Looks...

No doubt about it, the guitar is drop-dead gorgeous! Sporting more chrome than a '58 Buick, it literally "sparkles" like city lights on a clear night. (Their website photos really don't do it justice.) Even with the black C/F legs, it is still quite impressive.

Everybody's been wondering about the size & weight issue...

Well, packed up, it's a full 20 pounds lighter than a similarly-equipped MSA Classic, and almost 10 pounds lighter than a similarly-equipped Emmons P/P. It's also very compact...3" shorter, lengthwise, than the MSA Classic, and a full inch shorter than the Emmons P/P. Depth (front to back) is almost an inch less than the old Classic, and just slightly smaller (1/4") than the P/P. The Millenium is probably the smallest and lightest keyed guitar you can buy. Total carrying weight in the impressive Dell (flight-style) custom case is about 56 pounds. Lighter than most anything out there...but still substantial. It certainly won't "blow away" on a windy day.

The sound...

Nothing like the old MSA's! No...not even close. The sound is very reminiscent of the '60s vintage P/P's...slightly metallic, and with screaming "bell-like" highs. With the stock E66 pickup, think "Black Album" and you're pretty close...awfully close, as a matter of fact. The sustain and clarity up in "Hughey land" (above the 15th fret) are remarkable. Dance around at the 24th fret? No problem...the sound is there!

Mechanics, fit, and finish...

Mechanics are quite good (with only a couple minor adjustment problems that I took care of myself), and the fit and finish are excellent. Though I don't think they mention it on their website, the reason for the cabinet-mounted pedal height adjusters becomes obvious fast...the pedal rods are all the same length! No more fumbling with "which rod goes where"? The top rod-socket attachment takes some getting used to, though, and it will be a while before I break my 3-minute "from case-to-playing time" barrier of my old MSA. The pedal-board to leg snap-connectors are a joy. Snap-snap, and it's on. The knee levers are the most comfortable (contoured) design I've come across. Verticals have a nice wide paddle-type surface, too.

How does it play?

Very nice. Tuning is uncommonly stable...here's the proof. I tuned it up the Thursday before a Saturday/Sunday steel jam. I took it apart, cased it up, and drove 20 miles to the Jam. I set it up there, and just started playing. No retuning, no "touch-up", no nothing! It was "in". I did the same thing the following day, and never touched the keys or the tuners. So, if you want one that will really "stay in tune", this might well be your next guitar. It's not quite as quiet, mechanically, as I had anticipated. No doubt some of this is due to the low-mass body (which amplifies all those mechanical sounds just like it does all those musical ones), and some is due to the fact that I haven't really "fine-tuned" all the mechanics yet. (This process may take me several months.) Also, it's a very new guitar design, and improvements are still being made...they will get better in time, as all guitars do. From my own standpoint, a little noise is a small price to pay for the tuning stability and weight/size advantages. I haven't actually measured the hysteresis and cabinet drop, yet. Suffice it to say that they are "inaudible" to me.

Finally...is it really worth it?

Well, you'll have to decide that for yourself. I was in the market for a new steel, and have played the same MSA for 29 years. The old one never let me down, and I figured there was no good reason (other than saving money) for me to buy anything else. I wanted the best there is...period. Wait time was just over 5 months for mine, and the list price is the price. There'll probably be no "deals", no "dickering" with the price, as there is on other steels. If you want it...you gotta have the cash. My suggestion would be to save your coins and "load it up" if you're going to get one. Adding a crossrod for another pedal could be a major undertaking, as the entire undercarriage must be removed to do so. Also, the splits are tuneable at the end plate, so the end plates are modified for these splits. Be safe and just "split" something on both necks. That way, you'll always have the capability right at hand. Choose the E66 pickups if you like the classic "Emmons sound", or the BL-710 if you want something just a little fuller. Also, be advised that this thing will never sound like the old MSA's, regardless of what pickup you use. Should you have any other questions about the guitar, or my deal, feel free to e-mail me. All in all, I think they've got a "winner" with this new guitar, and others (much more capable than me) are beginning to think so, too.

