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Topic: Can't figure it out. |
Greg Johnson
From:
Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 12:31 pm |
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Ok, my '73 MSA Classic seems to have a very slight distortion when I push the volume to gig levels. It still has the original SS pickups (double wound) on it. I have put new Live Steel Cryro strings on it. I have plugged in my other guitar and it don't seem to have the problem. Fingers and changer look good. Have tried different amp settings etc. All the normal stuff. So, could it be the SS Pickups are too sensitive to the strings, or the amp. I really don't know where to go next. Unfortunately, I only own one amp, although I am making arrangements to borrow one for trial. Any classic players out there know anything about these pickups? It's not bad, just enough to drive me crazy. Thanks in advance.
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MSA CLassic SD-10
92 Emmons LII
79 Super Pro
Quilter TT
Evans FET 500
Fender Twin 65 RI
American Takimine |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 12:53 pm
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If you are playing through a Reno 400, try plugging your MSA into input #2. The Reno 400 was designed for acoustic/electric guitars and input #1 is designed especially for piezo pickups. Your MSA's pickup may be hot enough to overdrive the preamp if you're plugged in to input #1.
http://assets.peavey.com/literature/manuals/80370405.pdf |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 12:59 pm
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What Jack said.
Also, are you running Master volume wide open and preamp volume lower?
A Reno has the same power amp as the Nashville.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Greg Johnson
From:
Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 1:09 pm
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Jack/Lane,
I have split the cabinet so the piezo's are gone. I have tried both inputs with the same results. I have tried to pot pedals (GR and EB) and the same. Crazy thing is my 6 string Strat I can't get to distort. I have the master higher than the pre. I have even talk to Peavey who says the only difference between the reno and nashville is the piezos. So yeah I am at a loss. Could it be the speaker? but if so why no distortion with the strat or other steel?
_________________
MSA CLassic SD-10
92 Emmons LII
79 Super Pro
Quilter TT
Evans FET 500
Fender Twin 65 RI
American Takimine |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 1:32 pm
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How much gap do you have between pickup and strings? Try lowering the pickup?
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 2:38 pm
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The pickup is too powerful for the preamp, so it's overdriving it. This is really common - when the Day of Reckoning arrives, that anonymous numbnut who decided pedal steel pickups should triple in power sometime in the dark 80's will have a lot to answer for.  Some people would tell you that you just have to get used to keeping your foot on the volume pedal at about half-power, then as the notes are fading you can ease the pedal upwards and have gobs of "real" sustain. Which is all true, but in the meantime, you just need to attenuate the juice out of the pickup a bit.
There's a lot of things that can do it - I used to use either an old DOD graphic EQ pedal, not too much equalizing going on, just kicking down the volume by a third or so; I have also used an old DOD FX-80 compressor, not set to compress, just as a cut. (The old DOD's were made by Mormon child-slave labor using all the good stuff that pedal upgraders will charge you $50 - $100 to stick into a brand new BOSS or MXR! Used to get 'em for $25 on eBay till some guy started yakking them up...  )
Any box you can find that won't itself overdrive can do it, there are 1/4" cords available with a little volume roller on them, acoustic-into-an-amp guys use them. There are several wondrous-sounding (and sniffer-approved) things to be purchased for money - Brad Sarno's stuff among them - but do I divine that you just want to PLAY the thing right now?... you could even try a really long, like 20-foot guitar cord in there. The cheaper the better... |
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Greg Johnson
From:
Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 3:35 pm
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Yes both necks do the same. Going to try lane suggestion as the pickups are really close to the strings. And I was leaning toward a pickup probem
Also
_________________
MSA CLassic SD-10
92 Emmons LII
79 Super Pro
Quilter TT
Evans FET 500
Fender Twin 65 RI
American Takimine |
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Stuart Legg
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 4:59 pm
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| lonesome |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 6:34 pm
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| Good advice = lower the pickup, turn the amp up more, and use less pedal. That way, you'll be keeping any overdriving to a minimum. |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 7:08 pm
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My old MSA had a bunch of knobs on the front, which I understand to have controlled tone, a switch to activate a fuzz effect, possibly an active buffer, as a standard feature straight from the factory.
I got the steel second hand with all the onboard electronics disconnected.
If your MSA classic had all the same gizmos maybe there's some knobs or switches that need adjusted or wires that need disconnected and hardwired right to the output jack. Maybe the onboard battery is going dead, and thus lost headroom in the buffer circuitry. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 13 Dec 2013 11:03 pm
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Greg,
An easy thing to do that won't screw up the tone is bump the output down with a matchbox or something like it.
It you are thinking of replacing the pickup be aware that they are mounted very differently than most. You may need to route out the pickup cavity a bit.
I had that same problem a while back and just plugged into the 2nd input in my old fender amp and it cleared it right up.
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Bob |
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Greg Johnson
From:
Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2013 4:33 am
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Thanks everyone so far. So last night I lowered the pickups and that helped a little. I then up plugged it from the amp and played bare and found that only the 6th string has the distortion even un-amped. The roller looks good and so does the changer end. So today I am going to change strings (starting with the 6th) and see what happens. Just for further clarification the steel only has 2 knobs volume both necks and the selector switch.
_________________
MSA CLassic SD-10
92 Emmons LII
79 Super Pro
Quilter TT
Evans FET 500
Fender Twin 65 RI
American Takimine |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 14 Dec 2013 9:01 am
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Look for a rough spot on the arc of the 6th string finger. Also check that the roller nut turns freely.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Greg Johnson
From:
Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 15 Dec 2013 6:58 am
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Fixed 
Shout out to Lane Grey who was with me the whole way.
It seems that it was either the string, (not likely) or there was a miniscule rough spot on the top of the finger. I pulled the strings and took a fine emery cloth lightly to it and re-strung it and no distortion or vibration. I was of course blaming everything from the amp to the cords.
So lesson here is even when every thing looks great check the obvious first.
_________________
MSA CLassic SD-10
92 Emmons LII
79 Super Pro
Quilter TT
Evans FET 500
Fender Twin 65 RI
American Takimine |
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