Help needed on MSA

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 12 Sep 2003 1:23 am

A friend of mine has an MSA semi classic which doesn't have a lever to lower the E's.
Having only worked on Emmons guitars I'm not sure where to start.Any suggestions?There are not too many steel guitar mechanics in Australia.
Regards Brendan

Michael Brebes · Post by **Michael Brebes** » 12 Sep 2003 6:30 am

Look in Links/Steel Vendors.
You'll find "MSA Style Parts(Randy Raemer)".
Hope that helps.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 12 Sep 2003 6:45 am

WARNING: There have been many posts in the past about people not getting their parts and losing money to Randy Reimer. I'm surprised that b0b hasn't removed his link yet.

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 12 Sep 2003 7:23 am

Think nothing of it Michael, but ABSOLUTELY to what Jim Smith said. I too have seen those many posts.
If it were me I'd drop an e-mail to MSA & see if they could steer me the right direction: http://www.msapedalsteels.com/
Hope you find the parts you need.

John Fabian · Post by **John Fabian** » 12 Sep 2003 8:00 am

You could have a local machinist copy the necessary parts or do it yourself.

MSA Semi-Classics have the same double raise/double lower scissor fingers as those installed in the Classic models, but the plate in the tuning window is only drilled for single raise/ single lower. Accessing the second raise or lower positions is a simple operation you can perform with a hand held drill.

To add the knee lever parts, simply unscrew the 6 screws on the outer back panel, add the necessary parts, replace the outer back panel and then rod and adjust the new knee lever(s).

John Fabian

BTW, we are working with one of our vendors to source these types of basic MSA parts. However, I seriously doubt happen before first quarter of 2004.
[This message was edited by John Fabian on 12 September 2003 at 09:01 AM.]

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 12 Sep 2003 9:02 am

John- A great idea! There are a lot of MSA older guitars out there designed and built by Bud Carter......al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 12 Sep 2003 9:37 am

Steelguitar Nashville lists "some" MSA parts on their website.
JE:-)>

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 12 Sep 2003 12:12 pm

I rebuilt a Semi Classic about a year ago and drilled the extra holes as John suggested. It had two knee levers, I added two more and drilled the mounting holes for a vertical should it be needed in the future. It made a really nice lightweight single neck guitar which played and sounded really good.

David Parker in San Antonio was making MSA parts. I've lost his email address, maybe someone else has it. He sent me a sample of some of his parts and they were really nice.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Jeff A. Smith · Post by **Jeff A. Smith** » 13 Sep 2003 10:59 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>John Fabian:

BTW, we are working with one of our vendors to source these types of basic MSA parts. However, I seriously doubt happen before first quarter of 2004.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Great news!

Jeff

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 14 Sep 2003 1:01 am

Thanks for your replys
Would I be right calling this guitar a push pull ? Only I had it in my head MSA were all pull.
Regards Brendan[This message was edited by Brendan Mitchell on 14 September 2003 at 02:02 AM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 14 Sep 2003 7:44 am

Your friend's MSA is all pull.

[This message was edited by Jim Smith on 14 September 2003 at 08:44 AM.]

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 15 Sep 2003 6:39 pm

Thanks again
Brendan

Jerry Erickson · Post by **Jerry Erickson** » 15 Sep 2003 7:07 pm

Check with Tom Bradshaw also. I'm pretty sure his email address is in the links under vendors. I bought some parts from him earlier this year for an MSA that I'm working on.

Cairo Zoots · Post by **Cairo Zoots** » 15 Sep 2003 9:39 pm

David Parker was llopar@swbell.net a coupla years ago.

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