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Need some background on Sierra PSG
Posted: 13 Nov 2011 5:51 am
by Ray Anderson
Hello Forumites, I,m looking at a S-10 Sierra 3x3 and was needing some background info on these. Who makes them And are they top of the line guitars? What's the setup (i.e.) are they all pull, psh pull or pull release? Are parts available? and last of all the "tone" is it to the treble sound or the bass sound. Any help wuld be appreciated and welcomed.
Posted: 13 Nov 2011 6:16 am
by Lane Gray
Mechanically among the very best and most advanced. Most I've heard are very bright, but their owners like it that way
Posted: 13 Nov 2011 7:40 am
by Ross Shafer
Sierra's were built by Sierra...founded by Chuck Wright in 1960. Most of Sierra's production happened when the shop was in Portland, Or. Sierra is not producing Pedal Steels right now, but still produces its Lap Steel model.
Parts availability depends on which model you're talking about. Jim Palenscar at Steel Guitars of North County is your best bet for parts:
http://www.steelguitars.me/
Sierra's website is here:
http://www.sierrasteels.com
Posted: 13 Nov 2011 7:52 am
by Bo Borland
Posted: 13 Nov 2011 9:14 am
by b0b
Most Sierra guitars have the modular pickup design. You can hot swap the pickup to suit your taste in tone. When I was performing with one, I sometimes had 4 pickups on deck, switching them between songs to get the tone I wanted. It takes about 5 seconds to change the pickup.
The mechanical aspects of Sierra guitars are superb.
Posted: 13 Nov 2011 9:46 am
by Ken Byng
Chuck Wright's part in the history of pedal steel is immense. Historically he is so important, and is up there with Paul Bigsby, Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons.
Posted: 13 Nov 2011 11:09 am
by Richard Sinkler
Most Sierra guitars have the modular pickup design.
The only thing I liked about the Sierra guitars. I wish every builder would have adopted this approach, not only for switching for different songs, but being able to try out different pickups without have to remove strings and rewire the pickups.
I've never heard a Sierra yet that I really liked the tone, except maybe Pete Finney's. But a top notch guitar mechanically.
Posted: 13 Nov 2011 1:44 pm
by Mike Perlowin
The new MSA's also have a modular pickup system, and unfortunately it is not compatible with Sierra's. This the one thing about the guitar I would change.
I agree with Richard. This feature should be integrated into every steel guitar. Only now that there are 2 different systems, manufactureres have to decide which one to use.
I only use one pickup; a Tone Aligner. I have one in both my guitars. I settled on it after trying out several others. As Richard says, one of the advantages of a modular pickup system is that you can try out and compare different pickups, without taking the strings off. I found that to be very helpful in deciding which one to use.
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 9:32 am
by Pete Burak
What model Sierra are you looking at?
Got a pic?
That Jay Leach vid sounds pretty much like what a modern Sierra generally sounds like to me.
You can go either way from there with regard to making it a bit brighter or darker to taste.
If it is a Sierra Artist model, I don't recall if that model had Modular Pickups.
But yeah... it is a wonder that the 6-string guitar industry hasn't gone to modular pickups.
Every guitar player would buy a dozen pickups.
I know at one time I had 13 pickups for my Sierra.
That was some fun times!
I'm down to 4 or 5 now.
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 9:48 am
by Richard Sinkler
If builders all got together and asked what feature would I most like to see on a guitar, it would have to be the modular pickups, well, outside of mental telepathy actuated pedals and levers.
Sierra Guitars
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 10:04 am
by Lynn Stafford
Richard Sinkler wrote:Most Sierra guitars have the modular pickup design.
The only thing I liked about the Sierra guitars. I wish every builder would have adopted this approach, not only for switching for different songs, but being able to try out different pickups without have to remove strings and rewire the pickups.
I've never heard a Sierra yet that I really liked the tone, except maybe Pete Finney's. But a top notch guitar mechanically.
I agree about the ability to change pickups on the fly. I too wish more builders would incorporate that into their designs.
I just finished revising the set-up on an '84 Sierra U-12 8x6 for a local Oregon customer. Sierras are really built to last and pretty straightforward to work on. I must say that I usually don't care for their tone very much and the way the knee levers can pivot toward you while you are playing. While working on this one, I came up with a way to prevent that. I made some small aluminum angle clips to wrap around the back side of the the knee lever clevisis to prevent the handles from pivoting backwards. Worked like a charm!
I've had the pleasure of seeing and hearing my friend, Pete Burak tearing it up on his Sierra. Let me tell you, he can really play...and his tone is great! Might be the best tone from a Sierra I've ever heard!
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 1:22 pm
by Jim Eaton
Don Christensen made all the parts for Sierra guitars using GibbsCAM machining software, which is the product that is sold by my "day job".
We had Sierra as our featured customer in our booth at a WesTec machine industry trade show @ the Los Angeles Convention Center a few years ago. Don sent us a D-10 that we displayed all set up, but upside down in the case so the undercarrage was displayed and I was playing the Session S-12 E9/B6 guitar that I owned at that time. Lot's of folks came up and knew right away that it was a steel guitar and several even requested some instrumental tunes that only a real steel fan would have known!!!
JE:-)>
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 5:33 pm
by Mike Pace
If it's a 3x3, then it's most likely a Sierra Artist model. I owned a 3x4 Artist several years ago. These pale in comparison to their Session, Crown and Olympic models, BUT, if you invest in some different bellcranks (the Artist's cranks have fixed positions on the cross-shafts), then the Artist becomes every bit as versatile and adjustable as a full-out "pro" guitar, albeit that's a subjective term.
Different Bellcranks on Sierra Artist?
