The Steel Guitar Forum
Pedal Steel Archive
I'm using a Sierra tonight! (Page 1)
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone!
profile | join | preferences | help | search
Steel Guitar Strings Strings & instruction for lap steel, Hawaiian & pedal steel guitars http://SteelGuitarShopper.com |
Ray Price Shuffles Classic country shuffle styles for Band-in-a-Box, by BIAB guru Jim Baron. http://steelguitarmusic.com |
This Forum is CLOSED. |
|
|
The Steel Guitar Forum
Pedal Steel Archive
I'm using a Sierra tonight! (Page 1)
profile | join | preferences | help | search
|
| This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 This topic was originally posted in this forum: Pedal Steel |
| Author | Topic: I'm using a Sierra tonight! |
|
Nick Reed Member Posts: 2713 |
posted 03 March 2002 02:15 PM
The new Country Band I've joined has our practice sessions in our lead vocalist's recording studio. He happens to have a red Sierra S-10 - 3x4 at the studio. We are going to have practice tonight right after I get off from work. So as a convenience, I'm going to try using his Sierra for a couple of hours instead of having to take my Emmons. I never have cared to much for Sierra's but I'm willing to give it a try. I'm sure I'll be ready to get back to my own guitars after tonight. NR [This message was edited by Nick Reed on 03 March 2002 at 02:16 PM.] |
|
Michael Johnstone Member Posts: 2535 |
posted 03 March 2002 05:57 PM
I'm a die hard Sierra FREAK.I think they're underrated because of some of their stylistic departures from middle-of-the-road design norms(I like that!)With the right pickup and in the right hands,they can honk,moan and sing with the best of 'em. Enjoy -MJ- |
|
Jim Eaton Member Posts: 1036 |
posted 03 March 2002 06:43 PM
I have a 75 D10 PP & a Sierra Session S-12 E9/B6th for the same reasons that I own both a Tele & Strat. JE:-)> |
|
Bob Leaman unregistered Posts: 1036 |
posted 03 March 2002 07:16 PM
I have a 1974 Emmons D10 PP (8+2)and a 1994 Sierra Session D10 (8+7). Both have the same pickups, Lawrence 710's. Consensus of listeners and musicians is that Sierra and Emmons both sound the same. I use the same Nashville 1000 with the same amp settings on both guitars. Listeners count more than players since they pay the bills. |
|
Mike Weirauch Member Posts: 3528 |
posted 03 March 2002 10:04 PM
If memory serves me correct (and it does) Buddy Emmons said that the closest he came to finding that sound (outside of his Emmons P/P) was with a Sierra guitar. I believe that speaks volumes. |
|
Bobby Boggs Member Posts: 3623 |
posted 03 March 2002 11:26 PM
I thought he said the closest he got to his PP sound was with his Legrande III.  |
|
Richard Plummer Member Posts: 235 |
posted 04 March 2002 04:58 AM
amen bobby  ont make me get up on a soapbox and preach. :P |
|
Gene Jones Member Posts: 5796 |
posted 04 March 2002 05:04 AM
* [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 02 May 2002 at 02:26 PM.] |
|
Mike Weirauch Member Posts: 3528 |
posted 04 March 2002 07:50 AM
Nope, he said his Sierra. Sorry! he just posted that he used his LeGrande III and a Carter to record a couple of albums with Gene Watson and said he couldn't tell a dimes worth of difference between the two. |
|
Damir Besic Member Posts: 2326 |
posted 04 March 2002 07:56 AM
amen Gene,I`m with you man  Damir (big mouth from Nashville) ------------------ [This message was edited by Damir Besic on 04 March 2002 at 07:57 AM.] |
|
Bobby Boggs Member Posts: 3623 |
posted 04 March 2002 08:17 AM
Sorry Guys.The way I remember it.Buddy said the Sierra was great guitar.But the sound he kept hearing in his head was that of a PP.The new Legrande III was the closest he had found to that sound.Do a search sometime around Dec 98 bar chatter.Also someone ask a question last spring. Which guitar sounds more like a PP.I answered I felt my Derby or a JCH had more sustain than a Legrande.Buddy was quick to inform everyone his LIII was the closest he had come to the PP sound. Now for the record. Though I worship the man. I could care less what Buddy or anyone plays.I'm just trying to set the record straight.The Sierra is a great guitar.But it doesn't sound like a PP.And I don't think it was meant to. --bb |
|
Mike Weirauch Member Posts: 3528 |
posted 04 March 2002 08:36 AM
I guess the best thing is to let him settle this since he knows and we both only think we know what was said. LeGrande III's are good but I've heard earlier LeGrande's eat them up on tone. I have 2 LeGrande III's and a push/pull and neither stack up to the push/pull but we all knew that already. |
|
Bobby Boggs Member Posts: 3623 |
