3-D fretboard on the Millinnium

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

I bought the Millennium primarily because it weighs so little. But it's got all sort of neat features that I hadn't thought about or anticipated, and one that I find that I really like a lot is the 3-D fretboard.

I can't tell you why I like it, and I can't think of a single reason why it should make a difference, but it does. For some reason, the raised frets are more satisfying to play over. It's purely a psychological thing, but it's a very real thing.

Anybody else feel the same way?

And didn't Sho-Bud make a 3-D fretboard at one time?

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Warning: I have a telecaster and I'm not afraid to use it.
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My web site

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

It is a mark of distinction for sure. As an aside I believe (I have been wrong before!) that the spaces between the frets are made or coated with anti-static material so they don't collect as much dust or at least retain it as much as the average fretboard. I do thing it has the look of a real guitar fretboard with the inlaid fret look.

Greg

Billy Wilson · From: El Cerrito, California, USA

I always wanted them. never had 'em. I saw an old MSA that Bradshaw re-did by putting guitar type metal frets on there with the same color mica as the rest of the guitar in between each fret. Very nice!! That guitar is owned my Smike here on the Forum. Maybe youse guys should post some pix on here.

Jay Ganz · From: Out Behind The Barn

What does it weigh packed up in the case?

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Jay, I haven't weighed it, but I'm told 46 pounds.

Carl Williams · From: Oklahoma

Mike,
My '76 LDG has the 3-D Fretboard and I like it--In fact, Mr. Mike Cass who just did some upgrading of my LDG, replaced my old one with a newer one he had. They do gather a little dust but if you change strings fairly often, it's not a big problem...

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Quote from MSA literature/web site:

"3D Fretboard milled into neck – nothing to come unglued – anti-static material in fret pools "

Previous forum discussion about the MSA frets

Mine stays covered most of the time so I have no idea how effective this is.

Greg

[This message was edited by Greg Cutshaw on 04 December 2006 at 12:56 PM.]

Jim West · Posted 4 Dec 2006 1:50 pm

Yep, I made the first one at my former shop under the strict guidance and inspiration of Jim Palenscar. It now resides on Reece's personal guitar.

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I find the fretboard very pretty,as is the rest of the steel,but cleaning it and dusting it off concerns me. We play mostly dances and by the end of the night my standard flat fretboard is covered with dust. Maybe it's easier to keep clean than the raised Sho-Bud was. I dunno. It sure is a nice axe.

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

Mike,
One of the things that people overlook is something that you found ,and commented on....When something is asthetically pleasing to us , we have a sense of pride, and we feel good about that item ...It could be a car, motorcycle , pedal steel , girl friend , wife , etc ...It's sort of like riding a good looking Harley with straight pipes...You feel like you're king of the world, and you think that you're going faster than you really are !!.....In your case, and in other's cases , when you have a good looking pedal steel that you just love to look at as well as play, it makes you feel good about yourself, and the instrument that you are playing ...and yes you will in fact even play better becaue of this !!...Phsychological is good a description as any , but it's REAL !!...That's my take on it anyway ...Jim

BTW...Playing that Millenium ( I had one for a while ) really makes you feel like you're driving a Cadilac !!....

[This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 04 December 2006 at 03:16 PM.]

Hook Moore · From: South Charleston,West Virginia

Mike, I totally agree.
Billy, heres a picture

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www.HookMoore.com

Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

I can't really think of anything I don't like about my MSA's, but then I'll twist Will Rogers famous quote a little, "I never owned a steel I didn't like."

BTW, I also have a Superslide that I got after this picture was taken.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 04 December 2006 at 07:34 PM.]

Paul Warnik · From: Illinois,USA

Perhaps Reece got the idea from the old Bigsby's which were first to offer "raised graphics position markers and frets"

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

Yes he did.

David Doggett · Posted 5 Dec 2006 9:41 am

Well, the shiny raised frets do give the neck a nice sculpted look. But as long as it is sculpted into the neck like that, it would be better if the frets were raised, but without the side rails. Then you could run a cloth back and forth under the strings to dust. It would still look classy, maybe even moreso.

But as long as we are on trivial esthetic aspects of the Millennium, here's my minor peave about the the fretboard - the chess symbols are upside down. If you look at any regular guitar with directional fret marker designs, they are positioned so they are right-side-up when the guitar is hung by the neck or sitting on a stand. Also, when you are playing the guitar, as you look at the neck out to your left side, the markers look right-side-up. I suppose one could argue that since the neck is horizontal on a pedal steel, there is no top or bottom for the fret markers. But as you sit at the right end of the instrument (the way most of us do) and look down the neck, the markers are upside down. To me it is an imperfection in an otherwise beautiful precision instrument.

