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Author
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Topic: Pierce Steel Guitars
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b0b
Sysop From: Cloverdale, California, USA
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posted 30 November 2005 08:47 PM
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Received via email: quote:
From: "shari ray" stingray@iei.net
To: quasar@b0b.com
Subject: Pierce steel guitars
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 20:05:24 -0600My father, Ralph Pierce, made steel guitars in the 1970's and I am trying to locate one. Could you help me out or put me in touch with someone that might be able to help me?
Thanks,
Shari (Pierce) Ray
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John Davis
Member From: Cambridge, U.K.
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posted 02 December 2005 09:59 AM
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I owned an 8 string one in the 70`s cannot remember what became of it after I went over to a ZB but I was pleased with it at the time.........  |
David Wisson
Member From: Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
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posted 06 December 2005 03:24 PM
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Hi John you sold it to me for £110.My Dad thought I was mad paying that for a piece of wood with 4 welding rods underneath.I re varnished the top and sprayed the cast iron body sunburst red.I played gigs with it until the legs got so loose it started walking across the stage.Actual went over the side one night.then I brought a ZB student.I don't know who I sold it to but got £90 for it.sounded nice.Ive had my Emmons P/P for 27 years now so I should think the old girl has been retired and is now a long thin table |
Curt Langston
Member From: ***In the shadows of Tulsa at Bixby, USA***
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posted 06 December 2005 06:00 PM
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Isn't that amazing? If not for this Forum, there would be no way to trace history like that!  |
John De Maille
Member From: Merrick,N.Y. U.S.A.
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posted 06 December 2005 07:30 PM
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I had a "Pierce" steel, back in 1971. The boys in the band bought it, and elected me to play it. The one big problem was, that, it was only the cabinet ( body, changer, pickup, neck, tuners (8) ) I had to make the legs, ( from an old card table ) make the pedal rack and pedals, from 1x2 wood, and I used coat hangers for the pedal rods. I painted the wood black and the legs and rods silver. I got an old "Mel Bay" book about pedal steels and used the tuning in the book. Can't remember right now, what it was though. And, I have to say that, for a while, I was a "pedal steel guitar player". I got some picks and an old dobro bar, that my father had and tried my damnest to make music. But, unfortunately, my handiwork just didn't hold up that well. The wood kept splitting, the screws kept working loose, and the coat hangers wouldn't keep the bends I had put in them. Maybe if I had all the parts, it would have been a better steel. I don't know ! A year or so later, I bought a birdseye maple ShoBud Maverick and really thought I'd gone to Heaven. Ten strings with 3 pedals and 1 knee lever. Hot Dog, I made it !!!! |
John Davis
Member From: Cambridge, U.K.
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posted 07 December 2005 01:12 PM
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Dave, Thanks for jogging my memory, that sure was a long time ago!!
John after seeing you play at Rhode Island I can tell you that "Pierce" did`ent do you any harm at all!! |
John De Maille
Member From: Merrick,N.Y. U.S.A.
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posted 07 December 2005 06:34 PM
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John,
Yes, it was a "learning" experience, and I must say, it started my passion for steel guitar. I can't get enough of it, till this day !!! |
Roger Shackelton
Member From: Everett, Wa.
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posted 11 December 2005 10:29 PM
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I met Ralph Pierce in October of 1971 at the DJ Convention in Nashville. He had a steel Player demo his guitars in a hotel room at the Andrew Jackson Hotel. His personal guitar had 16 strings and was tuned to Bb-6th. I don't recall the number of pedals or knee levers on his guitar.One evening during a jam session, someone was leaning on the light switch and the lights went out for a few seconds, but the steel player didn't miss a lick.
ROGER
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