sierra pedal steel

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 25 Oct 2010 7:38 am

I am new to pedal steel playing. I have a MSA Red Barron and am looking at the purchase of a Sierra 10-12 with the gearless tuning. It has 9 pedal and 6 knee levers. Guitar looks clean and I have been told that there are no apparent issues with it. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share any info on the Sierra brand of guitar. I think it may be a Crown series as there is a Crown on the side. Thanks.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 25 Oct 2010 8:07 am

Jr., I sent a message to your forum Private Message feature.

Bart Reed · Post by **Bart Reed** » 25 Oct 2010 3:56 pm

I have a 1985 D-10 Sierra Crown, keyed model. It is extremely solid and quite heavy. Pedal and lever actions are very smooth. My only issues with this guitar are that it feels almost too big for me. I am average size (5'10") but I have short legs, so it feels like I have to reach a bit farther than is comfortable. I also have trouble taming the high end on this guitar, not sure if this can be helped with different strings or pickup. Another big plus of Sierra is the quick change pickup feature. If I can figure out if a change of pickups will help tame the high end, I'd sure like to try it. Mechanically though, it is still rock solid at 25 years of age.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 25 Oct 2010 6:56 pm

Well I made the big leap and purchased the Sierra 10 20 keyless. Should receive it by between the 1st and 5th of Nov. I hope it is as good as it looks. Now I just have to figure out all the features on it and learn how to play it. I find that at 66 years of age I don't retain things as good as I used to. I will try to post some pictures when I get it in.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 25 Oct 2010 7:04 pm

Congratulations

I think you mean 10/12. These are fine guitars and built to last a lifetime. Feel free to fire away with questions as need be.

This will be a huge step up from the little Red Baron starter and give you so many possibilities.

Best of Luck!

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 25 Oct 2010 7:08 pm

I still have my Sierra D10-12 which I played for about 30 years up through 2006. I played casuals for those years and it was destroying my back hauling it around. Most Sierra's are very heavy and I suggest using carts and have someone help you with it when loading and unloading. However, it's a great Guitar, stays in tune, doesen't break strings and has good action and tone.

Enjoy

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 25 Oct 2010 8:57 pm

Jerry, Billy, Bart. Thanks so much for your comments. Since joining the forum I have had the privilege of communicating with some of the nicest and most helpful people that I have ever been in contact with. Thank all of you for your support. You are very encouraging.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 26 Oct 2010 2:34 am

Jr,
You'll be fine with the Sierra, very well built guitar...

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 26 Oct 2010 7:07 am

Hard to resist something shiny, isn't it Jr.??
Congratulations, that should be a very good guitar that won't limit you in any way except for the weight issue. I had a single 12 Sierra Crown Gearless for a few years. They are beautifully made. Get a good hand cart.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 28 Oct 2010 6:43 pm

Just got the Sierra 10/12 in today and set it up. I don't know what I got. Can't seem to figure out the pedal and knee lever set up on it. I wonder if the 10 string neck is set up for C6th. It has a lot heavier guage strings on it. 12 string neck is a lot different also. I wonder if somebody has changed the set up on it. None of the pedals seem to raise the right strings.Not sure what is supposed to do what on the 12 string neck.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 28 Oct 2010 6:45 pm

Hey Doug. I was going to buy one from you when I ran across this one. Seemed to be to good a deal to pass up. I may be sorry if I can't get this one figured out.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 28 Oct 2010 6:51 pm

Typically the front neck is E9th and uses the leftmost pedals. The back neck (closest to you) is C6th and uses the inside pedals. Which neck has 12 strings?

I had a Sierra with 12 strings in front for Extended E9th, and 10 strings in back for C6th. The extended E9th had a low G# and E in addition to the standard 10 strings.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 28 Oct 2010 7:17 pm

The back neck is the one with 10 strings. I am going to order new strings for both necks from the forum. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I seem to be in alligators up to my neck and sinking fast but that's the fun of learning. Keeps my mind occupied with something besides these old junk cars that I work on.

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 28 Oct 2010 7:56 pm

You'll figure it out. Just start with the 1st pedal and see what it does and so on down the line. Make a chart as you go, such as "string 5 +1(2 frets)". Post it on here if it doesn't make sense to you. There are a lot of smart helpful folks here. Sounds like a neat guitar!
Did you get the Red Baron sold?

