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Topic: old MSA Sidekick - advice re: reset of tuning mechanism? |
Jon Hundt
From:
Netherlands
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Posted 3 May 2020 12:13 pm |
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I have an old MSA Sidekick that I bought second-hand in the 90's. It has stood in the corner for most of the time, we moved to Holland in 2000 and it hasn't got a lot of use. I keep it strung up and tuned, and play it just a bit.
Now I have some time on my hands (retirement and lock-down)and I am determined to master this instrument. But I notice that after all the years of following the MSA-recommended tuning procedure, I am getting near the end of the line for some of the adjustments.
I found an old (2011) post where member M Hutchinson suggested a "re-set procedure". I will reprint a short version below. I have PM'd M Hutchinson, but I am interested in other advice and opinions, too.
Because I know very little about the intricate operation of this steel guitar; and because there will be no-one to turn to here in Holland if things go wrong - I would very much appreciate it if anyone could confirm if this is indeed a good way to reset the tuning system; or if not - can anyone advise me on a different way to do this?
thanks! Here is the process recommended by Mr. Hutchinson:
Reset Procedure for MSA Sidekick tuning
source: https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=212767
To make the entire setup easier, and ensure you don't have to stop in the middle and adjust things, you might consider doing the following before you start:
1) Detune all the strings at least a 5th.
2) Loosen every ROD STOP behind the BELLCRANKS.
3) Adjust the BACK STOP SCREWS (behind the changer) so that each finger sits roughly 1/2 way through it's available range of travel.
4) Move the ROD STOPS back close to the BELLCRANKS.
Leave just a hair of slack behind each, except for the one of the 4th string behind P3,
You need 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch there to accomodate the lower.
5) Back the STOP SCREWS in the changer back out most of the way.
If you do this you won't have as much adjusting to do later. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 3 May 2020 7:10 pm
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If it will tune properly, that's all that's required. My advice is not to try and fix something that isn't (or may not) be broken. And if you can't tell if it's working right, your chances of improving it probably aren't real good. 
Addendum: Should you decide to proceed, I'd say you should work only the pedal that's giving you concern. There's no sense in resetting everything unless it's absolutely necessary.
When were the strings last changed? Have you oiled the changer?
Last edited by Donny Hinson on 4 May 2020 7:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jon Hundt
From:
Netherlands
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Posted 4 May 2020 7:35 am
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| Donny Hinson wrote: |
| If it will tune properly, that's all that's required. My advice is not to try and fix something that isn't (or may not) be broken. And if you can't even tell if it's working right, your chances of improving it probably aren't real good. |
I agree with this advice. It is currently tuned, and the pedals and lever are working correctly. But some of the stop screws at the changer are now screwed in as far as they will go. I need to find a way to move them back closer to the middle of their travel.
I understand what you mean about the risk of NOT improving it, but I will soon need to take some kind of steps to make it tuneable again in the future. |
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Paul Wade
From:
mundelein,ill
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Jon Hundt
From:
Netherlands
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Posted 4 May 2020 11:38 am Re: msa side kick
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| Paul Wade wrote: |
| http://steelguitar.com/manuals/MSA_Sidekick_OwnersManual.pdf |
Thank you Paul. I do have that instruction manual. and I have been using it for 25 years to tune the Sidekick. I guess when they wrote it, they weren't thinking 30 years ahead, so they didn't include a section about re-centering the tuning adjustments. |
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Jon Hundt
From:
Netherlands
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Posted 4 May 2020 11:46 am
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| Donny Hinson wrote: |
If it will tune properly, that's all that's required. My advice is not to try and fix something that isn't (or may not) be broken. And if you can't tell if it's working right, your chances of improving it probably aren't real good.
Addendum: Should you decide to proceed, I'd say you should work only the pedal that's giving you concern. There's no sense in resetting everything unless it's absolutely necessary.
When were the strings last changed? Have you oiled the changer? |
Thanks for your reply, and your interest in my problem. I have oiled the changer recently; I have not changed the strings for a long time. Maybe 5-8 years?
I know that this is a part of the problem. That's why I am wondering if I should do some kind of re-set before I restring the guitar... or immediately after restringing? Or just restring and see what happens?
Mostly I play a Telecaster guitar. It's 52 years old, and I never change anything, except the strings. But this pedal guitar is a whole different thing. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 4 May 2020 2:42 pm
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Jon, whenever you have a problem with the sound or tuning of a pedal steel, the strings should be the first place you look. With some beginners, the series of circumstances goes something like this: The guitar requires frequent or regular adjustments to stay/play in tune. They keep making small adjustments with old strings until the problem worsens, and they can no longer make it right. Then, after all that "adjusting", they finally change the strings. But at that point, they're pretty far from the original/optimal settings, so getting things back right again requires even more time an effort.
Always replace the strings if they're very old - as that may be the only problem, and it's the easiest thing to do.
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Jon Hundt
From:
Netherlands
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Posted 4 May 2020 10:23 pm
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| Donny Hinson wrote: |
Jon, whenever you have a problem with the sound or tuning of a pedal steel, the strings should be the first place you look. With some beginners, the series of circumstances goes something like this: The guitar requires frequent or regular adjustments to stay/play in tune. They keep making small adjustments with old strings until the problem worsens, and they can no longer make it right. Then, after all that "adjusting", they finally change the strings. But at that point, they're pretty far from the original/optimal settings, so getting things back right again requires even more time an effort.
Always replace the strings if they're very old - as that may be the only problem, and it's the easiest thing to do.
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Thanks - I will start with that, and see what happens. |
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