How many old MSA Guitar still around?

Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 12 Oct 2004 6:16 am

Well, it feel like I've joined a brotherhood. I'm rebuilding/cleaning up/polishing my new (to me) D12 Classic, 8&4, and it sure is built like a tank! Wonderful mechanics! Supersustain pickups.
I cant wait to get home and look at the serial number so I can post it here. I'd love to know it's DOM!
-andy-
(this is my first PSG, what a great instrument!!)

Chuck Miller · Post by **Chuck Miller** » 12 Oct 2004 8:11 am

Thanks, Reece. I'll do that!

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 12 Oct 2004 12:25 pm

I just recently praised the dependability of my old MSA - had it in the band bus for a few days (cool weather outside!), set it up and it still was in tune, just a little fine tuning and play! What a great guitar!

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Andy Zynda · Post by **Andy Zynda** » 12 Oct 2004 4:23 pm

The serial number on mine is 2C4096.
Cant wait to reassemble her and get back to playing!
-andy-

Reece Anderson · Post by **Reece Anderson** » 12 Oct 2004 5:33 pm

Andy....Your MSA serial number 2C-4096 shows to be a double 12 which left the factory with 8 pedals and 4 knee levers. It was originally shipped to our then distributor in Chicago. It was born on January 20th 1975.

Doug Swenson · Post by **Doug Swenson** » 16 Oct 2004 7:52 pm

I have a red MSA Sidekick serial #1M1808, don't know the year. I replaced the pickup with a George L's, made a world of difference. Even though it is a beginner model it stays in tune forever.

Reece Anderson · Post by **Reece Anderson** » 17 Oct 2004 5:01 am

Doug....your MSA shows to be a red Sidekick model single 10 which left the factory with 3 pedals and 1 knee lever. It was originally shipped to our distributor in Chicago, and it was born on January 7th 1974.

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 17 Oct 2004 1:55 pm

73 rosewood D10, 8 + 4
74 rosewood S10, 3 + 5

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 24 Dec 2004 5:11 pm

Is it possible to add more knee levers to the Sidekick??

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 24 Dec 2004 6:58 pm

Onward and Upward. I have had many different guitars including MSA's.

But this one is the topper of them all!.

I now have a used new MSA S12 Millenium with 9 pedals and 5 knee levers, previously owned by Pee Wee Whitewing. Lucky me.......al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Bob Baringer · Post by **Bob Baringer** » 29 Dec 2004 9:23 am

Still have "ole'reliable" Red Maple 1975 double 10 SS with 4 knees n 1 virtical,Geo L E66 both necks,still have original PU's and pedal board volume,now use Hilton VP..giged this over 20yrs. now have back problems but loved it all the same...Bob

Bill Beall · Post by **Bill Beall** » 1 Jan 2005 3:11 pm

I just bought an MSA (my first psg) D10,8 pedal, 5 lever. It's got a blue mica finish on it. I can't find a serial number on it anywhere but it has a label stating that it was assembled and certified correct by Bud Carter. The MSA label on front is just the block letters MSA and like the rest of them it's built like a tank, absolutely bullet proof.

Any ideas, Reese?

Reece Anderson · Post by **Reece Anderson** » 2 Jan 2005 5:35 am

TbHenry....IF memory serves correct (and that was a long time ago) the Sidekicks originally had three knee levers, and the pulling system on that little guitar is the same triple raise and triple lower changer we were using on all MSA's at the time.... provided you can find the parts, or make them, it should accept all you have room to install.

Bill....Thats an interesting MSA you have. I don't recall a blue formica guitar that was a production model, but we manufactured many thousands of guitars, so I could be mistaken.

If it's a production guitar, which the "assembled by Bud Carter" sticker indicates....that would not be the original nameplate.

Also you should find a serial number on the bottom side stamped into the aluminum close to the changer system. If you find it let me know and I'll be happy to look it up in our old production records and hopefully provide you some history about the guitar.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 2 Jan 2005 7:42 am

Hey Reece,

I originated that post but never gave you the serial number of my guitar - it is 2C 230. Could you give me some info about the history?

Thanks and Best Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Bill Beall · Post by **Bill Beall** » 2 Jan 2005 9:16 am

I found the serial number, Reece. It is 2C387. Can you give me some history?

Bill
steel lovin' preacher[This message was edited by Bill Beall on 02 January 2005 at 09:18 AM.]

