| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Marlen D-10 Year? I purchased last week, been stored 15yrs
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Marlen D-10 Year? I purchased last week, been stored 15yrs
Duane Keiper

 

From:
Niagara Falls, New York
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2010 1:43 pm    
Reply with quote





View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Duane Keiper

 

From:
Niagara Falls, New York
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2010 5:26 pm     Marlen D-10
Reply with quote

The number on this guitar is 210 339691. Can anyone tell me the year of this guitar? I looked at the pictures of Marlens on the forum and as far as I can tell it maybe a 1966, but I am not sure. I already have a very nice guitar to learn on while I save my money to buy a Rains Guitar but when I read the ad on Craigs list I knew I had to buy it. It has only 2 knees, so I will have to send it to someone that can put 2 more knees on it for me and give it a going over. It looks good for being in storage for 15 to 20 years.

Last edited by Duane Keiper on 28 Jul 2012 8:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ricky Davis


From:
Bertram, Texas USA
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2010 5:56 pm    
Reply with quote

Yes read the serial number backwards.
It's a 1969 Mar.3rd...and 2 10 string necks.
Ricky
_________________
Ricky Davis
Email Ricky: sshawaiian2362@gmail.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Stan Schober


From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2010 7:09 pm    
Reply with quote

SHe's a beauty, Duane !!!
_________________
Emmons S-8 P/P,DeArmond 40. Slowly drifting back towards sanity.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2010 7:54 pm     Marlen D-10 Year? I purchased last week, Been stored 15 year
Reply with quote

It looks great. Storage should not hurt it if the heat and humity was good. May sound even better now. A new set of strings, some cleaning and lubing and you should have a good one.
GOOD STEELIN
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
richard burton


From:
Britain
Post  Posted 19 Aug 2010 9:01 pm    
Reply with quote

Apart from the colour, it is identical to how my Marlen looked (before I altered it to a SD10)
My Marlen, as far as I know, is a 1966 model.

It will feel less spongy on the pedals if you put some brackets (arrowed) to stop the cross-shafts flexing.






View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bill Hatcher

 

From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
Post  Posted 20 Aug 2010 5:14 am    
Reply with quote

Here is an old Marlen i have. D12..missing the back neck. I have since put a non ped 12 string neck on the back. The checked inlay must have been used during this 60s period. The changer on this one looks a lot like an old ShoBud changer.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jim Pitman

 

From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
Post  Posted 20 Aug 2010 9:15 am    
Reply with quote

I must confess I don't know the story behind the "Marlen" guitar. All I know is that Speedy West played one.
Is Marlen the manufacturer's last name, the town it was built in, or perhaps just a reference to a large fish, ie "I got me a Marlen but traded up to a Tarpon when I outgrew it."
Seriously, anyone know?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Clyde Mattocks

 

From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 20 Aug 2010 9:33 am    
Reply with quote

The name Marlen is a combination of the original builders Marvin Hudson and Leonard Stadler. Marvin dropped out of the partnership early on. Leonard built the early ones at his home in Reidsville, N. C.
and then in the back of his music store. Later, he farmed out most of the parts and for a long time they were assembled by Bobby Adkins. I understand some of the later ones were assembled in Danville, Va. When he went to all pull, he purchased his changers from Kline. Marlens are built like a tank and the later all pulls are renown for their tuning stability. Although the early pull/release ones can be difficult to adjust, they are very good sounding guitars.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Duane Keiper

 

From:
Niagara Falls, New York
Post  Posted 21 Aug 2010 4:48 am     Marlen D-10
Reply with quote

Thanks everyone for your input. Thanks Ricky for that backward number thing, thats neet to know. Thanks Richard I am going to let who ever dose the work know about putting in some braces. Clyde, thanks much for the history lesson, A lot of people on this forum really know pedal steels.
Is anyone able to tell if I have the room to add two more knees? Thanks
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 21 Aug 2010 7:19 am    
Reply with quote

Braces? You could do what Shobud did. One aluminum rail. A lot less contact area to cause friction.

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Steven Black

 

From:
Gahanna, Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 23 Aug 2010 11:12 am     Marlen guitars fretboard
Reply with quote

If you can find them I would put the original fretboards back on them, somewhere someone is making copies of them.
View user's profile Send private message

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron