The Steel Guitar Forum

Heres a couple, had so many....first one was in 1970...
half MSA, Sierra....

Here it is mine, a widely refurbished and restored '77 Classic...
Proud of it!

Classic Rosewood Mica D-10, 8+4, born 6/28/1974. Bought it 1/11 and have loved it ever since! I load it in the back of my truck to transport it between lessons and when I arrive, it's always in tune. Hopefully when I learn to play this one, it will be one of many MSA guitars to come. I would love to have a herd like Darvin!

As I promised here are pics of our current MSA's and a couple from the past.

First is my Blue Beast. 2006 Legend D 10/12 10x8



And here is Joan and her beautiful Milly. She calls her Ranger.



This was my first Milly I got in 2003. Backstage at the Opry.



Milly #2 playing a gig with Connie Smith.



The Sunburst Milly. Just had this one a short time. A customer wanted it really bad.



And the latest addition to our ever growing collection is a 1976 MSA S-12



I know there are hundreds of first generation MSA guitars still being played as well as the new MSA's. Keep posting those pics.

David, who is the lady with the green Millennium, and is that Jim Palenscar's blue legend?

I really like the purple flames on your second Milly. If I could have afforded it, I would have bought it when it was available.

Mike,
Her name is Barbara Crowel, she's from Seattle Washington, she has 2 Milly's ..

Yea it's Jim's guitar..

Gosh I know there are more out there. Keep em coming.

David, Reece, and Johnny: I recall seeing a very old MSA with different lettering on the logo, and flat cross shafts instead of round ones. I think the knee levers may have been attached outside the apron as well. I could be wrong about that.

What's the story on this generation of MSAs? When were they made? Was it before Bud Carter joined the company? Did the script on the logo change at the same time as the design of the undercarriage?

Terrible picture because it is a photo of a Polaroid original, which is not very sharp to begin with. It shows my long lost MSA Classic D-10. (Sometimes you are forced to do stupid things)
Mid seventies, when the first lacquer series where produced, I visited the factory and I ordered a standard brown guitar but with natural lacquered necks. It turned out to be a beauty. This four-hand session is photographed in my apartment in Holland by someone who is better known for his playing than for his pictures. Mister MSA himself; Maurice Anderson.
You can see we had some fun.

Hey Mike, Is this the one? I played it from late 1970-79 off and on till 2002, sold it for the original purchase price. Bought it from a guy that had brain problems(he was getting married)paid him $350, it was only about 6 mo old when I bought it,D12,8+3, I put the RKL on it. The green uni, I have had for about 3 years now,, converted to extE9 5+4, 1982,model...Bill

My 8x8, (2007) M-3 Millennium, in brandy-wine lacquer.

Johnny, I can't believe that I don't have picture of my 1975 White Tidewood D-12 9 & 5. I got it new in '75 through Norlin and played it for 16 years. I sold it in '91 and it went to Southen California and haven't heard from it since. I had the C6 neck on fhe front (ala Chalker) and E9 on the rear. Sure wish I had it back in the stable

Bill Ford wrote:Hey Mike, Is this the one?

Yup. That's the one. What's its story? When was it made? Was it before Bud Carter came on board?

I got this one two weeks ago.


The pretty black anodizing wasn't me, but it sho' 'nuf purty.
A couple of folks were asking me about the black. Here's a close-up

That black anodizing looks great with the white guitar.

Lane
,
That is one cool rig...Is it anodized, or powdercoat. It looks too non transparent to be anodized. just wondering.

BF

It might be powder. It might be imron, for all I know. It's opaque, dark and glossy. It almost looks like the Bakelite they used to make phones out of.

Lane, That actually makes more sense now. If you can't see the aluminum beneath the finish (Translucent) then it would most likely be coated. I never thought of that one, but like I said, and most of the commemnts are supporting it, I've not seen a MSA with "shiney black blocks"

Michael

Whatever the process, it's smoothly and professionally applied to all non-mica surfaces.

White mica was never one of my favorite finishes-the black powdercoat really sets it off nicely and makes it work. Looks like you have it on the pedal rack as well-very cool.

Yeah. Every place that is customarily aluminum is glossy black

That really looks sharp. Very cool. Very cool.

I ordered this sweetheart in October 1975 right at the factory from Mr Anderson himself. Delivered January 1976. I still play it 4 or 5 nights a week.
S-12, 3p, 4k. Extended E9. Clean and simple.