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My New Old Msa

Posted: 8 Dec 2004 3:26 am
by Brian Henry
I got an old msa $500,and junked the plywood, bought a piece of curly maple $50, had a friend make me a cabinet for $50, added an aluminum neck $130, added a Bill Lawrence pu $110, covered the cabinet with red drum sparkle $70, had all the aluminum hardware highly polished $100, had Reese's daughter hand paint an MSA fretboard $80, bought aluminum legs $80, bought a new decal $20, got new fingers from Bud Carter $65, Total cost $1255 for what I consider the finest guitar in the world with killer tone. MSA mechanics are awesome. These mechanics are 30 years old but still brand new. I have had an ldg, sierra, gfi, but none compare in looks, sound or ease of playing as this to this new old MSA CLASSIC!! By the way it is 10 string 3 = 4. Someone has alreadt tried it out and offered me $2,500 but it is not for sale. It is my personal favorite. Am I just a little biased?


Cool. I'm looking into building my own pedal steel. I have a keyless 25

Posted: 8 Dec 2004 3:51 am
by Per Berner
Congratulations! This sounds like a thing of beauty. Can we all have a look at it? If you need help posting pictures, just mail them to me!
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Emmons Legrande II D10 8+5, Sho-Bud Pro III Custom SD10 4+5, Goodrich 120, Peavey Nashville 1000

Posted: 8 Dec 2004 5:53 am
by Bill Hatcher
Let me get this straight here-you bought a curly maple body and covered it with red sparkle drum plastic?????
Can you post a picture of this please.

Is the changer now triple raise/lower?

Posted: 8 Dec 2004 2:48 pm
by Charles Walker
You can never go wrong with an MSA. Just my opinion.

Posted: 8 Dec 2004 3:44 pm
by Brian Henry
Per I will try and get some pictures up. My digital camera is an old sony. But I'll try.


Bill! Yes, I wanted a great sound, hence the curly maple. However, I don't care for the look of curly maple, but I just love that red sparkle for looks. I am not conservative and have seen too many pedal steels that look like my kitchen cabinets. I dont like wood finishes asnd especially browns. Just my liking. Red drum sparkle is durable an awesome looking. Even Carter Pedal Steels give this as an option. Brian



Posted: 8 Dec 2004 5:34 pm
by Al Marcus
Those MSA's were real workhorses, no doubt about that, but the new MSA Millenium is another great guitar for the 21st century , will probably last a lifetime and a lot easier on your back......al Image Image

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/


Posted: 8 Dec 2004 5:50 pm
by Bill Hatcher
To each his own. I just find covering up one of the most endearing of wood species sort of interesting, then again I have seen several old Sho Buds built of beautiful figured maple and then covered in black.

Glad you like the old MSA.

Posted: 8 Dec 2004 8:22 pm
by Bill Llewellyn
I'm waiting for pictures, too!!

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<font size=1>Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?</font>

Posted: 22 Dec 2004 6:37 am
by Brian Henry

Posted: 22 Dec 2004 6:46 am
by rpetersen
Another Fake??<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by rpetersen on 22 December 2004 at 06:47 AM.]</p></FONT>

Posted: 22 Dec 2004 7:01 am
by David Higginbotham
Very nice work of art there! Just don't label it "MSA LTD."
Dave

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'74 MSA D-10 8&4, Nashville 1000, Nashville 112


Posted: 24 Dec 2004 3:45 am
by Brian Henry
Hi Steve,

Thank you for your compliments. I really like my MSA Classic. It is much nicer in real life. Those pictures could have been better. That red sparkle is so beautiful and quite easy to put on. I used a hair dryer to soften up the old glue and the old mica came off quite easily.

I got the aluminum neck from Daniel Cormier of Cajun Steel Guitar in Lake Charles Louisana. It was around $130. It really is a beautiful neck. The only thing that gave me trouble was trying to fit the center
support that goes in the middle of the changer. With more patience I could have put it in. If you look at the picture you will see that in the end I just left it off and it is fine. I put 2 screws in the hole to
fill them up.

You would have to buy machine screws to secure the neck to the cabinet as the wood neck uses wood screws. I had to drill 2 extra holes in the cabinet to attach
the neck to the cabinet. The aluminum neck already had the extra holes drilled and threaded. I hope this helps you as you start your project.


Posted: 24 Dec 2004 5:00 pm
by Brian Henry
David.

Unlimited would be a better descriptor. An MSA is not limited. It will give you an unlimited amount of service and pleasure. tbh :-)

Posted: 24 Dec 2004 5:13 pm
by Brian Henry
No RPETERSON not another fake. It's the real thing!!

Posted: 4 Jan 2005 1:52 pm
by Brian Henry
Wade,
If you check out these pictures you will see the metal neck I installed.

Posted: 5 Jan 2005 12:57 am
by Sidney Malone
Beautiful guitar!!! Great Job!! I can see why it's your favorite!

Now if MSA combines the Classic with the new features of the Millennium...wouldn't that be awesome!! We'll know before long Image

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MSA Millennium S-12U
Fessy S-12U
Walker Stereo Steel, Hilton Pedal



Posted: 5 Jan 2005 8:21 pm
by Calvin Walley
i downloaded the pictures and used photo software to brighten them , ..mister all i can say is you did a beautiful job. looks as pretty as any i have ever seen

Posted: 6 Jan 2005 3:31 am
by Brian Henry
Hi Calvin, Can you post the pictures. regards, Brian

Posted: 6 Jan 2005 7:23 am
by Calvin Walley
i would be happy to, but i don't know how to upload them here on the forum

Posted: 7 Jan 2005 9:11 am
by J D Sauser
Hey it's a BOLT ON!!
How does your tuning hold up (themperature changes)?
... J-D.

Posted: 15 Jan 2005 6:02 pm
by Bob Nelson
Hey Peterson, don't insult the guitar, the neck was made here in Iowa. I designed and initiated the idea and it was built by a friend who at this time is making MSA parts for me.

Posted: 16 Jan 2005 4:01 am
by Brian Henry
Hi Bob,

Great design and great neck. It is a perfect fit. Yes! it is a bolt on neck. Are not all necks bolted on??? Tuning is fine. I play nearly every day and fine tune it once a week.

Posted: 7 Mar 2005 3:47 pm
by Brian Henry
Bill,

I intend to restore another one. Next time I wiil not use drum sparkle. I will dye it blue and have it nitrolacquered. Regards, Brian

Posted: 13 Mar 2005 3:34 pm
by Ivan Combs
i would like to see pictures of your msa steel i am a owner of a msa universal twelve.

thanks ivan combs

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