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Topic: Can knee levers be added to an 80's era MSA D10? |
Jack Reckner
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2010 7:25 am |
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I'm considering the purchase of an 80's era MSA D10 thats currently an 8p x 2k setup and was wondering about the possibility/feasability of adding additional knee levers.
Any recomendations/advice/thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for viewing,
Jack
Last edited by Jack Reckner on 25 Feb 2010 9:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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J R Rose
From:
Keota, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2010 7:35 am
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| Contact Jim Palenscar at North County Steel Guitars in Oceanside, Ca. He makes M.S.A. parts and is a fair and honest man. Ph. # 760-754-2120 |
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Ga McDonnell
From:
N GA, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2010 9:39 am
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First, have to ponder why an 80's MSA only had 2 knee levers.
But here's what's relevant to your question:
Of course knee levers can be added. But you're going to be charged probably over a hundred dollars for all the parts for each one. If you want someone to install them, that's more money at a high labor cost.
So.....unless you are getting the guitar at a bargain price, which would be under a thousand, it's not really a cost effective option to add on.
And... these days there are fully loaded MSA's available for $1100, 1200, 1300 in good condition. You can get right to the playin' and not have to go to fixin' right off. |
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Chris Dorch
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 25 Feb 2010 11:04 am
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It's probably a Classic series..
On this forum I have read that Tom Bradshaw makes KL kits.. Jim Flynn from Lone Star Steel makes parts (maybe kits) and one other which I cannot remember.. If you do a search on the very same topic you asked, you'll find the results..
Whether or not they still make them is another matter...
I had a chance to buy a Semi-Classic 3x2 so I researched how to and how much it would cost to add levers... |
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Don Poland
From:
Hanover, PA.
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 7:23 am
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I have a 1974 MSA Classic that originally came from the factory with 8X2 and it is now 8X5, so, to answer your question, Yes, knee levers can be added. I purchased parts from Wayne Link...he is a member here on the forum and you cant find a better person to deal with.
Good luck with whatever you decide. |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 10:06 am parts & manual
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You can buy the parts seperately,(Tom Bradshaw) and "download" the MSA manual for that year. I've got the one for my 1973, and it shows it, as an operation that can be done without too much hassle.
NOW: the Vertical Lever,
THAT looks like it's complicated !
Good luck, whatever you decide,
Rick |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 7:25 pm
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Here's pictures of my '75 D10 Classic. It may have originally had only two knee levers, when I got it it had a couple of homemade levers that were a little crude. I made four new standard levers and two vertical levers and all the related parts. It worked out really well, this guitar plays almost as good as my new MSA's. I put adjusting screws on all of the levers, and made the return springs adjustable. This is a nice guitar, but very unfriendly to an old guy's back, so, I built a set of custom split cases for it with rollers.
_________________
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. |
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Larry Jamieson
From:
Walton, NY USA
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 7:35 pm
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| There are two, nice, used MSA guitars for sale on the Forum right now at reasonable prices. I just went back and checked the ads, and both have four knee levers in place, and ready to work. One is a single ten, the other a double ten. Both look to be in very nice condition. You can't beat the old MSA guitars for a reliable, easy playing instrument, and the models for sale at this time are the nice wood body, lacquer finish guitars with the aluminum frame around the pickups. |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 26 Feb 2010 9:58 pm Impressive
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Execllent job Mr. Willhoite ! very impressive ! And those cases are beautiful!
Mine came with 8x4, but I want to add 2 more Levers,(1L + 1R), and maybe 1 Vertical.
About 80 lbs. in my case. 
Rick |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 28 Feb 2010 8:50 pm
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You wont regret it! 
_________________
A.K.A Chappy. |
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Jack Reckner
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2010 6:16 am
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Hey Guys,
Thanks for all the info and opinions!
Very impressive workmanship Mr. Willhoite! Thanks for posting the pictures! I'm a toolmaker/machinist, so I have a sense of the effort required to make the modifications you did. |
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Reece Anderson
From:
Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Mar 2010 7:09 am
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Ga......In response to your question. The double neck guitars shipped with only 2 knee levers indicates the probability of it being a mid 70's configuration, later we starting putting on 4 knee levers as a standard configuration.
Since you believe your guitar to be made in the 80's, it should have a natural finish, unless it was a custom order. If it is formica it was likely manufactured in the mid 70's. Should you wish to provide me the serial number I will try to validate the actual manufacturing date.
If it is an 80's model guitar with only 2 knee levers, that would mean one of two things, 1) it was special ordered, (which is unlikely) or 2) someone later removed the other 2 knee levers.
Thank you for playing an MSA and for your question. |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 1 Mar 2010 7:26 am
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Darvin, That's a beautiful job you did there. I love the shape of those vertical knee levers. I like the way that they are almost horizontal when in working position.
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2010 3:58 pm
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The vertical knee levers are similar in design to the new MSA's, I stole the idea from them. (I guess I didn't really steal it, I'm not a thief. I "borrowed" it.) 
_________________
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. |
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