Any experience with Slidewinder Ring (or other magnetic slide)?

[Bassaga]

It's pretty much a ring with a rod magnet on the bottom (or a metal bar with a magnet under it on the newer models, I think) you wear it toward the front of your finger. It's supposed to be out of the way while you play normally, then you just lay it on the fret and play slide with it whenever you want.

The charm for me is that it's magnetic, which is supposed to allow for lower action than a regular slide, and would be a heck of a lot more comfortable than a slide over the entire finger. The real hope is that this could be the optimal compromise in my battle with the fretted/fretless question. Not perfect, but probably the best option, if it works like we'd all hope it does.

Wondering if anybody's tried it around here? The guy says a few different places that it works amazingly on bass, but he kinda comes across like a used car salesman, and I can't find any good demo. The only one up for purchase at this point is fancier and more expensive than I'd like, with the more plausible older models being nowhere to be found, so I may well just stick a magnet on a ring myself. But since the proper sort of magnet is proving surprisingly hard to find, I thought I'd check in with you folks and see if you know anything.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Why?
Who slides on a bass like a slide guitar?
It seems that would play hell on roundwound strings.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Why?
Who slides on a bass like a slide guitar?
It seems that would play hell on roundwound strings.

Mark Sandman of Morphine does.

Haters gotta hate.

 

[Bassaga]

Why? All the same reasons people play slide guitar, I suppose. Same reason we play fretless, for that matter, aside from mwah or prestige.

Who? Me! At least, I aspire to. Haven't found a good way yet. A few people here and on youtube. Not enough people, honestly. I feel like there's a lot of untapped potential here.

Roundwounds? In the few slide bass discussions I've found, there's some contention about string type. Rounds were indeed prohibitively grindy when I tried them, but some folks swear by them. I'd probably use flats, or ideally tapes, though my current slide on my current tapes have about zero sustain or volume on the thicker strings.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Mark Sandman of Morphine does.

Haters gotta hate.

Why? All the same reasons people play slide guitar, I suppose. Same reason we play fretless, for that matter, aside from mwah or prestige.

Who? Me! At least, I aspire to. Haven't found a good way yet. A few people here and on youtube. Not enough people, honestly. I feel like there's a lot of untapped potential here.

Roundwounds? In the few slide bass discussions I've found, there's some contention about string type. Rounds were indeed prohibitively grindy when I tried them, but some folks swear by them. I'd probably use flats, or ideally tapes, though my current slide on my current tapes have about zero sustain or volume on the thicker strings.

Projectors gotta project.
It would gring a flat spot on the string.

 

[Passinwind]

Projectors gotta project.
It would gring a flat spot on the string.

Not necessarily, surpisingly enough. I've been doing it on fretless basses for 45 years now. IME it works best with halfrounds or pressurewounds though.

A friend made me this slide ca. 1977. It's machine brass, which is very soft. I use a smaller Dunlop lap steel slide sometimes instead though, which is a good bit brighter sounding.

The indentations match my fingers and make it easier to hold on to.

 

[KPJ]

Why?
Who slides on a bass like a slide guitar?
It seems that would play hell on roundwound strings.

Fun song to play! I use a knuckle slide when I play it.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Brass is softer than steel strings.
So that would work without damaging the strings.
But would likely leave brass shavings in the windings of rounds.

 

[Bassaga]

Thought I'd come back and report my findings, just in case anybody wanders through the internet looking for info on this idea in the future. The magnets got here today, aaaand it didn't work. Not even a little bit. Got neodymium magnets from a reputable source, as big as I figured might be practical to stick under your finger and still play (1/4" x 1/2" and 1/4" x 1", I think the bigger one has 14 pounds of 'attractive force' or what have you). Tapewounds, roundwounds, didn't even work super well on a six-string guitar, except for the thinner, unwound strings. They let harmonics ring rather nicely, but as slides? No dice. No dice at all.

Maybe that slidewinder guy knows something I don't, or maybe he's a hack, but there's my result.
#forscience

Dang.

 

[Passinwind]

Brass is softer than steel strings.
So that would work without damaging the strings.
But would likely leave brass shavings in the windings of rounds.

I'll let you know how my brass one works out with roundwounds in a few years, I just recently put a set on my #2 fretless.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I'll let you know how my brass one works out with roundwounds in a few years, I just recently put a set on my #2 fretless.

I have a feeling that you won't have to wait that long.

 

[Passinwind]

I have a feeling that you won't have to wait that long.

As it stands, I may play that bass for a few hours a month at most, and slide usage would comprise a few minutes of that at most. If you haven't tried playing with a slide, the amount of pressure on the string is really really low, at least the way I do it these days.If this experiment doesn't pan out, no worries. I always have my #1 with the Pressurewounds on it, which still look and sound fine at one year in, with a whole lot more use than what I described for #2.

 

[ThLosTbeAtnik]

I have been experimenting with the lap steel bass idea for a few years. Much trial and error and lots more to go though I do have a workable current setup I play. I'm still looking for the right setup. As far as strings, just depends on the sound you're going for... if you want it to bite and really cut thru use roundwounds, lighter music as country, use some good flats... also gauges to however you're gonna tune matters, as for mainly playing single notes..I use E-G#-B-D or E-G#-B-E. Tunings
Basically these tunings would work better with a low E, 2 A strings, and a D string or equivalent tensions.

 

[JimmyM]

Projectors gotta project.
It would gring a flat spot on the string.

Brass is softer than steel strings.
So that would work without damaging the strings.
But would likely leave brass shavings in the windings of rounds.

LOL! Funny stuff, bro! Assuming you're correct, then you just buy more strings. But you're not, at least not to any level of significance. People have been using metal slides on guitar and bass for decades. Me, I prefer glass, but it's not like nobody's ever done it on bass before!

 

[el jeffe bass]

I have played slide guitar, lap steel and slide banjo for years (never slide bass). I have tried all sorts of “revolutionary” slide, bars, rings, etc..... In all of that time experimenting I have found that simplicity wins. For me a glass or brass slide, depending on instrument seems to get the job done without any drama.