Please Help Identify MSA?

Kevin Glandon · From: New York, USA

I know nothing about PSGs other than it is time for me to own one. I am buying this guitar that I've provided photos of. I sent these photos to the MSA Co and they said this is a homemade unit using only "some" MSA parts. They may not know their old guitars as the company seems to be "New". No disrespect to them. Or of course they are correct.
Someone had suggested that this guitar was re-bodied. I've no problem with that.
I am appealing to those on this forum who may know what this is. Thank you all for you help.

Daniel Morris · From: Westlake, Ohio, USA

MSA is definitely not new; there was a time when they were moribund, but they're back in business again.
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1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix.

Damir Besic · From: Nashville,TN.

looks like very nice guitar, and put together by someone who knew what he was doing...
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Pete McAvity · From: St. Louis, Missouri USA

Congrats, Kevin! Looks to me to be an excellent starter (although this is a debatable opinion). I believe the seller was forthright in disclosing that the fretboards are of Sho-Bud origin and (possibly)set to a different scale length. If the cab is not original MSA, then it may have been built to accommodate the Sho-Bud fretboards and everything may line up beautifully. However, if you have a mismatch you'll want to remedy that first thing with scale correct boards. Otherwise you'll drive yourself insane w/intonation problems that progress as you go up the neck.
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Excel Superb D10, Sarno Black Box or Freeloader, Goodrich L120, Boss DD5, Baby Bloomer, 1965 Super Reverb chopped to a head, feeding a mystery PA cab w/ a K130.

They say "thats how it goes". I say "that ain't the way it stays!"

Kevin Glandon · From: New York, USA

Thank you Pete. Fortunately I'm good at restoration and making things right. Check out my Gibson Console Grande in the non-pedal steel section of the forum. I will correct fretboards and scale length as needed. I just needed to know what I'm getting. I've spoken with the seller and he was clear and forthright with all info concerning this guitar and his history with it. Bottom line is that the instrument works as it should. I will repair and refine it as I go along. I really did not want a starter guitar. This instrument will get me a long long way down the road I'm sure.

Jon Zimmerman · From: California, USA

If you are all thumbs, might be best to have a steel mechanic from your area set up, adjust, etc. to accommodate your needs.. even for good advice. Only one I can think of is John Widgren, but he may be out of your area. Other home-shop operators exist in the NE. Take a while to get it right.. I agree, it's a good start D-10. ðŸ˜ƒ

Kevin Glandon · From: New York, USA

Thank you for your input. I'm not afraid of working on the mechanism provided I allow myself to understand it first. In my riding days I re-built my Harleys and repaired my other bikes as well. However, there actually seem to many more moving parts in a pedal steel guitar than my old Shovelhead!

Jon Zimmerman · From: California, USA

Very much agree Kev. My first Harley was. '52 K model sporty. Flathead V-twin.. seemed like I was always "fixin" on it. Don't try to kick start a D-10! ðŸ˜®

Kevin Glandon · From: New York, USA

Will it throw me over the handle bars? '52 K...very very cool bike. That to me is the first Sporty. I miss them but don't really want 'em anymore. One day I went out to the garage started to get on one of my bikes, then I got this real strong feeling that I wasn't coming back from this ride. Sold them all after that. Maybe one day.......

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

All the undercarriage etc rods, changer, bell cranks blah blah looks authentic MSA to me, a strange beast isent it. I see no reason with just a little bit of work that this guitar will be a pro level soon, You have all you need double raise double lower changer. Get some new fretboards from Tom Bradshaw website, that way you can have the MSA ones on there with chess pieces, thatâ€™s what makes an MSA look spiff. The rope inlay is a bit of a mystery, does it have a serial number? It looks like a â€œClassicâ€
stripped of mica and painted?? Or is that mica???
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A.K.A Chappy.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

What is on the tag on the front apron??? It does not look MSA. May be some ones personal emblem.
Is there a case with the Guitar???

From the pictures it is all MSA Except for the necks, Fret boards and the tag on the front apron.
I have a MSA S10 (Born July 9, 1974)on a 3/4 body and a MSA D10 No date for it. My S10 does not have the adjustable return springs. this may make your guitar a little later than 1974, or someone has added it during the make over.

It looks that for some reason someone changed the body, neck and fret Boards. Maybe to just replace the Mica Body and necks and fret boards.
If No Case with the Guitar. The guitar and case may have been in a flood or water some way and the Body, Necks and the case just fell apart, And someone replaced the Body, Necks and Fret Boards.
Since this Guitar has MSA's metal rails in the front and rear aprons, The actual works may have not been removed and close to working condition.

Good Luck in getting it back playing, Happy Steelin.

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

kevin,
that is a msa classic or a msa classic xl or a vintage xl. the body has been refinish . nice guitar

p.w

Kevin Glandon · From: New York, USA

Thank you all for your input. It is very helpful. I'll be picking the guitar up tomorrow.
The guitar comes with a "split case". I've spoken with the seller of this instrument. (Nice fellow by the way). This guitar was purchased by him from an estate sale long ago. The old fellow who originally owned it clearly personalized it. The body is solid wood not ply that MSA used at that time. The brass badge on the front of the guitar says "Angel." I kind of like that. This man named the guitar or that may have been his name. I'll know more about the guitar when I pick it up and talk more about it with the seller.
I've spoken to an old timer friend of mine and an MSA owner. He told me that the screw adjustments for the changer return springs were early first generation MSA. The adjustment screws were discontinued by the second generation.
Keep the info coming Thank you all.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

This is a mid-period "Micro" model MSA which is a completely different design than the first MSA guitars which were made from '64 to '72.

Bob Tuttle · From: Republic, MO 65738

Don't worry about the fretboard and scale length. The MSA from that era, and Sho-Bud had the same 24 inch scale.

J R Rose · From: Keota, Oklahoma, USA

Kevin, It all looks MSA to me except body & fret boards. A rebuilt body would be my guess. Could of went thru a flood or got run over by a Mack truck and whoever just built a new body. No matter, It is not a beginner guitar. It is as Pro as you can get. John Widgren is North of NYC just into Conn. He is a forum member and you can contact him with a PM. A nice Gentleman and could help you a lot I am sure. I think this guitar can be cleaned up nicely with lots of good playing from it. Good Luck with you venture. J.R. Rose
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NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose

Kevin Glandon · From: New York, USA

Thank you for sharing that information J.R. I live way too far from John to be able use his services. I live in the middle of the Adirondack mountains of NY. Thank you again.

Curt Langston · Posted 3 Apr 2018 11:07 am **check it out**

Kevin be careful and try that guitar out before you buy it.

It looks like it may be a "cabinet droppin', string popper"!

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