MS Retailer August 15, 2007 - Vol.24 No.8 - Music & Sound Retailer

irth of a productIf Motley Crüe were to write a song about him, it might becalled “Dr. Soundgood.” Doc Sigmier, the founder of the 5-year-oldSalida, Colo.-based Rocky Mountain Slides Company, has alwaysbeen close to ceramics: In fact, his dad is a ceramisist. So one day,he thought, What if I made guitar slides out of ceramics? Sigmierthought it might work. He had played using steel, brass, copper, andseveral other types of slides. “It took about three and one-half years,on and off, to work on my idea,” said Sigmier, who is located threehours away from Denver. “I’ve played in bands for many years andI liked many things about guitar slides. But I had these demandsabout what I wanted out of the slide, but there was nothing availablein the market to truly satisfy my tonal desires. So like most slideplayers, I made due with what I had. But I knew what tones I wanted.I just didn’t know how to go about getting it. I went to work on it andthe first one I made was the Blues Boy. It offered the tonal registryI was looking for, which was a combination of glass with the warmback tones of ceramic.”That seedling of an idea has grown in five years to a group ofslides, including the Bayou Blue Family, Hellhound Red Family,Mojo Green Family, and Voodoo Black Family. But of course, thingswere not easy at the beginning. “The first couple of years,” said Sigmier,“it was a part-time thing. I had several irons on the fire. I knewI wanted to work for myself. But once we set up the Web site (2004)and got so much positive feedback from players about how uniquethe slides were, [I knew I had something].”Among those who endorse Rocky Mountain Slides, or whatSigmier calls the “RMS Brotherhood,” are Phil Brown and TonyVega. In fact, Brown and Sigmier played during the “Phil Brown andFriends Slidefest” at the Saxon Pub in Austin, Texas, at last month’sSummer NAMM.A Scientific Thought ProcessWhen coming up with ideas for his slides, Sigmier considers densityvs. mass regarding achieving tone, sustain, and volume. “Mostslide manufacturers are chasing each other’s tails essentially,” saidSigmier. “They make a lot of the same things due to market demand.I can understand it in a way because some unique products can killyou if nobody knows what to make of them. But I’m much more intoinnovating different things. My approach is to have a lighter slidethat has all of the capabilities of heavier slides. To do that, I use adenser clay.”Sigmier recalls an idea he had just as he woke up in the morning.The Birth ofRockyMountainSlidesBy Brian Berk“It will be a custom shop product,” he said, “but I thought of ahalf-and-half slide. Essentially it’s an ‘in-the-raw’ slide and I diponly half of it into the glaze and then do the glaze firing. I didn’tknow if it would work, or what it would sound like. But thoseideas drive me. Curiosity drives me.“It turns out, it sounds great,” he added. “We’ll be offering thathalf-and-half slide soon. Right in that area between where it’sglazed and unglazed is a really interesting area to play stringswith. It’s definitely different. Inspiration comes from other people,my own brain, or just trying things out.”Nuts and BoltsSigmier has a small business—primarily consisting of himself—buthe is on a major growth trail. He now has contractworkers for product assemblies and packaging, and ultimately,he plans to have about six employees. As business increases,Sigmier expects to purchase more drying kilns and other relatedproducts. He is actively seeking dealers, and has D’Andrea distributinghis products. “We’re always looking for people lookingfor a unique handmade product made in the United States,” saidSigmier.32 AUGUST 2007