I have a MIM STRAT with graphtech saddles. I use 11/46 guage strings. i've raised the saddles up, left the factory cut nut and use a glass slide. I feel I could use some pointers or suggestions on set up of my strat. I'm not that happy with my set up. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I hate it. I'm always moving the saddles up and down to find that perfect set up. In particularly don't like how the high e sounds. Its kind of intermittant sounding - sometimes good and sometime bad.

Also, what is a good pickup height to set things up. I've tried to keep my guitar with 10 or 11's - 46 so I can play normal with it also. I seem to favour the neck/middle ( position 4) setting on the strat. Its a bit thicker IMHO.

I'm using OPEN E alot but change sometimes. I read Kirk's info a bit on drop D but would like to understand more the reasons this is a good tuning and get better at slide in whatever tuning I use.

I'm open for suggestions to make the STRAT a better slide guitar.

i'm going to pick up a Godin LG with SP-90's as this is an awsome guitar and I think it would be GREAT for slide.

Comments welcome.

I am wondering aloud why I'm show as a Guest at the side of my message? In most other forums I have a user name?

For the STRAT set up I'm interest in the height at the 12 fret and guage of strings people are using as well as how high pickups are set to the strings.

I'm curious as so many people play strats for slide yet I keep having to move my bridge saddles up and down and never really get comfy or find that perfect set up. I just changed my 10/46 guage strings ( usingally use and 11 or 12 for the E) to 11, 14, 18p, 38, 38, 48. That feels better. I have gone as high at 50's but never any higher.

Hi there 'Guest'
I just registered for this Forum. It looks to be very new and not too active. Too bad.
I play a strat and play slide on it all thye time, but not exclusively slide. I have other guitars set up just for slide, though.
I like to use a hybrid set of strings, as heavy as 52 on the low E. I use an 11 on top, anything lighter seems to fret out. My slide teacher likes 14s on the high E, but I manage with 11's.
I have fairly high action at the 12th fret, but I'm used to it that way. None of my guitars have low action, or I can't dig in for my bends.
Strats and single coils in general seem to sound a bit thin for electric slide. I use a compressor and often an OD box (or two) to fatten up the sound and sustain, but I'm not looking for a clean 'country' slide sound, but more of an overdriven bluesy one.
I guess it all depends on what you're going after.
Anyway- I hope this Forum takes off.
I don't see an option to subscribe for replies, so I'll bookmark it and check back occasionally.
Barry

I registered a user name too, but apparently the software isn't set up correctly yet.
Barry

I have a hardtail strat that I use for slide. I am getting new pickups on it though, I would like a fatter more Gibson like sound. I really like how a Strat plays though. Also I just bought a Steinberger , that guitar is a great sounding slide guitar right out of the box.

[Kirk Lorange]

I use 16 - 18 - 26 - 34 - 44 - 54 on my Strat!! I screwed the floating bridge down very tight decades ago.

Kirk

[Ricochet]

I've got .012-052s on my Tele, and haven't touched anything else on the setup as it came from the factory.

As for the advantages of playing in standard tuning, the big one is being able to quickly and conveniently play in any key. Very useful in a band setting, not as important for solo play. Drop D can be an advantage over standard because it's always got a "power chord" on the 3 low strings on any fret.

I still do my sliding in open tunings, but I've learned different patterns for different tunings, and some tunes fit a tuning, others don't. It can be a pain to stop and retune. I plan to learn how to do it Kirk's way in Drop D.

My teenage boy (a huge Tool fan, not a bluesman) has figured this out. He never changes out of Drop D. Plays slide a lot. He can eat my lunch.

[pbradt]

My Strat is set up exclusively for slide, though I do some fretted rhythm with it as well.

I had a new nut cut, with a 12" radius and had the bridge set up the same way. the strings are .013-.054 (wound G string).

That's about it. But it's a great guitar to play.

[markerdown]

I'm new at this and I've been screwing around with setting up a second strat for slide. It's got a vintage style mim floating bridge I got it cranked down pretty good. I have a set of .011-.048 power slinkys on it now. Should I try to maintain a string height of 1/16th at the 17th fret? .....markerdown

[Ricochet]

That sounds a little low, but try it and see what you can do with it.

[allthumbs]

boy, thats low with light strings. It can be done I have heard but, you would need a lot of skill to pull it off. Try it on the am7 blues I just uploaded for you manwithaplan and see how it goes.
allthumbs

[allthumbs]

oops sorry I meant markerdown. My brain is in park tonight doh!
allthumbs