MSA classic low output pickups

Robert Bergland · Post by **Robert Bergland** » 8 Apr 2009 8:24 pm

Hi all, I have an MSA double 12 classic from the 80s. It has a battery on the bottom, and what would have to be active pickups. They sound quite good when the amp is cranked, but the output is super low compared to the passive pickup on my Shobud maverick. I changed the battery and tried every setting, one knob seems to make it sound kind of distorted. Any thoughts?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 8 Apr 2009 11:51 pm

The battery is not for active pickups, but for a built in fuzz tone. MSA did not make active pickups.

Apparently the stock pickups have deteriorated.

Fortunately you have lots of replacement options. George L, Lawrence, Truetone, Tone Aligner the new lace Alumitones that Carter is selling, etc. The problem is how do you decide which one?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 9 Apr 2009 2:57 am

What Mike says is true, but I would double-check all wiring and connections before I replaced the pickups. It would be extremely unlikely for two pickups to fail in exactly the same manner.

(The easiest way to check the pickups would be to temporarily rewire each one directly to the jack.)

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 9 Apr 2009 3:51 am

I had an MSA at one time with the on board fuzz unit. Mine also had a switch and a tone control. The switch allowed you to select use of the tone control, or the pickups straight through. Does your guitar have these features? Could something be miswired, or the tone control all the way to the mellow side?
I put a Bill Lawrence XR-16 on the MSA and the sound and tone were wonderful...

Robert Bergland · Post by **Robert Bergland** » 10 Apr 2009 1:49 am

I will need to really look closely under there. There is so much machinery packed in below it that it is hard to see the little circuit board. I will try the direct leads off of the pickups, that's a good starting point. If the fuzz unit is faulty, should I fix it?, or is that a feature that is not particularly desirable? thanks-BC

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 10 Apr 2009 3:06 am

Bobby Chestnut wrote: is (the fuzz time) a feature that is not particularly desirable? thanks-BC

Do YOU desire it? It doesn't matter what others think or say.

Dave O'Brien · Post by **Dave O'Brien** » 10 Apr 2009 7:14 am

Bobby - IMHO the MSA onboard fuzz is as good as it gets; right up there with a Boss Tone. You usually can't plug a Boss Tone into an MSA due the position of the jack. Do some research on how to use it i.e violin effects, but please don't destroy it! Dave

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MSA classic low output pickups

MSA classic low output pickups

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