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Topic: MSA Red Baron |
Lee Warren
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2018 11:37 am |
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A good friend and ex-bandmate, has asked if an MSA The Red Baron is a useable, playable instrument for a beginner on steel.
I'm out of town and unable to look it over for him at the moment.
Any owners / users that can give me the goods on these guitars?
What type changer?
Standard pedal / lever complement, common issues, etc.
Ballpark value?
Thanks in advance!
Lee |
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Charlie Hansen
From:
Halifax, NS Canada and Various Southern Towns.
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Posted 1 Jul 2018 2:00 pm
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I had a Sidekick which is basically the same thing. It's a pull/release changer, generally one knee lever. I could never get it in tune or keep it in tune but that's just me, others have probably had different experiences. Value $400 -$500 if it's in good shape. I think you can add knees but I never tried.
_________________
I don't know much but what I know I know very well.
Carter S-10 3X5, Peavey Nashville 112, plus Regal dobro and too many other instruments to mention.
Bluegrass Island CFCY FM 95.1 Charlottetown, PE, Canada, on the web at cfcy.fm.
A Touch Of Texas CIOE FM 97.5 Sackville, NS, Canada,
on the web at cioe975.ca. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 1 Jul 2018 6:13 pm
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The 'Barons and the (earlier) Sidekicks were bare bones "starter" steels, about as basic as you can get. They come in several different iterations, some with different (read: better) mechanics and finishes, but they can all be made tunable and playable. I know a lot of players would say to steer clear of them, but for the money Charlie quoted, they offer the bucks-up players a way to at least get their feet wet in the world of pedal-steel.  |
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Terry Winter
From:
Saskatchewan, Canada
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Posted 1 Jul 2018 6:38 pm
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| I had a Sidekick same as Charlie and had the same problems. Had a nice sound and played nice too but ever wandering out of tune....just a bit at a time. |
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Joe Cook
From:
Lake Osoyoos, WA
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Posted 1 Jul 2018 7:06 pm
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| I started out on a Red Baron and I found that I quickly outgrew its capabilities and the tuning issues were a constant problem. I did manage to sell it for what I paid and bought a MSA Classic XL which was a pro quality guitar. I was much happier! |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 1 Jul 2018 7:08 pm
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| My first pedal steel was a Red Baron -- a black one. Untunable and did not sound very good -- all the sustain of a marshmallow. It served its purpose for me by showing that I may actually be able to play one of those contraptions if I traded up to one that was tunable and sounded halfway decent. Which is exactly what I did, in short order. |
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