Carbon fibre (Fiber) legs

John Hyland · Post by **John Hyland** » 19 Sep 2023 2:39 pm

Hi - anyone have any comments on the use of carbon fibre legs. My concerns would be;

Best size
best manufacture pattern/style
Keeping their shine and general wear and tear
source

I assume 22x20 or 10x18mm would be a suitable size and Im also looking for long strips about 800mm x 70mm (approx)

I know Sierra @ Ross Shafer use them and any feedback would really be appreciated.

John Hyland · Post by **John Hyland** » 25 Sep 2023 2:05 pm

Since I’m not getting any feedback Maybe my question should be who if anyone sells carbon fibre legs.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Sep 2023 6:59 pm

They were standard on the MSA Millennium (which is no longer made), but MSA may still supply them. I haven't heard of any other builders offering them? No, they are not as strong or durable as standard chrome/steel legs, but they do save a lot of weight.

How long anything lasts is pretty much up to you. Take care of your stuff, and it will last longer than you will. The chrome legs on my old guitar still look like new, and that's after 50 years and almost 10,000 gigs. But I've seen some that were beat to hell in less than a decade.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 28 Sep 2023 7:18 am

Donny,
I think the quality of the chroming has a lot to do with the condition of the legs.
If there is a lousy chroming job, they will start showing rust long before their time.
At one time BJS bars had a problem like that.
I had a BJS bar that started to show wear on the butt end. I contacted BJS and they admitted that they had some bars that didn't get chromed right, and they sent me a new bar. Bless their hearts.

Erv

John Hyland · Post by **John Hyland** » 28 Sep 2023 12:02 pm

Thanks Donny
I wonder how size for size they compare to alum for strength.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 28 Sep 2023 7:58 pm

John, the strength would depend on the tubing wall thickness, the type (read: characteristics), and the layup of the material - spiral vs. longitudinal, or combination thereof. As far as how long the carbon legs would stay shiny, that would depend on what coating was applied. (Carbon fiber has little shine on its own.)

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 5 Oct 2023 4:04 am

The new Sierra's have carbon fiber legs.
I'm not sure of the size or how they attach to the guitars and pedals since I'm not one of the lucky owners.

As best I remember they seemed a little larger than the steel to aluminum legs.
I think Bob Lee's was adjustable for height from the playing position or maybe it was the pedal height? Not sure.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 5 Oct 2023 7:20 am

From my Sierra review:

The legs ends are tapered and fit into tapered sockets in the guitar. They lock in solidly and don't work free under use!

The rear legs have spring loaded adjusters and are easy to set while seated at the guitar. They are also marked on the guitar and legs to go specifically on one side or the other so that the leg adjusters end up exactly in the back for easy access while sitting down

The legs are made of flat finished carbon fiber

Picture of tapered leg sockets here:

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... ess/17.jpg

More leg pics here:

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... ess/31.jpg

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... ess/41.jpg

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... ess/43.jpg

Full review here:

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... yless.html

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 5 Oct 2023 8:45 pm

Thanks Greg for helping out with my answer and for the nice demo sound track.
I'm really knocked out by what Ross is doing with his new Sierra designs.
Loads of very good thinking has gone into these.
It's been three years since I last saw one so I had trouble remembering all the features.
Best wishes,
Andy

John Hyland · Post by **John Hyland** » 6 Oct 2023 12:14 pm

Thanks Greg. I have a couple of questions you might be able to help with
What is the diameter of the leg
What is the diameter of the insert extension leg (spring loaded rear leg?)
Are all sierra scale lengths 24.5 or is that for those using a D 13th tuning.

Best regards.
John.

Greg Cutshaw wrote:From my Sierra review:

The legs ends are tapered and fit into tapered sockets in the guitar. They lock in solidly and don't work free under use!

The rear legs have spring loaded adjusters and are easy to set while seated at the guitar. They are also marked on the guitar and legs to go specifically on one side or the other so that the leg adjusters end up exactly in the back for easy access while sitting down

The legs are made of flat finished carbon fiber

Picture of tapered leg sockets here:

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... ess/17.jpg

More leg pics here:

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... ess/31.jpg

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... ess/41.jpg

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... ess/43.jpg

Full review here:

https://www.gregcutshaw.com/Sierra%20Si ... yless.html

The Steel Guitar Forum

Carbon fibre (Fiber) legs

Carbon fibre (Fiber) legs

The new Sierra's have them

Thanks Greg