Msa Resolution Conclusion!

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 3 Jun 2002 5:12 am

Like it or not, the conclusion affects anyone in the steel guitar community who would consider buying a new MSA product in the future - especially when any up front money is considered.

As is typical with a corporate dissolution, the officers, employees and shareholders had no legal responsibility for any corporate debt.

The important point, to me, is that for whatever reason - good, bad, right, or wrong - people lost money, and that although no personal liability was incurred, the principles of the old MSA are now asking the steel guitar community for our trust and support. Again, I don't know all the particulars, but don't kid yourself, the outcome of this whole restitution process is important to ALL OF US. Public perception matters. That this process is occurring now, after ~20 years, certainly suggests to me that good faith and good PR among the entire steel guitar community are viewed by the new MSA company as being critical to its success. Rightly so.

Harold Leach · Post by **Harold Leach** » 3 Jun 2002 5:28 am

As a very small buisness person, and one who worked on repairing many steel guitars in the past I have offten wondered where M.S.A. would be to-day if they were still made. I owned and played several of them myself and they were a fine instrument. There is still a lot of them being played in Canada.
Though I never had the pleasure of meeting Reece personaly I have talked many times on the phone with him, and found him to be a very honest, and obliging person. God Bless you Reece and all the luck in the world to you. I'm sure the new guitar will be a work of art. Mant thanks for your help and friendship over the years. Harold.

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 3 Jun 2002 10:16 am

Hi Reece, I wish you the best in your new endeavor with the new MSA Millinium. I'm sure it will be great,especially with the new space age technology. I also want to thank you for being the originator,or one of the originators,{correct me in which one} of the universal tuning. I've been looking at the E9th/B6th,and I have played on a couple guitars that incorporates this tuning.This tuning to me personally seems to be the one for not only now, but the future to come. You are able to play any style of music with this tuning,and I can also see play licks and so forth that can't be done on the double neck ten string. So thanks again for being there,and following your calling in music with your life. Kenny K.

smike · Post by **smike** » 3 Jun 2002 1:59 pm

this is a response to the following comment from wayne broyles:

I have a feeling that 20 years from now you will still be ranting and raving about this.It's over whether you like it or not.Im not trying to start a fight with you,just telling you like it is,let it go.

wayne -

when you say 'ranting and raving' it disrespects my opinions, and reveals that you are responding emotionally, rather than with the facts in hand. clearly you have not seen all of the documentation on this matter.

maurice has, which is why he has not sued bradshaw... despite having two different attorneys send cease-and-desist-or-we'll-sue-you letters.

i have read the over 400 pages of documentation on this matter, including letters and emails written by maurice, his brother jerry, the victims, bradshaw, retcop, the state of nevada (where comstock mining was incorporated).

my overall feeling after having read this material... again, in all of the participants' own words... is that the people who lost money with msa were treated poorly... by maurice and his brother, and msa in general. it's really hard to come to any other conclusion.

that said, i have had the pleasure of meeting maurice, and sitting in the first row at the convention while he made playing look ridiculously easy. i am NOT saying he is a bad person... this is not an all or nothing matter, and it has nothing to do with whether or not he is a good guy or a good player.

maurice acknowledged that he tried to make a record to pay people back all those years ago, but this never happened. in fact, it would have faded away if it hadn't been for the hall of fame thing.

the fact that i, bobby lee, steve o'brien, frank estes and others feel that making things right by the victims is important is NOT the reason maurice and the new msa are even raising the victims' hopes that they'll finally get some compensation. whatever the reason (even if it's just good pr, rather than wanting to do right by people you have wronged along the way).

while maurice clearly feels he tried to do the right thing (stock certificates and other 'good faith' gestures), and the victims clearly feel victimized, how can anybody lose if the victims are finally made whole? the msa name can only be enhanced by removing the cloud that has hung over it for so lung.

that there ARE victims is not in dispute... especially by maurice, who has acknowledged their losses in letters, and with stock certificates sent as 'good faith' gestures.

that maurice, as the man who has always represented all things msa, is responsible, is also not in dispute. maurice has become msa, and vice versa.

the only question is whether he will apply the same grace and style to this matter that he uses when playing steel guitar.

i hope he will.

bruce linde
aka smike

p.s.: 20 years from now i will long ago have completed the 'history of msa' web site, which will include all of the documentation, correspondence, and emails on this matter... it's a fabulous subject, and it and the web are a perfect fit.[This message was edited by smike on 03 June 2002 at 03:10 PM.]

slick · Post by **slick** » 3 Jun 2002 4:38 pm

Smike,
First of all,you dont know what documentation
i have,or have read.Ranting and raving,maybe that was a little harsh and emotional.I meant no disrespect for your opinions but i
strongly disagree with your position on this
and anyone who is in agreement with you.
b0b,I dont believe that private negotiations
is saying its none of our business,its informing us that they are still negotiating
with some people.If it were none of our business,Reece wouldnt have informed us of that.

Wayne Broyles

Post by **b0b** » 3 Jun 2002 4:41 pm

I want to make it clear that Bruce is not clearly representing my opinions. I have a hard enough time expressing them without someone paraphrasing me.

What's important to me is the Forum. The outcome of the old MSA fiasco isn't really high on my list of "important things", if it's there at all. Sorry to disappoint anyone.

Wayne, let it go. I'm not going to argue symantics with you.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/coolb0b2.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
-System Administrator[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 04 June 2002 at 07:54 AM.]