On many pedal steels, such as Zum, the markers have no top or bottom, and so there is no issue. I don’t remember how the Fessy steerheads are positioned. I looked at my Sho-Bud (yes there are raised frets on the Pro III), and the card symbols are upside down. So maybe that’s where it all started. Somehow it isn’t so noticeable on the Sho-Buds. But on the Millennium it really sticks out to me that the markers are upside down. Of course, this has no effect on how it plays, so is no big deal. But to me it’s like when a plumber puts in a sink and puts the hot water tap on the right instead of the left. Sure, it works just as well, but it marks it as an unprofessional job. This kind of oversight seems completely out of place on the Millennium. It seems like a carry over from the old days when pedal steels were made by the seat of the pants by players-turned builders.

Well, regardless, they are beautiful precision instruments that are so easy to setup to fit your body, which is really important for an instrument played by all four limbs. And they are compact in size and light in weight. And once a new set of strings settles in, they stay well in tune forever, no matter what temperature changes you put them through.

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 05 December 2006 at 09:44 AM.]

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

Hope these load OK. Here's what everyone is referring to:

MSA

Greg

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

Roger E....I think you would agree using a small soft paint brush on the neck for about 5 seconds, even if necessary after a dance job, you would not consider the 3D frets as an inconvenience.

For me the raised 3D chrome frets make each fret stand out when playing....like aircraft approach runway lights at night!

Paul W....You're right, as Jim said. My inspiration for the raised frets is attributed to my admiration and recognition of Paul Bigsby's genius.

For me, the 3D fret effect provides a visual definition which suggests the neck is easily readable, therefore infers the physiological perception, that the guitar plays faster.

I never under estimate the power of the mind. So.... if it's perceived as playing faster by the player, then....it is faster.

David D....Your comment/opinion that our fretmarkers are facing the wrong direction is well taken and appreciated.

To my recollection you are the first to ever mention that to me, but for the record, should someone want them facing any direction, that is not a problem, nor would there be an extra charge.

We made the decision to create the appearance of the guitar being smooth when looking at it from the front. Had we left the end of the raised frets exposed as you suggested, I believe most would have agreed the 26 raised frets, would appear to be simply... "bumps".

When looking at the guitar from the front, we believed the "bumps" would have detracted from the consistent gently rounded corners of endplates, cabinet, neck and keyhead.

Exposing the end of the frets would also have left sharp edges unless yet another production process was used to round them off, which if done, would have detracted from the overall appearance, both from the front and playing position.

Thank you for your very kind comments about our guitar.

David Doggett · Posted 5 Dec 2006 3:18 pm

Interesting, Reece. Maybe you are right that bumpy frets would detract from the appearance from the front. And I suspected it might require further undesirable processing. While we've got you on the horn, what is the reason for the two different materials in the nut rollers? Is that for tone in the unwounds and hardness for the wounds?

Reece Anderson · From: Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.

Great observation David, and thank you for the question...We use different alloy material on the plain and wound strings because we believe it provides a closer approximation of tone balance between the sound of a plain and wound string.

Looking at one of the pictures Greg was so kind as to provide, you will see the roller material changes on the 7th string, which is the first wound string on the guitar.

Randy Gilliam · From: San Antonio, Texas, USA

That Red MSA Is awsome Looking. Randy Gilliam.

Tommy White · From: Nashville

I'm very spoiled to my MSA millenium's features and tone, especially the 3D position markers. The smooth round edges detailed to the tone changer and keyhead also allow a comfort and quickness I've not experienced on any other guitar.

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

Reece,you are probably right. I just need to learn how to clean one. That is a beautiful fretboard and I like the markers the direction they are now.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Like the old Emmons chrome frets, those on the new MSA will disappear if you're playing under the wrong conditions because the top of the frets are flat. I'd like to see them radiused (like a regular guitar), or "jeweled". Not that "scratching" done on the old Emmons necks, but a real jeweled cut, with multiple facets, like that seen on some bracelets and other jewelry.

Of course, an even niftier approach would be electro-luminescent panels used as fretboards, or maybe some fiber-optic lights in the frets, activated by a high-intensity LED, and powered by a couple of "D" cells.

Either would really stand out in a dark venue!

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

As a luthier who builds regular fretboards all the time, I can see no difficulty in putting regular frets on a steel fingerboard. If anything it's easier because you don't have to worry about string buzz. All you need is a hand saw of the right gauge and some fret wire. Fret wire comes in coils and also in straight lengths. You can get most gauges at the Stewart McDonald website.

Kyle Everson · From: Nashville, Tennessee

My Sho Bud has the 3D fretboard. However the glue on the E9 is gone, so it comes off in the case. I'm thinking about putting replacement white boards on it.

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Kyle Everson
Sho-Bud Pro-II
Fender Twin Reverb
Goodrich 120

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