Aftermarket Pickups to Fit Early MSA

Kenny Radas · Post by **Kenny Radas** » 12 May 2009 7:17 pm

What aftermarket pickups will fit a 1972 to 74 MSA Classic without modifying to body? Anything being made today a direct replacement or were MSA pickups unique just to their guitars? Thanks.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 13 May 2009 2:26 am

I could not find a replacement for my early MSA (even the narrow mount pickups seemed too wide). I finally sent the pickup to Jerry Wallace (Truetone Pickups) for a rewind, sounded great after that.

Don Poland · Post by **Don Poland** » 13 May 2009 4:36 pm

I have an original pair of chrome banded BL705's in my 74 MSA and they fit fine with no mod's to the guitar. The mounting plate has been removed from the pickup and they are held in place with double sided tape....been working fine for years.

David LeBlanc · Post by **David LeBlanc** » 20 May 2009 5:25 pm

Was wondering the same thing . Looking for a better sound on my 74 msa without to much trouble.

John Groover McDuffie · Post by **John Groover McDuffie** » 20 May 2009 7:49 pm

I moved on from my early MSA partly for this reason. I couldn't hang with the noise from the single coil, and couldn't fit a aftermarket pickup in there. (the other reason was the weight)

I recently heard a track I did with that guitar and the tone was great with the stock pickup, very nice bright sound. Just too noisy.

Bernie Hedges · Post by **Bernie Hedges** » 21 May 2009 12:20 pm

Kenny,
I have a 74 MSA Classic that cme with the stock single coil pickup. I changed to a George L E66 pickup. Yes I had to slightly modify the pickup cavity by routing it out a little bit but you can hardly tell. The George L sounds fantastic and was well worth the modification. Also a lot cheaper than buying a different steel.