Sierra Steel Guitar Co. is pleased to announce that Sierra pedal steel guitars will once again be available. These will be made in limited numbers by Ross Shafer, in his one man, Petaluma, California shop.
Sierra's website (sierrasteels.com) is currently being updated to provide contact info as well as technical and ordering details. Until then, please email inquiries through the forum.
Don't want to crowd things with a ton of pics so click on the links below.
Well, being the usual pessimist, I am pretty sure from what I have seen in the pictures, that the cost of these things is going to be prohibitive to most folks reading this. Based on the limited views in the pics above, I can see awesome engineering flowing all over it. Sierra has done their homework, that is very evident. That, and the term "limited" tells me all I need to know on possible pricing.
I am a Sierra "fan"...own 3 Session 12's. This is an awesome looking guitar. But, I predict it's going to have a very limited customer-base because of the (assumed) price.
I had hoped for a new Sierra midrange model. Guess I'll just hang on to what I have and be thankful.
Very beautiful, interesting and nicely engineered. Looks uber expensive to produce.
Nice as this guitar is, it has little to do with the Chuck Wright Sierra concept. They are similar in name only, but that's neither a good thing or a bad one.
There will be some Sierra fans lamenting the departure from the old-design, while new ones lust after this seemingly hand-crafted axe. Can't wait to see one "up close & personal.".
Banjo, Dobro, Guild D-40, Telecaster, Justice Pro Lite 3x5, BOSS Katana 100, Peavey Nashville 112 in a Tommy Huff cabinet, Spark, FreeLoader, Baby Bloomer, Peterson StroboPlus HD, Stage One VP.
"Use the talents you possess; the woods would be very silent indeed if no birds sang but the best"
Jory Simmons wrote:Looks like it might weigh less than some others...with the Graphite ( Im guessing here) rods..I especially like the 1/2 stop tuners...
My guess is that all the rods/legs are carbon fiber...?
And as Tom mentioned...looks like the slide in pickups are history...
Ross is heavily into CNC machining and that will be reflected in the price of the new guitars. He can do for pennies on a CNC machine what it costs us old timers to do one-zy/two-zy on a conventional mill with sometimes dozens of set-up changes for each component. Del Mullen and Joe Kline were the first two builders that I am aware of to use CNC in the beginning. It can really cut costs.
Best of luck, Ross.
PRR
I like the changer design very much but the screw in legs with the shoulder is way too cool. Should make the guitar very stable. Way to go Ross. Should be a lifetime guitar for anyone. J.R. Rose
Black Performance SD-10, 2002. Peavey LTD 400 with 15" Eminence EPS 15-C, Sho-Bud Seat, Goodrich L-120 Pedal, Sho-Bud Bar, Picks, Cords. Nothing else.
Erv Niehaus wrote:Looks like the guitar that Bob just got.
Indeed it is.
Paul Redmond wrote:Ross is heavily into CNC machining and that will be reflected in the price of the new guitars. He can do for pennies on a CNC machine what it costs us old timers to do one-zy/two-zy on a conventional mill with sometimes dozens of set-up changes for each component. Del Mullen and Joe Kline were the first two builders that I am aware of to use CNC in the beginning. It can really cut costs.
Best of luck, Ross.
PRR
Don't count on CNC to cut costs. The machines are very expensive, and there's no skimping on the parts count, variety, metal quality, wood finish or other details. These will not be inexpensive guitars.
Very beautiful, interesting and nicely engineered. Looks uber expensive to produce.
Nice as this guitar is, it has little to do with the Chuck Wright Sierra concept. They are similar in name only, but that's neither a good thing or a bad one.
There will be some Sierra fans lamenting the departure from the old-design, while new ones lust after this seemingly hand-crafted axe. Can't wait to see one "up close & personal.".
