WRIGHT and SIERRA Steel Guitar History

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 23 Jan 2002 12:22 pm

When/where did Wright Guitar start? Where did they end up? When did Sierra Guitars start, where, and what is the connection between the two? Just curious.....

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 23 Jan 2002 2:44 pm

This really isn't my area, although I'm hoping to add a little, I hope someone else comes in on this.

AS far as I know the main link between Sierra and Wright is Chuck Wright who played with Jimmie Rivers in the 1950s.
Chuck started building steels in the 1940s, his son David once posted an ad from 1949 if my memory serves me correctly.

The Sierra name was a marketing thing I suppose, perhaps to signify the changes in the company and to reflect a growth in Chuck's business.
Sierra also went on to make guitars (electric standards, basses) with some interesting designs. I've seen pictures, but I'd love to see one in the flesh (so to speak).
So basically it was a Californian based operation the grew and was bought into by a larger company, and at this point I've kind of exhausted my meagre knowledge of this link.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 Jan 2002 4:08 pm

I will give you the whole story, it's a bit dirrerent that Jason is telling...comming soon....

------------------
[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 23 Jan 2002 5:13 pm

I was told, by a very knowledgeable source, that the "S" in Sierra stands for Seymour.

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 23 Jan 2002 5:34 pm

Didn't Gene Fields work for Sierra?

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 Jan 2002 7:28 pm

jim,
the "s" stands for If you don't start no shit there won't be no shit...........
no Gene didn't work at Sierra....

------------------
[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

[This message was edited by David Wright on 23 January 2002 at 08:00 PM.]

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 Jan 2002 7:59 pm

Ray,
It all stated AS "Wright Custom" in 1949, My Dad built himself one and sold it and built another so on , It all started here on the west coast, Ca. in and around S.F.
We left for Red Bluff in 1959, were the Wright's were going to be built. He went on to build the Wright's, He was contacked by Bob Crooks, the owner of Standel Amps, Bob was wanting to have my Dad build a steel guitar to sell along with his amps, so they struck up a deal, the line of steels was going to be called Sierra, and thus, Sierra was born, along with the steels came standred guitars, and a bass, my Dad build them all, Plus he still built the Wright'S. He went out and got a bigger shop, got more help, and started building the Sierras , steels and guitars for Standel,they wee selling the guitars but it was hard to get the money from Standel, so the whole thing went south after a while. My Dad went on and built Sierras for may more years, in Orgon, Dallas, after leaveing M.S.A. in the early 70's Earnie Ball bought the Wright name and had my Dad move to New PortBeach to build guitars, under the Wright name, after a few years with Ball he ended up back in Portland, he always loved it there. That is were he desinged the Sierra you see today, Don has made changes to it but the just of it is still as my Dad built it. MY Dad spent so much of his life building and playing steels, I don't really fell he has gotton all his just dues, I only hope he gets them while he is still with us, he's 75 and in pretty good health. I plan on doing a full story on him with pic and will be on my web page soon..
See you all in Dallas...............

------------------
[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 23 Jan 2002 10:33 pm

I met Chuck in late '62 or early '63 on a recommendation of Norm Hamlet who had just taken delivery of a Wright Custom and I wrote to him about one and became a proud owner of a D-10 in the summer of '63. I traded it in on a new Sierra in '66 as he had changed the name. I got the new D-11 on a Brads rack and it was after Chuck had built Vance Terry's one of a kind tiered pedal wonder. I spent a lot time at Chuck's when he lived in the Sacramento area and really enjoyed the company of this genius and fine player. Gary.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 24 Jan 2002 12:34 am

Hi Gary,

You didn't tell us "The Rest of The Story."
Do you still own that D-11 Sierra guitar?

Roger

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 24 Jan 2002 12:40 am

David,
Great info, thanks!! Being a former Sierra and a current Wright Custom owner, this subject is dear to me for obvious reasons. I knew there was connection between Wright and Standel, but it's interesting, that Bob Crooks actually struck a deal with Chuck. In addition to Chuck himself, some of the pickers, who played Wrights at some point of their career were Vance Terry (can be heard on Brisbane Bop-cd), Bert Rivera, Chubby Howard, Barbara Mandrell, Norman Hamlett, Jimmy Day ( i.e. on "Crazy Arms" ) and Curley Chalker. Jimmy and Curley swapped guitars around -57 or late -56, so Jimmy's Wright was also Curley's first pedal steel.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 24 Jan 2002 5:31 am

David,

I know this won't make a real big impression but I've been playing my 1983 Sierra SCM14 since '93. I love every minute I spend behind it. Tell your dad "thank-you" from me for creating such a wonderful and unique instrument (the Sierra guitars). Thanks also to Don Christensen and Tom Baker at Sierra for going "that extra mile" for me when ever I need it.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn www.kevinfowler.com/on_the_road/thump/thump6.JPG

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 24 Jan 2002 5:53 am

Glenn. thank you, keep enjoying your Sierra, I do every Fir ,Sat Sun night I play mine...
Thank's to all of you............

------------------
[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

John Bresler R.I.P. · Post by **John Bresler R.I.P.** » 24 Jan 2002 9:29 am

David:

Nice to know that your dad is in good health. I met Chuck in the early 70's in Portland through Dan Shields. I enjoyed visiting with your dad and I purchased a Web amp from him and it still has the great Jimmy Web tone.

