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Topic: Marlen? |
Richard Shelley
From:
Denver, CO, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2009 10:56 am |
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I'm considering buying a Marlen, but have absolutely zero experience with them. Any suggestions, opinions, critiques?
Thanks! |
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Charles Campbell
From:
Avon,Indiana, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2009 3:53 pm Marlen
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Richard,
You might try, Tony Arrowood or Arnet Mills, both play Marlens, and are forum members.
Charles |
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Doug Palmer
From:
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 1 Mar 2009 6:54 pm Marlen gtrs
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Richard, I have worked on many of them and have had positive results. The guitars are as stable as a tank. They sound great and I've never seen any better cabinet work.
Finding exact replacement parts might be a problem.
Doug
_________________
Emmons D-10, ST-10,LD-10 III, NV-112,Fender Deluxe Reverb. Authorized wholesale dealer musicorp.com! |
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Alan Rudd
From:
Ardmore, Oklahoma
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Posted 1 Mar 2009 7:24 pm
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| I would highly recommend Marlen. I have an SD 10 that I love. |
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Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
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Posted 1 Mar 2009 9:49 pm
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| A good friend on mine owned a Marlen, and he was thoroughly pleased with it. I tried at his home while, visting and was quite impressed with the smoothness of the action on it. Tommy |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 2 Mar 2009 7:37 am
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Richard,
If you decide on a Marlin, I would recommend one of the all pull models over the pull/release models.I played an all pull Marlin that a friend has for sale and it was very stable, sounded great,good pedal action. Mr. Stadler (sp) built a very good guitar. The all pull model is easier to change setups.
JMHO...Bill
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 2 Mar 2009 9:57 am
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| Avoid the flimsy-crude '60s models, and keep in mind that even the later pull/release models are rather limited compared to most all-pulls made since about 1970. They're fine if you want a simple instrument with a pretty cabinet, but IMHO a rather poor choice if you intend to do lots of upgrades and additions (like "Crawford cluster" levers). The few all-pull models they made are probably far more practical for most players. |
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Bob Moore
From:
N. Rose, New York
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Posted 2 Mar 2009 4:35 pm Marlin
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| I have a Marlen D10 that I love. Beautiful cabinet and plays very well. I am not a pro but I love the sound that it gives. I would not trade. I got it here on the forum. Love it. Bob |
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J. Michael Robbins
From:
Dayton, OH now in Hickory, NC
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Posted 2 Mar 2009 11:07 pm
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Richard,
I have a 1980 Marlen D-10 which I bought from a local player in 1998. I love it. It is an all-pull. I met Leonard Stadler soon after I bought it. He was very helpful in getting it back into playing condition. He was a beautiful man and is sorely missed.
Mike Robbins
_________________
1970 Marlen D-10, 1971 Professional, 1973 Pro II, 1977 Marlen D-10, 1978 Marlen D-10, 1980 Marlen D-10
Last edited by J. Michael Robbins on 11 Nov 2010 11:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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frank rogers
From:
usa
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Posted 3 Mar 2009 10:50 am
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| I've been playing my mid 70's Marlen since 1975. It has served me well. Pix and clips @ link below. |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 3 Mar 2009 11:02 am
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If you buy that Marlen, you will know you have truly ARRIVED when you make it sound as sweet as Frank Rogers' blue Marlen. It is one of the finest sounding steel guitars I've ever heard. Frank's playing probably has something to do with it though.
And Frank's is a pull-release mechanism. Seems to work well for him.
And Mike is right, Len Stadler was a prince of a man and a brilliant pedal steel designer and maker.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12 |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 3 Mar 2009 11:55 am
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| Im my humble opinion, the pull-release system, regardless of manufacturer, is inherently better tone-wise than all-pull systems, because of it's simplicity. |
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Rick Winfield
From:
Pickin' beneath the Palmettos
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Posted 6 Mar 2009 9:17 am 73 marlen
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I once had a 73 Marlen D10 pull-release system.
It took me a while to figure out how the changer worked, but once i did, I had "tone to the bone"
never broke strings, stayed in tune.
But.... my poor spine could not handle lugging around the 70+ lbs it weighed in the case !
but again, it had that classic tone !
Rick |
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Stephen Gregory
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Posted 7 Mar 2009 7:51 pm
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Interesting, in light of the "push-pull" "all pull" debate  |
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Skip Cole
From:
North Mississippi
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Posted 8 Mar 2009 2:51 pm
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I have to agree that Tony Arrowood and Arnett Mills have the best tone, to my ears, that i've heard on Youtube so far. Both those guys have a great touch with the steel.
Skip |
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Frank Allen
From:
Dayton, Ohio, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2009 8:27 am My Marlen
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Hi! I'm new to the group and new to Pedal Steels. I just picked up a 1971 Marlen D10. Very much rode-hard and put-away wet. After tweaking the electronics and tuning pedal 1 and 2, I starting playing the big fella and I am now in love. It is going to be a while before she is ready for club play (78 lbs! oy!) but I'm aways away my self, so we can grow together. I wanted to thank everyone for the information posted above. It was the utube of the tone-rich marlens that made me take the flyer on this axe. But I'm half musician and half mechanic and follow the rule "If you can do no good, at least do no harm." Sorry for the long post. Once I get the old girl cleaned up, I post some pics.
_________________
D10 Marlen, Gibson Ripper fretless, Alverez Yari Classical, Yamaha CP-60M Piano |
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Dave Simonis
From:
Stevens Point, WI USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2009 5:58 pm MarLen
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Frank,
If you want to sweeten the sound up a bit, have Jerry Wallace rewind the pickup! I sent him mine (the output was somewhat weak) and put it back on after he returned it...wow was all I can say! My pull-release sounds sooo good, I am having a hard time thinking about selling it (I have 3 steels but told the wife I'd only keep 2!). Truthfully the guitar now sounds much more warmer than my Pro-II ever did. Enjoy the guitar, regardless of what folks hate about pull-release...they have their place in the steel world.
_________________
Dave Simonis
Fiddle: Zeta, Arthur Conner, many others.../Steel: GFI SD-10 Ultra.../Mandolin: Breedlove.../Guitar: Gibson, Fender, Taylor.../Amps: Peavey NV112, Evans FET 500.../Others: Hilton, Goodrich, Stereo Steel, Pendulum Pre-amp... |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 19 Mar 2009 6:15 pm
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A well-designed pull-release machine has the most direct "feel" possible. I had a Marlen for a while and it was a real joy to play. It wasn't very versatile, but it was perfect for the old-time country music I was playing at the time. Great tone, too!
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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J. Michael Robbins
From:
Dayton, OH now in Hickory, NC
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Posted 19 Mar 2009 7:34 pm
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I visited with Gene Cuthrell this evening. He plays a 1975 pull-release D-10 Marlen with original pickups, through a custom made stereo amp system and two JBL's. I understand that Leonard Stadler wound his own pickups. The guitar was originally made by Leonard for John Hughey about 30 +/- years ago. Gene has owned it for most of this time. The guitar is original, beautiful and the tone is superb. Gene's playing is still as sweet as ever.
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1970 Marlen D-10, 1971 Professional, 1973 Pro II, 1977 Marlen D-10, 1978 Marlen D-10, 1980 Marlen D-10 |
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