NGD: 70’s MSA Classic D10 Certified FRESH

[Tyler Coleman]

We get to put the “New” in New Gear Day in a fun way today my friends!

I recently purchased an MSA CS10 as my first steel and began restoring it after many years in somebody’s dusty basement. As these things tend to go, another great deal showed up a week later and I couldn’t resist the chance to get a crack at a C6 neck. Little did I know that the D10 appears to have been played very little or kept immaculately clean — I’ve looked at hundreds of steels online over the past few months and even with my limited experience doubt I’ve seen any as untouched-looking as this one. It was definitely set up and left for a very long time as the strings are absolutely disgusting and there is some dusty buildup in the hardware.

In addition to the clean steel, the case and hardware are also exceptionally spotless (degraded foam doesn’t count!), and the “candy” included an original MSA manual and 70’s catalog as well as original bill of sale for some of the hardware from April of ‘74. I was further blown away while unboxing the thing to find two fully intact knee lever kits and a new but unused (vertical?) lever. These were not included in the seller’s description and I had already resigned myself to finding vintage or suitable replacement parts.

Questions for the experts:
-I plan to attempt every style of music I can learn on this thing from classical to Curly covers and everything in-between, especially jazz and Western swing. Should/can I complete the 8x5 setup with standard ABC and a five pedal swing cluster on 4-8?
-I’m also intrigued by a G# lower but I believe I’ll have to purchase another vert or compromise a pedal change to achieve that.
-The steel’s SN is 2C1723 and appears to have been sold to its original owner by Duluth’s Associated Music around April 1974. I asked for info in another thread and got Donny’s best estimate but if there is a listing from one of the MSA guys I’d love to know the exact manufacture date.
-Have never seen these DeArmond pickups related to steels. Were they popular at one point? The electronics work fine. May have recouped about 25% of the guitar’s cost by finding the Rhythm Chief in this case!
-Care tips based on the appearance. I plan to restring, clean the changers and rollers, and oil everything when I set it up.
-Throw any other advice at me you might have. I’d like to set the copedant and commit to it for a period before I try any more major adjustments.


Thanks in advance for your help and for the advice and information I’ve learned here the last few months.

[Bruce Coffman]

Well, SOMEBODY had a pretty good Friday The 13th! For some reason the phrase “museum quality” comes to mind. Color me insanely jealous…

Bruce

[David Wren]

Hey Tyler, that is exactly like my 2nd PSG, and I played it for 25 years.... then I met Bud Carter... and in an instant decided if I was still playing a PSG he built 25 years ago, I better get another one... and I did, a custom blonde U-12, and played that guitar for another 20 years.

Have some fun, those early MSAs are built like tanks, and the single pole pickups just sound awesome!
Enjoy!

[Bobby D. Jones]

That is a great find, Like new, No smoke, No bangs or scars. And those 2 knee lever kits in packaging are real antiques.

A great find, But it may take some work, To get the guitar set up and playable. The White Lithium Grease MSA used in the 1970's, In the changers over 50 years has hardened. Looks like Tan paint, Not grease.

I owned MSA D10 white drift wood formica. Ser. No. 2C 4331. The guitar had set for awhile. In June 2023 I had to remove both changers and clean the hardened grease out of both changers. To get the guitar to tune up proper.

I would suggest both changers be pulled and cleaned. And the nut rollers be removed, cleaned and lubed to cut down on problems, Doing a setup on the guitar.
If you want to talk about this project, Send me an e mail with phone number and time to call.
Good Luck on this project, Happy Steelin.