MSA Sidekick

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

A friend bought a sidekick to learn on and I took it in to generally check out,clean,new strings etc.

This steel uses a Pull Release changer which I'm not all that familiar with.

I've read the manual and still have some questions.

Should the fingers all be at rest when you initially tune a string? I can't find a point where I can tune the pedals and get the set screw on the changer to all work together.The RKR lowers the E's and is also causing me great heartache get both E's timed together.

When looking at the fingers,there doesn't seem to be any uniformity in how the line up. One might be forward and another farther back.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Joe Ribaudo · From: New Jersey, USA

Tune pedals down first - then set screws.
Depending on pedal travel, you may want to start by backing the screws all the way out.
Opposite with knee lever. Those collar stops are loads of fun.
Good luck with that puppy. I think the best you can expect is a draw.
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Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

1-Tune all strings at the keyhead- strings #'s 3,4,5,6
and 10 are raised by the pedals so they must be
engaged at that time.
2-Tune the 4th and the 8th strings to their lowered
position (D#)with the knee lever engaged using the
set screws in the changer.
3-Tune string #'s 3,5,6 and 10 to their open notes
using the set screws in the changer.
4-Tune the 4th string open note with the knee
lever stop underneath.

Alan Judson · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I had this exact same problem with my MSA last night! Thanks for asking about it!

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

I will give this a try and hope it works.

I'm still curious about how all the fingers line up or don't while they are at rest.

Thanks Jim
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

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

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

The highest notes on a string tune at the keyhead.
The lowest notes on a string tune with the screws.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Alan Judson · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I tried to tune the stings at the key head with the pedals down, and now when I release my 6 string and play it open it's way lower. so I try to raise the pitch of the open six at the changer, but the gap between open and closed 6 is still huge (4 semitones). Anyone have an idea about this?

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

Alan, sounds like your string grew? Is the B pedal raise, the only change on that string, or does it have a lower too, on a lever? If so, you may have to check your windings on the tuning key, or find a tolerable compromise between the tuning(s), for that raise/lower..?

Alan Judson · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Hey Edward, Thanks for the reply.

The 6 has just a raise.

I tuned with the keyheads with the pedal engaged, then let go and used the change hex to tune down the open string. I had to wind down for a while. Now the gap between the notes is very wide.

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

Ok. Back off the nylon tuner, engage the pedal, tune string to the raised pitch(a#), release pedal, and tune up the 6 string back to g# with no pedal at the nylon tuner...should put you where you want it? If it doesn't, I suspect your string is slipping at the keyhead?

Alan Judson · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Hey Edward -

So the steps will be:
1. Back off the nylon tuner (does that mean loosen the string with the nylon tuner? and if yes, until when?)
2. engage pedal and tune to a# (with the keyhead keys?)
3. release pedal, tune to g# with nylon tuner.

It was working a couple days ago, but after I started tuning it at the head when the pedals were engaged, it went screwy. I think I forgot to tune the open strings at first with the key heads, then the pedals engaged with the key heads, then the nylon tuners. I tried to tune down the open strings with the nylon first.

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

Alan, I sent you an email...

richard burton · From: Britain

Make sure the sixth string is a wound string, not plain.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I know Dick said he has access to the Sidekick manual, but for those who don't, it's still available for download here: http://steelguitar.com/manuals.html

Red Baron tuning procedure is the same.

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

It took some coaxing, but Alan revealed that he's got an MSA Sidekick Pro AM...the only pics of these I found, show it to be an all-pull changer? If that's the case, tuning it like a pull/release was never gonna help him...hopefully, I was able to offer some sound advice about tuning an all-pull, to him? I'm somewhat new to this system, and pedal steel guitar altogether, for that matter.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Yes, the Pro Am Sidekick is a different animal. All pull. Forgot about those.

Derrick Unger · From: Newark Ohio, USA

I had a sidekick...followed the manual and never had a problem.
He's lucky..got a much better steel now that he found out!!!
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