MSA Vintage XL S10 setup

[James A Temple]

Does anyone know what the original factory setup would have been for my '81 MSA Vintage XL S10? It has 5 pedals and 4 knee levers. I am trying to get it back to original. Serial #1C6695 . Thanks in advance !

[Jim Pitman]

Do you see signs of pedal or lever mounting stops being repositioned like old screw holes visible?
Perhaps it is set up the way it came originally.
I would think you would want to standardize the copedent in any case so learning material is easier to decipher.
I think there are standard copedent charts somewhere on this SGF site.

[James A Temple]

This guitar setup has probably been changed many times since its birth so there is no trail of original setup so I just made it to play to my specifications. The copedent is really easy to change for experimental purposes. I added a zero pedal so it now has 6 pedals. I just thought maybe someone may know. Thanks for your reply !

[Bob Carlucci]

Setup on mine, from the factory,
store bought, NOT custom order,it was thusly-

pedal 123, standard Emmons setup
pedal 4 dropped string 2 down 1/2= useless and redundant
pedal 5 dropped 3 and 6 down 1/2 .. I think...
RKR- dropped 4 and 8 1/2
RKL-raised 4 and 8 1/2
LKL raised 1 up 1/2
LKR lowered 2 down a full step with a feel stop halfway - Eb-D-C#... forget the "factory" set up.. Most of the MSA factory guitars from that era were attacked with Allen wrenches within 10 seconds of seeing and hearing the factory setup, and as stated, most of those were changed, decades ago.. Put whats best for you on there.. easy to work on......bob

[James A Temple]

Hello Bob...that's exactly what I have with the exception pedal 4 is a half Franklin (5 & 6 lower) and LKR raises 1 & 7 to G.

I added a zero pedal that raises 1 to G# and 2 to E ( nice effect with A pedal that most have on knee lever).

Seems I do more tinkering than learning but I guess that's part of it..You are right, easy to work on !

Total of 6 pedals

Thanks for the info...Andy

[James A Temple]

Bob... After looking at your post more carefully my guitar knee setup is different.
LKL raises E's to F
LKR raises 1 & 7 to G
RKR lowers 2 to D then C# 9 to C#
with 1/2 stop feel
RKL lowers E's to D#

Thanks

[Donny Hinson]

Here's a link to the original owner's manual with the info you need:

https://www.steelguitar.com/manuals/MSA ... Manual.pdf

[Bob Carlucci]

What could the good folks at MSA Micro possibly have been thinking in those days?... They sent out thousands of MSA Classic S10 guitars, most with 5and 4 in those days.. and they send them out with a half tone 2nd string drop on pedal 4 which is already there on LKL, and a half tone raise on pedal 5 which is already there on pedal 2.. Thats what my MSA guitars came with I believe.... i thought it was a 1/2 drop on string 6 , but it was a raise which is totally useless,, I wonder WHY they shipped them that way, ....... bob

[James A Temple]

Thanks for manual... That's about a waste on pedal 4 & 5. We all set em up for what is our personal needs. I made a couple of changes:

Pedal 0 lowers 3 and 6 to G (minor)
1 -3 standard Emmons
Pedal 4 Franklin change
5 and 10 to A 6 to F#

LKL raises E's to F
LKR raises 1 & 7 to G
RKR lowers 2 to D-C# 9 to C# with 1/2 stop feel ( no mechanical stop and it works perfect )
RKL lowers E's to D#

Thanks for all Bob