My new to me MSA Classic SS

John French · Post by **John French** » 22 May 2023 5:03 pm

Here is my new to me MSA Classic SS Sustain II. This is the lightest pedal steel that I have ever picked up. It is perfect for brining the steel sound into our 1950 R&R Band. Now all I have to do is learn how to play it. Can anyone tell me when the Classic SS was introduced. Can you also tell me how I can tell if it has a plywood body or solid wood body.

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Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 22 May 2023 7:47 pm

It is solid wood, I'm not sure of the dates, but I think they were made from around 1980 to around 1985. I have a D10 SS now and have had 3 or 4 others, they are nice guitars.

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 May 2023 5:37 am

Get the Serial # and will date it..

John French · Post by **John French** » 23 May 2023 5:46 am

David thank you for helping. My serial number is 1C6529

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 May 2023 6:04 am

August 15, 1982
Looking in too when the SS was offered...

John French · Post by **John French** » 23 May 2023 7:58 am

Thank you David. It is hard to believe this guitar is 40 years old. It looks brand new. The pedals and knee levers work perfectly.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 23 May 2023 8:38 am

Unless I'm mistaken, only the Formica-covered guitars were made from dieboard (a superior grade of plywood).

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 23 May 2023 9:11 am

You’re welcome John. You have a great guitar !!!

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 23 May 2023 9:35 am

I had the twin of that guitar, including[if I am remembering correctly] the side cut off pedals.. Sold it to a young player in Virginia years ago... I wonder if it might be the same guitar?

They have solid maple bodies, and although most parts are the same as the MSA Classic guitars, the pull mechanism was not mounted into an aluminum frame.. They screwed everything into the maple body in a more Sho Bud like fashion. Never bonded with mine but it was quite a nice guitar from what I recall of it. bob

John French · Post by **John French** » 23 May 2023 10:40 am

Bob,

I am such a newbie, I do not fully understand what you are telling me. I will be more than happy to take a photo of the underside and post it, if that will help. Believe it or not, this guitar was found by a friend of mine. He had been asked to help clean out the house of an elderly gentleman that had passed away. One of the bedrooms was full of steel guitars. He knew I as looking for a rally light weight guitar and he came across this one. The older gentleman did not play, he just seemed to have purchased stock from a guitar shop that went out of business long ago. I know you can't tell it from the photo, but when I opened up the case I thought it was a brand new guitar. Only when I started researching the guitar did I find out the history. I liked the sound of it and the weight of so I paid $750 for the guitar and I think I got my money's worth.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 23 May 2023 10:50 am

Well, at only $750, you got a really great deal!

(That’s about one-third of the real value of that guitar.

)

^

John French · Post by **John French** » 23 May 2023 1:09 pm

Wow
That never happens to me.

John Palumbo · Post by **John Palumbo** » 23 May 2023 1:59 pm

Great looking guitar, Enjoy it!

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 23 May 2023 3:30 pm

Cool guitar! I almost bought the D-10 version from Mandolin Brothers in State Island back in the day.

5x4? What do the pedals do? E9 tuning?

David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 24 May 2023 3:27 am

John,SS guitars were designed in 77 but didn’t start building till 78.
You did get a Great deal on it!!

The color is Jamaican Brown...

John French · Post by **John French** » 24 May 2023 7:26 am

Frank,

Here is the lever and pedal layout for the guitar.

A raised B string to C#
B raises the G# to A
C raises E and B string whole step
D Lowes B strings half step
E Lowers F# half step

RKLR lowers the E D#
RKLL raises the E to F
LKLL raises F# to G
LKLL lowers the D and D# string half step

Bob

Here is the photo of the undercarriage of the guitar. I hope this help in determining if the is the twin to yours.

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