Brass Guitar Slides

Brass guitar slides are very popular slides. One thing most proponents of the slides like is the weight. Brass guitar slides usually are a bit heavier than glass guitar slides. Of course, this depends on the quality of the glass guitar slides. Real, high-quality glass guitar slides are thicker and have more weight to them. Most glass guitar slides are made of pyrex and are very light in comparison.

Brass guitar slides tend to tarnish easily. Sometimes players prefer the tarnished tone. I prefer non-metal slides due to tarnish and rusting. Metal guitar slides also tend to give a tinny metal-on-metal sound when used. I would much rather use porcelain guitar slides or real high-quality glass guitar slides. 

That isn't to say that brass and other metal guitar slides are not good guitar slides. There are many guitarist that actually prefer the metal guitar slides. Everyone has their own opinion on the matter. Much of the preference stems from the guitar in use and the type of music being played. Glass slides, even the heavier higher-quality glass slides, are usually best on electric guitars. You could still use a metal slide on an electric guitar, and you could use a glass slide on an acoustic. I'm just pointing out that the lighter slide works well with electrics because the action on electric guitars is typically lower than the action on most acoustics. The lighter slide reduces the amount of inadvertent fret noise one receives from the slide. 

I really suggest that you one of each of the different types of guitar slides. This is the only true way to find the right slide for you. Buy each and use them for a full month. You'll find that the glass and porcelain slides tend to hold the same tone over the month. The metal slides will give some inconvenience if they aren't taken care of properly. You'll end up with rust on chrome plated slides and the metal guitar slides in general will tarnish. The tarnish can and will effect the tone. Some of you will prefer the change in tone. Others will not.