New member - help with slide conversion

[Hardrock]

Hi all, my first post here.

To keep playing, I need to convert an old Aria Diamond flat top guitar to a dedicated acoustic slide guitar, and play just slide. I've striped it down including taking the nut and saddle out, but I've left the bridge on. New Grover Sta-Tite machines. I plan on using D'Addario "True Medium" EJ 24 (or similar) strings, in open D tuning.

I will be making the nut and saddle myself (Al, Ni, or brass), so I have total control over string height, &tc.

The Q: What is the optimum string height for this set-up (height above fret board or frets)? Should it stay the same height at the nut and saddle?

Thanks a heap,
-HR_555

[mirwa]

Being a slide, whatever height you want, I try to achieve an even height from the nut to the saddle, there is no magic number

Steve

[mercy]

as long as the strings dont rattle against the frets

[Frank Ford]

Don't forget you can use the simple Hawaiian nut accessory, sometimes called "extension" or slide nut accessory:

Before:



After:

[Monsoon1]

Originally Posted by Frank Ford

Don't forget you can use the simple Hawaiian nut accessory, sometimes called "extension" or slide nut accessory:

Before:



After:

Sometimes the best solutions are the simple ones.

[Rodger Knox]

Originally Posted by Hardrock

Hi all, my first post here.

The Q: What is the optimum string height for this set-up (height above fret board or frets)? Should it stay the same height at the nut and saddle?

Thanks a heap,
-HR_555

The important dimension is the height of the strings above the top, which should be between 7/16" and 9/16" inch. Some people believe there is a "sweet spot" somewhere in that range, but then people will believe almost anything.