New concept guitar from MSA, featuring a resonator sim

[Ken Byng]

The concept of the D10 pedal steel is under threat, as is the SD10 and S10 guitar. MSA have just completed their long awaited Tour Pro Pedal steel, which I feel could be a real game changer for those folks who want a new guitar. It has the incredible Fishman Aura dobro simulator built into the rear 6 string neck. Even to my aging ears the sound of that rear neck is an exact facsimile of a resonator guitar. Here are links to the MSA site, and a clip of Travis Toy playing this new model.

https://www.facebook.com/MSAsteelguitar ... 3132/?t=20

https://msapedalsteels.com/tour-pro-legend-ten-six

[hickenjr]

Wish they'd hook up 10 strings and mechanics to the back neck. Definitely sounds very realistic.

[U_twelve]

Why do you need ten strings & pedals Steven. Didn't seem to bother Travis none!

[Ken Byng]

6 or 8 strings are sufficient. I have the middle 6 strings from an E9 tuning on my pedal resonator and it works fine. I do agree though that a couple of pedals and levers on the MSA would be great.

[bradsteel]

This looks very very good! But I agree, shame there’s no pedals on the back neck - they sound beautiful on resonator guitars.

We could do with one of these! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gT3uo_2LpGo

[hickenjr]

Why do you need ten strings & pedals Steven. Didn't seem to bother Travis none!

Travis is a pedal steel guitar prodigy, future legend, and also an excellent musician at many other instruments including dobro.

I'm not.

[Dave Nutt]

I’ve been watching the progress with this, it’s a big leap forward and sure ($ allowing) it’s going to be ‘hot cakes’ time.
Twill be interesting to see if and when one arrives over here (go for it Ken) don’t worry about your pedal resonator, I’ll take that of your hands.
At the moment I’m enjoying my Sheffield, a great guitar made in UK by a great guy.

Ken let me know when I need to come down to take your old reso off you.
Stay safe lads
Dave.

[Ken Byng]

I’ve been watching the progress with this, it’s a big leap forward and sure ($ allowing) it’s going to be ‘hot cakes’ time.
Twill be interesting to see if and when one arrives over here (go for it Ken) don’t worry about your pedal resonator, I’ll take that of your hands.
At the moment I’m enjoying my Sheffield, a great guitar made in UK by a great guy.

Ken let me know when I need to come down to take your old reso off you.
Stay safe lads
Dave.

It's a bit on the heavy side Dave so I'd better not risk your health having to carry it, so I'll leave it in my studio. I think at $8,000 that most potential buyers will be considering very carefully whether to lay that kind of money out mate. I have an MSA Legend, and a Fishman Aura Jerry Douglas simulator on its way. I'll see how I get on with that.

[Ken Byng]

This looks very very good! But I agree, shame there’s no pedals on the back neck - they sound beautiful on resonator guitars.

We could do with one of these! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gT3uo_2LpGo

I should have pointed out in my post immediately above concerning the cost of 8,000 dollars that this is the cost of the new guitar from MSA and not of my Pedal reso.

Brad - the Franklin Pedabro is an awesome instrument. BUT it costs telephone numbers even if you can track a used one down. I have always felt that there must be a way that a good authentic dobro sound can be obtained from a conventional pedal steel, and it looks as though MSA has developed a solution. My Hudson resonator guitar is nowhere near the build quality of the Franklin, but it works and at a fraction of the cost of a Franklin. The changer on mine is situated at the opposite end to the playing hand and the machine head assy is at the cone end. This greatly reduces the downward pressure on the roller bridge of the cone, thus in turn substantially reducing detuning of the guitar. Franklin Snr got around the detuning problem by introducing individual set string tubes to take the strain of pedalled and tensioned strings. The flame of the maple of my cabinet takes some beating.

Last edited by Ken Byng on Mon May 25, 2020 12:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[bradsteel]

Wow Ken that’s incredible - I’m very jealous! Do you have any audio/ video? Would love to hear it mate!