| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic MSA Identification Help Needed
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  MSA Identification Help Needed
Mike McBride


From:
Indiana
Post  Posted 20 Mar 2024 5:55 pm    
Reply with quote

Can someone please help identify this mistreated guitar? Is it an MSA Classic?


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jeremy JT Young


From:
Loretto Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 20 Mar 2024 10:32 pm     Msa ?
Reply with quote

I talked to the owner and he referred to Midified several times. I have an old sidekick, looks like a sidekick changer not the heavier classic. I saw another forum post that said they thought it was a rebooted sidekick. Only has 1 KL. I was interested in it for parts if it were a sidekick my son has one he's redoing.
_________________
JT Young, Living the Dream. Smile, make a positive impact on someone else's life today ! ๐Ÿ˜Š
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
David Wright


From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
Post  Posted 21 Mar 2024 3:41 am    
Reply with quote

Pictures of the bottom side....
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 24 Mar 2024 8:23 pm    
Reply with quote

As far as being an MSA Classic.

The MSA Classic had an aluminum back apron with screws to hold the outer cover in place, Removing the cover gave access to cross shaft for removal and replacement.

The bar at the back bottom of the changer looks to have split tuning screws, Original MSA Classic did not have split tuning screws.

The changer end plate has a row of screws below the nylon tuner window. Looks like adjustable Lower Return Spring adjustment screws. MSA Classic, Did not have adjustable Lower Return Adjustment Screws.




A picture of MSA Classic SN 1C2921. The shelf behind the neck has the black pad added to it.
The 6 screws shown attach back apron cover for access to cross rods.


Here is a better picture of the offset in body.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Mitchell Smithey


From:
Dallas, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2024 4:59 pm    
Reply with quote

It has some MSA parts, key head, fretboard, the pedals look like MSA but lack the crosshatching.
It could be good or not so good, but itโ€™s not a true MSA.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 29 Mar 2024 6:54 pm    
Reply with quote

I think after they quit building the Classic series, They built a guitar called The Super-Sustain, That was a single neck with no shelf on the back/what some call a 3/4 body. I have seen some pictures but never seen 1 in person.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 1 Apr 2024 8:09 pm    
Reply with quote

There was another series of MSA guitars after the Classic, It was called Semi-Classic.

You may want to get on MSA's website, E-mail them the serial number, They may have records on the guitar and can help you.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2024 4:17 am    
Reply with quote

Okay, here's what I'll postulate after looking more closely:

It has a pull/release changer and short (5-step) keyhead blocks with a non-step body, so it can't be a Classic. I eliminated it being a Semi-Classic because the that guitar had unique (but decent) aluminum endplates (so there'd have been no need to make new endplates), and the Semi also had an all-pull changer. The "mystery guitar" also has the D-shape pillow blocks, so we can rule out it being a Pro-Am, Pro-Am Sidekick, or Mini-Pro. With all that considered, I'm pretty confident it's either a dolled-up Sidekick or a Red Baron, but I'm leaning more towards the Sidekick model, because most (but not all) of the Red Barons had black painted keyhead blocks.

Cool
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
David Wright


From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2024 4:28 am    
Reply with quote

Still would like to see bottom of the guitar
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2024 11:36 am    
Reply with quote

The changer looks All Pull MSA, But has had split tuning screws place in the back bar of the changer.
That may have been one of the modification done by the previous owner, Along with the Adjustable lower return springs.

That back bar is attached to the changer, By the back 2 bolts that hold the changer rod end blocks to the body.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron