The Steel Guitar Forum

My new PSG was delivered at the MESA AZ show by Tom Baker of Sierra, who gave birth to it. Detailed photos are available to any who email me a request.

The instrument =:

29.730" scale on a 35.0" body, string ball to string terminator is 31.6".

14 strings tuned to C9, fret 4 is E9. Same gauges and tensions as an Eb9 on a 25" scale.

Keyless/gearless tuner is incorporated into the Changer. This eliminates the sharp bends in the string. The assembly is moved to the players left. This places all tuning functions at the players left hand = no picks. This also places the most string stretch motion behind the bar. The changer motion, and change rod density is moved away from the pickups.

The string terminator is placed at the players right. It is too simple for words, again, no sharp string bends. This has to be the quickest string change in the west/east/ or anywhere.

The bridge is changeable re material and geometry. This gives control over the tone/sustain via control of the acoustic impedance of the bridge. It can be changed without detuning.

Compression springs and E clips have been added to the changer rods to keep them in the bell crank slots when the strings are off. This also means that the adjustment rod(s) may be identified by feel, or by sight without pulling on them.

The neckplate is a drop in/on (into rails). The one shown is Etched Glass. The fiber optics and LEDs are not in yet. The neck is hollow to hold the circuitry for things to come. Neckplates can be interchanged for stretched tuning, quarter tone scales, and other reasons.

There is the option for two interchangeable pickups (bridge and neck). There is room for active electronics in the signal chain (high impedance input and line driver output).

Knurled knobs for the keyless tuner are on the way.

The plates around the pickup will be added once I get the neckplate length reduced a bit, ..I blew the calculation re length.

Fiber optic and LED fretboard markers are on the way, ..programable.

The hardware modules can be used on either players left, or players right. They can be used on S10's, D10's, S12's, D12's, 14's or ????

Sierra Session owners can add the tuner to the changer without removing it from the instrument, ..at least I did to prove the concept.

Tom Baker at Sierra did a great job on this one. Everything underneath had to be reversed and there was added travel because of the string length.

Ed
That sure sounds like the reading of your post will bring drools over many keyboards.
I hope Tom Baker reads this because I own a Sierra and am having a hard time finding any one who can tell me what year it is,and I don't know how to contact Tom. The only #s that I have been able to locate on my guitar are 0-120-06 . I hope someone can identify it for me.
Frank Dartt

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Sierra S10,Taylor flattop, Baby Taylor,Regal Resonator,GTR Banjo, Kentucky Mandolin and 2 Fiddles

Ed...this sounds like an incredible axe! Can't wait to hear what a 30" scale sounds like! Is this concept instrument going into production anytime soon? Also, do you happen to know if Sierra is at NAMM this year?
I'm so bummed I had to miss the AZ show.

A true marvelous engineering change has resulted in a terrific instrument- way to go both Ed and Tom!!!

JP; Someone should hire you as their PR agent!!!

Congratulations and every good wish, Ed. I enjoyed our few minutes together on Friday and, as I said before, your committment is one-of-a-kind.

wow!

Go Ed!

There was a lap steel player at Carl Dixon's first (1997) steel show in Atlanta who played a 30" string length steel of some sort. Someone with a better memory than mine should jump in here and fill in the missing comments I am unable to make. Did he play a version on the Alkyre (sp) tuning?? Senior moments! Carl help me out here.....

Post some pics!!!

Doug, ..The chaps name was Claude Brownell. He was a great entertainer, fine chap, and an exceptional musician. Yes, it was an Alkire tuning plus. The exact length of his scale was probably over 30 inches. He played it sitting and standing, ..on a stand in both cases.

I believe that Claude was living in Florida and passed away a few years ago. Last time that I spent time with him was at a steel show in Jacksonville.

Very nice indeed.