The Steel Guitar Forum

Can anyone give me some info/background on this 14-string stee1? I know it"s a Wright Custom. But maybe some info on the year, value and quality?

Thanks.











Thanks.

He will probably chime in here, but if not, shoot David Wright a text or email - his father, Chuck Wright, built it. He went on to form Sierra Steel Guitars - you can read a little of the history here:

http://www.sierrasteels.com/history.html

I would guess by how it looks that this was built in that interim period of the early 70's.

Value will be hard to determine - these are not very common. With the exception of Emmons Push/Pulls, guitars from the early 70's tend not to be high-dollar instruments - they lack the total vintage value of earlier instruments (Bigsby's, 60's P/P) but also are not as refined as the instruments that began appearing 10 years later which are very similar to steels still being manufactured today (Zums, Emmon's LeGrande). Also, while there were some famous (in our world, anyway) 14 string players back then (Julian Tharpe comes to mind), it has not maintained popularity.

I would say you could try $1500, but be willing to negotiate. (I just checked the thread linked below - that may be too much - maybe start at $1200?) I would suggest also putting it on other sites like Ebay and Reverb - the bigger audience you reach, the greater the likelihood of finding a buyer looking for a 14-string steel. And be patient. You can also search the forum for Sierra "Crown" 14 string steels and see what they sold for - this looks like a precursor to that model. However, the Crown was a pretty popular model, so parts exist. This one? Definately an odd bird.

Check out this thread: https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... f9aceb8245

Having said all of that, someone might come on here and tell you (and me) that that guitar is the holy grail, and I just did not know it! Good luck!

Edward,
That guitar was made in the early 70's in Dallas Tx I think.., as Douglas said.. My Dad built the first 14 string for Julian Thorp just like this one but white.. The guitar is built like a tank, and weights about the same..as far as value, whatever one is willing to pay...
the guitar should play well if it is set up right,

David................

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I don't quite understand that extra piece of hardware for the center 7 strings located in the keyhead.

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Very good.
Erv

Thanks so much guy's. Not looking to sell it. Just got it waiting for delivery. I like the fact that it is rare and from someone who is pretty important in the world of pedal steel guitars. Also, the fact that it comes from the guy who started Sierra. I know it will play and sound great. I have a S12 Sierra (White) that I love so that's why I got this. Surprised not much interest in a rare guitar from a historic maker. To me, I scored! Thanks for the comments ..I welcome more.
Honored that Dave chimed in.

Edward Toro wrote:...I like the fact that it is rare and from someone who is pretty important in the world of pedal steel guitars.

Have you discovered who owned it originally?

Danny Pendleton (Starland Vocal Band) also played a 14-stringer, but his was a black Sierra, as I recall.

Edward, post back when you find out? If its' for sale, etc. I have always wanted one of these just to sort of "have".

~Bill~

Michael Lee Allen wrote:Just like "string tree(s)" on a Telecaster or Stratocaster style of guitar with almost no string "break-over angle" at the nut. The device keeps the long string length between the nut and tuners lined up and also puts downward pressure on strings 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 so that they line up on level with the holes in the tuning key posts. I've seen and played a Wright S14 almost identical to the red one posted above, still in the possession of the original owner, which had this device and it does what it's supposed to do.
MLA

I thought also, maybe I'm wrong about this, but on these guitars with that long key-head, that center piece, does it not also reduce "behind the nut" harmonics? Seems to me, Reece explained this to me and Bud Carter gave me a "lesson" about this phenomena at some point? I specifically recall Reece telling me about this when I very first took beginner lessons from him.

This is one cool guitar. David, your Dad is a genius.

~Bill~

I would be a little concerned about the friction on those strings when it has to rub on that hold down strip.

As I remember he did the keyhead like that to kill overtones..
Erv, they were rollers, so no friction...to speak off..
Bill C, Thank you, he gave a big part of his life Designing and building Steel Guitars..

I just received some pictures of a lap steel my Dad built in the mid 50s..He gave me one for Christmas one year, A Friend just bought on in great shape, if you look at the key head, you'll see some strings going though a screw, overtones??? wish he was still here to answer some questions...

Gene Fields had a device on some of his early GFI guitars, which I don't think had an all pull changer. I might be mistaken, but I actually think these had a sort of modified push pull, but due to the harmonics and overtones ringing behind the nut, Gene installed these devices. I found this picture of one holding down strings 4567 behind the nut.

David, that is a great picture. You had hair.

~Bill~

There is a gap between the 6th and 7th pedals.
Would that 7th pedal be placed where it is for right-footin' it or is there a missing pedal?

Ok, I will try to find out who owned it originally.

Wonder how that would work for ringing strings?

I have this Wright 14-string for sale on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wright-14-Stri ... SwRLZaexRK

David, the screws behind the nut are there to raise the string tension of the unwound strings.