MSA Identification HELP!

Instruments, mechanical issues, copedents, techniques, etc.

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Mark Lackey
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Joined: 7 Nov 2022 6:33 pm
Location: Oregon, USA

MSA Identification HELP!

Post by Mark Lackey »

Howdy, Steelers! I'm new to the group. Thanks for having me.
I've come across an older MSA and I can't quite identify it due to the pots/knobs on the top. Take a look. Maybe one of you MSA wizards can help me out. Thanks in advance!
Cheers. Mark


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Jerry Overstreet
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Post by Jerry Overstreet »

Appears to be an old 70s mica Classic D10. I'm thinking all those knobs and controls are somebody's aftermarket adds.
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Dave Hopping
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Post by Dave Hopping »

+1 on what Jerry said. Except for the controls on top(I have 2 pots and a 3-way switch on the changer end of the back apron),my '70 Classic D-10 looks exactly like Mark's.
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Mark Lackey
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Location: Oregon, USA

Post by Mark Lackey »

Dave are you saying the pots are original then?
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Mark Lackey
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Location: Oregon, USA

Post by Mark Lackey »

Anyone have any info on those pickups?
Thx
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Wayne Brown
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steel guitar

Post by Wayne Brown »

LOL do you want/need a couple of those single coil pickups...I just removed them to do a build...
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=384875
thanks
wayne
Owner Out West Seats,Cases
www.outwestcountry.ca
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Dave Hopping
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Post by Dave Hopping »

Mark Lackey wrote:Dave are you saying the pots are original then?
The pots on my Classic (bought used in 1979) appear to be original. Can you get a pic of the changer end of your MSA's rear apron? If there are holes there, that'd tend to indicate a mod. Assuming the controls on your MSA are volume and tone for each neck, that'd enable changes on the fly like on some of those Lawrence Welk YouTubes where steel players were featured.Smart idea!
Donny Hinson
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Post by Donny Hinson »

Mark Lackey wrote:Dave are you saying the pots are original then?
No, those pots were added by an owner. The housing for the pots shown in the picture is sheet metal, and MSA-Micro never used sheet metal for anything except for the fretboards on some of their guitars.

Those pickups look like stock MSA single-coil.


p.s. the dust adds no value
Bobby D. Jones
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Post by Bobby D. Jones »

I have MSA D10 Classic Serial Number 2C4331. I bought the guitar about 20 years ago. The man I got it from had replaced the pickups, Here is a picture of the originals he had removed and came with the guitar. They were replaced with George L's. I owned a MSA S10 from the same era that had the same MSA SUPER SUSTAIN as these pickups.

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This guitar only has 2 holes for 1 tone and 1 volume control, And the 3 way switch are on the changer end of the back apron. The tone and volume controls had been removed and guitar is wired direct too the switch.

I wonder if someone who had the guitar went on a Tone Hunt, Changed the pickups and added the volume and tone controls so the could set each neck to their ear and then change between necks without have to adjust the volume and tone each time they changed necks.

Please post the Serial Number, Someone may have a guitar with a close serial number to compare.
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