posted 04 March 2002 09:02 AM
Mike I agree with your last post on all counts. For anyone who has the time to do the search.I think it was more like Dec 99 Bar Chatter. bb |
|
Bobby Lee Sysop Posts: 14849 |
posted 04 March 2002 09:46 AM
I'm a big Sierra fan, but I don't think they sound like an Emmons push-pull. When I got my first Sierra, Mrs. Lee pined for the Emmons sound (I had sold my push-pull). After a while she got used to it, though, and now she has no complaints. I have some beautiful gospel recordings (as yet unreleased) that highlight the tone of my Sierra Session. Mrs. Lee loves them, and keeps asking when I'm going to finish the album. Maybe this year... ------------------ |
|
Michael Johnstone Member Posts: 2535 |
posted 04 March 2002 10:48 AM
For what it's worth,I've heard more than one person say that Sierras sound more like a Sho-Bud than an Emmons.To me - well,I just don't think like that and it doesn't matter to me what Buddy Emmons or anybody else said or didn't say about it.The sound of an old Emmons is a good sound but it is not the only good sound.As far as older guitars with a bold,rich sound,I personally like the tone of a ZB better than Sho-Buds OR Emmons.But Sierras also have a bold,rich sound of their own combined w/a unique look and modern mechanics and some very cool features not found on very many - or ANY other guitars.Plus the keyless models are lightweight,compact and stay in tune unbelievably well.I think anyone who thinks for themselves and has a chance to sit down at length and play one,try all the different quick-change pickups available,dial in your amp,take it out to a gig and crank it up,will fall in love. -MJ- |
|
Richard Sinkler Member Posts: 2896 |
posted 04 March 2002 04:26 PM
Hey Michael, those ZB's sure were great sounding guitars, weren't they. My opinion, the best. Now, getting back to Sierra, these guitars are probably the best built guitars I've ever seen. I never personally cared for the tone, but I must say that a few of my friends that play them have great tone and make them sing. Just listen to Bob Lee, Al Bates, and of course David Wright. All great local (California) players. I tend not to think in terms that brand X sounds like brand y, brand Q sounds like brand Z. I think they all sound different. Some I like, some I don't. If you want to sound like brand X, for God's sake, buy brand X. You don't buy a Sierra to sound like an Emmons. You buy an EMMONS to sound like an Emmons. OK I'll go back to my cage now. ------------------ |
|
Larry Miller Member Posts: 975 |
posted 04 March 2002 05:13 PM
quote:that's what Shot jokingly called an Emmons.  |
|
Bobby Lee Sysop Posts: 14849 |
posted 04 March 2002 05:29 PM
I've never been able to make my Sierra sound remotely like a Sho-Bud. Also, my keyless Sierra Session SD-12 isn't what I'd call "light". Sierra does make a light weight model (the Artist), but they aren't keyless. I'm anxious to hear how Nick's gig went. ------------------ |
|
Chuck Martin Member Posts: 259 |
posted 04 March 2002 06:48 PM
I've had a Sierra Session D-10 for about a year now and have never been happy with the tone from the stock pickups. I recently had a modular Bill Lawrence 710 made for the E9th neck and man, what a difference. The clarity and string separation sound much better to my ears. I know people say that the sound depends on the player but having the right pickup can really help. I've been impressed with the precision of the Sierra mechanics and now I'm also impressed with its tone! |
|
Tom Jordan Member Posts: 283 |
posted 04 March 2002 11:07 PM
Hey guys (and gals), I get to play a Sierra every day! I recently traded my very nice Excel D10 8/4 for a beautiful U12. I wanted it all on one neck in the apparently "west coast" tradition. This guitar is a Royalty model with a 5/5 set up and I just ordered a new gizmo from the folks at Siera to make it fit me better (slave block assy). I've owned two Sho-buds, a BMI and the Excel...played them for a living (hehe, till my wife made me get a job...) and loved them all. This is what I can say about these guitars... the bottom end is simply amazing. The string separation and tone just blows me away. I have a double coil Sierra pickup (Danny Shields, I believe) with switching for 15k/20k and on/off for the tone pot. If I was of the persuasion to play rock, this would cut it. Have you ever cranked the distortion and played Smoke on the Water or Tobacco Road or La Grange? What a kick! I know I must sound giddy, but the guitar is most versital one that I have owned or played (of course, it is a new toy). I'll keep up the week end warrior stuff and occasional studio work in confidence that this guitar will have the voicing and b*lls to play whats thrown at me. Tom Jordan ------------------ |
