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Topic: Replacing single coil pickup on 1978 MSA Classic S10 |
Richard Keller
From:
Deer Creek, Illinois, USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2011 3:13 pm |
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Hi everyone, I am a new member of the forum, and a new PSG player. I just bought a 1978 MSA Classic S10 on ebay that has 5 pedals and 4 levers. I got Mickey Adams' instruction video and book and hope I can play half as good as the guys I have been watching on You Tube someday.
My problem is I am getting hum from my single coil pickup. If I unplug the cable from the guitar, the hum goes away, so I am pretty sure it is the pickup.
I would like to replace the pickup with one that will not hum. I have heard that the GeorgeL 10-1 and the ToneAligner are both good pickups for this.
My single coil pickup is not held on with screws, but looks like it is glued to a piece of foam rubber about a 1/2" thick, then the foam rubber is glued to the guitar top.
Most of the pictures of the pickups I have seen for sale have tabs to use screws to attach the pickup. So, if I buy one of these, do I just cut the tabs off and glue the pickup onto the foam rubber?
I would like to get your opinions on whether replacing my single coil pickup with a GeorgeL 10-1 and the ToneAligner will get rid on the hum. |
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Brian McGaughey
From:
Orcas Island, WA USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2011 7:36 pm
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Hi Richard,
I'm not one of the most experienced guys around these parts but since no one has answered you yet, I'll take a stab.
I had an MSA 70s model S10 and the neck and body were laid out for a wide mount p/u. The wide mount has tabs on each of the long sides of the p/u. A narrow mount has tabs on the short sides.
I'm going to guess that the pickup in your MSA has been glued either because it had no tabs to fasten screws through or it is a narrow mount model. I think you'll find 4 holes laid out to facilitate mounting a wide mount p/u in your MSA. Look from the underside and see if you can find them. If so, I wouldn't hesistate to try a different pickup. If you do a search or two on the forum you can find out about some of the different pickups.
The only thing for sure is if you asked 10 players their favorite pickup you'll get 10 different answers.
I had several different p/us in my MSA. The humbuckers I tried were a Bill Lawrence 710 which I liked, a tonealigner that I didn't like, and a 10-1 which was OK. Everyone has different taste but I think one thing is for sure, a humbucker won't hum!
Good luck.
Edited to add: If you post some pictures it may help to diagnose your pickup mounting issues. After re-reading your post you said it's glued to the "guitar top". There should be a cutout in the neck were the pickup is mounted. |
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Elton Smith
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 20 Apr 2011 8:22 pm
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Ask Reese Anderson.He is a member of this forum and owns Msa.They made it.
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps |
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Dave O'Brien
From:
Florida and New Jersey
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Posted 21 Apr 2011 4:49 am MSA pickup
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Send me a pic of your guitar. I have a G/L PF 1 that should work great for you. It has the little bolts on the bottom that all my MSA's use to hold down the pickup (or you could use some double sided foam tape which I can provide). I'd take $55. shipped for the pickup.
_________________
Dave O'Brien
Emmons D-10, CMI D-10, Fender Deluxe Reverb, PV 112, Fender Pro Reverb
www.myspace.com/daveobrienband |
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Richard Keller
From:
Deer Creek, Illinois, USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2011 11:57 am pictures
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Here are the pictures of my pickup.
I looked underneath the guitar and found 2 screws about 2" apart under the pickup. When I turn the screws, it adjusts the height of the pickup.
Dave, I will send you an email about your pickup.
 |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 21 Apr 2011 12:45 pm
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| Richard...You may want to measure the width of the pickup opening on the guitar before making a decision. The opening on some earlier models of MSA guitars was not wide enough to accomodate even a narrow mount pickup(which require a minimum opening of 1-3/8" wide) without modification. I owned such a guitar and eventually sent the stock pickup to be rewound by Jerry Wallace of "Truetone" pickups. |
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Richard Keller
From:
Deer Creek, Illinois, USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2011 12:51 pm
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Thanks for the suggestion David.
My Single Coil pickup measures 1 1/8" wide and 4 1/8" long.
Dave O'Brian - Will the G/L PF1 pickup fit on my guitar? |
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Dave O'Brien
From:
Florida and New Jersey
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Posted 21 Apr 2011 12:51 pm pup replacement
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email sent
_________________
Dave O'Brien
Emmons D-10, CMI D-10, Fender Deluxe Reverb, PV 112, Fender Pro Reverb
www.myspace.com/daveobrienband |
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Dave O'Brien
From:
Florida and New Jersey
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Posted 21 Apr 2011 1:13 pm pup replacement
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Richard -No. I suspect your MSA is older than a 78 a G/L needs 1 3/8 width. You could route it out but you still wouldn't have the aluminum mounting plate that the G/L would bolt to. Rewinding is good but doesn't give you a humbucker. Good luck, Dave
P.S. see my U-12 post the blonde one is a 77 and has the more modern and wider pickup mount.
