Sierra PSG sound

Daniel Showalter · Post by **Daniel Showalter** » 11 Mar 2012 4:40 pm

any one have any sound bites (or links) to the sound of a Sierra breing played?

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 11 Mar 2012 4:46 pm

Not sure of any soundbites, but look up "Cowboy" Eddie Long on YouTube. It's a video where he's playin' the Sierra he used when he toured with Hank Jr. in the eighties. In the video, he's playing at the Southern Steel Guitar Convention in Saluda, SC and the song is "In The Mood".

Brett

baxter vaughan · Post by **baxter vaughan** » 11 Mar 2012 5:35 pm

again, on youtube...gene o'neal playing a sierra on the opry. i can't remember the singer...

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 11 Mar 2012 5:45 pm

Check this out. Pete Finney on a Sierra with David Peterson. I thought his guitar sound great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDSjXDC8 ... re=related

Tony

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 11 Mar 2012 5:57 pm

Here's "Cowboy" Eddie Long Playing "In The Mood" on A Keyles S-12U Sierra PSG.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtInj7KvVF4

admin · Post by **b0b** » 11 Mar 2012 6:30 pm

Here's Joe Wright:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoAJ0YI2lWE

http://youtu.be/sI-zA3f-Gn4

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 11 Mar 2012 7:07 pm

Here's the Gene O'Neal link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tca5mFJq8e8

Here's one with Richard Swiger...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwDIfztJTQE

And one more by (I think) Bob Adams...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8R4A6-EjEo

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 12 Mar 2012 1:48 am

I have heard Sierra steels up close.... they sound as good as anything else out there.. I have heard some guys don't like them tonally, but I don't understand that at all,,, they are wonderful guitars, both in construction AND tone......bob

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 12 Mar 2012 5:02 am

Another Gene O'Neal/Sierra performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vroXlv9gXTI

And one from The Big E:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Mx5lhreMY

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 12 Mar 2012 10:03 am

Daniel Showalter wrote:any one have any sound bites (or links) to the sound of a Sierra breing played?

Here's my Sierra S12U:

Georgie Girl on the B6th side:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfrUZICq ... ature=plcp

Somewhere over the the Rainbow, finger-pickin' style on E9th:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQN9YWGQ ... re=related

Here's Buddy's Triple Play vid on a Sierra D10:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mGUk7CGraM

Daniel Showalter · Post by **Daniel Showalter** » 12 Mar 2012 11:04 am

Thanks, couldn't really make up my mind so I let it go on ebay 14 string went for 1350 might have screwed up here but I have an Emmons student model in pieces I am refurbing so guess I will have to live with/out it!

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 12 Mar 2012 11:58 am

I see these come up quite a bit for around this price or less sometimes. You'll probably have several more shots at one, so don't despair if you really want one.

FWIW, that was an older one. Quality axes, nice sound but heavy to tote. The later gearless Crown model 14's are lighter. The newest Session series a lot lighter.

I've had 2 Crown 14 gearless Sierras. They don't carry a big price tag while the Session series does sometimes sell for a bit more.

admin · Post by **b0b** » 12 Mar 2012 2:12 pm

These songs were recorded on a Sierra Session SD-12, tuned to extended E9th:

http://b0blee.bandcamp.com/album/the-grace-of-god

Daniel Showalter · Post by **Daniel Showalter** » 13 Mar 2012 4:20 am

Thanks, great input, especially the last ones form b)b. excellant, nuthin wrong with that tone I'll keep my eyes out for another.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Mar 2012 8:06 am

The Sierra is one of two brands I don't care for the sound of . But, Pete Finney gets the best tone out of a Sierra out of everyone I have seen or heard.

Todd Brown · Post by **Todd Brown** » 13 Mar 2012 8:45 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLvY4USW-zw

Sounds sweet to me!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Mar 2012 8:51 am

Pete is one of my favorite players.

John Russell · Post by **John Russell** » 13 Mar 2012 7:03 pm

There are so many was to "voice" a guitar. The amp, the effects and the pickup can vary greatly. I recently acquired a late '70s SD-12 Sierra and I love the sound--especially with the humbucking pickup. The single coil sounds good too. I've been playing a Zum for the past 15+ years and I believe their tone is well respected. The Sierra did not disappoint. A bit heavy, no doubt, but it doesn't move around when engaging the knee levers.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 14 Mar 2012 7:54 pm

OK...this is going to sound strange, but I have Two U-12 Sierra guitars along with several other makes. The reason I like the Sierra is, and bOb may have mentioned this a long time ago, but the Sierra does not sound like a classic Emmons/Shobud guitar and has its own voice. That voice can be tweaked by changing pickups in seconds. My black Sierra has a Dimarzio pickup that gets three different tones by way of the switch on the Sierra apron.

Different vibes for different tribes....

John Russell · Post by **John Russell** » 14 Mar 2012 8:23 pm

Nice to hear from you, Len.

I agree on the tone thing. I recently heard an Emmons push-pull played at a gathering with lots of other guitars and the Emmons acutally sounded a bit thin compared to the newer guitars. I've heard other push-pulls that sounded great. It's as much about the effects, the amp, the pickup and above all--the two hands playing it.

Here's my current obsession. I have a hard time pulling my self away every time I sit down to play it. Sweet tone--I tend to prefer the DiMarzio humbucker but the single coil sounds good too. They should reissue this guitar (take out some of the weight) but don't mess with the tone.

Bill Cunningham · Post by **Bill Cunningham** » 14 Mar 2012 9:47 pm

Daniel,

If you have time search around the forum for posts by Buddy Emmons. I think he used a Sierra on some of the Step One Swing albums and he has said, more than once I believe, that the Sierra was his favorite tone for his C6 neck.

That should create some discussion here.......

admin · Post by **b0b** » 14 Mar 2012 10:20 pm

Wow, John, that's the spittin' image of mine:

I bought it from Len, a long time ago.

Ross Shafer · Post by **Ross Shafer** » 15 Mar 2012 6:26 am

Yo John,

That rug in your photo sure looks familiar! i'm stoked to read how much you're digging that Sierra. Play on my friend

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 15 Mar 2012 6:30 am

This is my favorite from Pete Finney.

http://youtu.be/aLvY4USW-zw

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 15 Mar 2012 6:39 am

Question for bOb:

At one time years ago I bought 9 steel guitars in one year and that may have been one of the guitars when I was in my crazy years? However, the three Sierra guitars I
held onto are all keyless. I can't remember the vibe bewteen the keyed and keyless Sierra. Care to elaborate?

Lenny

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