My New MSA Millenium

Tommy White · Post by **Tommy White** » 8 Oct 2002 12:38 pm

I received my new MSA Millenium early Monday morning. Not only is it prestigious and drop dead beautiful, it sounds incredible. After playing it for 20 minutes and realizing the instrument was perfect, I took it to rehearse for a show at the Opry House. I rehearsed with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra for 7 hours for a 4 hour show. The guitar performed flawlessly for 11 hours straight, right out of the case and as I said, sounded incredible. All the new features the new Millenium offers really helped keep me focused, which makes playing more enjoyable. Wow, what a guitar. As I said in another post, Reece, Kyle and the team have absolutely outdone themselves.
My best,
TW

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 8 Oct 2002 12:45 pm

Hmmm, so maybe that big price isn't so ridiculous after all...?

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 8 Oct 2002 2:37 pm

Can there be any better endorsement?

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CJC

Graham · Post by **Graham** » 8 Oct 2002 3:14 pm

Pictures, Tommy??

Please!

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Rebel™
ICQ 614585

http://users.interlinks.net/rebel/steel/steel.html

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 8 Oct 2002 4:04 pm

I thought it was very exciting that Reece was courageous enough to move in a dramatically different technological direction, and not compromise (so it appears anyway) to make the guitar more "marketable." That kind of spirit, to me, always deserves admiration.

Now to have a top flight player validate this new direction is really inspiring. Thanks Tommy, for taking the time to tell us all what you think!

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 8 Oct 2002 5:27 pm

I didn't expect any thing Less from Reece.
He is first class in every way..al

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 8 Oct 2002 6:06 pm

Me happy.

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 8 Oct 2002 6:14 pm

"Drop Dead Beautiful"!!! Just has to be the proper description of TW's new Millennium. I have to be candid and tell you I saw the MSA team putting this axe together and that TW's statement is an excellent manner in which to describe the instrument.

The care and precise measurements that were being made were very precise and made meticulously. However, I saw another guitar being put together and the same care of assembly were being exercised on that instrument also.

You'll need sun glasses to watch TW in action on this guitar. Tommy I'll let you tell everyone what color it is but let me tell you folks it will stand out on the stage. A "Killer Guitar" for a "KILLER PLAYER".

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The spirit be with you!!

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 8 Oct 2002 6:57 pm

Congrats on your new guitar Tommy!

Does this mean we will get to see it on the Opry this Saturday?

I just noticed that the new MSA web site has pictures of Tommy and several other players and owners, apparently taken in the MSA suite at St. Louis. It announces Pee Wee Whitewing as "one of the newest owners of a Millennium S12" and "Phyllis and Larry Tresnicky - the proud owners of two new MSA Millennium D10’s": http://www.msapedalsteels.com/html/msa_family.html

Fred, I'm curious about part of your post:

<SMALL>The care and precise measurements that were being made were very precise and made meticulously. However, I saw another guitar being put together and the same care of assembly were being exercised on that instrument also.</SMALL>

Can you explain this? I thought I read that the mounting holes are pre-formed in the precision carbon fiber molds, and that the aluminum parts are machined on computer controlled equipment.

As a former pedal steel guitar builder, I'm curious what "precise measurements" are required when assembling a pre-molded and drilled guitar?

Back in the old days at Dekley, before computer controlled equipment, we had jigs and fixtures to control hole placements within acceptable tolerances of .005". The only "precise measurements" we made when assembling guitars, other than clamping parts together before fastening, was in gluing the fretboards in place.

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 8 Oct 2002 7:09 pm

Jim,
Fred is referring to gaged, Nitonic rollers on the bridge. Each Millennium has gaged rollers that are hand polished and measured by hand on a precision jewelers lathe.
Kyle / MSA

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 8 Oct 2002 7:17 pm

Jim S. '
Certainly, I'll try to explain. I was privileged to spend about 3 hours in the company of Kyle and Sonny while they were putting TW's guitar together and the placement of the pull rods were being measured as to the amount of play that was involved and if you're familiar with the pedal rod adjustments on the new MSA you know that the adjustment there is pretty critical to the player and each one of the measurements taken were compared to the other. Bear in mind also, Jim, I'm not a builder but I've witnessed other shops (that I certainly won't mention) where this type care is not taken during the assembly. I was very impressed with the workmanship and you're close enough to take a trip over there and see for yourself. Right?

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The spirit be with you!!

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 8 Oct 2002 7:31 pm

Thanks Kyle and Fred.

Fred, we just used a small piece of bent aluminum under the free play stops to set the same amount of free play in each pedal and knee lever.

Kyle, since the MSA rollers are measured by hand, what happens if/when a player decides to change string gauges?

I gauged the rollers on my Dekley by trial and error with a jeweler's file and a drill press.

BTW, a simple trigonometric formula would allow you to calculate the precise depth of each roller based on the angle of the cut and diameter of the string.

Post by **b0b** » 8 Oct 2002 7:45 pm

Moved to 'Pedal Steel' section of Forum.