Changing knee levers on a MSA Classic

[Kevin Drost]

I just picked up an early 70's D-10 MSA Classic w/ two knee levers. The guitar sounds and plays great, but the knee levers are both on the right knee. RKL raises the E's and RKR lowers the E's.

How difficult would it be to move these to the left knee? I'm pretty mechanically inclined and heard MSA's are easy to work on but I really don't have any idea what I'm doing. I wouldn't mind learning though.

Could anyone walk me through the steps to switch out these knee levers to make the same changes just on the left knee? Or maybe point me to where someone else has already laid this out?

Thanks so much

[Lane Gray]

You'll either need to cut and thread new long rods or buy them.
The left-moving knee will be a breeze, just take pictures of everything on the RKL, remove the pieces, slide out the shaft and move it to the new location.
The right-moving knee is slightly more complicated, but only slightly. The reverser, the lever, and the stop all screw into the rear apron, and will have to be moved to their pre-drilled place on the left side.
When you're ready to add more knees, Michael Yahl at www.psgparts.com has knee lever kits for left-moving, right-moving and vertical kits. If I'm not in the sleeper when you're doing the move, I'll be happy to talk you through it on the phone.
The 4 tools you'll need are:
Slotted screwdriver to remove and reinstall the apron cover
5/64, 7/64 and â…›" Allen wrenches

[Paul Wade]

kevin,
give me a call 224-203-0910. and will walk you thru it

p.w

[Lane Gray]

Or, if you're between St. Louis and Metropolis (Interstates 64,57 & 24), I can provide in person assistance the weekend after this one.

[Donny Hinson]

The guitar sounds and plays great, but the knee levers are both on the right knee. RKL raises the E's and RKR lowers the E's.

How difficult would it be to move these to the left knee?

IMHO, there's really no good reason to do that unless you're handicapped in some way, having a physical issue that prevents your using the right knee. If you stay with it, sooner or later you'll have a guitar with more levers, and you'll have to use the right knee anyway.

[Bob Carlucci]

That was the standard MSA set up for many years.. knees on the right.. As Donny said, is there any particular reason you need them on the other side??.
What I would do is give Mike Yahl a yell, and have 2 left side kits sent to you.. they go on the same way as the right side... Look at it for 5 minutes, make sure your Allen wrenches are good and sharp, and put them on the same way as the other side... If you really can't there are probably a few guys close to you that can.. MSA guitars are very easy to work on... bob

[Lane Gray]

He didn't say this is his first guitar, and he's been a member three years.
If you want to make your guitar like your other guitar, then go ahead.
If this is your first guitar, I'd just leave it alone. I would just add the other changes to the left leg as the desire strikes.

[Tony Prior]

It's not hard to move them. In fact, on an old MSA it's pretty easy. The hardest part will be acquiring or fabricating new pull rods and thats not even hard !

I personally like the E's over there on the left extremity.

[Larry Dering]

I'm going to do the same thing because my other guitars have them on the left. It's more practical for me out of old habits.

[Kevin Drost]

Thanks for all the responses. For those asking why, I want to switch the knees because I've been playing for 15 years, always with the E's on the left so it's completely throwing me off having them on the right.

Paul, I'll give you a call tonight as I'd love your expertise.

Thanks all, I'll post an update on how it goes