I have never owned a Wright Custom, but I tuned several while working for Brenans Music in Salem, Oregon. I always thought they had a great sound.

I'm looking forward to the complete history of the "Wright Custom" & Sierra.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 24 Jan 2002 4:04 pm

Hi David, I knew my knowledges of Sierra/Wright was spotty at best, and I had totally forgotten the deal with Standel, despite the fact you posted some stuff about some time ago.
I just wanted to keep the topic current until you saw it, hoping that you would and chime in.
Sorry about the mistakes...

I too, am looking forward to a bio piece on your father. Please let us all know when it's online.

Jason [This message was edited by Jason Odd on 24 January 2002 at 04:05 PM.]

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 24 Jan 2002 5:22 pm

Jason
No harm mate, Ill let you all know when I get it done...

------------------
[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 24 Jan 2002 5:46 pm

David, wish your father the best. I have a Wright Custom T-10 pedal guitar, a Wright Quad 8 pedal guitar, that is supposedly a '59 and a Wright volume pedal with the 'mile' long cord.

Winnie Winston · Post by **Winnie Winston** » 24 Jan 2002 6:40 pm

When I went to Scotty's in 1974 I saw the "new" Sierra and realized that was the first guitar I saw that I couldn't build myself. I ordered a S-14.
I then receive a phone call from Sierra telling me that Chuck had left, and they were getting my guitar together.
When I got it it came without any "sierra" ID, and it played like a truck.
There was no way to get my money back. I sent it back to them, and then got it back (after much worry)-- a little better.
I put my own logo on it-- which can be seen in the pic of me in my book-- it was a bird, sitting at a steel and the words, on a ribbon, "Rara Avis" (rare bird).
When I came to Scotty's in 1975 Sierra had re-organized, and asked me to bring my steel-- as they had no 14 to show.
I brought it, and they took it back and Chuck re-built it-- I recall him saying that the changer was in crooked.
It served me very well until I decided to re-build my 12 string. I sold it to someone who wanted a S-14. Damm. Should have kept it!
Got to meet Chuck once at Scotty's. It was a real treat meeting the man himself.

Winnie

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 24 Jan 2002 9:01 pm

Roger, I sold that D-11 to Bill Wilhelm in Petaluma Ca in 1975 when I went to a new MSA D-12 that I sold in 1991 when I went to a new Mullen D-11 that I still play, sorry about that, Gary.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 24 Jan 2002 9:16 pm

Gary,
That guitar now belongs to Bobby Thomson in Orland, Ca..

------------------
[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 25 Jan 2002 1:41 am

Gary , I bet you are sorry now that you sold that Sierra guitar.

I have only seen 1 Sierra Z leg guitar. It was at the Infamous "Flame Cafe" in Minneapolis in the early 70s. Ray Jensen played a D-11 Sierra guitar there for a short time. I think Ray lives in Northern California now and is a member of the Western Swing Association.

Roger

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 25 Jan 2002 7:15 am

Ray lives in Redding Ca, I talk with him from time to time, good player and a great guy...

------------------
[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 25 Jan 2002 8:16 am

In 1976 I got a call from Sierra and they ask me to come to work for them as Chuck no longer worked there and they needed someone to build and tune the guitars. The company was owned by a couple of brothers who then sold it to Don. Chuck was basically the creator and they had the money.

After I left to go back to teaching guys like Tony Glassman, Mark Simpson and Harley James all worked there for years to come building thousands of guitars with Don.

I recall the first time I ever saw a Sierra part was the pedal rack and pedals. Neil Rodgerson was the sales person and brought one to the club I was working, the guitar was not completed yet just the pedal rack. We are talking early in it's development. I bought a guitar just seeing that, knowing the rest of the guitar would be great also.

Gene Fields did work with Don and created Sierra 6 string guitars. I met with him many times while he was in Portland and watched the guitars in their early creation. Gene also played in the clubs here.

I once had two Sierra's, one for home and one for the gig. The white one was one of the best sounding guitars to come out of the factory back then. Danny Shields and I worked on different pickups until we came up with one that we thought sounded the best. It then became the standard that got sent out in every stock guitar. I also came up with what would become the stock setup on knee lever positions for the E neck. (Buddy Emmons setup). I mention this because at the time no one knew what to do, the owners were not players, there was no standard from which to start.

Ok enough of all of this, just wanted to add a little more info to the story.

Larry Behm
503-722-7562

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 25 Jan 2002 10:38 am

Thanks Larry on the Gene Fields story, after my Dad left a lot of things happen, none of which I know of, I came in to Sierra in 1990, and have been with them pretty much every since,

------------------
[url=http://david_wright1.tripod.com/]My Web Page[/url]
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300

[This message was edited by David Wright on 25 January 2002 at 10:40 AM.]

Bob Kagy · Post by **Bob Kagy** » 25 Jan 2002 7:48 pm

David, I take it your dad didn't design the current 8 string lap steel (or the variations That I understand are under consideration)? Do you know who did?

Roy McKinney · Post by **Roy McKinney** » 25 Jan 2002 7:48 pm

Just a passing remark....I had a Sierra D10 which I purchased in the Early 60's. The serial number was 00015 - Erby Mandrell (sp) sold me on the Sierra after I visited him and his family when Barbara was playing the 4 neck Wright Custom. Had that guitar until 2 years ago when I sold it. Wish I still had it.