Questions about an old Marlen

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 2 Sep 2003 7:13 am

A friend of mine who trades in vintage guitars got a hold of a Marlen Single 8 with 4 pedals. The thing is beautiful and in near mint condition, I may even buy it from him. On the bottom is some tape that says Model 1-8 Serial 196680. I would assume that "1966" in the serial number is telling. Can anybody give more details on this? I know Marlens are relatively rare, but an S8?

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 2 Sep 2003 8:39 am

I don't know anything about it, but it sounds like a really cool antique. One of those things to pull out once a year or so for a very traditional country show.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
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Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 2 Sep 2003 8:41 am

Hey Chris does this Marlen have a metal plate on the front apron that just says "Marlen"??
Yes this is very rare and one of Leonards very first designs being an 8-string.
I've only seen one before.....so I'm just not up on them.
If you have a picture of the top and end and bottom.....I may be able to help more.
Ricky

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 2 Sep 2003 4:18 pm

Ricky, it has a metal plate with the name, a "bas relief" for lack of a better term. I'll have pix by tomorrow, it really is striking.

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 2 Sep 2003 7:02 pm

Just got emailed the pix.

[This message was edited by Chris DeBarge on 02 September 2003 at 08:05 PM.]

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 3 Sep 2003 4:14 am

I don't get it, I'll try html...

<img>http://users.rcn.com/openbar/Marlen%20a ... /img>[This message was edited by Chris DeBarge on 03 September 2003 at 05:15 AM.]

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 3 Sep 2003 4:23 am

[img]http://users.rcn.com/openbar/marlen%20b.jpg[img]
For some reason those links won't work, it must be something to do with the space in the link, you can go here:
http://users.rcn.com/openbar/
then scroll down and click on the pics.[This message was edited by Bill Moore on 03 September 2003 at 05:27 AM.]

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 3 Sep 2003 8:15 am

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Ok got the pics to image....Looks great.
So Chris; what do you wanna know about this Steel???
Ricky[This message was edited by Ricky Davis on 03 September 2003 at 09:18 AM.]

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 3 Sep 2003 8:21 am

Weird about those links, that's my webspace by the way if anybody is, um, inquisitive. "nothing to see here, move it along..."

Ricky, the usual stuff: vintage, collectability, value, any neat stories. Really want to plug it in!

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 3 Sep 2003 8:48 am

Wow, that is real pretty, very much like the D10 that Bert Rivera played with Hank Thompson in the 60's!!

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 3 Sep 2003 6:11 pm

It's cool!

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Rick McDuffie
Marlen SD-10, Sho-Bud Professional S-10, Paul Reed Smith McCarty, Hofner New President, Fernandes LE2G
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Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 4 Sep 2003 12:18 pm

Hey Chris,
If you pass on that thing, let me know.
Do you ever get up to Portland?

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 4 Sep 2003 9:47 pm

Sorry Chris; I forgot to check back in on this Thread.
Well this is VERY vintage...as Marlen only made 8-string pedal steels in the inception of the Marlen Co.
And then they changed the Logo in the later 60's...
I say they; as the name MAR-LEN is from (I'm sorry I forget the mans name right now..ha..it's late and my brain is jello>>Ken you out there??) and LEN is for Leonard.
Well MAR...?? was the designer of this 8-string pedal steel and the guitars changed design very shortly after that......>so to me; this is a very rare and collectable Vintage pedal steel.....>but I'm one of only a handful of guys that know these stories....>so that infact makes the guitar worthless in vintage value...because they were not sought after then....so they're not sought after now.
It's a shame because they were wonderful guitars...and the Marlen to me....is the perfect mixture of the two greatest pedal steel sounds every made>(Sho~Bud & Emmons).
So to me the sound is Priceless....but I'm sure who ever is selling it or who ever bought it; only paid a weeks salary for it...>so you can't sell it or buy it for a Years salary....>eventhough it's worth the same as 15 Emmons and 15 Shobuds...in heritage and Sound and looks.
That's all I know(well that's all I can say on this Forum..ah...ha>the rest of the stories are going to my grave with me).
Ricky

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 5 Sep 2003 4:55 am

Chris,

Man, I wouldn't take anything for the 1970 (plus or minus) Marlen SD-10 that Ricky Davis restored for me. I just played that guitar (with the band) for the first time last night, and all I can say is "WOW"! I can't stop thinking about it this morning. It sounds wonderful, and puts everything else I've owned to shame. At this point, I'd buy every Marlen I could get my hands on- as long as Ricky's available to work on them for me

Rick

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 5 Sep 2003 6:09 am

Thanks Ricky and Rick, I'll post more pictures later.

Sorry Carty, haven't gotten up there in a couple years anyways.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 5 Sep 2003 7:17 am

The "Mar" was Marvin Hudson, a great guy who passed away a few years ago.

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Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Sep 2003 7:21 am

If memory serves me correctly, the center two digits of the serial number (reversed) is the year of manufacture, so your 196680 would indeed be a '66 model.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 5 Sep 2003 7:38 am

Thanks Brother Herb; I knew it was Marvin...but couldn't jostle the brain.
Thanks Rick for your kind words and LOVE of the Marlen pedal Steel and you got a good one my friend.
Here's a Look.

.........Chris I'd like to see pictures underneath of that one if possible pal.

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Ricky Davis

My Homepage
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Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 6 Sep 2003 5:17 am

Workin' on that Ricky. From what I remember, nothing remarkable about the underside, other than it looking like it was built last week. Stay tuned...

Chris DeBarge · Post by **Chris DeBarge** » 12 Sep 2003 5:50 am

OK, here's the pic of the bottom.

I checked it out further at his house the other night, guess what? After tuning just 2 strings(this thing hasn't been played in decades) I find that it's a C6 setup! I think I'm going to pass on this, mostly due to lack of space. Do you think that the original builders have any interest in getting this back? Or some sort of Marlen "historian"? Otherwise (unfortunately) I think my friend wants to put it on ebay. Thanks guys!

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 12 Sep 2003 7:13 am

Chris; thanks for the underneath shot.
Unfortunately...there is no more Marlen Company after Leonard Stadler passed away...>so there's nobody there that would want it. I however would Like it....as I consider myself a Marlen Historian..ah..ha...and this one is certainly a piece of History in my mind> How much?
Ricky

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 12 Sep 2003 7:52 am

WOW!! I had a 1974 SD10 that looed just like that one. Leonard built it for me May 4, 1974 and I loved it. Unfortunately, it was stolen a year or so ago while it was supposedly on the way back to me in Nashville from Phoenix AZ. The serial number is 174791. If anyone ever spots it I sure would appreciate hearing about it. Thanks.
Gere

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 12 Sep 2003 12:47 pm

Hi Gere.
Do you have any pictures of your Marlen that got stolen?
Any info you can give would be good.
Like how many knees did it have?
When Leonard made it for you; was it made as a D-10 and then parts for the C6th neck taken off...or did he make it as a Single-10 on a double body?
Did you ever get a claim on it(your money back from the shipping co.?) and did you file a stole property report with the Law?
Thanks pal.
Ricky

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 15 Sep 2003 7:55 am

Ricky, Leonard built my Marlen as a single 10 on double frame with the inside padded in kind of tan just like that picture shows. About in the center of the padding there was a screw or bolt or something sort of protruding up a little bit. Not exposed but you could see and feel it. It had the switch for the double tap pickup. The only picture I have is a side view of me sitting at the steel with a Boss Tone plugged in to it. The serial number is 174791. I never got a dime out of the airlines (Northwest). They refused to even talk to me about it, just said they were not liable. If you hear anything I sure would appreciate being told about it. My email is gerep64@hotmail.com or gerep64@wmconnect.com. Thank you. By the way it had 3 pedals and 3 levers, 2 left and one right.And it was Day setup.
Gere[This message was edited by Gere Mullican on 15 September 2003 at 08:58 AM.]

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 16 Sep 2003 2:35 pm

Lo and behold... when I checked the serial no. on my Marlen, it matches the one Gere posted. This guitar was purchased at an "Unclaimed Baggage" store in North Alabama, and passed through the hands of two other people before I got it. Gere has indicated that he just wants our help in getting the airline to settle with him, so the 3 of us (that have owned the guitar since he lost it) are going to share receipts, etc. to help him strengthen his case with the airline. Gere has been very appreciative and gracious, and hopefully this will have a good, positive outcome for all concerned!

Rick