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 6:08 pm
by Dale Lee
Mike Pace,
Could you expand a little on your post?
if you invest in some different bellcranks (the Artist's cranks have fixed positions on the cross-shafts), then the Artist becomes every bit as versatile and adjustable as a full-out "pro" guitar
What different bellcranks are you referring to? And what are the benefits of using them?
I have a Sierra Artist 3x2, and would like to learn more about this potential upgrade.
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 6:28 pm
by Tony Glassman
Mike Pace wrote:If it's a 3x3, then it's most likely a Sierra Artist model. I owned a 3x4 Artist several years ago. These pale in comparison to their Session, Crown and Olympic models, BUT, if you invest in some different bellcranks (the Artist's cranks have fixed positions on the cross-shafts), then the Artist becomes every bit as versatile and adjustable as a full-out "pro" guitar, albeit that's a subjective term.
When Harley James and I worked for Sierra in the late 70's, we introduced a model called the "Timberwolf".
The guitar was essentially their pro S-10 3+3, with polished, (rather than anodized) aluminum, and no mica color options (rosewood only). We sold a lot of those guitars.
More on Sierras
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 6:56 pm
by John Russell
Posted: 14 Nov 2011 11:09 pm
by Herb Steiner
Ken Byng wrote:Chuck Wright's part in the history of pedal steel is immense. Historically he is so important, and is up there with Paul Bigsby, Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons.
I agree, verbatim.
Posted: 15 Nov 2011 9:55 am
by Fred Glave
I owned a Sierra Crown U12 for a few years. It was a very mechanically sound guitar. Build well and played smoothly. I only had 3 issues with it. 1. It was very heavy. 2. Universal tuning was not my cup of tea. 3. The tone was not what I liked. I tried several different pickups, but couldn't get the sound I wanted. Some people say that the tone is very bright, but for me it was a little muddy. I couldn't figure it out. I tried different amps, and had the guitar checked out too. Oh well. By the way bandmembers, and others thought the guitar sounded fine, it was just me. Oh well.
Posted: 15 Nov 2011 12:01 pm
by John Russell
I guess it's why you can buy acoustic guitars made with rosewood, maple, mahogany, etc. I find the tone of this guitar very pleasing. My "main" guitar is a Zumsteel, also an outstanding sound, but different. Maybe my ears aren't so fine tuned as other's. I find the ergonomics, or feel of an instrument more critical than it's voice--within reason. All the better brands sound good--in the right hands.
Sierra tone
Posted: 22 Dec 2012 9:49 am
by Kurt Schrotenboer
I agree the pickup can have much to do with the tone ...on any psg. Just like a Les Paul 6 string electric, using that neck position pickup has more tone so will a psg the more the pickup is positioned away from the bridge.
Second, it's where you pick the strings. Move your hand position away from the bridge for more tone
Third, your amplifier ...a 15" speaker will have more tone than a 10" or 12". I know people like the Peavey Vegas types and they are good but that aluminium dome does poke at the 2k hz. A well tuned speaker cabinet is the best in all cases.
Additionally yes a dual coil pickup will have more tone and usually no hum ...an amp with a variable frequency mid range control can make a big difference ...last thing is IMO a "good" compressor/expander/limiter will enhance the sustain.
Posted: 22 Dec 2012 10:12 am
by Brett Day
I rented a Sierra Artist pedal steel in 1999 a few months before I started playin'-I didn't have a steel bar at the time, so I just kinda played around with the picks and pedals. In the late 80s, "Cowboy" Eddie Long played a Sierra with Hank Williams Jr, and it was on one live performance of "Born To Boogie" that Hank decided to play steel a little bit, so while Eddie watched, Hank played a little bit of "Steel Guitar Rag" on the Sierra. Eddie's Sierra had his name on it under the logo
Brett
Posted: 23 Dec 2012 6:47 pm
by Donny Hinson
Mike Perlowin wrote:The new MSA's also have a modular pickup system, and unfortunately it is not compatible with Sierra's. This the one thing about the guitar I would change.
The MSA design has a pickup dovetailed on the bottom. However, IMHO the dovetail is too shallow, which can make the pickup somewhat cumbersome to install.
I also agree on Chuck's importance in the world of pedal steel, but certainly not because of the Sierra, whose design excentricities left many players turned off.
Posted: 24 Dec 2012 6:36 am
by David Wright
Sierra was a guitar you either loved the looks or didn't..I always like it, it was different, and you never wondered what kind of guitar it was...MSA came to me when they were doing the new MSA and asked me if I thought Dad would mind if they used his idea about the pickups, I talked to him about it, he said OK...he had no "rights" on it, and was a great idea.. He was always trying to come up with new ideas for the guitar..he spent a BIG part of his life building & designing steel guitars..as far as tone, it sounded as good as the player behind it !!! .. best sounding guitar I ever had and played was a Black&Gold Sierra, I did my 2 CD's with it, ... I truly hope Sierra keeps in the Steel world, if you think about it , they are the oldest steel building company left..My dad was threatened to be sued both by Leo Fender & Paul Bigsby back in the early years, he took from there ideas and try to improve on them..he even went to Fenders factory , and when they found out who he was , was asked to leave
...Steel espionage at it's best.!! .. I like to see discussions about him and his guitars...
Posted: 24 Dec 2012 9:48 pm
by HowardR
I guess Leo Fender was concerned that Chuck Wright would get some of the ideas that Leo Fender got from Paul Bigsby......
Sounds like a who's who of who's suing who.......
Posted: 15 Sep 2014 11:01 pm
by Jan Viljoen
Thanks Blokes and to Lynn Stafford.
Here is Pete Burak on his blue Sierra and the next vid may not be him, but the close up is of his Sierra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF6t6nWiRII
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQN9YWGQ-io