MSA Classic custom project

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 22 Sep 2009 2:12 pm

I have decided to get busy and get some of my projects back together into playable guitars. I have started with 73 MSA that I have had for several years now. I have been collecting various parts and other MSA's and finally have enough to put a couple back together. I know of at least parts from 5 guitars in this one.

I am making several changes and making the parts as I go . I am adding adjustable lower springs , square cross rods and converting to keyless and shortened it about 5 " . The front neck is E 12 string and the rear will be a 10 string C 6th .

As soon as this one gets going I am going to get back on the Little Buddy Pro . I have most of what I need to get it going again.

Here is what I have done so far.

Rails cleaned and cut. Notice 4 holes have been added to the right side for cross rods. This would be where pedal 11 and 12 would have been and a couple for knee levers.

I added this after cutting out the opening for the pull rods to help keep everything in line.
I also have 1 of the lower spring brackets made.

I have been polishing everything as it goes back including the pedal bar.

I have the new vertical knee lever made and installed.

More later .

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 22 Sep 2009 6:38 pm

Scott,..Is this the style underside that your steel had, this is the MSA, D12 that I had, 71/72 I think... Bill

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 23 Sep 2009 1:52 am

Bill

Mine was the later style. Most of mine have 73,74 and 75. I have had 2 earlier ones but not as early as the one you had. At some point in time they went to a plastic emblems instead of a decal. The 2 earlier ones I had both had a wood case very close to the plastic ones offered later. I still have a single neck that had a decal and I will finish it up later. Also when I checked Reece , he was unable to give a date for either guitar that had a decal MSA emblem .

Here is a picture of the D-12 that was a decal. I sold it some time back. The mechanics were the same as this one.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 23 Sep 2009 4:41 am

Scott,
At the time mine was mfg.,it was the Classic. The Imperial had the undercarrage like yours, I think the Imperial was dropped, and the Classic replaced it with the updated mechanics...Nice work you're doing.

Bill

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 Sep 2009 5:38 am

Bill
your msa was built before 73. The imperal was a whole different
bird built by ny Dad. Chuck Wright.

Steven McCauley · Post by **Steven McCauley** » 23 Sep 2009 6:53 am

I have a Pal that has a 74 classic and in need of some under parts .kne levers and soem cross shaft. it is a clean guitar .but needs work. also he is wondering what it would be worth.it looks just like the white one .but steel gott uh the key heads.

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 23 Sep 2009 6:10 pm

Steve
I may have some parts for sale later .

I got the adjustable lower springs done and the strings on the E 9th neck today. I am going to try and get strings on the C 6th neck tomorrow.

I finally figured a easy way to do the springs and will take some pictures .

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 29 Sep 2009 1:52 pm

I have made the hooks for the adjustable lower springs out of 6-32 wing nuts. I simply cut one ear off and turn them around backwards and it lets the screw go right in the middle of the spring.

I have the knee levers done for the right leg on the E neck and stings on both necks. The mounts are polished and I am planning on polishing the levers after I get it playable.

A few levers for the left leg and I will start rodding.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 29 Sep 2009 2:33 pm

Scott! Very cool project! Egg-sa-lunt!

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 30 Sep 2009 5:03 am

I started rodding today and I have 1 pedal and 2 knee levers to have the basic E9th hooked up.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 30 Sep 2009 5:36 am

Lookin good Scott.....

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 30 Sep 2009 7:47 am

The D12 that Bill Ford has pictured is a mid '60s model.

The piece that Scott fabricated to keep the fingers in line looks very nice, but I do believe it will reduce the sustain of the guitar. My experience is that slight misalignments of the fingers on an older MSA have no ill effects whatever (as far as the sound is concerened).

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 30 Sep 2009 9:03 am

Donny,
I purchased that MSA in late 1971, it was no more than 6/8 months old. The person I got it from let me have it for the payoff ($350)He had lost his sanity, decided to get married.

Bill

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 4 Oct 2009 3:12 am

Donny
I have never had a problem with the alignment on a MSA until you mill the endplate out. The alignment is done with the endplate and I mill it out because it makes it easier to add the triple raise / lower pieces . I also feel it just looks more modern ,just my opinion . I got the idea for the plate from the one that comes on a Dekley , it is pictured below. I also noticed that the slight alignment factor is worse when working with the very short rods for what would have been pedal 11 and 12 on a normal MSA. As to if it alters sustain , I guess it is possible but it is back together enough to play and if it does I can't tell it.

I also moved the jack to the left side of the guitar and made a bracket so I didn't have to drill the endplate. This leaves the guitar so that it could be changed back to a normal pedal setup later if needed.

I still have some polishing and have to rod the C 6th neck but at least now I can try getting more comfortable with the reversed pedals .

Richard Damron · Post by **Richard Damron** » 4 Oct 2009 6:26 pm

I assume that you have, at the ready, the hermetically sealed and evnironmentally controlled glass case into which you will place this instrument - with cotton, white gloves of course!
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Written with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Do you shave using the end plates as mirrors?

My, oh my.

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 5 Oct 2009 4:33 am

Richard
I quit shaving years ago. The guy in the mirror was too ugly .

Here is how I make the adjustable lower springs. The bracket was made before I got my tranfer screws and has a extra hole but you get the idea .
I use spring # 65 in the local Ace hardware spring bin . It is a 9/32 and .041 for size and long enough to make 4 springs. I make the adjusters out of 6-32 brass wing nuts. Trim one ear and remove the other. The screw goes right up the middle of the spring . All available at the local hardware and in my price range.

Dwight Lewis · Post by **Dwight Lewis** » 9 Oct 2009 9:25 pm

Is that a Williams keyless head .Nice.

Scott Howard · Post by **Scott Howard** » 10 Oct 2009 2:04 am

Yes , they are Williams. He has went to a new design and I had bought a new crossover from him at one time so I talked him in to selling me some of the old ones. I originally had been going to do a S-10 and a SD-12 but after I reversed the pedals to the other end I discovered that I have enough movement in my right leg to hit the pedals of a Universal or double neck. I combined all my stuff and made the 12 / 10 string . I will however have to come up with another keyhead for my single neck later. I like the ones on a Beck and have contacted them about one , but not done any measurements yet.

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