|
Bobby Lee Sysop Posts: 14849 |
posted 05 March 2002 09:24 AM
I'm not familiar with the Royalty model. When was it made? I agree that the Bill Lawrence pickup makes a Sierra sound full and rich. I have a 712 that really brings out the best of my S-12s. Still waiting to hear from Nick Reed.  ------------------ [This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 05 March 2002 at 09:25 AM.] |
|
Tom Jordan Member Posts: 283 |
posted 05 March 2002 09:59 AM
Hi Bobby, The Royalty I have (according to Sierra) was built in 1974 and is gold anodized with black mica. It is an interesting guitar and admittedly when I first opened the case when it arrived, I was a little taken back... The legs are attached to the guitar and swing upwards. They lock in place with a spring loaded pin and have a friction lock to tighten things up. This is different from anything I've owned before. The legs lock in place nice and tight and there is no lateral movement to the guitar. This is a single neck body and wieghs about 60 pounds..maybe that accounts for the smooth tone. The pickup has quite a bit of bite also. It is similar to the "crap trap" but has one row of adjustable alan heads verses two on the CT's. I'm only guessing that the guitar probably started life as an E9 extended (5/5) but it is now an E9/B6. It is only a double raise/lower changer system, but I've managed to get 2 1/2 step and 1 whole step pull on the 4th string E by having a finger adjustable tuner under the guitar. Sierra is shipping a slve block assy. to me this week to clean that up a bit, though. I've had the guitar for about two weeks now and it has really grown on me. Tom Jordan |
|
Len Amaral Member Posts: 1089 |
posted 05 March 2002 02:08 PM
Sierra guitars are cool. They have many adjustible mechanical attributes and the fast track pickup changer is really nice. I have a bunch of pickups and you can instantly hear the tonal change by swapping a George L 12-1 to a Lawrence 705 and then a George L E-66. |
|
Bobby Lee Sysop Posts: 14849 |
posted 05 March 2002 02:33 PM
I have a 1978 Sierra Olympic that's very similar to your Royalty, from the description anyway. Here's a picture of it:  Does that look like yours, Tom? ------------------ |
|
Tom Jordan Member Posts: 283 |
posted 05 March 2002 02:48 PM
Bobby, that could be my guitar from the photo! When I spoke with Sierra the other day, they (Judy?) gave me the name and the year of the guitar from the serial number. The pickup looks the same as mine also. It looks like you have an additional decal or placard on the left front that mine does not have. Tom Baker said the guitar pre-dated him but was familiar with the model. I'm only guessing on the 60 pound weight, as I haven't weighed it. The shipping wieght was 70 pounds and I estimated the case at 10...might be 20 though, its a BIG hunk of wood. Tom Jordan |
|
David Wright Member Posts: 1863 |
posted 05 March 2002 05:17 PM
Tom, Welcome to the Sierra Family, I had pretty much the same guitar you have, My Dad did the folding leg's like you have, Don, later moved them to what you see today on the new Sierras.I have a black/gold that I play every weekend, I have a black, keyed one that I do outside jobs with. Glad your enjoying the guitar, if I can be of any help to you fell free to write, I'm just down the road from you, Modesto.... ------------------ |
|
Tom Jordan Member Posts: 283 |
posted 05 March 2002 09:13 PM
David, thank you for the welcome. I think I'll have the pleasure of meeting you Saturday in Madera...I'm looking forward to it. Jim Baron told me you were up that way and are familiar with Sierra guitars. By the way, you have a nice web site. Tom Jordan |
|
David Wright Member Posts: 1863 |
posted 06 March 2002 11:04 AM
Thank's tom, and yes I will be in Madera, to do some playing, should be fun... see you Sat... ------------------ |
|
Tommy M Member Posts: 914 |
posted 06 March 2002 09:09 PM
Well, ...Nick, it's been three days since you started this thread. What's the word? It doesn't matter. I've enjoyed reading the very informative replies on what many feel is a fine guitar. I've always thought they were a well crafted/good looking and sounding instrument. Tommy Minniear |
|
Roger Kelly Member Posts: 1325 |
posted 07 March 2002 08:56 AM
