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Topic: The first gig with my SIERRA! |
Josh Yenne
From:
Sonoma California
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Posted 24 Jun 2019 2:37 pm |
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My good buddy Ross Shafer builds the Sierras. I know they have been getting a lot of good buzz around here, as well they should.
Truthfully I love Ross like a brother and I would have probably had to get any steel guitar he built.. luckily for me he's a freaking genius and builds the nicest playing steel guitar I've ever sat behind!
I have borrowed Ross's before but there were some specific things on mine that I wanted and I like mine even more.
Simple black finish but can still see the maple underneath. I had him put an original Sho Bud pickup in it that I had bought a while back.
It is essentially a 12 string body but with only 10 strings... very simple set up like I like. I like a pad cause it gives me a place to put my picks and bar...so Ross put in a little routed "holder" on the available space. Works great.
My main gigging steel has been a Show Pro S1.5 (I call it) which has just a little mini pad.. not fully a D10 sized.. and I really like and prefer where that puts the pedals and knee levers when I sit down more than a real S10... and i actually LIKE a little bit more weight for some reason.
The guitar plays like BUTTER... I mean once you play one of these you will be shocked how light, yet short, everytingn is/can be.
Perfect timing.... no chunk a chunk.
I played my Sho Bud today and it felt SO HEAVY. (although i do LOVE LOVE my LDG)
I'm a proud owner and can't wait to get more comfortable with it. If you ever have a chance to play/get one of these guitars do yourself a favor and try to make it happen.
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 24 Jun 2019 3:12 pm
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That's a real great looking steel. The translucent black is elegant.
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. |
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Gabriel Edell
From:
Hamilton, Ontario
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Posted 24 Jun 2019 5:02 pm
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I heard Ross interviewed on the PS podcast. Insane amount of design work went into those things. Digging the carbon fiber legs and pedal rods.
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GFI S-10 P U, Moyo Volume, Fender Steel King, Fender 5F4 Super-Amp |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 24 Jun 2019 11:43 pm
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Amazing!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Charles Kurck
From:
Living in Arkansas but Heaven is home
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Posted 25 Jun 2019 3:51 am Route-Out For Picks & Bar
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 25 Jun 2019 6:00 am
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It was a privilege to build one for you Josh, so stoked you dig it!
FYI forumites...about a decade ago, my bandmate Brett shows up for practice and says "hope its OK, I invited a steel player to join us tonight"...turned out to be Josh with a Carter Starter. I couldn't play (lead guitar) for shit that night 'cuz I was so enthralled with and concentrating on the beautiful sounds Josh was making (dude was good on steel right from the start!). Even though I'd loved steel guitar since being a kid (Poco, Burritos, CSNY, etc.) by the end of that practice I was hooked and within a few months bought an MSA and started hurting my brain trying to learn to play. I pretty quickly found out that my talent was for "playing" underneath the dang thing. Before long I started documenting design ideas, as I knew at some point I'd just have to build a steel....serendipitously through an old bicycle customer of mine (thanks Bill!) I met Sierra's owner, Ed Littlefield and the rest is history.
Without Josh lighting the fire and the gasoline that Bill and Ed threw on it....I doubt I'd be building these beauties today. Big thanks to these guys for setting me down this path. I love building these contraptions. The only thing better than building them is hearing someone enjoying themselves while playing one! |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2019 8:11 am
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Great looking guitar. Has me pondering an SD-12 for myself at some point. I played Ross's early 10-string steels, wonderful guitars, and I deeply appreciate the man's intelligence and his design aesthetic.
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E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2019 8:33 am
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Looks great! Can't wait to hear it! 
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 25 Jun 2019 3:03 pm
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The Sierra is an inspirational guitar to play. ðŸ‘
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I survived the sixties! |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 26 Jun 2019 6:07 am
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Thanks to all y'all for the compliments, they mean a lot to me! Especially Len's "the Sierra is an inspirational guitar to play"!
I received many similar comments from new Sierra owners. If anything about the guitars I build inspires a person to play more, its a huge home run for me. I had the good luck to experience this many times in my bicycle building career. Certainly a major motivator to keep me designing and making things others can use and enjoy.
Big thanks yet again to all who've taken' the leap of faith buying one of these represents! |
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Johnie King
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2019 2:56 pm
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| That’s one nice Sierra for sure. I love the added space just too cool for school!!! |
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Bryan Daste
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 29 Jun 2019 7:24 am
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It's great that they added a built-in tray for your bar!
(Yes, someone finally took my advice.  ) |
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Paul Sutherland
From:
Placerville, California
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Posted 29 Jun 2019 10:20 am
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You mean that's not an ashtray?
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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. |
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Charley Bond
From:
Inola, OK, USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2019 7:53 am The NEW Sierra
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Very glad for you. It's a beautiful Instrument. I might want one, someday, when Ross puts keys on one...
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Steel Guitar players are members of a Special Family |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2019 8:42 am Re: The NEW Sierra
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| Charley Bond wrote: |
| Very glad for you. It's a beautiful Instrument. I might want one, someday, when Ross puts keys on one... |
Don't hold your breath, Charley. 
Seriously, the keyless design makes changing strings a breeze. It tunes up quickly, and you use the same tool to tune the strings and the pedals. Tone is even (and wonderful) across the strings - no "keyhead ring" on the 5th and 6th strings.
I've played (and still own) both keyed and keyless guitars, but I've never had another guitar that was as easy to string up and tune as Ross's creation.
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-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Charley Bond
From:
Inola, OK, USA
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Posted 30 Jun 2019 8:49 am Keyless Guitars
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Thanks for the info Bobby, but I had a Keyless guitar & that was the worst "pain in the butt" I've ever know. I really liked the guitar & I ordered it (U12) special, but it wasn't long before it was someone else's. So I am leary of them.
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Steel Guitar players are members of a Special Family |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 1 Jul 2019 9:40 am
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| not all Keyless guitars are created equal |
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Gary Newcomb
From:
AustinTexas, USA
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Posted 7 Jul 2019 5:21 am
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Oh man I’m lusting so hard for a U12!!
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Sierra Session U12, Milkman 1/2, Goodrich Omni, Divine Noise Cables, BJS, Solid cosmic gold, baby 👶🻠|
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 7 Jul 2019 5:27 am
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| That's funny Gary, 'cuz I have a pile of parts and some beautiful figured wood that is lusting to be a U12 for you! |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 7 Jul 2019 6:09 am
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| I like Josh's instructional clips on youtube!!! |
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