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Topic: Sierra 12 string ..... yes, no, maybe???? |
Craig Bartock
From: California, USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2011 9:35 am
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Hello all. I just wanted to get some opinions on a pedal steel for sale in the local craigslist that I'm thinking about picking up. It a Sierra 12 string that was (quote from the ad) "completely rebuilt about 6 months ago. It has an extended E9 set up with 5 pedals and 5 knee levers. My more basic 10 E9 rig is more than I can handle, so I'm letting this beauty go. It comes with a hard shell case that is also in very nice shape." He's asking $1,300. Any thoughts??
![](http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1029/10676_sierra_1.jpg) |
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Michael Johnstone
From: Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2011 10:51 am
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Those are very nice. I played one for about 7 years and dragged it all over the world. Mechanically they're a little different from the rest of the pack but they're built like a tank,are real easy to work on and parts are available. They have quick change slide-in pickups which every guitar should have by now. I eventually had 3 or 4 different kinds of pickups and had any steel sound imaginable. If you ever wanted to,you could add 2 more pedals and have an E9/B6 universal. That's a fair price in my opinion. |
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Gary Cosden
From: Florida, USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2011 12:27 pm
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I have a Sierra and I like it. If that guitar is in good shape with no mechanical issues I would say that it is a lot of guitar for the money. |
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Gil Berry
From: Westminster, CA, USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2011 12:40 pm
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I own two Sierra universals. They are heavy, and like many steels are sensitive to temperature changes. But once warmed up, they stay in tune, sound great, and are built like the precision machine they are. A 5x5 will let you expand your playing a bit. Unless you're really stuck on what you're playing now, I'd say go for it. |
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Ross Shafer
From: Petaluma, California
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Posted 15 Jul 2011 1:12 pm
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sorry y'all that baby is sold |
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Steve Lipsey
From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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b0b
From: Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 10:11 am Re: Sierra 12 string ..... yes, no, maybe????
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Craig Bartock wrote: |
Hello all. I just wanted to get some opinions on a pedal steel for sale in the local craigslist that I'm thinking about picking up. It a Sierra 12 string that was (quote from the ad) "completely rebuilt about 6 months ago. It has an extended E9 set up with 5 pedals and 5 knee levers. My more basic 10 E9 rig is more than I can handle, so I'm letting this beauty go. It comes with a hard shell case that is also in very nice shape." He's asking $1,300. Any thoughts??
![](http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1029/10676_sierra_1.jpg) |
It's exactly like mine:
![](http://b0b.com/tunings/Olympic2.jpg) _________________ -𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Doug Earnest
From: Branson, MO USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 6:23 pm
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Craig, I'm pretty sure I can get you one of those for the same price. Drop me a line. Tell the Wilson girls hi! |
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Gary Shepherd
From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 8:38 pm
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I had one like that for a while. The main thing I didn't like about it was the leg attachments being on the outside. They break easily. _________________ Gary Shepherd
Carter D-10 & Peavey Nashville 1000
www.16tracks.com |
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b0b
From: Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 10:42 pm
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I played a Sierra Crown Series S-12 with the fold-up legs (like these) as my main gigging guitar for a dozen or so years. In and out of the case for 2 or 3 gigs a week. No problem with the leg attachments. They are very well made, in my opinion. If they were fragile, I would have broken them. I'm not gentle with my equipment. _________________ -𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Doug Earnest
From: Branson, MO USA
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Posted 17 Jul 2011 5:27 am
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I had the keyless version, and I agree with b0b as to the quality of the construction. I liked the pedal action, too. It wasn't butter soft like some guitars, you could feel what was happening. |
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b0b
From: Cloverdale, CA, USA
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John Russell
From: Austin, Texas
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Posted 15 Aug 2011 10:54 am Sierra S-12
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I'm the proud owner of that guitar. I'm amazed at the quality of the design and workmanship--built like a Mercedes. I hope I'm as impressed with the sound and feel. I couldn't tell much when it first arrived as the copedant was much different than mine. It sounded pretty good, especially with the humbucker pickup. Not sure of the vintage, Ross thought it was late '70s. I'm guessing it's an Olympic--looks just like bOb's. I'm adding an A pedal at the left end. Any suggestions or warnings? I know: "lift with your legs, not your back ;~)"
--John |
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John Russell
From: Austin, Texas
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Posted 15 Aug 2011 11:02 am Sierra S-12--Pictures
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Here's some shots of the Sierra. I'm adding a pedal on the far end as the new A pedal. I need to move the left knee levers over as well so it all works. It's a different beast than my Zum
![](http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1029/735_oldpedalA_2.jpg) |
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b0b
From: Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2011 12:34 pm
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Mine's a '78 and yours has a newer bell crank design. Yours is obviously older than the Sierra Crown that I bought in '83, so either the bell cranks were swapped out or yours was built between those two of mine. What's the serial number? _________________ -𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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John Russell
From: Austin, Texas
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Posted 15 Aug 2011 1:44 pm Sierra S-12
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The serial number is SW-7-7
Here are some larger photos. Ross is a machinist and told me he rebuilt the guitar. He said he put different tensioner knobs on the legs as you'll see in the pictures. They seem to work very well. I like the folding legs.
He didn't mention adding new bell cranks. I'm hoping these bell cranks stay put as they're on round cross shafts. Is this ever a problem with these guitars? --JR
![](http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix1029/735_Sierra650rear_1.jpg) |
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b0b
From: Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2011 1:50 pm
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Mine isn't double-wide like yours. Ross probably replaced the bell cranks - the old style had a design flaw as I recall. I've never had a problem with the round cross rods, but I see how they could slip in theory. _________________ -𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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