Bottle slide setup

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ozziebluesman
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Bottle slide setup

Post by ozziebluesman » Fri Feb 03, 2017 10:05 pm

Another question is I have a friend who has an Epiphone acoustic with a zero nut and he would like to convert it for bottle slide.
Is that possible?
Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Alan
"Play to express, not to impress"

Alan Hamley

http://www.hamleyfineguitars.com/

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Mark McLean
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Re: Bottle slide setup

Post by Mark McLean » Fri Feb 03, 2017 11:05 pm

If he wants to play entirely with a slide - in other words never fret a note ever again - it should be no problem. In that situation the position of the frets, including a zero fret, is irrelevant. In fact they could all be removed and it would make no difference. Guitars with a zero fret still have a nut to achieve correct string spacing but it doesn't detetmine string height. If that nut was replaced with a taller one to achieve a high action for slide playing then the strings will no longer be in contact with the zero fret. This will mean that the scale length will be a bit longer than before, and every fret will be a bit out of position to produce the appropriate pitch for that fretted note. However, slide playing should not be affected.

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ozziebluesman
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Re: Bottle slide setup

Post by ozziebluesman » Sat Feb 04, 2017 9:47 am

Thanks Mark, I have no experience with the zero nut. Your explanation makes sense. Thank you!
"Play to express, not to impress"

Alan Hamley

http://www.hamleyfineguitars.com/

jeffhigh
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Re: Bottle slide setup

Post by jeffhigh » Sat Feb 04, 2017 12:20 pm

It depends on his style of playing. Does he combine fretted notes with slide notes? Many players do and if this is the case you will not want a greatly increased action.
I would not replace the nut, all that would possibly be needed would be to raise the saddle and maybe install a slightly higher section zero fret.
But again, it depends on what he needs out of the guitar

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ozziebluesman
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Re: Bottle slide setup

Post by ozziebluesman » Sat Feb 04, 2017 12:49 pm

G'day Jeff,
Yes he would want to fret as well as slide.
I will try a jumbo fret closest to the nut and see how that feels. The strings only have to be about 1.5 to 2 mm from the frets which a well worn and then 3 to 4 mm from the 12th fret. That's the drift I have researched anyway.
Thanks for your input.
Cheers
Alan
"Play to express, not to impress"

Alan Hamley

http://www.hamleyfineguitars.com/

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Mark McLean
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Re: Bottle slide setup

Post by Mark McLean » Sat Feb 04, 2017 11:40 pm

If he wants to fret notes as well as slide, then you have the right plan - a taller zero fret and raise the saddle a bit. Hope it works out well. M

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ozziebluesman
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Re: Bottle slide setup

Post by ozziebluesman » Mon Feb 06, 2017 6:10 pm

I made a nut to fit in between the zero fret and the nut.
The intonation is not perfect but close enough for old style blues.
Thanks for all your discussion.
Cheers
Alan
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"Play to express, not to impress"

Alan Hamley

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Mark McLean
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Re: Bottle slide setup

Post by Mark McLean » Tue Feb 07, 2017 4:12 pm

That'll work. Good fix

mm

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