New concept guitar from MSA, featuring a resonator sim

[Ken Byng]

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

Thanks a lot Brad. I have put my video camera on charge and hope to make a video in the next few days. I brought that guitar, a D10 Carter and a D10 Zumsteel Giles-built cabinet all back after a Dallas Steel Show one year. Nearly corpsed me, as I hadn't long had a heart attack and wasn't at my strongest. I won't disclose exactly how much it cost, but the Hudsonator as he likes to call it cost me around the same as a student pedal steel. The Hudson resonator is really heavy. The cone sits in its own sealed chamber within the cabinet, and has 1 lever and two pedals. I am planning to make some mods to the Hudson's pedal mechanics, and get new aluminium endplates and pedal bar plus I have four chromed round legs for it. It could be quite a beastie when she's done.

[bradsteel]

Whilst I assume it was quite a while ago, I’m very sorry to hear of your health Ken. I hope you’re better now mate.

It sounds like you got a really good deal on the Hudson. You’ll know far more than I, but I’m not aware of any other pedal resonator in the UK(?) Can’t wait to hear it!

[Ken Byng]

Following an operation my ticker is fairly good thanks Brad. I still have issues caused by a weakened heart, but thank God it's still keeping me alive with the correct medication. I'm 71 now so I'm one of the old codgers on here. I have heard of someone with a Pedabro in the UK, but the owner doesn't want to make himself known and I will honour that, or he will be pestered by people wanting to buy it. I've been playing pedal steel since 1969 and it seems a lifetime ago now.

[bradsteel]

I’m glad you’re better now Ken - there’ll be many more years left of steeling in you yet! Wow, over 50 years of playing Ken; that’s incredible. I hope to have as much refinement when I’m 71 - and as beautiful a collection of steel guitars would be nice too!

Sounds like I’ll need 45 years of hard work mate!

[Ken Byng]

For those who may be interested, here is a pic of the Jerry Douglas dobro simulator unit, made by Fishman Aura. Fishman also manufactures a purpose built Powerbridge unit.

[bradsteel]

They look great Ken! I’ve just had a look at them online, and they’re not cheap

[hickenjr]

They look great Ken! I’ve just had a look at them online, and they’re not cheap

I don't think they work optimally with standard pedal steel pickups just to keep in mind.

They need a Piezo signal to sound this good according to Travis Toy on the below.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=352843

This is why MSA has pretty much nailed the sound compared to other dobro simulators because I believe they are using a Piezo system.
I could be wrong but I think the Marrs Cat Can dobro simulator used to do this too, unfortunately Jeff Surratt doesn't build the Show-Pro Catbro anymore. The Show Pro Catbro was a full E9 setup with pedals and kneelevers. I believe there is only 1 in existence and due to lack of demand and eventually lack of electronics he didn't proceed further with this.

The best thing about Ken's Hudson Pedal Resonator is that Piezo pickups are easily fit as with any acoustic instrument, this is much harder to achieve on a fully electric instrument which is why I take my hat off to MSA for this great achievement.

[Ken Byng]

There isn't much that's good and cheap Brad, especially in the musical equipment world. I asked Travis Toy about the difference between the Fishman Aura Spectrum DI box and the Jerry Douglas Fishman box. He reckoned that the Jerry Douglas box has 16 presets, whereas the Spectrum only has one resonator preset mode.

[Ken Byng]

They look great Ken! I’ve just had a look at them online, and they’re not cheap

I don't think they work optimally with standard pedal steel pickups just to keep in mind.

They need a Piezo signal to sound this good according to Travis Toy on the below.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=352843

This is why MSA has pretty much nailed the sound compared to other dobro simulators because I believe they are using a Piezo system.
I could be wrong but I think the Marrs Cat Can dobro simulator used to do this too, unfortunately Jeff Surratt doesn't build the Show-Pro Catbro anymore. The Show Pro Catbro was a full E9 setup with pedals and kneelevers. I believe there is only 1 in existence and due to lack of demand and eventually lack of electronics he didn't proceed further with this.

The best thing about Ken's Hudson Pedal Resonator is that Piezo pickups are easily fit as with any acoustic instrument, this is much harder to achieve on a fully electric instrument which is why I take my hat off to MSA for this great achievement.

I have got a couple of Schatten piezo units for my Hudson guitar Steven, but I haven't got them fitted. They fed back too easily when I tried them through a PA system, so I took them out. The Schatten piezo's had got very good reviews, and sound great at low volume.

[hickenjr]

They look great Ken! I’ve just had a look at them online, and they’re not cheap

I don't think they work optimally with standard pedal steel pickups just to keep in mind.

They need a Piezo signal to sound this good according to Travis Toy on the below.

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=352843

This is why MSA has pretty much nailed the sound compared to other dobro simulators because I believe they are using a Piezo system.
I could be wrong but I think the Marrs Cat Can dobro simulator used to do this too, unfortunately Jeff Surratt doesn't build the Show-Pro Catbro anymore. The Show Pro Catbro was a full E9 setup with pedals and kneelevers. I believe there is only 1 in existence and due to lack of demand and eventually lack of electronics he didn't proceed further with this.

The best thing about Ken's Hudson Pedal Resonator is that Piezo pickups are easily fit as with any acoustic instrument, this is much harder to achieve on a fully electric instrument which is why I take my hat off to MSA for this great achievement.

I have got a couple of Schatten piezo units for my Hudson guitar Steven, but I haven't got them fitted. They fed back too easily when I tried them through a PA system, so I took them out. The Schatten piezo's had got very good reviews, and sound great at low volume.

Handy to know mate, cheers!
You already know the score