Show us your Marlen steel

[Johnie King]

I sold this one today they are really good steels!!!
This is my first Marlen too own.
I changed her from day set up too Emmons today what a pleasant surprise Marlen all pull is very easy too change over.
I believe Marlen steel were ahead of there time the 3 over 2 changer works extremely well. Playability an tone are very good also.

[Johnie King]

[Johnie King]

Here’s a Keyless Marlen

[Dick Sexton]

[Johnie King]

Dick I guess I’m the only owner of a Marlen or the other owners are too ashamed too post a picture.
I’m enjoying mine!!

[Johnie King]

Here’s a looker.

[K Maul]

Here’s my pull-release 12 string. 3+4.

[Steven Hudson]

Here's a 1978 all pull.

[Johnie King]

Wow Steven she’s a looker!!

[Jonathan Reynolds]

My 2003 all-pull Marlen. Having it rebuilt as we speak.

[Johnie King]

Another gorgeous Marlen congratulations!

[richard burton]

Mine ain't a looker, been rode hard and put away wet a few too many times

[Ricky Davis]

Here's one of my first students and restoring a Marlen for him and then Sho~bud's and he became a wonderful machinist and Steel guitar restorer himself; then he passed away. But here is the Late James Morehead sitting behind that first Marlen> Bless his Heart and RIP....

[Gary Sill]

Here’s a looker.

Yes, that is a guitar I finished and liked it so much I asked Mullen to make my current G2 with the same color design. I shipped that guitar to Australia several years ago.
Gary

[Johnie King]

That’s cool story Gary!!

[Ricky Davis]

Here's another one I restored>


Ricky

[Freddy Rakes]

I have a candy apple red 1972 S10 3x2 Dad bought new from Leonard at his store in Reidsville when I was about 15 or 16. It's been in the case a long time.Man did I ever practice. We lived about 45 minutes from the store. I have quite a few stories of sneaking into the VFW building in Martinsville with a cassette tape recorder and taping Marvin Hudson going home and trying to figure it out. Wished I still had some of those tapes but I literally played them till they broke. Man could he play.I was too young to get in. I've talked to Billy Knowles about refurbishing it. After the covid thing lightens up a bit hope to get that done. Played a GFI the last few years and currently playing a D10 Zum. Looking forward to adding photos after work is done.
Freddy in VA.

[Johnie King]

I believe the all pull Marlen is a really well made steel I’m guessing they were quite a few sold new.

[Ricky Davis]

Yes Johnie; and actually the Changer that Leonard and Marvin designed for the "All Pull" started around 1980 and they actually had the very first Patent on that exact Changer.
I worked on a few; but I always preferred the "Pull-Release" and Speedy West Marlen.
Ricky

[Chris Brooks]

Ricky, briefly, why do you prefer the pull-release? More stable once tweaked? Sound? Pedal action?

I have MSAs and a Carter but these Marlens intrigue me!

Of course I used to drive a Hudson, too . . . .

Chris

[Ricky Davis]

Yes Chris; mainly the sound; same as why I like the sound of Sho~bud Permanent better than most all others; that single finger (No rivets and scissoring like all pulls); and yes the tuning stability as long as you don't raise AND lower a string..ha....nevertheless....it is mainly the TONE.
Ricky

[Bob Watson]

Ricky, thanks for posting the picture of James Morehead. I got to meet James at a very cool jam session at an American Legion in East Moline IL. He had relatives there and was visiting. He mentioned that he'd be there on the forum and I brought my first pedal steel, a Sho Bud Professional, up there for the Jam. He had one just like it, but his looked brand new. I hadn't played mine in a long time and it sounded great through my old Peavey LTD. I had played that rig for around 20 years and I had forgotten how wonderful it sounded. James was playing his through a Fender Twin and it sounded great too. He was really a cool guy and I felt lucky to have crossed paths with him. It was about a year later that he got sick and started his fight with prostate cancer. It was nice to see a picture of him. It was so sad that he left us at such a young age.

[Ricky Davis]

Thanks Bob for your memory share of James. So was this the Professional you saw James having??

If so; he was so cool as he let me take it for a while and record with it at Tommy Detamore(me and tommy pic) studio back in the day......it was an amazing Sho~bud that James totally restored and he made every part that was put on underneath; I was sooooo proud of him as he came a long long way since that Marlen.
Ricky

[Steven Hudson]

Ricky

That's a really sweet looking Speedy West Marlen. The 1978 all pull I posted a picture of is the earliest all pull I have seen. It was owned by a very close friend of my dad's.

Freddy

What a memory jolt you gave me. I remember going to the VFW in Martinsville with my dad, Marvin, in the early 70's. I would sit with my mom and take money at the front desk. Guy Meyers, the drummer, would let me sit in on a couple of songs at the end of the night. There was also a banjo player, Bobby Atkins, who used to play with Bill Monroe. My hot dog chili recipe is from that VFW. And they had great pickled eggs. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[Chris Brooks]

OK, thanks, Ricky!

Chris