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Topic: Questions about MSA mechanics |
Gary Patterson
From:
Gallatin, TN
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Posted 19 Sep 2018 6:35 am |
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I hope it's not frowned upon to "steal" photos from other posts. I've recently acquired some MSA parts and hope to build a guitar. To my benefit, several MSA have appeared for sale, allowing me to study the underside for mechanical understanding. However, I could use some expert coaching.
What is the purpose of the little shaft collar on the third string pull rod?
What about the tuning nut window with all the holes? Does this have a mechanical function, or is it just a cosmetic feature? Thanks in advance for the advice I'm sure to receive.
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2018 6:41 am
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| The collar on the rod is generally to keep the knee lever when collapsed from pushing the pull rod from protruding past the end plate. It acts as a backstop. The holes in the end plate serve to keep the pull rods aligned- IMHO not necessary. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 19 Sep 2018 5:21 pm
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Jim is correct as to the function of the part. (It's normally used only on levers that fold up to the right.). One other thing to keep in mind is that the part should NOT be located right up against the fingers, as it is in your picture. When located there, it can interfere with the movement of the raise and lower fingers. Loosen the setscrew and move it about 1/4" to 5/16" away from the fingers. That way, it can still do its proper function, and it won't interfere with the movement of the fingers.  |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 20 Sep 2018 10:06 pm
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| Additionally noting the return spring on the 6th string appears to have been attempted to have been lengthened a bit. While there are other reasons for this, I've used that in the past utilizing a side cutter to spread the coils a titch with varying degrees of success as an attempt to get a string to lower without raising the raise scissor simultaneously. This is frequently the case with older guitars with non-adjustable return springs while attempting to use the upper lowering hole in the lower scissor. The problem is that the spring exerts too much pressure at that pivot point and the raise scissor frequently wants to move forward as well causing a "tail chasing" event in the changer prohibiting the desired lower from happening. This is in contrast with the same symptom experienced with ShoBuds where frequently the culprit is that the lower scissor digging into the changer finger. |
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Gary Patterson
From:
Gallatin, TN
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Posted 21 Sep 2018 4:28 am
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Good eye, Jim. I simply wrote it off as incidental damage. Having never experienced the problem you describe, it would not have occurred to me. I'll look out for that when I get mine assembled.
Thanks for your good advice. |
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