Sam White · Post by **Sam White** » 2 Jan 2005 10:57 am

I have two freinds tha each have one.One is a 71 and the other is a 76. The 76 is played out every week end in the Massachusetts area and it belongs to Roger Trahan. The other one is played in my other freinds bed room as he has a single neck Sho bud and it is a lot lighter than the MSA.He is Richard Lucke in Rhode Island. They are both beautiful Steels and in great shape.Ops there is another one in Rhode Island that is played out a little and it belongs to Gil Veiw.He took the bottom neck all off and made a SD-12 out of it.Was a double 12 Imagin what that one weighed.
Sam White[This message was edited by Samuel E. White on 02 January 2005 at 11:03 AM.]

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 2 Jan 2005 11:54 am

'74 D10 Classic[This message was edited by Webb Kline on 02 January 2005 at 09:12 PM.]

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 2 Jan 2005 1:14 pm

I had a new '75 WhiteTidewood D-12, 9 & 5 with the C6 on the front neck, E9 in back with a George L Pentad pickup on the E9 and it's floating around Southern California and I wish I had it back. I sold it in '91 to help pay for the new Mullen. I now can afford to own more than 1 or 2 and wish it would come home. It stayed in tune, sounded awesome and yes, weighed more than the Red Baron but it didn't budge when you kicked the pedals and levers.

Reece Anderson · Post by **Reece Anderson** » 2 Jan 2005 3:35 pm

Walter S....2C-230 shows to be a double 10 rosewood formica guitar which left the factory with 8 pedals and 2 knee levers. Sorry, but the exact date of manufacture was not entered. It was originally shipped to our distributor (CMI) who at the time was located in Chicago.

Samuel W....MSA records indicate 2C-387 as being a black double 10 which left the factory with 8 pedals and 2 knee levers. The exact date of delivery was also not entered into record. It was originally sent to my friend Freeman Cowger in Detroit who later went on to produce the "Little Buddy" steel and is now deceased.

Webb K. and Gary W....Thank you both for being part of what we consider to be the MSA family!

Bill Beall · Post by **Bill Beall** » 2 Jan 2005 4:17 pm

Thanks, Reece. 2C-387 is now a blue formica double 10 with 8 pedals, 4 levers and a left knee lift. Don't know where all it has been but I bought it from Bobbe Seymour a couple of weeks ago for a lot less money than you would think for that much guitar. It'll do everything I'll ever need it to do. Good thing about it is that I won't be hauling it around all over the place. It'll stay here at home until I get to where i won't embarass myself or the guitar in public and then I'll load it into the back of the pickup for a short ride to the church building where it will have a permanent home.

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 2 Jan 2005 4:45 pm

Hi Steve, Thank you for your kind words. I am glad that you are going to restore your U12 MSA. I bought some maple of ebay and took it to a carpenter friend together with the old cabinet and he made me a copy for $40. I did most of the rest of the work myself. If you need to get parts try Wayne Link in canada he has everything also Mcmaster Carr have those washers nylon or delrin for the changer. If you need help let me know. Regards, Brian Henry

Marcin Czop · Post by **Marcin Czop** » 3 Jan 2005 4:53 pm

MSA Classic (1C-6566), red SS single 10 model with 3 pedals and 4 knee levers.

The guitar originally was shipped to Jeff Newman in Tennessee. That was one of the guitars he used to take with him when putting on teaching seminars.
Now in Europe!

Manufactured in early 1982, about April.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 3 Jan 2005 5:10 pm

Heres my first guitar, a msa on a Bradsrack built in 1970....with a Bb6th on it !!! Wonder if it's still around...<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=Z ... xdm81541US' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_12_1.gif' border=0></a>
<img src='http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/144274/dave7.jpg' width=288 height=259 >[This message was edited by David Wright on 03 January 2005 at 05:12 PM.][This message was edited by David Wright on 03 January 2005 at 05:13 PM.]

Jerry Heath · Post by **Jerry Heath** » 3 Jan 2005 5:40 pm

My back-up is a MSA Classic rosewood mica S-10 3 X 4

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Jerry Heath
Sierra Sessions U-12
Nashville 400
Sessions 400
Profex II

Brian Henry · Post by **Brian Henry** » 4 Jan 2005 1:49 pm

David, What exactly is a "bradsrack" and why would one use it?