The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic ? MSA semi Classic.
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  ? MSA semi Classic.
Dag Wolf


From:
Bergen, Norway
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2006 9:22 am    
Reply with quote

Are the changer of a Semi Classic a professional type with seperate lower and raise fingers or a student type of a changer?

Help appreciated.

Thanks,
Dag
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Ernie Pollock

 

From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2006 10:16 am    
Reply with quote

Dag: had one of those back 20 years ago, it has an all pull changer, its not a single finger like a pull/release guitar. I am not sure but I think it was double raise, double lower, could be wrong on the dbl lower, it may have only had one. It was a decent guitar & played well.

Ernie


------------------
View user's profile Send private message

Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2006 10:55 am    
Reply with quote

Yep, the changer was the same type used on original "Classics", all-pull w/double raise/lower capability.

Note: I've heard that some of the SC guitars (earliest ones?) had a double raise/lower changer, but that the end plate wasn't drilled for the double lower capability. At any rate, should that be the case, modifying the end plate by drilling or milling to have access to the second row of holes isn't really a big deal. The differences between the Classic and Semi-Classic models were mostly cosmetic.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 28 November 2006 at 10:57 AM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bill Duve


From:
Limestone .New York, USA
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2006 1:32 pm    
Reply with quote

Im playing one too.
They have a 2 raise and lower but as Donny said you may have to drill the end plate.
They had some cheaper parts, not bad, just cheaper, Like Kluson tuners instead of Grovers, And mebby the pickup and a cheap fret marker but they still play just fine, theyre Plywood steels but they make some beautiful sounds that only an MSA can make !
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger

James Marlowe


From:
Florida, USA
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2006 5:12 pm    
Reply with quote

My second steel was a rosewood 3 + 3 semi-classic. I bought it from a local player/steel builder. I asked him if a fourth lever could be added and he told me "no". Don't know if he was just blowing smoke or not. Anyway, it was a nice guitar. Stayed in tune real well, and in my opinion appeared to be well constructed.
jas.
View user's profile Send private message

Darvin Willhoite


From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 28 Nov 2006 7:20 pm    
Reply with quote

I did exactly what Donny and Bill alluded to. I bought one of these a few years ago, drilled the extra holes in the end plate and drilled extra holes to add a couple more knee levers, and it made a nice playing and sounding steel. I think they were only drilled for three KL's at the factory. I set it up for 5 KL's even though I only put 4 on it. Here's pics of the one I had.




------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 29 Nov 2006 5:25 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks for those pictures, Darvin! As you all can see, there's a notch in the top of the end plates that doesn't appear on the "Pro" models, and all the aluminum parts were vapor-honed, as opposed to being polished. This guitar was far better designed than their "student" guitars, like the infamous "Red Baron".
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dag Wolf


From:
Bergen, Norway
Post  Posted 29 Nov 2006 7:20 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks guys.
Just what I needed!
Love this forum.

Dag
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bill Duve


From:
Limestone .New York, USA
Post  Posted 9 Dec 2006 11:50 am    
Reply with quote

I have recently replaced the tuners with Gotoh's and a Zum 20. something pickup and now it sounds like a plywood Zum...
No, it really sounds good but it still needs KL work and a tone knob which they dont have and a toggle switch to save on batteries etc: An those tings are spensive.
By the time im done I will have more in this thing that a Sho~Bud im aware of that for now is hiding in a guys closet.....
At least the MSA tag is still on the front.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP