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Topic: Marlen S10 3x3 4th string setup help needed |
Mike Newman
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 6:45 am |
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| I am new to the psg and recently acquired a Marlen made about 1974. I am having a hard time setting up the 4th string raises and lowers. I would appreciate some detailed advice or the name of someone in the New York City area that can do this work. Thanks, Mike Newman |
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David Collins
From:
Madison, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 11:57 am
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Mike,
If you can post or e-mail some photos of the under side, in as much detail as possible, I may be able to help you out.
Marlen, a wonderful guitar to be sure, went through some design changes in the early 70's, so I'd need to see exactly which mechanics that you have.
They are usually fairly simple to set up, and once set up properly, stay that way for a long time.
To be clear, I am NOT a professional player or instrument tech. I do love the old Marlen guitars and tinker with a few here and there.
Since I live in the county where Marlen was made, they are quite popular here, and I see quite a few. I seem to end up working on a few now and then too.
I suspect that yours will have the pull/release style "single finger" changer. There were several style pedal and lever mechanics on these guitars as they progressed.
I'll be glad to help if I can, and no, I'm nowhere near NY.
_________________
David Collins
www.chjoyce.com |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 12:15 pm Marlen Tuning
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1. Tune all open notes to pitch
2. tune all raises on pedals & knee levers first, then retune open strings with metal hex screw on the endplate. the 5th string raise on C pedal is tuned with barrel tuner on the rod
3. for notes that lower, hold lever or pedal and tune with hex screw on the endplate to pitch.
E9th 4th & 8th both riase and lower, so tune the 4th string raise to F# on pedal first, then retune open E note with nylon tuner that lowers the string, then engage the lower and tune to desired pitch with hex screw on endplate, then tune the raise to F knee lever with nylon tuner that raises that string. 8th string tune the raise with the nylon tuner that raises the string then tune the lower on hex screw on endplate.
Once you tune these a couple of times you'll find your Marlen will stay in tune for you.
Ernie Pollock 
76 Marlen D-10, 70 Marlen SD-10 |
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Mike Newman
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 12:50 pm
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Mike Newman
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 1:11 pm
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| Thanks Ernie,my only problem seems to be the 4th string. When I go through the procedure you outlined I am unable to get the lower to work. It seems that the nylon stop for the open e prevents the finger from lowering to D# |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 1:22 pm
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| Maybe lengthen the travel of your knee lever for your 4th string drop? |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 10 Oct 2007 9:36 pm
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| You have to ensure that there is enough slack in the RAISE rod that goes to the A and C pedals, to allow the 4th finger to lower when activating the knee lever. |
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David Collins
From:
Madison, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 3:38 am
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These guitars were very touchy regarding string gauge. If you have too light guage string on the 4th, it can be the problem.
I'll get out my charts tonight and see what it is supposed to be.
All of the above advice is correct regarding tuning procedure. The timing and slack adjustments are critical to getting the initial setup correct for sure, but if they have'nt been moved before, and if nothing has worked loose, they should be ok.
These guitars are rock solid once setup properly. They are, however, not for those who wish to experiment with different changes and setups on a regular basis.
I hope that you get it setup and playing well. These Marlens are truly awesome sounding guitars.
Good luck.
_________________
David Collins
www.chjoyce.com |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 4:20 am Humm
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Mike: Back off the nylon tuner thats whats causing the problem get the lower to work then make that rod with the nylon pull to where its supposed to be. Wish you were here in Mt Savage, I would tune that sucker up for ya!!
Ernie |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 4:38 am Forgot to mention
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Mike: I have an ST-10 that came to me with 3&1, I added 3 other lever to have 3&4, I also changed that one around to tune like the GFI Economy [pull-release]. That did simplfy some of that tuning, but I have the regular Marlen tuning on the 76 D-10 that I have. I used that ST-10 all the time for several months. Thats something you could think about doing.
Ernie |
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Mike Newman
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 6:13 am Marlen 4th string rise
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| Thanks I just changed the strings I kept the old ones and the 4th string is 011. Some bad news is the rod for the foot pedal has definately been moved . there are a lot of marks where the set screw has been clamped in different positions. |
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mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
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Posted 11 Oct 2007 8:44 am
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Mike,
I see that you are in NYC. I am in Long Island City.... just one stop on the E or V. I have some experience with pull release guitars. If you want to bring it over one day, I can probably help you sort it out. |
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Mike Newman
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2007 1:10 pm
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| I got it working and I want to thank everyone for their advice. esp Mike Nolan |
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Mike Newman
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2007 1:10 pm
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| I got it working and I want to thank everyone for their advice. esp Mike Nolan |
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