LED Fretboards by MSA

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 15 Feb 2014 6:39 pm

MSA will introduce "Lfrets" at the Dallas show in March. We have designed a new fretboard system with back-lit LED lighting. The system is battery operated with variable intensity control. It's now available on all 2014 MSA Pedal Steels and SuperSlides. We will also offer a retrofit system in all scales for other brand steels. More details soon...

The Lfrets fretboard pictured above was taken in a pitch black room.

Wayne Neal · Post by **Wayne Neal** » 16 Feb 2014 12:35 am

Awsome

...I wondered why no one done this before...how will they attach to the neck? And will they work on the old MSA classic?

Alvin Douglas · Post by **Alvin Douglas** » 16 Feb 2014 5:52 am

I wonder how long it will be before someone figures out how to make an led tuner that is built into the guitar? Wouldn't it be clever if this led fretboard was capable of a tuning mode and would change color .......well you know.

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 16 Feb 2014 6:55 am

Wayne,
The retrofit Lfret boards attach with Velcro or double-sided tape, depending on the user preference. Yes, they will work on older MSA's.

Wayne Neal · Post by **Wayne Neal** » 16 Feb 2014 9:11 am

Thank you Mr. Bennett. Just say when we can buy them!

Bill Duncan · Post by **Bill Duncan** » 18 Feb 2014 7:32 am

I want two!

Bobby Bowman · Post by **Bobby Bowman** » 18 Feb 2014 2:17 pm

Are these available in 24" and or 24 1/4 scales or whatever scale?
BB

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 18 Feb 2014 2:35 pm

Will they adhere to the new MSA fretboards with the 3-D frets?

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 18 Feb 2014 2:59 pm

Bobby,
Lfrets will be available in 22 1/2", 24" and 24 1/4" scales.

Mike,
Yes, Lfrets will adhere to your 3-D fret board.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 18 Feb 2014 3:47 pm

Kyle will they actually be available at Show,or just being demonstrated?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 18 Feb 2014 3:56 pm

How much will they cost?

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 18 Feb 2014 4:38 pm

Malcolm,
We will have a 2014 Legend D-10 equipped with Lfrets for sale at the Dallas show. We will also have a SuperSlide S12 on display with Lfrets and we will have the retrofit system on display as well. We are already in production on the factory installed Lfret System. However, the retrofit will not be available until mid April.

Mike,
We will provide all of the details, including price, very soon on our website. We will be taking orders for the retro system at the Dallas show.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 18 Feb 2014 5:11 pm

Interested as well in the led fretboard.... My Classic S10 has the silk screened "fretboard", and I have never been a fan of those.. Hard to see in some conditions...
bob

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 18 Feb 2014 9:57 pm

Alvin Douglas wrote:I wonder how long it will be before someone figures out how to make an led tuner that is built into the guitar? Wouldn't it be clever if this led fretboard was capable of a tuning mode and would change color .......well you know.

Alvin, Gibson has installed a tuner and six servo motors. The guitars with this rig can tune, automatically, to several preset tunings.

And this LED fretboard thing is nothing new. One of the finest steel guitar players around, Brother Joe Turner, has had 'em in his fretboard for years.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 18 Feb 2014 11:07 pm

I once embedded LEDs in the centers of the atoms on an Emmons fretboard. This is cooler though, because the whole fret lights up.

Kyle, how is the fretboard powered?

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 19 Feb 2014 5:14 am

Bob,
The Lfrets boards are powered by a small, 12v rechargable battery pack. Each board will run 40+ continuous hours per charge. The system comes with a smart charger that will recharge the system in about an hour.

Junior Knight · Post by **Junior Knight** » 19 Feb 2014 9:39 am

I can't wait for my new MSA SD-12 w/led fretboards..this will be sooooooooooooooo kool!!!
OH by the way...Bb is where its at!

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 21 Feb 2014 7:15 am

Here are some new pics of the MSA Lfrets installation on a new MSA Legend D10.

Normal Lighting

Lftrets Lighting

Lfrets Intensity Control and Power Indicator

memphislim · Post by **memphislim** » 21 Feb 2014 8:32 am

Maybe the coolest thing ever!

Will there be different style boards for different model guitars or will they all have the MSA chess pieces?

What is the projected price point?

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 21 Feb 2014 8:42 am

Yes, we will offer different style fret markers, especially on the retro boards. Prices will be available on our wedsite soon.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 21 Feb 2014 9:48 am

Do they pulse in time to the music? That would be so cool!

memphislim · Post by **memphislim** » 21 Feb 2014 9:54 am

Sounds like a distraction to me.

Palmer · Post by **Palmer** » 23 Feb 2014 1:14 pm

Kyle,will they work on a Classic SS ? Thanks, Jack Palmer.

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 23 Feb 2014 1:38 pm

Palmer,
Yes, the retrofit Lfrets System will work on the Classic SS. We will offer retro boards to accommodate most of the major brand steels in several scales.

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 23 Feb 2014 2:05 pm

Looking forward to seeing them in Texas. Just a few weeks away!

The Steel Guitar Forum

LED Fretboards by MSA

LED Fretboards by MSA

New MSA fret boards