The Steel Guitar Forum

Maurice I have a MSA semi classic with 2 original rkl's Could you possibly tell me about how old it is? Also were single coil p/s standard on this model?

serial # 1s3509<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Whitaker on 10 December 2001 at 08:39 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hi Jim...thank you for your question and for owning an MSA.

Your guitar was originally shipped to CMI in Chicago, who was our distributor at the time. Records indicate serial number 1S-3509 as being a Semi Classic with a rosewood formica finish. It left the factory with 3 pedals and 1 knee lever. The date of manufacture was Sept. 30th 1974.

The pickup in your guitar is a single coil.

I always appreciate hearing from MSA owners who may have a question. <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Reece Anderson on 11 December 2001 at 08:00 AM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks Maurice I have a classic then I guess 27 yrs young . I am from the southern ohio area do you of anyone who would do some fine tuning on this guitar somewhat close to me & If I changed the pickup out what type of bill lawrence would you suggest 66 710?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Whitaker on 11 December 2001 at 01:11 PM.]</p></FONT>

Jim-

I know that Reece uses George L E-66 pickups himself. I followed his lead, and the recommendation of John Fabian at Carter, who also knows a lot about MSA's, since Bud Carter was a chief designer for Reece at MSA. To me the E-66 sounds great on the MSA. Some say this pickup is too high-endy, but it may be that the modern guitars that most people play have less tolerance for that than the MSA. Admittedly, I've only played other guitars besides MSA that have had the 710, so I don't know exactly what it would sound like on an MSA.


I have wanted to ask Reece myself, to see if he has any experience with Lawrence pickups, particularly the 710. I hope he responds to your question.


If you are considering swapping pickups on your MSA, and need technical advice, John Fabian will tell you exactly what you need to know. They have reasonable prices on pickups, too.

Jeff S.

I have a 710 on the C6 neck of my MSA Classic SS and really like it, but I like the 705 I have on the E9 neck a little better. There just aren't many 705's floating around now days.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

thanks Jeff . I had an old friend Al udeen that also suggested a GLP/u 710 . I think I'll get with Bud Carter to see if he has had any responses from anyone else on this subject. Thanks again so so many choices!<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Whitaker on 11 December 2001 at 05:04 PM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Whitaker on 11 December 2001 at 05:06 PM.]</p></FONT>

Jim-

After reading your second post, I thought there was a typo, but after seeing your last post, I thought I better make sure we understand what we're talking about. Do you know that George L, who makes the E-66, is a seperate manufacturer from Bill Lawrence, who makes the 710? Your posts suggest you may think the E-66 and the 710 are the same pickup. Sorry if I'm mistaken!

I think Carter guitars use the E-66 on E9 necks more so than C6. I think a lot of people do that. Maybe the 705 Lawrence that Darvin likes on E9 is more high-endy than the 710. If that's the pickup where you can see two coils side by side, that have a center plate like a silver line in the middle of each, that is a nice pickup. I played a JCH E9 neck with one, and it was great.

Jeff <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jeff A. Smith on 11 December 2001 at 05:35 PM.]</p></FONT>

Jeff you are right I didn't know Thanks

Jim

Jeff.....thank you for your pickup question. I have never played a Lawrence 710 installed in an MSA while in a playing environment.

I have a student who has two in his MSA SS and they sound great here in my home. I'm sure they are a great pickup because I have so much respect for the ability of Bill Lawrence.

I have the Geo.L E-66 pickups in all my MSA guitars, and I'm very satisfied with the sound. The two appear to be an excellent combination. I am however interested in trying a 710.

My non response to Jim's question on this thread is attributed to the fact I'm contacting him by personal email while trying to assist him.

Jim, I have tried numerous times to contact you by email, but when I click on your envelope I receive a message saying "illegal operation", which results in the shut down of the forum and my having to re-enter.

I clicked on his email icon, and (whew) nothing broke.

Jim's email is (according to his profile):

whit@one.net

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons

Jim,
I had a George L E66 installed in my 76 MSA
classic and man what a difference,sounds great.


Wayne

Reece I am very sorry for the inconvience!
I have been recieving other email from other
forum members maybe it is just a bad patch or something.
my email is whit@one.net
From what I have heard either the e66 or 710
will soung good with my guitar. thanks for alll the help!!
does anyone know a technician in the sw ohio area??? I need some work on my knee levers (the ones reece didn't put on)

Since the title of this is A Question For Reece, I hope I won't be going OFF TOPIC by asking one of him. Since he's already here it would be more convient for him.

Reece in another Thread about The Old Echo Trick; didn't you have a song recorded on one of your original albums that used that effect ? I can't recall the title of the song but when you post it I know I'll recognize it in a flash. When I first heard it I was sure you were "That Fast !" but someone told me about the effect later and I just assumed that you used the echo. If not I stand corrected. I know, to my knowledge, you were the first to record with it.

Regards, Paul <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Paul Graupp on 13 December 2001 at 08:59 AM.]</p></FONT>

Hey Paul, Maurice will answer this I'm sure but I don't think he needs any help with speed picking,He is astoundingly quick, but as he told me one day many years ago,:"I'rather knock e'm out with a hunderd pound chord than show e'm how fast I can play a bunch of little notes!". I don't feel he used a "ecco trick" to do speed picking. Hey, I could be wrong, I was once in 1954.

BOBBE!!!! It must have been the time you thought you were wrong and you weren't!!

Lincoln

Maurice's philosphy must have influenced Merl Lindsay when Maurice played with his band with the Red Foley show because when I went to work for Merl the first thing he told me was:

"How many fast notes you can "cram" in a song doesn't impress anyone but two or three unemployed musicians who didn't buy a ticket to get in anyway. Play chords and as close to the melody as you can get. Merl Lindsay is the only one you need to impress....because he writes the checks". www.genejones.com

On all the stuff that is currently available, it sure doesn't seem like Reece wastes any notes. Tone that is absolutely under control, tasteful conception always, and solos that sound like he knows exactly where he's going and how to get there. "Steel and Brass" is my favorite recording of his at present.

Thank each of you for your patience concerning my reply to this thread. The passing of my mothers sister has been difficult for myself and the family.

Paul......I honestly can't remember ever owning or recording with an Echo unit, but it would have been long ago, and of course there's is a possibility I could have forgotten about it.

Bobbe......Thank you for your very nice comments, your check is in the mail.

Gene......Merle Lindsey was a pistol wasn't he! I thought the world of him and respected him for his accomplishments. And yes, you have a check coming from me also, written on the Mississippi RIVER "Bank".

Jeff......Thank you so much for your kind words, AND for sending me the beautiful card and picture. Sorry but I just ran out of checks.

Reece, I know where the checks are, Teresa snatched them and has gone to the mall
christmas shopping.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

BEN

Ben....Teresa outsmarted us both, she took my credit cards and went CHRISTmas shopping.

She is well aware we have a lot more credit available than we have money in our account! I continually under estimate her ability, even after 23 years.

Merry CHRISTmas, Reece ! During the usual moving of boxes etc during this time of the year, I found a lot of my old 33 1/3 Albums and also in there were a whole lot of them by you. I don't have the capability to play these nowadays but I did find the name of the song I was trying to recall earlier in this thread.

It was Big "D" Spree ! I hope that rings a bell because as Bobbe said: You can be very fast when you want to. Originally, I thought you were playing at the 12th fret and hammering off to allow the string to ring open. But listening to some things others are doing with the echo effects, I thought it sounded something like that as well.

I hope your CHRISTmas was Merry and Bright and that this will shed some light on the answer to my question. Thanks in advance....

Regards, Paul