“Put one on at a gig and people immediately want to know what it is.” We review the LiquiSlide Jules Leyhe Signature glass slide

Form and function come together on a finger. That’s the story of the intriguing LiquiSlide line, which offers an array of double-walled glass slides filled with different liquids in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. The idea is to get a groovy-looking slide that matches the color of your guitar, or hair, or whatever turns you on, as well as a real smooth tone and feel that helps inspire you to play better, to boot. The latest LiquiSlide is a Jules Leyhe signature model that features a textured inner grip coating and proprietary liquid filling that shines with golden glitter flakes. It’s simply too fun not to try.

Jules Leyhe is a rising guitar star based in the Bay Area who regularly performs “The Star-Spangled Banner” in his greasy slide style at various events, including Major League Baseball games and monster truck rallies at San Francisco’s Oracle Park and the Oakland Coliseum. He’s shared stages with an array of outstanding artists ranging from Buddy Guy to Little Feat, and Leyhe is always online schooling players about the glory of playing with glass via his educational YouTube channel.

I’ve worked with Jules for a decade in the Allmond Brothers tribute band and Spirit Hustler, watching him grow from a Berklee grad into a widely respected player and LiquiSlide’s first signature artist. Along the way, Leyhe has tried just about every slide imaginable, so the fact that he landed on the LiquiSlide says a lot about the quality coming from a brand that has only been on the market for about five years. The boutique company is gaining popularity via an increasingly impressive roster of users including Mike Campbell (Tom Petty), Chris Holt (Eagles), Josh Smith (Joe Bonamassa), Nashville legend Tom Bukovac, and the incomparable Johnny A.

Playing slide at a high level is a very specific skill that requires intense practice and focus. Most guitarists either don’t play slide or dabble in it. I’ve always been in the latter camp, leaving the slide to Leyhe, but when he hipped me to his LiquiSlide in a few different sizes, something clicked.

Looks

It starts with appearance. Traditional slides made of clear glass, bronze, or stainless steel are tried and true, but when you’ve got sparkling golden slides such as the Leyhe signatures sitting on your amp, it’s much more tempting to pick one up and put it on. I wound up trying a bunch of other LiquiSlides, too, and with some of my favorite deep purple and blue hues from which to pick and choose, it’s practically impossible to refuse. Put one in play on a gig and folks notice. People just dig the colors. Players want to know all about what the heck that is on your finger.

Original prototypes of the Leyhe signature were filled with Jägermeister, which was super fun, but like some of the other liquids that were tried, there were temperature-related issues that could break the glass if the environment got too hot or cold.

Leyhe chuckles, “When I found out Jägermeister was an option, I had to go for that, but they’ve literally found a better solution.”

Inventor and CEO Michael Flynn adds, “All of our slides now have our proprietary liquid that’s completely safe and natural. It does not contain rubbing alcohol or alcohol of any type and is not affected by weather extremes. You can use it anywhere, right out of the case.”

Feel and Tone

So, does having liquid inside the slide truly help? Well, I don’t know how much of this is psychosomatic, but I believe there’s a slight tidal-like ebb and flow to the feel during vibrato, which seemed to help me slow down and soak each note for the most mojo from each finger stroke. And there’s a longer version of that on extended glissandos, particularly when working a melody up and down a single string. You wind up wanting to play with a more exaggerated hand motion leading into and out of each note, which in turn informs a more “fluid” approach. Maybe I just like watching the little air bubble move around the domed top, which is captivating.

There’s definitely a weightiness that seems to reduce string rattle while helping to increase sustain as well as balance. Liquid is relatively heavy, so having that plus extra mass from the domed top compared to an open bottleneck style must factor into that sense of gravitas. Bottom line: The feel is fabulous while the tone is smooth and refined.

Flynn assures me I’m not tripping: “The liquid is not just a novelty. What it does is measurable and verifiable and is part of the patent. A liquid-filled glass guitar slide produces different tones compared to an empty one due to changes in the slide’s resonance and the way it interacts with the strings. The liquid alters the slide’s mass, density, and elasticity, which affects how it vibrates and transfers sound waves. This results in a distinct tonal quality with varying sustain and pitch. It also is part of the balanced weight.”

The Slide With Liquid Inside | Introducing the Jules Leyhe Liquislide - YouTube

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Size Matters

The whole LiquiSlide line, including the Leyhe models, comes in three sizes: Standard (max American ring size 13), Knuckle (max ring size 11.5), and Pinky (max ring size 8.5). Standard and Pinky are designed to go all the way to the base of the finger, while the Knuckle size is designed to stop at the second knuckle. Of course, finger sizes vary greatly, and LiquiSlides are individually hand-blown with about a five percent margin size tolerance. I tried a bunch, and there were some slight but noticeable differences between units of the same model size. I have small-to-medium fingers, and some of the Standards felt a bit loose on my ring finger, while others fit snugly.

A slide you think might work—or not work—on a particular finger might surprise you after all. The Knuckle size is kind of a wild card, as it can work on pretty much any finger. That one turned out to be my favorite, as its shorter length and tight fit focused on the top two knuckles made it feel like having a Porsche on my ring finger. The Leyhe model has a no-slip interior layer that helps keep it snug, regardless of the chosen digit. It’s not as pronounced as the dried paint drips inside Warren Haynes’ slide, but it reminded me of that a bit.

Leyhe says, “I requested a rough interior to help with the grip. I always use my pinkie for slide playing, and I use the Pinky size with my signature LiquiSlide.”

I know I should develop better slide chops using the pinkie to free up the first three fingers for fretting chords. While the Pinky model fit well, and there is a new Pinky XS size being rolled out across the line (not on the Leyhe model yet), I dug putting the shorter Knuckle model on the little finger. The only issue was it being too wide, so I put some tissue paper around the finger and that worked well. I’d love to try a Knuckle model with Pinky width, and that’s the kind of thing you can inquire about.

This Slide Is Filled With Water (My Signature LiquiSlide) - YouTube

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Behind the Glass

Flynn and his partner, Mathew Jenkins, are both industry veterans with copious retail experience working at the Music Gallery just north of Chicago in Highland Park, Illinois. They personally fill and seal each LiquiSlide by hand. They also handle all communications, so if you have an idea, simply contact them. I did, and they’re happy to help. The cats behind the glass are clearly real players having a blast with this venture. They’ve even got a glow-in-the-dark LiquiSlide that shows trails on a dark stage.

I’d recommend the Jules Leyhe Signature Slide as well as the entire LiquiSlide line to players of all stripes, from beginner to expert. Leyhe’s is a special edition with the fancy flaked interior and custom case, so it costs 15 bucks more than a typical LiquiSlide. Any LiquiSlide can be a fun way to dip your finger into the shallow side of the slide pool, or the thing that finally helps facilitate the leap into the deep end, all while looking as cool as a guitarfish.

SPECIFICATIONS

Jules Leyhe Signature

CONTACT theliquislide.com

PRICE $45 direct packed with a velvet bag inside a custom case

MATERIAL Borosilicate glass

FEATURES Double walled, filled with proprietary liquid and gold flakes, rounded tip, no-slip interior

SIZES Standard (max American ring size 13), Knuckle (max ring size 11.5), Pinky (max ring size 8.5)

BUILT U.S.A.

PRO Groovy golden flake color. Three sizes and no-slip interior. Fabulous feel, balance and sustain. Handmade with top-shelf glass

CON Durability is good, but this is liquid-filled glass, so be careful!