Marlen tuning/setup

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 19 Dec 2003 7:08 am

Just came across an older [70s maybe] Marlen guitar,the "pull-release" type.I am looking for advice on setting it up.On first look it seems to be a push-pull but I understand from other postings that it is not.Does one tune the raises like a push pull or all pull,and what is the best way to adjust the 'stop' screws that sit just above the endplate? They seem to be there to adjust the lowers but I am not sure and don't want to get myself into a quagmire if I can help it. Thanks to anyone who can help on this.

Tracy Sheehan · Post by **Tracy Sheehan** » 19 Dec 2003 7:52 am

Get in touch with Ricky Davis in Austin,Tx.I beieve he is one of the few who understands the Marlin.I don't have his e mail addy handy but if you watch the foram you will catch him sooner or later.Tracy

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 19 Dec 2003 8:33 am

It tunes like a P/P. My advice is to send the guitar to Ricky Davis and let him make sure it's set up properly. These are killer instruments, once they're set up. If things are out of adjustment, they can be almost impossible to tune and play.

I have 2 of these guitars, and Ricky has done them both for me. If you try one, properly set up, you won't go back. For me, it's THE ONE.

Rick

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Rick McDuffie
Marlen SD-10, Sho-Bud Professional S-10, Paul Reed Smith McCarty, Hofner New President, Fernandes LE2G
Rick's Music Photo Gallery
www.tarheelmusic.com

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 19 Dec 2003 10:22 am

Yes you can Email me sshawaiian@austin.rr.com as there is a lot to understand and too much to explain here.
But yes; before you go turning start/stop screws and what not..ha....email me or you can even call me and I can explain better.
Ricky

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 19 Dec 2003 10:30 am

K Maul, Your in for a treat, when you get it dialed in!!

Ricky Davis has also set mine up, and once you understand the method, it's a piece of cake. These Marlens just beller out tone!! Have fun.

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 19 Dec 2003 10:59 am

Ricky's right for sure! Once they're set up correctly they are one sweet sounding axe. Hear my 1974 D10 here. http://www.geocities.com/frsteel/index.html <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by frank rogers on 19 December 2003 at 11:02 AM.]</p></FONT>

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 19 Dec 2003 1:14 pm

Thanks to everyone for the tips.This steel is not mine but belongs to a friend.I have a late 60s Emmons PP and a sorta hybrid MSA[which sounds a lot better than you'd think].Another friend of mine has a newer Marlen all-pull and it does sound REAL good.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 19 Dec 2003 5:58 pm

Frank,
I don't think anyone would want for a better tone....Also smooth playing..

Bill

Don Lail · Post by **Don Lail** » 22 Dec 2003 6:29 pm

I'll take a shot at this one although I haven't worked on one in many years. What I would suggest is that on strings 3 & 6 (I'm assuming this is an E9th. tuning) you adjust the pedal stop screws (on the bellcrank where the pedal rod connects to the torsion bar) so that both changer fingers pull solidly against the body, (you may only be able to get one or the other to make solid contact but thats ok) then tune both strings to A with the pedal depressed. Then release the pedal and tune the open note to G# with the stop screws behind the changer.

Then do the same procedure with 5 & 10, pedal down, both fingers pulled solid against the body (if possible), tune to C#, then tune B notes (after releasing the pedal) with the stop screws.

Same procedure as above for the C pedal raises.

Any strings that only lower, like the 2nd. string will be held to the raised note by a spring. tune those at the keyhead to the open note then actuate the knee lever and tune the lower note with the stop screw for that string.

Now where these guitars get complicated is if you have the E to F changes on 4 & 8.and also the E to Eb on those strings.
Especially the 4th. string. You'll have an F# on the C pedal tuned at the keyhead, an F on a knee lever tuned either with the stop screw on the knee lever under the guitar or at the end plate like an all pull. Then you'll have the open E note tuned at the end plate like an all pull. And finally an Eb tuned with the stop screw behind the changer. To get all this to work there has to be slack or lost motion adjusted into the raise rods to allow room for the lowers to operate.

All that probably sounds pretty complicated I guess thats because it actually is! but once these guitars are set up properly they stay in tune really well and usually just touching up the open tuning will have the raises and lowers close enough without having to adjust them.

If your guitar is way out of adjustment and your not pretty handy with mechanical things you probably will want to find a good steel guitar mechanic to set it up for you. These guitars can be made to do some amazing things. Come to the Saluda SC. steel show sometime and listen to Joe Turner play his S12 Marlen pull release guitar, He's AMAZING!

Some of you steel mechanics may have some more thoughts on how to set these guitars up than what I have suggested, please do so because I want to know what you know. You know?

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 25 Dec 2003 7:12 am

Yes, Ricky is DA MAN. He got me straightened out my Marlin. It took me some time but I got it by his instructions. By no fault of Ricky by the way. The instructions were great but the pilot was a little weak. It plays great now and stays in tune. I kind of like it, except I wish it was a D-10.