| Author |
Topic: Another restoration done - The Plexi |
Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 8:26 am |
|
This is probably the only plexiglass pedal steel guitar ever built. It was built by MSA in '71 or '72 for a demonstrator of how the pedal steel works. I am happy to add it to my MSA collection.
It was owned by Maurice Anderson until he passed away when it was purchased by Junior Knight. I bought it from Junior about 6 years ago but I hadn't retired yet so I didn't have time to work on it. Junior wanted it back a couple of years later so we did some swapping and he got it back. Junior decided he wanted to clear out some equipment a few months ago, so I bought it back from him.
I totally disassembled it, cleaned and polished everything, and repaired a cracked tuning key mount. The 'scissor' parts of the changers were covered with corrosion to the point that some of them would not operate, so I bead blasted all of them and loosened the rivets to make them work easily. I added 3 new knee levers to the existing 2 levers so I could get some of the more modern changes. Some of the pedal rods didn't match, so I made a new set. Some of the tuning keys also didn't match so I replaced all of them. I raised it to 27 1/2" as I have to do to all my steels, and put my "modified" Day style setup on it.
The pickups are single coils and a bit microphonic so you can hear some buzzing and clunking from the pedals being operated. The E9th pickup is wound to 14.1K ohms and the C6th is 15.7K ohms, the E9th is pretty bright but I tamed it pretty good with the amp EQ, the C6 sounds good. It is heavy, 84lbs in the original MSA plastic case, too much for and old man to lug around, but it is a collector guitar not a gigger. The guitar still sounds pretty good for being 50 years old, with a 70 year old hack player attempting to play it.
Here's a quick video I made so you can hear how it sounds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKEx50TcBrQ
_________________
Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro. |
|
|
 |
Carl Williams
From:
Oklahoma
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 8:41 am
|
|
Darwin,
You “Clearly” have a knack for MSA restoration! 😉. I’ve seen this/your MSA before and it really looks showroom new…great job on this unique, one-of-a-kind pedal steel….Carl |
|
|
|
Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
|
|
|
|
john buffington
From:
Owasso OK - USA
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 9:24 am
|
|
| Good work Darvin, "Ole Plexi" is clearly a showstopper for sure. |
|
|
|
Bryce Van Parys
From:
Washington, USA
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 11:07 am
|
|
Oh my, this looks amazing. How does it sound? I'm all about the wood affecting tone (as a violin dealer and all around string player) Very curious
Bryce
_________________
Bryce
Double bass, Mike Lull V4, G&L SB2 electric bass, Stratocaster, Telecaster, Les Paul, Martin D18GE, |
|
|
|
Jeff Keyton
From:
Texas, USA
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 11:12 am
|
|
| Great work on your MSA, as usual, Darwin ! Looks Great and sounds good, will have to add it into the mix on the tone discussions that go on around here. |
|
|
|
Ron Funk
From:
Ballwin, Missouri
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 11:31 am
|
|
| Clearly museum worthy. |
|
|
|
scott murray
From:
Asheville, NC
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 11:32 am
|
|
one-of-a-kind for sure! you both sound great.
thanks for sharing
_________________
1965 Emmons S-10, 3x5 • Emmons LLIII D-10, 10x12 • JCH D-10, 10x12 • Beard MA-8 • Oahu Tonemaster |
|
|
|
Bob Watson
From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 2:01 pm
|
|
| I would love to hear Lloyd Green's version of "I Can See Clearly Now" performed on this pedal steel. It would make a great video! In all seriousness, I really would love to see a video with close ups of the mechanisms in action while hearing the effect of the pedal or knee lever that is being used. That is a nice video that you posted and I wasn't expecting a Plexiglass pedal steel to sound as nice as this one does. You chose a beautiful song to use as a demo for this steel and your playing sounds great. Thanks for sharing this with us. |
|
|
|
Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
|
|
|
|
Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
|
Posted 7 Oct 2022 7:41 pm
|
|
| AMAZING,,,BEAUTIFUL!!!! |
|
|
|
Pat Chong
From:
New Mexico, USA
|
Posted 10 Oct 2022 9:03 pm
|
|
Wow!
That is definitly a pedal steel that you would mount hidden colored LED lights on, to have the clear parts light up with! ....Pat. |
|
|
|
Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
|
Posted 11 Oct 2022 4:13 am
|
|
I’m working on that Pat, I just haven’t came up with a good place and a good way to mount them. I also need to mount a battery pack, and I don’t want to drill any holes and double sided tape can leave an ugly residue.
_________________
Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro. |
|
|
|
Roy Carroll
From:
North of a Round Rock
|
Posted 11 Oct 2022 6:12 am
|
|
Man , that is totally cool! Belongs in a museum somewhere.
Sounds kind of cool too. Thanks for posting, I had no idea it even existed.
_________________
Just north of the Weird place, south of Georgetown |
|
|
|
J D Sauser
From:
Wellington, Florida
|
Posted 11 Oct 2022 2:26 pm
|
|
Beautiful!
For once I am speechless and will keep it that short... although... 
... J-D.
_________________
__________________________________________________________
Was it JFK who said: Ask Not What TAB Can Do For You - Rather Ask Yourself "What Would B.B. King Do?"
A Little Mental Health Warning:
Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.
I say it humorously, but I mean it. |
|
|
|
Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
|
Posted 11 Oct 2022 8:17 pm
|
|
 Enjoyed your tune too! |
|
|
|
J R Rose
From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
|
Posted 12 Oct 2022 5:56 pm
|
|
Darvin, Just now run across this. What a beautiful restoration job and a great picking job. You just keep outdoing yourself.
Keep on keeping on. J.R. Rose
_________________
NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose |
|
|
|
J R Rose
From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
|
Posted 12 Oct 2022 6:03 pm
|
|
I was in the MSA factory about 1972 or 1973 and this guitar was setting on the office floor. I was totally awe struck. I think it was on Stallard Street. J.R. Rose
_________________
NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose |
|
|
|
Jim Robbins
From:
Ontario, Canada
|
Posted 12 Oct 2022 6:31 pm
|
|
| That is both beautiful and cool as can be. Nice playing, too. |
|
|
|
Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
|
Posted 15 Oct 2022 5:31 am
|
|
Great job Darwin, You done it again, Maurice would be proud.
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
|
|
|
