Comparison: 5 Guitar Finger Slides For Acoustic Or Electric Playing

Here Are Five Common Guitar Slides Which Offer A Variety Of Potent Tonal Tendencies

How do you determine which type of guitar slide provides the best sound? Some legendary slide musicians, including Duane Allman and currently Ry Cooder, only use glass on their fingers while others, such as celebrated bluesmen Johnny Winter and Muddy Waters, favor metal. Then there are six-string prodigies like Leo Kotke, who prefer brass. Whether it’s acoustic or electric playing, each guitar slide produces a distinct tonal character.

We looked at an assortment of guitar slides and evaluated their size, material construction and tonal character by road testing them on an acoustic National Steel Tricone resonator and an electric Delaney Guitars solid body, equipped with Cream T pick-ups, plugged into a Fender Blues Junior amplifier and run through a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal. Review our ratings and then compare the results for yourself.

Blooze Bottle Glass w/ lip	Dunlop™ 218 Glass	Dunlop 228 Chromed brass	Rocky Mountain Slides - Blues Boy Ceramic	The Rock Slide Brass
Price: $3.49	Price: $5.99	Price: $8.95	Price: $19.95	Price: $24.95
Length: Short Size: 19mm x 31mm x 51mm	Length: Short Size: 20mm x 29mm x 51mm	Length: Short Size: 19mm x 27 x 51mm	Length: Standard (long) Size: 22-24mm x 61-63mm	Length: Medium Size: 19mm x 57.8mm
Material: New glass (not Pyrex)	Material: Boron silicate (Pyrex)	Material: Brass w/chrome exterior	Material: Glazed ceramic	Material: Plain brass
Thickness: Medium	Thickness: Heavy	Thickness: Heavy	Thickness: Medium	Thickness: Heavy
Color: Amber	Color: Clear	Color: Metallic	Color: Bayou Blue (available in assorted colors)	Color: Brass
Tonal character: Lighter warmth and finesse than Pyrex but a bit more fragile.	Tonal character: Warm midrange, slightly more subdued than metal.	Tonal character: Bright, lots of sustain.	Tonal character: Brightness as well as warmth.	Tonal character: Superior sustain.
Application: Preferred by electric players but can also be used on acoustic.	Application: Acoustic and electric.	Application: Great with acoustic and electric.	Application: A favorite with electric axes .	Application: Used by many acoustic players; also fares well with electric.

Blooze Bottle: Glass w/ lip

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It’s supposed to resemble a miniature Coricidin™ bottle, almost like the one used by Duane Allman. The only problem is that its closed end design lends itself to moisture build-up inside the slide, which can become slippery. Though cool looking, the lip takes a little getting used to.

Dunlop™ 218: Glass (Pyrex)

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Slides like the 218 have made Dunlop an industry favorite. Sturdy construction and a consistently reliable response on both acoustic and electrics make this a winner.

Dunlop™228: Chromed Brass

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Dunlop’s 228 is another reason why the company is mentioned twice in this article. Some players think gritty metal-on-metal is the best approach to acoustic or electric slide playing. When you consider the 228, they may be right.

Rocky Mountain Slides: Blues Boy (ceramic)

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When it comes to contemporary slide players who live to play electric, many insist ceramic is the premiere finger slide. Its greatest attribute is the way unwanted overtones are tamed. Once players switch to ceramic, they find it hard to go back to either glass or metal.

The Rock Slide: Brass

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“The Rock” may not be a household name when it comes to guitar slides; however, there’s no denying its rich sustain and rounded metal character. There is something traditional yet compelling about the yellowish hue of brass slides. This one is no exception.

There are numerous finger slides on the market. Most are interchangeable, between acoustic guitars and electric ones, while some may work better with others. Though a slide is a small investment, it can add greater dimension to any player’s repertoire.