Lastly, my guitar was "paid in full" before it was shipped! Though my wait-time was a couple months longer than had been projected, I never had any doubt I'd get my guitar.

I thought I would clarify your comment on additional crossrods. If you decide to add an additional crossrod to your Millennium, we offer a telescoping crossrod kit that you can install in a matter of minutes with no need for removing the undercarriage. The carriage is already predrilled and bushed on all Millenniums for this kit.
Thanks for the good report on your new D10. It was a pleasure to work with you.

quote:

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With the stock E66 pickup, think "Black Album" and you're pretty close...awfully close, as a matter of fact.

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With all due respect, I highly doubt it...

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Frank Estes - 1978 Emmons D-10 8+7 #2441D

Now sing after me: (in a yiddish accent)

"If I were a RICH man...dya di da di dya di... etc."

Enjoy...you deserve it! Merry Christmas!

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SONNYPRIDDY

quote:

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Where Is All The Chrome? Black Legs,Pedal Board. Don't See Much Chrome.

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Well Vernon, I have a set of the chrome legs on the way...they weren't ready to be delivered when I got the guitar, though. As for the chrome, well...the necks (sides, frets, pickup doors, and pickup surrounds) are chromed, the keyheads are chromed, the keys are chromed, the changer pillow and back-blocks are chromed, and the end-plates are chromed.

Also, they do offer a "polished" (aluminum?)pedalboard, if you really want one (which I did not).

Gary Lee, thank you for the compliment. I'm decent (read..."very commercial") on E9th, but don't have anywhere near your knowledge or skills on C6th. And Curry, well...he's "monster class" on both necks, in my book! Everybody else (Paul, Gene, Rick, Jeff, et al), thanks for the "flowers".

Bobby...you're right about Buddy, he does have that "Emmons' sound" on just about anything!

Frank...'ya gotta hear it to appreciate it.

Let me know where you are.Things are too quiet since your'e gone.

Thanks again for your generosity. I really
appreciate it.

Merry Christmas to you and Mrs.

Actually, in all honesty, I know that there's a lot of players that use the Emmons as a benchmark...that's why I brought it up. As long as a player is happy with what he's playin', and he sounds good, I don't care what brand he's (or she's) playing. I also realize that, along with logic and finance, there's a lot of emotion involved when buying a guitar, too.

Personally, I feel that "how you play" is more important than "what you play", but that may put me in the minority around here...wouldn't be the first time!

Perhaps he is writing some new material
I'll give him a holler for ya.

He may be on to something that I overlooked.
Maybe his life is like an "Orchard" and you remember what Carl Smith sang about "Orchids"

Anyhow, someone asked "what makes it worth 6 grand?" I'm certainly no expert, but I do know that titanium and molded carbon-fiber composites are very expensive! Just go out and price a good carbon-fiber fishing rod (which is little more than a "stick" of this material), and you'll likely pay a couple hundred dollars. Look at a titanium-head driver (golf club), and you'll pay even more. These are "space-age" materials, and though they're not that new, they're still very expensive. As a matter of fact (aside from the avionics), they're one of the main reasons that the F-117 stealth fighter plane costs 44 million dollars. The fighter's structure is almost completely titanium and carbon fiber.

Sure, 6 grand is a lot of cash, but I don't buy a steel every few years...like some players do. There's a lot of work, and parts, in a steel, and when you make it from exotic materials...well, the price has to go up accordingly. I have a nephew that has an $8000 toolbox...and that didn't include any tools, either! Nothing "exotic", it's just sheet metal and paint, with a couple aluminum extrusions added here and there, and 4 wheels. He got what he wanted...good for him!

If anyone out there thinks this guitar's not worth it, well...that's okay with me. I thought it was, so I bought one...and it's paid for, thank God. I just knew I didn't want to be sitting around somewhere in 5 or 10 years saying "Gee, I should'a bought one!"

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 17 December 2002 at 10:10 AM.]