MSA, Tone, and Chalker

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 15 Aug 2016 9:02 am

Over the years I've heard, both here on the forum and from some people in person, that the older MSA's, especially the non lacquer guitars, just really didn't have a good tone to them. I've had a couple, and thought they sounded pretty good. Some time ago, I happened across this video of Curly Chalker, with the Wilburn Brothers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPexvTKawOY

That is one of the sweetest tones I think I've ever heard! I'd stack it up against pretty well anything out there. Of course, it being Curly that's doing the playing doesn't hurt matters any, but still, coming from a guitar that has been so criticised for it's tone, as the MSA's have, it's pretty amazing sounding.

I know all guitars of any particular brand don't all sound the same. Most steel players say that there's nothing better than a push-pull Emmons, and a short keyhead Emmons is the next best thing. Two of the absolute worst sounding steels that I have ever heard was a SKH Emmons, that I owned, and a 1967 PP that was owned by another player.

Also, does anyone know if Curly was playing MSA on his Nashville Sundown album? I know he also played Sho~Bud at one point too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIHodjfjpoI

Anyway, just pondering/rambling I suppose.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 15 Aug 2016 9:25 am

lem,
have to agree with you about msa guitars. i have on and off with m.s.a guitars for the past 25 years.i had a couple bad ones d-10 sound wise but the rest i had have where great. formica or wood . wish i could have kept them all:)
p.w

p.w

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 15 Aug 2016 9:37 am

Very nice guitars, Paul!

I know what you mean about wishing you could have kept them all. I've had some really nice pedal steel guitars that I've let get away over the years too.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 15 Aug 2016 7:07 pm

In my over 50 years of playing, I can honestly say that I've heard a lot more players that sound bad than I have guitars that sound bad!

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 15 Aug 2016 9:54 pm

I've been playing for 37 years Donny, and I agree totally.

You are spot on.

However those two guitars that I mentioned above really stood out as being extra blah sounding, regardless of who was playing them.

Tommy Young did his MaxTone mod, whatever that consists of, on the SKH Emmons and the difference was astounding. It completely sounded like a totally different guitar after he got through with it... brilliant highs, nice lows, and it sustained for days, whereas before it sounded dull and had no sustain to speak of, especially when you got past the 12th fret.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 16 Aug 2016 1:26 am

Donny Hinson wrote:In my over 50 years of playing, I can honestly say that I've heard a lot more players that sound bad than I have guitars that sound bad!

profound 101 !

I have owned 3 MSA's I liked them enough , they played well but I never quite bonded with them overall. I could never get a bright tone to my ears, maybe I'm in the above category ! They were excellent guitars though.

Robbie Daniels · Post by **Robbie Daniels** » 16 Aug 2016 12:50 pm

I started playing a D12 MSA in 1965 and another built for me in 1974, in 2005 I had a D12 Carter built for me due to the influence of Bud Carter and within the last year I have purchased a 1974 S12 that I am currently setting up and the tone of the MSA (even the very old one) has always surpassed the tone of others that I have tried even though the present Carter I have also has a good tone. Having said that, I firmly believe that most of the tone comes from the player and how he attacks, picks and handles the bar.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 16 Aug 2016 6:05 pm

The mica MSA guitars can be made to sound quite good, but the lacquer guitars had a LOT more natural sustain and much better resonance.. I owned and played many MSA steels over 40 years, and there IS a noticeable difference. The mica body MSA guitars simply didn't sound or sustain as well as the all wood bodies... bob

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 16 Aug 2016 6:27 pm

Curly played his mica MSA and sounded pretty good to me. Here is the thing. It really comes down to experimenting with mixing and matching all of the variables in the chain of your system.If you get the right combination of guitar-strings-picks-cables-amp-vol pedal than you can hit the jackpot in tone heaven. Curly had the right setup plus a really good set of hands. 99 percent of steel players will make anything sound good. Most people do compliment the tone of MSA's mica or lacquer alike. The main complaint I hear time and time again is the weight

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 18 Aug 2016 4:46 am

The MSA S-10 with 5 pedals & 5 knee levers, wood body Classic, weighs in at 35lbs. I have a cover for the guitar & never use a case, so I have no problems with the weight & I am 72 years young!!
I play afternoon gigs every friday, & hope to continue for another 15 years [can I get a Ha Ha here?]

Ernie Pollock
301-264-4172

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 20 Aug 2016 11:31 am

We're not just talking about the tone of MSA guitars here. This thread is also about Curly Chalker. Curly could get a great tone from a rubber band stretched over a 2 by 4.

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 20 Aug 2016 3:45 pm

I have a 1976 MSA S12 Classic that sounds great. Good tone doesn't have to be one particular good tone. So many people are hung up on one so called "Holy Grail" of tone. They think if they play a certain brand they will sound like a certain player. Sorry, I have an MSA Legend, Classic, Zumsteel, Stageone, Sho-Bud, had a Push Pull and a Legrand and I sound like me on all of them. Buddy sounded like Buddy on anything he played. Curly sounded like Curly on anything he played. He liked the MSA because he felt comfortable playing it.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 20 Aug 2016 6:56 pm

Right on Johnny.

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 20 Aug 2016 8:59 pm

Very true, Johnny. Mike, you are also correct about Curly sounding good on anything! He was an amazing musician!

As far as MSA and tone goes, the SD10 Classic SS that I recently bought from a fellow forumite, sounds absolutely fantastic! It's got an E66 pickup in it, and it seems to be a perfect match. I've had many, many steel guitars over the years, and I really believe this one just might be the best sounding one yet.

The one other that I had that gives it the most competition was an old Sho~Bud Professional. That guitar was the sweetest sounding one I'd ever laid hands on. It was a nightmare to keep in tune, as I'm sure it had never been worked on since it was new, but when you did get it in good tune, you really had something!

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 20 Aug 2016 9:06 pm

I just got my 2006 Legend back after trading it for a 72 Emmons PP. The Emmons was as good of a PP as I've ever played but my Ole Blue is like putting on that old pair of jeans that fit just right. It plays the way I want it to, it feels the way I want it to and it sounds the way I want it to. If I want a little different sound I just slide a different pickup in.I haven't worked for MSA since 2010 but I still say it's the best guitar in my opinion on the market today.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 21 Aug 2016 4:24 am

lem,

p.w

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 21 Aug 2016 1:00 pm

Paul, once again I want to say what a pleasure it was dealing with you regarding the MSA Classic SS. The guitar was even nicer than he pics and I appreciate the extra parts you sent as well.

I'm thinking that since this one will be with me a long time hopefully, I'd like to get a set of longer legs and pedal rods for it. I don't really want to use the adapters and extensions, but will just go ahead and replace them.

Anybody know right off who to get new longer legs and pedal rods from, that will fit an MSA Classic SS guitar?

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 21 Aug 2016 1:41 pm

Don Burrows for the legs.
Either Don or Michael Yahl for the rods.

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 21 Aug 2016 2:06 pm

Thank ya, Lane.

Ben Edmonds · Post by **Ben Edmonds** » 21 Aug 2016 2:18 pm

I have a laquer MSA Classic 12 string that is great. I can feel the floor vibrate when I play it with no amp. The only other one I've played was a mica D10 and that one sold me on MSA. I wasn't sure about them until I played those two and I think they are great guitars. I still don't sound like chalker though

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