SHOULD You Set Up Your Guitar for Slide? (My Setup Measurements)

I have a bit of a spicy one for you guys this week, let me know your thoughts on slide guitar setup in the comments! I’m using the Universal Audio ‘55 Tweed Deluxe amp plugin with no pedals for the brief playing clips in this video.

Check out the Mule Resonator Guitars @MuleResonatorGuitars youtube channel! Here are some vids:

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Quick Noodling
00:47 - My Setup Measurements
02:29 - More Noodling
02:45 - Why I Don’t Have a “Slide Guitar”
06:55 - Check out Mule Resophonic!
07:23 - Outro

[show]

Thank you ! For including over half the world with your metric measurements

[xxREmaniacxx]

“Babe wake up, new Dylan Adams video just posted!” Thanks for answering all of questions, you got me interested in playing slide on electric again! I would only play on my dobro because I had terrible technique on electric but was always in awe of Derek Trucks (and now you), so now I’m back at taking a crack at it. Although once you got to the part of using 11s, I immediately went “DAMN! 11s? I couldn’t do that on my tele” but then you immediately acknowledged it😂 Awesome content as always, and if Smokestack comes to TX please let us know so I can go (specifically between San Antonio and Austin)!

[roysteinbock]

Keep it up. These are great. Love your realness and down to earth personality.

[donald-parker]

I'm doing pretty well with 9's and normal set up. The biggest factor was chosing the right slide. Its got to be heavy enough to get a clear sound but light enough to make it easy not to accidently fret out. I'm using the Arien Polson ball tip slide at the moment. It is almost perfect for me. I wish it was a little bit heavier but it is the best I've found so far for use with light gauge strings.

[elimoon]

Such an honor to be here this early in the journey in terms of your channel. You’re already one of my heroes. Love the content.

[grooooved]

Hey, Brotha! Duane and Jerry are my two favorite guitarists - melodic and crusty! haha Lookin forward to catchin ya for the first time at the Dog Rose WSP afterparty in a couple weeks! Stonybrook '71, FTW! Best wishes, Brotha!!

[Gonarkey]

Questions I've wondered since I saw your first video answered. Keep making great content!

[DanteXL]

I keep a normal action and agree that it takes a little extra work to not get fret clanking and to make sure my right hand muting is proper, but overall I feel like the end result has been worth it. My feel has improved and it has really helped as I've progressed into switching between chords and slide, fretting behind the slide, etc. Also, I've experimented with some half wound strings (bass strings are flat wound, treble strings are round wound) and it seems to be a great match for brightness up top and some smoothness on the bottom.

[swlbarely]

Well I think you are more advanced in slide than others, but for me, I have more limited goals. Learning slide can be done in standard tuning, but I don't think it is as optimized for slide as is open tunings D, G, etc. I already know standard tuning, but I feel that for a good while I should be practicing slide mainly in open E and open A until playing slide (with some fingers) becomes second nature. The D and G (or E and A) tunings themselves should become second nature. Accomplishing that will be a significant part of getting seriously good on slide guitar and for me spending time on standard tuning for slide practice will distract me from my goal because with my limited brainpower the new tunings will not soak in as quickly. I know Derek Trucks in a YT vid advised to learn E open tuning well and as I focused on the actual tuning itself it helped my slide playing become less limited.

[paul_domici]

It's that slide/finger picking combination that makes you a genius!!! Great video man!!!

[naplesguitar]

Thank you, Dylan! This is great info!

[stickmanmusic]

One of my favorite local blues guitarists uses standard tuning on a guitar he uses mostly without slide. Clean tone, and he doesn't have the strings raised any higher than normal playing.

[shallknowitall]

Enjoying your content. Keep it up.
I’m assuming you’re hip to Jack Pearson, surely? He might be one of the greatest “unknown” players, outside of Nashville, unless you’re a devoted ABB fan. Anyway, your videos are inspiring me to take another crack at slide playing. 👍👍

[BrianDeer]

Exactly the answers I was looking to hear. Looking forward to more videos. Thanks Dylan!

[backspace]

#7 such tasteful and soft playing <3 reminds me "the journey down" soundtrack

[chuckbluz]

I agree 💯! I started with high action and heavy strings, but changed to normal action and 11s, now 10s as my technique improved. Well done!

[johnoch]

Waiting for some of the behind the slide fretting tips and such. Thanks.

[billpholde]

But I love changing guitars. Very rock star!

[sgs]

Wow!! Thanks for sharing this!!
This is exactly what I was gonna ask you. Lighter touch. That’s what I’m about to start learning and using!! Very juicy stuff!!

[trentc]

Great lessons. You’ve talked a lot about Duane and Derek. Don’t forget Dickey, Warren Haynes and Jack Pearson for lessons. People don’t talk about Warren as much as they used to. I have to confess I like the Mule better than TTB as much as I love Derek. Warren plays in standard also.