_________________
Dave O'Brien
Emmons D-10, CMI D-10, Fender Deluxe Reverb, PV 112, Fender Pro Reverb
www.myspace.com/daveobrienband |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 21 Apr 2011 6:11 pm
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| sorry for the off topic question....what's the little collar for on that 7th (or is it the 6th?) string pull rod? I found one of those on a MSA I overhauled and couldn't figure out what it was for. |
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Richard Keller
From:
Deer Creek, Illinois, USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2011 6:17 pm
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| I don't know what it's for either: |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 22 Apr 2011 3:09 am
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| Richard..After having the pickup rewound in my MSA, there still existed a slight single coil hum but it was not noticeable while playing....FWIW..If you ultimately decide to have the stock pickup rewound and unless you are set on having working tone and volume controls, when reinstalling your pickup I would suggest wiring it directly to the input jack. This will provide a cleaner signal path to the amp and may even help minimize the hum....Best of luck. |
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Elton Smith
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2011 12:34 am
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I agree.It must be an older pick up or guitar.I have the same set up in a 1974.
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps |
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Richard Keller
From:
Deer Creek, Illinois, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2011 3:58 am
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Yes, I asked Reece to look up the date on my serial number and he said it was built in 1974.
Do you have a hum problem with your single coil pickup? |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 23 Apr 2011 9:07 am
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| the collar may be to keep the rod from backing up too far when folding up a lever or something. |
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Elton Smith
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2011 2:43 pm
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No hum in mine at all.but its a 12 string so Im sure the pickup is different.
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps |
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Elton Smith
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Apr 2011 5:27 pm
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One other thing you mite try is find something to arch across the back of the pots.A piece of metal on the back of the tone and vol knobs. Mite be a ground problem.
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps |
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Mickey Adams
From:
Bandera Texas
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Posted 27 Apr 2011 5:46 am
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Single Coil pickups hum...I know I may not be posting anything that you're not aware of...I suggest that you not alter the pickup, but look for other items in the chain that may be exacerbating the problem. I suggest that you Unplug ALL chained devices, (volume pedal, effects etc)...and plug directly in to the amp...If you have rheostats on your indoor lighting, turn them off or wide open...If the hum is still significant, I would then look at moving to a humbucking pickup. A client of mine was having a similar issue that he couldn't locate, until he unplugged his Powered Volume pedal...MY 2 cents...
_________________
ARTIST RELATIONS: MSA GUITARS
2017 MSA LEGEND XL D10, S10, Studio Pro S12 EXE9
Mullen G2, Rittenberry S10, Infinity D10, Zumsteel 8+9
Anderson, Buscarino, Fender, Roman Guitars, Sarno Octal, Revelation Preamps, BJS BARS, Lots of Blackface Fenders! |
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Richard Keller
From:
Deer Creek, Illinois, USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2011 7:18 am
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Mickey,
Thanks for your input.
I really like your instruction dvd and book.
What pickups do you have on your guitars? |
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Mickey Adams
From:
Bandera Texas
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Posted 27 Apr 2011 11:16 am
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Lets see...Ive TRIED a bunch of them.
Alumitone, 10-1, E66, Wallace Tru-tone, 710, 705...and a few others..My S12, (main guitar) has the stock Mullen Pickup back in it, its as good or better than any.....Love it!...My G2 D-12 still has E66s in it..But im going to swap them back to the stock pickups as well...Im waiting on a few other new things to try. Glad the book is working for you bro!!....exercise!!!.....Peace!...mick
_________________
ARTIST RELATIONS: MSA GUITARS
2017 MSA LEGEND XL D10, S10, Studio Pro S12 EXE9
Mullen G2, Rittenberry S10, Infinity D10, Zumsteel 8+9
Anderson, Buscarino, Fender, Roman Guitars, Sarno Octal, Revelation Preamps, BJS BARS, Lots of Blackface Fenders! |
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Richard Keller
From:
Deer Creek, Illinois, USA
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Posted 1 May 2011 9:54 am
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Mickey,
I see you have both a single and double neck Mullen.
How do you decide which one to use when you are playing somewhere? |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 1 May 2011 11:29 am
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| glad to see mickey has come to his senses. it has always seemed pickers were too anxious to change things around and waste money. i've had the best luck and sound with the stock single coil pickups that have come on all steels i've had. stock pickups were designed by the builders for a reason. |
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Elton Smith
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 1 May 2011 3:42 pm
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Im sorry but I can't quit laughing at what advice Chris Gave to Mickey.Im a little road worn anyway.How will you know if on is better than the other unless you try it?
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 1 May 2011 5:45 pm
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| ...after 40 yrs of experimenting, i have found that..... |
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Mickey Adams
From:
Bandera Texas
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Posted 9 May 2011 3:02 am
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Richard, my S12 G2 is my stage guitar. Like many players I have put off learning the C6 for many years, until now. I have the ONLY G2 D12 thats been built by Mullen so far, and I keep it setup in my Audio/Video room. This guitar is 9+8 and is an absolutely incredible guitar, but its a backbreaker to carry around!
The band I play in does mostly Red Dirt Texas Country, and the steel is there but not very prominent, so the C6 is not a necessity. Im making a lot of progress with it though...so eventually ill have to choose!...
_________________
ARTIST RELATIONS: MSA GUITARS
2017 MSA LEGEND XL D10, S10, Studio Pro S12 EXE9
Mullen G2, Rittenberry S10, Infinity D10, Zumsteel 8+9
Anderson, Buscarino, Fender, Roman Guitars, Sarno Octal, Revelation Preamps, BJS BARS, Lots of Blackface Fenders! |
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