Yeah Nick, tell us what you think about the Sierra. As you know Nick I have a Le Grande III and have played Sho-Bud and Emmons guitars for ages. I recently purchased a Carter D-10, 8x7 w/BCT from Bud Harger and received it last week. Since the knee pedals were not arranged like mine, I took the Carter to my buddy, Brian Adams, who changed them around to what I wanted. Brian and I were very impressed how well the Carter is designed and built. The E-9th neck sounds as good as my LeGrande and the C-6th neck "almost" as good. I found that the Carter has some features that I wished was on my Emmons. I plan on playing my Carter Friday night at our regular dance. I already know I'm gonn'a like it. To those of you that may think Bryan Adams only works on Emmons Push-Pulls..... let me tell you, he can re-build or customize any brand out there. Nick, a person with a open mind will find that there are more than one well built and good sounding Steel Guitar on the market today. [This message was edited by Roger Kelly on 07 March 2002 at 02:09 PM.] |
|
Reggie Duncan Member Posts: 1862 |
posted 07 March 2002 09:24 AM
Nick....Nick....are you there? We want to know what you think! |
|
Tom Jordan Member Posts: 283 |
posted 07 March 2002 03:38 PM
Yea, come on Nick? Whaddya think of our guitar? Are you driving out to Portland right now to get one? Yea, that's gotta be it...that's the ticket... Tom |
|
Reggie Duncan Member Posts: 1862 |
posted 07 March 2002 09:26 PM
I heard it ate his pix and bar and he's runnin' scared! |
|
Frank Estes Member Posts: 2451 |
posted 08 March 2002 07:52 AM
Time to report in, Nick! What did you really think of the Sierra? |
|
David Wright Member Posts: 1863 |
posted 08 March 2002 04:08 PM
Reggie, That is funny....The only Emmons guitar I ever played was JD's and the guitar ask me to step away and stay away, It had way to many necks for me, I will check our ordes in the last week and see if Nick's name is in any of them, or if were being sued for the pix and bar !!!!  ------------------ |
|
Nick Reed Member Posts: 2713 |
posted 10 March 2002 05:31 PM
I found the Sierra to play very smooth, it does have a nice feel. However, it doesn't yet have my set-up so everything still feels awkward. We are trying to find someone who can change it over for me. As for the sound. . . .well it has a very thin sound which could be from the E-66 pickup it has, not to mention the aluminum body construction. b0b had said in an earlier thread that he noticed that simuliarity on one of his Sierra's. The Sierra seems to have a ZB type sound which ain't bad, it's just different. This guitar work's fine for practicing which is what I'm doing with it. I'm sure after awhile I'll probably get more used to it. But for now I still prefer my Emmons because of it's richer tone. But since many of you have been waiting for me to respond . . . ."No complaints with the Sierra". Nick [This message was edited by Nick Reed on 10 March 2002 at 05:47 PM.] |
|
Bobby Lee Sysop Posts: 14849 |
posted 11 March 2002 10:20 AM
I suggest that you slide in a different pickup. The E-66 wasn't a good match in either of my Sierras. It was, as you said, too thin. The Bill Lawrence 712 just blows me away. At this point, I'm just using other pickups for "special effects" - the 712 stays in the slot most of the time. ------------------ |
|
Gene Jones Member Posts: 5796 |
posted 11 March 2002 02:46 PM
* [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 02 May 2002 at 02:27 PM.] |
|
David Wright Member Posts: 1863 |
posted 11 March 2002 03:43 PM
I have every pick-up that Sierra has to offer, my favorite is the George'l Sierra-2, the 66 is a bit to thin fore me, I also have two Bill L. pick-ups, I used one Sat night and was happy with it, I had to faten it up a bit , but it worked well, now next Fir night It may be to thin, my ears play tricks on me anymore, what sounded good Fir night may suck Sat, and Sun night well I never know what it will be, I hope this makes since ...... ------------------ |
|
Chuck Martin Member Posts: 259 |
posted 11 March 2002 04:10 PM
Hey David, can you tell me what the difference is between the Sierra 1 & Sierra 2 pickups? They sound pretty much the same to me. I recently switched to a BL-710 and noticed a significant improvement in tone. Thanks, Chuck [This message was edited by Chuck Martin on 11 March 2002 at 04:12 PM.] |
| This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 All times are Pacific (US) | This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it! |
Note: Messages not explicitly copyrighted are in the Public Domain.
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46
Our mailing address is:
The Steel Guitar Forum
148 South Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA
Support the Forum
Bobby Lee - email: