The Steel Guitar Forum

Hello, all. I've been out of the pedal steel game for a while, but happened upon what I think is a good deal. I picked up an older MSA locally, and I'm wondering if someone could help me identify a model and era the guitar is from. It's got nice white mica, and seems to have lived a previous life as a D-10. Everything seems to play smooth, although it could use new pull rods for the pedals, and one of the knee levers is connected with all-thread. It's currently set up as 3 and 2, but I have parts and pieces for a 4th pedal. Wonder what it might be worth if posted somewhere other than a rummage site? Thanks!

late 60s, early 70s, an underside picture would help. This looks like one of the early cross bar, rather than cross rod model. Had one of that era, heavy,rock solid.

Hello, Bill. Thanks for the reply. I finally found a few minutes to flip it back in the case and snap some more pictures.

I owned an identical D10 MSA for many years, with ten pedals and two knee levers. Heavy but sounded good. The mechanism is not as refined and smooth as later models, but when set up correctly, it works fine. It looks like the humbucking pickup from the C6 neck has been installed on the E9 on your guitar, as mine had a single coil on the E9.

I can't help with a current value, but I agree with Bill, late 60s-early 70s era.

Circa 1983:

Adam, This is what that era MSA looked like from the factory, on the inside front apron of yours,looks like where the solid bar for the pedal rod pulls were mounted.

I believe Adam's guitar represents a slightly later model than the guitar that Bill's photo illustrates. Adam's guitar has exactly the same round cross rods that mine had...other than the D10-to-SD10 conversion, it is literally identical.

I bought mine from the original owner and he told me he had never made any changes or mods to it, so it must have come from the factory with the round cross rods. Evidently this model was short-lived, as Adam's is the only other pre-Classic MSA I have seen in photos or in person that has the round cross rods besides the one I owned.

Adam, a shout out to Mickey Adams, might get you in touch with someone at the factory that has historical data on that instrument. I've always found him to be super helpful and he is now associated with them. You might have found yourself a gem there.

I would contact Kyle Bennett, the present MSA builder. Great guy to deal with. I believe he has all of Maurice's old serial number books. David Wright may also have the answer. Both are on the forum.

Thanks, fellas. I'll see what I can come up with. I don't know that I won't keep it, but a value is always nice to know. It's definitely too nice to just treat it like the kick around price I gave. Haha.

And hello, Jeff! Been a while!

David Wright is the one to talk to. We still have the serial number logs at the shop, but these guitars were built before they partnered with Micro. The round cross shafts replaced the big pivoting bars. That would make it one af the later "Tyler St." guitars. Every one I have seen has slightly different mechanics, and they can be tricky to work on.
Hope that helps!

I somewhat remember the round shafts, I do believe my Dad had something to do with it, He built the " Imperial" for MSA... not a lot built, would have been very late 60s to early 70...Whats it worth??? what ever you can get for it...)))))

Looks like it had 2 pickups in it too..

Thanks, David and Mitchell for your info. I've mainly run into a couple of the pulls are out of adjustment, but I'm getting that worked out. Could use some pedal rods, but it plays pretty well. I'm having a blast with it so far. Been a while since I played with a PSG.

I wonder if those serial logs would show anything for 200167? I'm curious what the actual model designation would be, too.

Thanks again!

Just a guess, but It could be Jan. 20, 1967