Looking for Info

Trent Harris · From: Indiana, USA

Brand new to playing Steel and bought this the other day. I took it to a local music shop and got some info on it. Just wondered if anyone out there had seen one of these before and might have an idea what it is worth? It's made by Harlin Bros. here in Indianapolis who made the Multi-Kord but you don't see the Uni_kord non-pedal very often, in fact I couldn't even find another one on the Web anywhere. Any comments?

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

That's a very rare instrument, but not very valuable. Search the forum for "Harlin Brothers" or "Multi-Kord" and you'll find about as much as is known about these instruments.

I owned a Multi-Kord for a short while in the 1970s. I didn't like it.

As far as worth goes, it's probably worth exactly what you paid for it. There aren't enough of these in circulation to give a comparison.
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Trent Harris · From: Indiana, USA

Thanks Brad,
The lady here at the shop in Indy said she had only seen 3 of them in the last 20 years so I figured they are fairly rare especially since this particular shop has 2 of Harlins original Pedal steels sitting in it.

David Matzenik · From: Cairns, on the Coral Sea

Here's the Harlin Brothers.

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Fred Layman · From: Springfield, Missouri USA

The Multi-Kord steel guitars were regarded as a significant step forward in steel guitar technology in their time some 40+ years ago. For one instance, they allowed players to play more full chords in tunes without having to use as many slant bars on the strings. But even at that, full chord playing and progressions were limited on the strings. Both feet were necessary to use the pedals, so the use of volume pedals for expression was eliminated. Nevertheless, the Multi-Kords had an important role in the evolution of the modern pedal steel guitar.

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

It looks very nifty, whatever its merits as a instrument might be. I'd much rather have that than one of the pedal guitars they made. I've never seen a non-pedal one before.

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

They're not rare. A lot of the pedal models turn up on eBay, and they're usually in immaculate condition, which probably reflects people trying them out, deciding that they can't play them, and storing them in their cases under the bed. Laughing

Personally I'm very fond of the pedal models, and I have several, plus one in pieces that I'm planning on fitting with a regular pedal rack. They usually change hands at between $400 and $600, which is the sort of price that I've paid for them. Without the pedals you're not going to get much more than about $200. I wouldn't buy one without pedals.
But most pedal steel guitarists won't play the pedal models, because of the awkward pedal position, the wide-spaced strings, and the fact that steel guitarists usually expect 8 to 12 strings and knee levers. It's also said that they weren't made to change pitch while you're playing, but I've never known why people say that, because I change pitch all the time while playing mine. You DON'T need two feet to play the pedal model, as you can set up the copedant just like you would any other pedal steel: in fact changing the copedant is a lot easier, since you can do it from above with just a screwdriver, without having to turn the instrument upside down and play around detatching and retatching rods.
Harlin did make 8-string MultiKords, but I don't think they made any with more than that, other than the two neck models.
I don't understand why there's a mechanism cover on yours since there's no mechanism to cover. Oh Well

Trent Harris · From: Indiana, USA

thanks for the responses. since I live in the Indianapolis area it's kind of like a piece of local history. what is interesting to me is that it's really hard to find anyone that has seen the non-pedal Uni_Kord model.

Fred Layman · From: Springfield, Missouri USA

Let me just add, some 40 years ago when I was first getting interested in pedal steel guitar, I was in Indianapolis and visited the Multi-kord store. One of the owner brother sat down at the steel and played a rendition of "Stardust" that was nearly as beautiful as most any rendition I had heard on steel guitar. Go figure.

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Trent Harris · From: Indiana, USA

It actually plays fairly well, the pickup isn't super strong but it works just fine. I am sure it could be rewound if someone really wanted to. The other interesting thing about it is that the whole pickup and knob plate has been moved over about 1/4" to 1/2" so that the pickup lines up right with the strings. It's like it came from the factory routed wrong and then the person realized it and moved it over. The whole thing is really perplexing to me. Especially since I can not find a picture or even a mention of another one anywhere on the interweb. I wish I could find someone that really knew something about it.

Fred Layman · From: Springfield, Missouri USA

Trent: I'm slow on the uptake here. I didn't know (but should have) that the Harlins first (and continued) to built a non-pedal steel and that this is one (duh, Fred). If it were a pedal steel it would have a set of horizontal levers that would be attached to cables that descended to the floor where the other end of the cables would be attached to a set of floor pedals by the cables. As a non-pedal steel it is as good as most any other non-pedal steel to learn on and can make beautiful music, if you can find a teacher. I have a set of pedals and cables for the Multi-Kord, but the guitar would have to have the horizontal levers on the left end in order to work as a pedal steel.

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

I don't understand why anyone would prefer the non-pedal model to the pedal model. There's nothing to stop you playing the pedal model without using the pedals. Rolling Eyes

If it makes you feel better, just disconnect the pedals and remove the pedal rack. You can put them back later if you change your mind. Oh Well

Danny James · From: Summerfield Florida USA

As many of you know I knew all the Harlin Bros. well that you see in the picture of their Hawaiian band here, with Jay at his 15 pedal Multi-Kord. There was another brother, George, who was always in their store too, but to my knowledge he never played an instrument.
I was in their store starting in 1948, almost each week through 1954 and that is the first non pedal "Uni-Kord by Harlin Bros., that I have ever seen. I did know at one time that they made some non pedal steel guitars though.

I agree that I would not try to convert this one to a pedal steel guitar, but instead leave it as it is, and play it and enjoy. It has to be very rare.

Trent Harris · From: Indiana, USA

Danny, thanks for the post. There is an old music store here in Indy called Arthur's. I took it in there just so they could see it. The lady told me that she has only seen a couple of them in the last twenty years and that's in Indy where they were made. Do you know of any way to value it?

Danny James · From: Summerfield Florida USA

Do you know of any way to value it?[/quote]

I personally could only guess at it's value somewhere between $200 & $500. It appears to be in very nice condition.
Tom Pickett at Pickett's musice store in Columbus, Indiana, may be able to help you. Tom started at Harlin's before I did and remained very close to them until their death.
Here-- https://www.facebook.com/TomPickettsMusicCenter

Trent Harris · From: Indiana, USA

thank you

Fred Layman · From: Springfield, Missouri USA

Trent, as I noted earlier, I have the pedals and most of the changer mechanism for this guitar if you or someone else desires to convert it to a multi-kord with pedals. I will donate the pedals and what I have gratis since I have no use for them. The only thing else needed would be the actual changer levers which would be rather simple to produce.

Trent Harris · From: Indiana, USA

Thanks for offer Fred, but I think I am just going to leave it as is. Seems to be a fairly rare bird, even the lady in the shop here in twon said she's only seen a couple of the non-pedal in the last 20 years, and they were made here in Indy!

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

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