoke to Ian, it's on its way perfect measurements. Thanks again Martin.

[@gungfulo]

Slide came today that's what I call service, and she sings like an angel. I would highly recommend Diamond Slides, The best slide I ever had.

[@jasonmoore4060]

Wish youd speify tunings

[@jasonmoore4060]

My bad lol sounds great

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s a demonstration of slides. Not a guitar lesson. 🫠