The Steel Guitar Forum

Another interesting feature is that you can adjust the pedal height by just twisting the pedal rod, from your seated position! Different shoes tonight? No problem.

Its time for another exhilarating episode of "Makin Chips". This time we're whittling 10 and 12 string changer housings from big chunks of aluminum. I hope you enjoy it!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-EM4e ... subscriber

There's still a lot of steps to go in making these babies so stay tuned for more flying chips, witty repartee, and surprises from Sierra Steel Guitars and Rockin' Bar L Productions as we dig ever deeper into machining mayhem.

Seems like Ross has incorporated all the best there is to offer from many steels guitars past and present as well as some unique and great designing ideas on his part. He has come up with real innovations in our favorite instrument.

Indeed they are not cheap to make or to buy, but the best quality is always well worth the investment.
Looking at his wonderful videos is not just a kick, but for the trained business eye, one sees a large investment on his part in the time, equipment and materials required to produce such a fine instrument. When one considers this, the prices are quite reasonable.

And lets not forget his great pigs!
Any man who loves a good pig is a friend of mine

Had to chime in here.
Was just taking time to look through all the posts here.
Saw where another member said he thought that CNC is cheaper to make... Really?

I guess that might be right if CNC machines like the one Ross has just fall out of trees in Petaluma. If they do, I'm going down there and pick one up.
How about the tooling that can cost more than the machine?
While we are at this, what about the hundreds (If not thousands) of hours Ross must have spent programming that there machine? Is his professional time and design ideas worth nothing?

I know a luthier, Jim Olsen* in Minnesota who was one of the first luthiers to buy a Fadal CNC back about 20 years ago. He paid over 100 large used and spent more than that again on tooling for it.
Prior to that CNC this fellow had tooled up in every way possible right down to having about 20 routers, one for each step in the process of making acoustic guitars.
*Among his many customers are Paul McCartney and Rod Stewart.

I was teaching a guitar building class near there at the time and he invited me to bring the class to see his shop and answer questions.
He was clear that "The CNC did not speed up the process". What it did was to improve his already perfect work.

So for the guy who thinks CNC makes building steels cheaper, all I can say is Ross has pigs that know better than that!

howdy all,

Just posted a new video to Sierra's "Makin' Chips" series. This time I'm making frame rails....more vids to come so stay tuned.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-EM4e ... subscriber

Thanks for all the interest in the new Sierra Pedal Steels!

Enjoyed another installment, Ross. Thanks.

Did you actually build that CNC machine you are using to drill and cut parts or buy the CNC machine and modify it in some way?

Happy trails,
Stevet

Hi Ross,
Very cool video.
Looking forward to meet you.
Best wishes,
Andy

Ross, the pedal rod attachments also look like those on Kline guitars. This is not a close-up but take look at this red Kline previously owned by Sonny Jenkins. Stevet

Thanks Steve and Andy, glad you're digging our silly vids. Mari and I are having fun making them. We use finished shooting another yesterday. Mari's threatening a blooper vid at some point....uh oh!

Steve: I think you asked about the machine previously. I must've forgotten to respond..."sorry 'bout that chief". It's an off the shelf 1988 Matsurra, MC510V cnc milling machine...anyone with a 100 large could walk into a Matsuura dealer and nab one....they certainly didn't walk out with 'em though, that little sucker weighs over 4 tons.

Regarding the Kline pedals...sho nuff, looks just the same. I "borrowed" the attachment directly from Lamar Colvin who built me a wonderful S10 a few years back. If I recall correctly that red Kline Sonny re-furbed, once belonged to local hot shot Dave Zirbel....it is the first (and only) Kline I ever put my mitts on. Also the first keyless steel I actually saw in person.

Andy: I'm looking forward to meeting and visiting with you before you head home. Safe travels!

It's been a while, but we've just posted a new video. Aptly named for Halloween...our Makin' Chips "Body Parts" vid takes us out to the wood shop to make the front and rear panels. https://goo.gl/Rfvcf5

We've got a few vids in the hopper and hope to publish another pretty soon.

I'll have some new Sierras at the upcoming SWSGA show in Phoenix and invite you all to stop by say hi and check 'em out.

Check out the new video, I hope you enjoy it!

Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any of the fun!

Will you have a 12 string Universal at the SWSGA?

... or a 14 string?

I'm planning to show off my 10-string D6th in the Sierra booth at the SWSGA. Might even get to play it on the big stage.

Sorry Pete, I won't have a 12 string uni at the show. In addition to Bob's 10 string uni, I'll have 2 S10 E9 rigs and if I can peel it out of the owners hands I'll bring a uber fancy S14 uni as well.

I'll hope to see you there!

Sounds good.
I am hoping to make the show this year.
Looking forward to seeing the new Sierras.
I am really hoping to see the Universal, I hope you can bring it!

Love the videos....thanks so much! PEZ rocks! Made in CT!

Sierra's "Makin' Chips" video series continues to grow.

Just posted a hot one...literally! I'm welding up the frames in this latest vid.

https://goo.gl/Rfvcf5

We've got a couple more to post pretty soon, so stay tuned!

Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of the fun!

enjoy the vids and have a great weekend!

Are there any sound clips or videos of someone playing it? Very interested in how it sounds!

Here's a clip of Dave Zirbel on a spruce topped prototype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7zVxa1NthQ

and another:
https://www.facebook.com/FastAtmosphere ... 262519993/

The video production crew (my lovely wife Mari) is working overtime to get all the vids we have started finished and posted, so here's another:

https://goo.gl/Rfvcf5

This time I'm making pedal bars. and introducing a special guest. Next up more "Body Parts".

Enjoy the vids and have a great week!

Your videos are just great, Ross, thanks for posting them!

"How It's Made" for steel guitars - I could watch these all day long.

Thanks Pete, we're enjoying making them and stoked that folks like you are enjoying them so much.

We're working on the neck machining vid right now. Stay tuned!

Just posted another episode "Makin' Chips"...a couple of new and exciting shop additions are introduced in this one:

https://goo.gl/Rfvcf5

Oh yeah, just got some more Thomas cases in. They are super nice, Wade Jr. is doing a killer job. Thanks Wade!!

Enjoy the vid and have a great weekend!

Great video. I love your "new" computer workstation.

I hope ya'll had a nice Thanksgiving...we sure did! Took a while to get out of our food coma though.

Now that we're mostly functional again, we've got a new vid up and running...this is a two part blitz through some steel guitar neck makin'.

https://youtu.be/0DG1kooFun8

and here's Part Deux: https://youtu.be/YRFoGVdpsng


Happy Hot Dang Holidays!

Just posted another vid....damn there's a lot of parts to these suckers! Will it ever end?
https://youtu.be/2ohNiY6laNA

Happy Holidays!