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Topic: MSA serial number question |
Brian Rung
From:
Austin, Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Dec 2008 2:47 pm |
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serial number 1S134, what year is it? It's a semi classic 3/4, guessing it was originally a 3/1. Any way to date these things?
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Aspiring Hawaiian. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 7:02 am
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| I'd guess that's an early one from 1973. The Semi-Classics were far better guitars than the Sidekicks (which later became Red Barons), despite the price difference of only $200. Most came as 3+1 models, though they could also be ordered as 4+1, or 4+2. |
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Brian Rung
From:
Austin, Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 11:37 am
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Thanks, love the guitar, it's the same one Darvin Willhoite updated a few years back, I can definately tell someone has gone through it, he modified the end plate so any of the strings could be double raised or lowered. It does everything I need it to do.
There is a litte "slop" in the klusons, it stays in tune, but when I change strings and tune it you can tell that the tuners should probably be replaced.
Wondering if a set of grovers or sperzels will fit without extra holes?
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Aspiring Hawaiian. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 2:31 pm
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I have some doubt that that keyhead will work with any machines that have the "screw-in" top bushing. The holes in the keyhead would have to be drilled larger, and the inside edge of the keyhead would have to be machined in a "stairstep-style" like a Shobud. I think you'd be better off just replacing them with the same style machines.
Here's a pic of one of my Shobuds. I think you'll see what I'm talkin' about.
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 3:41 pm
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Brian,Reese could proberly tell you the day is was made and who bought it.DYKBC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 5:52 pm
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| The "slop" in the old Klusons isn't a problem as long as you remember to tune UP all the time. Should you tune UP too far, and need to flatten the string just a little, just remember to tune it down past where it belongs, and then just tune it UP again (hopefully, without "overshooting" this time). |
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Brian Rung
From:
Austin, Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 6:37 pm
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that's what I've been doing, maybe it bugs the guitar player in me more than anything.
The guitar stays and plays in perfect tune, my Blanton had grovers, I guess that's what I'm used to.
There's a set of Klusons (and a lot of other MSA parts) on ebay right now...
Will Sperzels fit in the holes? What about the Kluson style Ping tuners?
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Aspiring Hawaiian. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2008 7:29 pm
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| Sperzels will not fit. See my earlier post. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 7:22 pm
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| Replacement tuners could be made to work. But as others have said, it would require drilling and machining (or counterboring) for the tuners and mounts. It's not a complicated job, and could be done easily with little more than a drill. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2008 7:57 pm
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| No! It cannot be done with just a drill. The inside edge and the outside edge must be parallel. It will require machining the keyheads. Look again at the pic I posted of the Shobud keyhead. It should be obvious that it is NOT that simple. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 11:24 am
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| No disrespect intended, but I beg to differ. Since the MSA keyhead is a 3-pc. affair, it's very easy to counterbore the inside so the counterbore is perpendicular to the outside surface. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 1:06 pm
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Donny, if you mean with a bore diameter large enough to allow some sort of wrench to engage the hex head of that tuner style, I agree. But with the necessity of the bore being flat-bottomed,and the requirement of approaching the keyhead surface at an angle, I'd think a machine shop, with a decent milling machine, would do a much better job. Just buying that mill might cost as much as a shop would charge to do the job! Given a good quality drill press, and a like quality vise, and experience using them, quite possible to do at home.
I still think the best thing to do is just replace the tuners with ones that actually fit, and use the old holes, including the ones for the mounting screws. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 Dec 2008 1:12 pm
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| As an added note about Sperzels, Bob now has a locking tuner that does not use the locking wheel. You just poke the string down the hollow shaft, and it locks, with no other action required. I almost used them on the above-pictured Shobud, but decided to stay with the original tuners. |
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