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Topic: Another one jumps into the fray |
Canyon Kafer
From:
DFW, Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 6:19 am |
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Hey all,
I just picked up my very first steel over the weekend - a 1970 MSA D-10. I've been a bassist for around 15 years and always have work in DFW, buy really I have been in love with PSG for years and I finally had the opportunity to grab one.
I spent at least 12 hours playing it this weekend, and feel I'm taking to it like a fish in water. May even gig on it after a couple of months if all goes well. Just thought I should join here and introduce myself - I'll be hanging around to absorb as much information as I can.
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 6:23 am
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| Excellent, and a great choice of steel. |
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John Scanlon
From:
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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Canyon Kafer
From:
DFW, Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 7:48 am
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Oh, so, first question:
This steel is set up as an 8+2. I have RKL and RKR as +1/2 and -1 on strings 8 and 4 (I think it's supposed to be -1, I am finding use for it at -1/2, but I really have to crank my knee way out there to get it all the way down).
I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of good stuff without the availability of left knees, such as for string 2 manipulation. Should I look into having them added? Is it really a limitation or should I try to learn the instrument as is and adapt? Thanks. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 8:48 am
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start learning with what you have.
add levers when an inexpensive opportunity
arises. |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 11:41 am
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The two main levers you will need raise and lower the "E"s on the E9 neck. You can learn to play the C6 neck with bar slants if need be.
Practice, practice, practice. Do the boring things like fingering exercises, scales across and up the neck (and in reverse) and chord changes.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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John Scanlon
From:
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 12:08 pm
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I agree with Chris. Three pedals and 2 levers (on the E9 neck - the one the added levers would control) is plenty to keep you busy for quite a while. The good news is that once you get there, adding things to an MSA is extremely easy - by design.
_________________
Click here for the Index to Mickey Adams's YouTube video lessons
Insert impressive gear list here. |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 12:54 pm
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| On the E9 neck it should be -1/2 on the 4th and 8th strings, not -1 |
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Canyon Kafer
From:
DFW, Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 1:00 pm
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Thanks all. I will try not to get ahead of myself and stick with what I've got.
I need to have some adjustments made, as it is. The B pedal is flat and I can't fix it with the tuning screws on the side, and apparently the -1/2 E lever is going too far (thank you for letting me know, Richard). I'll try to adjust that one when I get home tonight. I'm going to try to get it in to Mitchell at MSA sometime soon, as a friend referred me to him. If not, there are a couple of good guys in Fort Worth, I've been told. |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 6:33 pm Crawl Before You Walk.
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| Work on the string groups with your right hand. Most important getting started. Your A+B pedals and your string groups will get you going. |
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J R Rose
From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 7:19 pm
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Canyon, You might contact Steve Lamb, he is a forum member. Send him a PM. He is SW of Ft.Worth in the White Settlement area. He does repair work. J.R. Rose
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NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose |
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J R Rose
From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 6 Jun 2016 7:24 pm
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How about some pictures of the under carriage. It is a nice looking steel. Must be pretty old. Has a bridge and pickups like the ZB. Does it have flat bars for the pedal pulls? Thanks, J.R.
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NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose |
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Dustin Rigsby
From:
Parts Unknown, Ohio
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Posted 7 Jun 2016 4:17 am
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Welcome to the sickness ! You have chosen one of the most difficult instruments to learn, you'll forget about all your other instruments and it can be a darn expensive habit. If you thought you burnt a lot of money on drugs, this thing is worse ! No meetings to speak of and the only 12 steps you will think about are the ones from A to G#..... I Love This Contraption ! 
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D.S. Rigsby |
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Canyon Kafer
From:
DFW, Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2016 6:29 am
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I'll get some photos of the undercarriage tonight. I must warn you though, it is a mess. The thing has many years of gunk built up in there. Mechanically it seems to be in good shape, though. The pedal pulls are flat, J.R.
I'm trying to get comfortable with the picks; I've been used to bare fingers for so long that it's the largest adjustment. However, I would rather just learn it right than be hindered later. |
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Dustin Rigsby
From:
Parts Unknown, Ohio
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Posted 7 Jun 2016 11:50 am
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Do yourself a favor and spend the $250.00 for the "up from the top" series from Jeff Newman and save yourself YEARS of frustration ! It covers the A and B pedals and the D and F levers (what you already have). There is enough material to keep you busy for a while and what's more you'll get a solid foundation. I make this recommendation to most new steel player these days. You are able to learn in the privacy of your own home at your own pace. I think Mickey Adam's YouTube videos are a great supplement. No Theory Required. 👍
www.jeffran.com
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D.S. Rigsby |
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J R Rose
From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2016 7:02 pm
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Canyon, If that be the case this a pretty rare steel not that it has any more value but rare. There have been one or two on here before and I do not remember what the end results were. they were made in the early days of MSA I think. It has the design of Zane Beck all over it. The bridge, the pickup and the flat bars for pulls. And I think the changer is like a ZB one. I do not remember. You can do a search here and find info on it but I do not know how to do it. It may be dirty but it looks like it is in good shape. Should turn out to be a really good playing steel. Maybe some one else here with more knowledge will chime in. Dirty or not post some pictures of the underneath. Best of luck with your venture. J.R. Rose
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NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2016 1:58 pm
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Hi Canyon. Welcome to the madness. It's a "nice little hobby."
I hope you get to play your MSA out somewhere soon. Get familiar with it, but as far as waiting until you are ready... DON'T.
Now the fun begins. |
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Canyon Kafer
From:
DFW, Texas, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2016 2:56 pm
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Here are some detail shots; check 'em out.
Last night as I was practicing, the B pedal started clicking and stopped making contact with the pull, so it's not working anymore. I don't know how to adjust it or what happened.
I'm taking it to Mitchell at MSA next Monday, so til then I suppose I'll be practicing C6!
_________________
Bassist, guitarist, Chapman Stick-ist, and brand new steeler.
1970 MSA D-10
1976 Roland JC-120
Last edited by Canyon Kafer on 9 Jun 2016 9:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Canyon Kafer
From:
DFW, Texas, USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2016 3:09 pm
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Let me clarify my issue:
The pedal is engaging the pull bar, but it's catching somewhere, clicking, and not engaging the rod.
_________________
Bassist, guitarist, Chapman Stick-ist, and brand new steeler.
1970 MSA D-10
1976 Roland JC-120 |
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Stuart Legg
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Posted 8 Jun 2016 3:58 pm
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| I've never seen an undercarriage on an MSA look like that, looks ZB. The fingers look BMI. I learn something new everyday here. |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 8 Jun 2016 5:50 pm
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This is a pre MSA/MICRO steel. Maurice recorded the "Moods Of Maurice Anderson" series of albums on a steel with this pulling system. BTW, the guitar he used is now owned by David Wright.
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Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro. |
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John Scanlon
From:
Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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John Groover McDuffie
From:
LA California, USA
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Posted 9 Jun 2016 12:17 am
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| Living in LA, screenwriter's paradise/Hell, all the fish I hear about are "fish out of water"! |
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Canyon Kafer
From:
DFW, Texas, USA
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Posted 9 Jun 2016 9:51 am
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| Dustin Rigsby wrote: |
| Welcome to the sickness ! You have chosen one of the most difficult instruments to learn, you'll forget about all your other instruments and it can be a darn expensive habit. If you thought you burnt a lot of money on drugs, this thing is worse ! No meetings to speak of and the only 12 steps you will think about are the ones from A to G#..... I Love This Contraption ! |
Thanks Dustin! I'm expecting that I'll lose quite a bit of time to the thing - but it will be time well spent!
Thank you all for stopping by to welcome me. I've not been this inspired and excited about an instrument since I was a teenager with my first Strat.
_________________
Bassist, guitarist, Chapman Stick-ist, and brand new steeler.
1970 MSA D-10
1976 Roland JC-120 |
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Canyon Kafer
From:
DFW, Texas, USA
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Posted 10 Jun 2016 6:04 pm
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Sorry to keep bumping my own thread, but I didn't feel like this was worth starting a new one for. I played around with the C6 neck a little while tonight, and banged out a chorus of BE's Night Life. It's not great, but it's an okay start.
https://www.facebook.com/canyon.kafer/videos/10104595321540830/
_________________
Bassist, guitarist, Chapman Stick-ist, and brand new steeler.
1970 MSA D-10
1976 Roland JC-120 |
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