Slide setup questions

Fndrman · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject: Slide setup questions

I'm setting my '76 Ibanez LP Lawsuit up for slide, and I need to know if I should tighten the truss rod, considering that I'm putting on 12-52 strings. Also, my volume controls don't turn off all the way. Thanks.

Teleblooz · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 12:43 am Post subject:

Don't really have an answer for you, Glen - rather a question. What do you understand "setting up for slide" to entail? I always just thought of it as just raising the action a bit so the slide doesn't bang on the fretboard (which is what I did with my Bullet), and maybe going with slightly heavier strings. How radical a transformation are you planning?
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teleman77 · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 4:18 am Post subject:

I play slide with my regular tele and use a light touch on the slide.
I didn't change a damm thing on my guitar.

Whatcha got in mind?
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Fndrman · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject:

What I'm doing is raising the action, putting on heavy guage strings and tuning to an open E tuning, which I already did. I think all that would put more stress on the neck...maybe I answered my own questions. Wink

Teleblooz · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject:

Maybe so, but since fret buzz isn't an issue, would it make any difference?
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Fndrman · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 4:49 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure yet...I'll have to keep an eye on the neck.

SAguitar · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject:

Yes, you have put a bit more stress on the neck, so it should bow a little bit more, which would actually facilitate slide playing a bit, allowing you to put a little more downpressure on the slide itself.

If you want to return this one to lower action, it might take some time for the neck to adjust to the lesser tension again.
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Fndrman · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject:

When you say return to normal action, do you mean as a slide guitar or a normal setup?

SAguitar · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject:

I was talkin' about returning it to lower, standard action.
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Harmony_man · Curses! Foiled Again Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 615

I did a similar thing with a POS flying v I have, got a really cool lo-fi slide sound, however If you're going to raise the action a hell of a lot I would recommend getting a brass nut extender too. When I did, it made a huge difference. Mind you, I raised the action so fretting was essentially impossible and used 13-56 gauge strings (at the time my preferred gauge).
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Fndrman · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 7:40 am Post subject:

gpower · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject:

You'd have to slowly tweak it back to normal.
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Fndrman · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:09 am Post subject: