The Harlin Bros from Indianapolis, Indiana certainly have a legacy in the steel guitar community for their "Multichord guitar ".
They were innovators,businessmen,performers and teachers from what I have read.
It would be interesting to hear any personal stories from forum members who personally knew these trailblazers.
For example I would love to know how and where exactly the guitars were manufactured.
Kalina "Multi-KOrds" were manufactured for Harlin Brothers by Picketts machine shop in Fishers Indiana.
George, Jimmy, Win, Herb, & Jay were personally in their Hawaiian Pedal Steel Guitar Studio at 359 N. Illinois St. in Indianapolis when I was there from 1948 to 1954.
They were great people to work with and for. Two of the brothers Jimmy & George are not shown in the pictuere.
Jimmy was killed by Jay while the brothers were rabbit hunting together one Thanksgiving day in the 50's on a farm near St. Louis Crossing in southern Indiana.
A rabbit ran between Jay & Jimmy just as Jay fired his shotgun.
I was a student teacher for Harlins while in high school during that time.
I want to add that Jimmy Harlin not pictured played the Mirimba as part of their 4 piece Hawaiian band.
George didn't play an instrument as far as I know.
They also played in Vaudeville years ago.
Jay Harlin in the picture is seated behind his 15 pedal Multi-Kord. The pedals were arranged in two rows one above the other on the left end of the guitar.
It was specially made for Jay and the frame was on wheels and could not be folded up and put into a case like the M-K's that they sold.
I took a few lessons in the late 40s, from a man named Beidler "Lucky" Fry. Great player too. Anyway,he bought one of the Multi-Kord steels, which had three pedals, if I remember correctly, around 1950 (?)..
I am not saying they never made one with only 3 pedals, but all of the student model M-K's I have seen and owned had either 4 or 6 pedals, with either 6 or 8 strings.
They also made some double neck 6 & 8 string Multi-Kords, with 4 or 6 pedals, but the pedals were only on one neck.
I still have the Multi-Kord my father bought for me when I was 10 back in 1948. It has an all cast aluminum body.
The one I own that I played in bands since the early 60's is a 6 pedal 6 string with a wood body & mother of pearl white finish.
The all had airplane cables from the changer to the pedals, that often broke if you played them much.
I have done a lot of work on mine and converted it to use 3/16 inch stainless steel rods from the changer to the pedals eliminating the cable breakage problem.
The Harlin Bros. certainly seemed to be an innovative group. Here are photos from ELECTRIC GUITARS & BASES, A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY: George Gruhn & Walter Carter, Copyright 1994. Note that the Tuner Assembly was made by Harlin Brothers of Indianapolis.
This GRETCH ELECTROMATIC HAWAIIAN: c.1939, has a Tuner Assembly made by Harlin Bros.
Does anyone have an 8 string 6 pedal Harlin Brothers Multi Kord with both covers and in overall very good condition for sale. Can be bought outright or will trade a Sho Bud 3x1 with its natural birds eye maple finish and great tone.
Hi Danny, I wanted to tell you I recently bought a Multi Kord and to my surprise found many sheets of music arranged by the Harlin Brothers in 1935. Looks like they used it for their students they taught at the school you said you attended. I tried to attach a photo but not able to insert it. Please tell us the story behind this rare find.
Thanks Danny.
Gloria
Could you by chance try to post the Harlin Brothers sheet-music covers again? They would be interesting to see. Or perhaps a knowledgeable forum-member (not me, unfortunately) might be able to talk you through the photo-posting process?
These are some of the tablatures as arranged by the Harkin Brothers in 1935. I hope Danny James can see these as he said he went to the classes where the Harkins taught the Multi Kord. What I would like to know is the string gauge they used then, as having 3 pedals RAISE, the strings would break much easier, especially in PEDAL 1.
This was an exciting find for me after buying this 6 string 4 pedal Multi Kord and case for $200 off Craigslist.
Any info as to the sheet music/tablature would be great.
Thank you,
Gloria
Last edited by Gloria Baldwin on 17 May 2018 7:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Your right Erv. I couldn't read the bottom of picture #1 and thought it said arranged by the Harlin Brothers. I show that in my last picture which is written on all the music in pictures #2 and #3.
Looking at it again, it says "This arrangement copyright 1935 by Harlin Brothers". At the top of the page it says "Arranged by Crossroads Staff"
Anyway, not very knowledgeable about copyrights and it's wording, I was excited to find this music in pretty good shape after all this time.
Gloria
I see that several of the songs also include an E Tuning but do not show the PEDAL TUNING like the A
Major Tuning.
Does anyone know the PEDAL TUNING for an E major tuning?
Thank you for any suggestions.
Gloria