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 29 Oct 2010 4:36 am

Still have the Red Baron. Will continue to use it until I get the Sierra set up. I am ordering new strings for it this morning. I have to locate a string puller and a tuning wrench for it. I thank I can make both. Looks like I can take a nut driver and use it for the tuning wrench and drill a hole in some kind of round stock for the puller. I have a piece of heavy plastic that may work for the puller. I have downloaded the manual for the guitar off of the Sierra website. I also have downloaded the chart that tells me the string gauges and what pedal does what. Now all I have to do is figure it all out. Thanks Jr.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 29 Oct 2010 7:48 am

I use .046 and .056 for the two extra strings (low G# and E) of the extended E9th 12-string neck. Notice whether the 6th string is plain or wound - that's the biggest difference between E9th sets.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 29 Oct 2010 9:22 am

This will be long. 12 string neck gauges on guitar. 1-.011, 2-.012, 3-.011, 4-.013, 5-.014, 6-.017, 7-.024, 8-.029, 9-.032, 10-.035, 11-.041, 12-.052. pedal 1 raises string 7 2 raises 6&10 3 raises 3&7 4 lowers 2&9 5 lowers 3&7 6 lowers 5 and raises 10 7 raises 4&11 LKR under back rail raises 5 left right KN for left let lowers 6 and raises 12. Under 12 string neck LKL raises 8 and RKL raises 4,8,11. 10 string neck is another story. Maybe you or someone on the forum can tell me what I have. Thank you Jr.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 29 Oct 2010 9:40 am

As a new player, you should change that to a standard E9th. It's obviously a very custom tuning known only to the previous owner. I've never seen anything quite like it.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 29 Oct 2010 9:54 am

That is what I am planing on trying to do. I hope that I have enough parts so I can change them over to standard E9 without having to try to locate anything for it. Pull rods and levers might be hard to find. Thanks Jr.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 29 Oct 2010 10:17 am

Looking closely, I think it was set up as Eb9. Here's my guess:

Maybe the previous owner had string breakage problems, so he lowered the tuning half a step and kept E9 gauges on the plain strings, and increased the gauges on the wounds. I'll try to put together a chart for you that will work with the parts you have.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 29 Oct 2010 10:41 am

Here's an extended E9th that should work with the parts you have, Jr.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 29 Oct 2010 12:00 pm

Hey bOb. Thanks so much for taking the time to work these things out for a dummie like me. I have removed all the strings and am in the process of cleaning and lubricating all the moving parts. concentrating on the 12 string neck first.I printed out the charts that you sent me. I certainly appreciate the effort you and all the other people on the forum have taken on my behalf. If I can become half as knowledgeable as you I will be satisfied. I have met some of the nicest people possible since joining the forum. Going to have to quit for the day. I play with a group of people at the Community Center tonight. At 66 I am the youngest one of the group. we are not very good but we have a lot of fun. The over the hill group in action. I hope one day I can take the steel and play it instead of my Gretsch. Thanks again. Jr.

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 29 Oct 2010 5:20 pm

I'm not sure which Sierra keyless system you have, Jr., but on the one I had the third string G# was the only one I had to pull really tight before tightening the lock screw (allen head). There was plenty of travel in the others as long as they were just reasonably tight. I just pulled the string tight with a pair of pliers, not the ones you use to skin trout...makes a mess...and then wrapped it back around the screw towards the neck a half turn and snug it up. You can just about pull that 3rd string F# to pitch with the pliers.

Hal Stackhouse · Post by **Hal Stackhouse** » 30 Oct 2010 6:21 pm

Jr., Call Jerry Knapper in Roland, OK @ 918-520-1048 and I'm sure he can help you out. There are several of us in the Arklahoma Steel Guitar club that play Sierra's and Jerry has set up most of them. If you are not doing anything we will have our steel guitar club concert on Nov 7th in Muldrow, OK. Give Jerry a call or call me at 918-427-6304. Be glad to try and help you.

Hal Stackhouse
Muldrow, OK

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 3 Nov 2010 12:40 am

I've had a Sierra single 12 string since '91. Real workhorse if you ask me. Very low maintenance and it always stays in tune except in altitude/temperature changes. My only complaint is I have to pull off the pickup periodically and clean the contacts where the pickup sits or if I don't, it can cut out in the middle of my playing. Maybe there's a cure for that but cleaning those contacts with my pencil eraser before each performance seems to work.

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