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Topic: Marlen Custom Guitars- An Update |
Rick McDuffie
From:
Benson, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2004 5:58 pm |
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I spent Tuesday afternoon of this week in Reidsville, NC with Rev. Dr. Lenny Stadler, who was there holding a series of preaching meetings at the First United Methodist Church. Lenny is, of course, the only son of Leonard Stadler- designer and builder of the Marlen guitar.
Lenny was also the original bass player in the legendary southern-rock band Blackfoot, and has the singular distinction of being THE guy who drove down to Jacksonville and talked Ricky Medlocke into quitting Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1972, just before they made it big.  (Medlocke played drums on "Skynyrd's First... and Last" before Lenny and the boys got hold of him. Now he's rejoined Skynyrd as a guitarist.)
Lenny and I have so much in common that it's almost unnerving. We both are former rock and rollers ("freaks" as we used to call ourselves), now ordained ministers (both w/ multiple earned graduate degrees) in mainline denominations (he's in the United Methodist Church, and I'm a minister in the Presbyterian Church [USA]). He attended Duke Divinity School in Durham in 1977-80 and I was at the Wake Forest seminary, just 30 miles away, during exactly the same span of time! We both had been headed down the wrong path in the early 70's- it took a cancer diagnosis to get his attention, but for me it was a knock-down-drag-out with my Dad (Daddy did the knocking down and dragging out, not me!). Both of us still play our instruments, and miss the music we used to do... but not the lifestyle. And, since Lenny is the heir of Marlen, we both own music companies too (a mixed "blessing" for both). Lenny and I have become fast friends over the past year, due to my love for the Marlen guitar, plus all the other things that we share in common.
The occasion for my going to Reidsville was to deliver the 1971 Speedy West/Marlen guitar that Ricky Davis and Ray Walker so lovingly restored last winter. Due to a shortage of funds (and too many steels) I listed it for sale on the Forum this Summer, and Lenny bought it. Since Leonard passed away unexpectedly, the Stadlers were left without any "stellar" specimen of Leonard's craft... and this Speedy West is one of the most beautiful instruments ever.
In any event, we had a great time on Tuesday. I enjoyed meeting Lenny's mother, Dorothy, and had the rare opportunity of a guided tour of the Stadler shops, which are virtually as they were when Leonard passed away two years ago. All the tools, parts and machinery are completely intact. Lenny said, "Dad thought he was going to live a long time" and Leonard was buying parts and building guitars right up until the end.
So... what's to become of the Marlen? There has been a two-year hiatus now, and that has allowed the Stadlers to begin to process some of their grief. Lenny treasures the Stadler/Marlen legacy and wants to find a way to continue to make these great guitars available in the future. Most of the people who worked with Leonard are still alive and might be available, and the company is solvent and still in the hands of the Stadler family. Lenny is dedicated to NOT doing anything at all unless he can provide the same integrity and quality that his father did. My hope is that, in due time, we will begin to see NEW "Marlen Custom Guitars" made available to those who desire to have them... built under the watchful eye of Leonard Stadler, Jr., and by Leonard Sr.'s trusty cohorts.
Rick
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Rick McDuffie
Rick's Music Photo Gallery
www.tarheelmusic.com [This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 17 September 2004 at 07:09 PM.] |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2004 6:33 pm
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What a Wonderful story and update on the going ons of the Great Marlen Name.
Thanks for sharing that Rick; you are a true gentleman.
Mike Callaway lives in that area still and is a genious builder of the Marlen and hope that he is involved in some way. If there is anything I can do(without moving from Texas..ha) Don't hesitate to ask; as I treasure the Marlen Steel guitar and the Great Man Leonard was and the history that goes way back to the start of Pedals on Steel guitars.
Lenny has also become a enthusiastic friend of mine; and I would do anything for him, to help maintain the legacy of Marlen Custom Guitars and Leonard Stadler.
Ricky |
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Ray Walker
From:
Smithfield, NC, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 18 Sep 2004 5:05 am
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Thanks for such a wonderful post Rick. Without hesitation I say that I know you as a person of great honor and integrity and I know your heart when it comes to the Marlen and the Stadler family. Leonard worked hard his whole life, all the while making his legacy in the music industry. Having walked a mile in Lenny's shoes with respect to my father, I can fully understand the impact Leonard must have had on Lenny's life as the son as well as on so many others in life. Plainly put he was a good man....a great man. I wish sometimes...as many of us do...that just one more time I could sit down and chat a spell with Leonard Stadler...I am happy that your day in their neck of the woods was so enjoyable, and I know there will be other times to come. Rick...you and Lenny should get together and record a CD in music and song....I think it is destiny....I really do.
Ray Walker |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 18 Sep 2004 3:49 pm
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That little SD-10 was sure a great guitar. That old style "pull-release" changer was a little weird, but so what? Set up properly, it played really well. Sorry I had to let it go, but I'm glad it's in good hands. And from ALL reports, whatever guitar folks play, Leonard Stadler was just a wonderful guy, who couldn't help folks enough.
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frank rogers
From:
usa
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Posted 18 Sep 2004 4:48 pm
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| Rick, Thanks for the update! My 1974 Marlen D-10 is literally part of our family and holds a treasure chest of memories. It was used during my years as bandleader for Dave and Sugar in the 1970s and on the Ray Price dates in the 1980s. It is still my one and only "axe" and can be seen here (yes it is actually this one): http://www.reidsville.net/stadlermusic/ and it can be heard here: http://www.geocities.com/frsteel/index.html Rick, thanks again for the update, [This message was edited by frank rogers on 18 September 2004 at 05:50 PM.] |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 18 Sep 2004 5:57 pm
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This Marlen pictured below is the Speedy West Custom that Rick McDuffie speaks of that he just sold to Lenny Stadler.
Ricky |
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Lem Smith
From:
Long Beach, MS
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Posted 18 Sep 2004 10:27 pm
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Wow...
That's not just a steel guitar, that truly is a work of art! Gorgeous guitar!!!
Lem |
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James Morehead
From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
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Posted 19 Sep 2004 11:48 am
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| I believe there are quite a few out here who would pick up the Marlen torche and forge ahead in support. I sure love my D-10!!! |
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Rick McDuffie
From:
Benson, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 19 Sep 2004 4:36 pm
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It would be very satisfying to see these excellent guitars made available again... and to have them built and sold here in N.C.- the "cradle" of steel guitar.
Ron Lashley, Sr. and Leonard Stadler were friends in the mid-50's. Ron would come over to the Stadlers' house after teaching school all day in Alamance Co., and they'd build guitars together. Leonard didn't mind sharing what he knew; according to Dorothy Stadler, Leonard's philosophy was "there's enough business to go around for everybody". That's the kind of man he was.
Lenny's like that, too... he's intelligent, talented, and a thoroughly good soul.
Yes, Ray, it'd be great if Lenny and I could do some music together. We've discussed it! But what would it sound like? Whatever it turned out to be, it would have to include the sweet sound of a Marlen![This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 19 September 2004 at 06:08 PM.] |
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Larry Harlan
From:
Hydro, Oklahoma
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Posted 19 Sep 2004 5:31 pm
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Rick, thanks for a great story.
Check your e-mail
Larry |
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Farris Currie
From:
Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Sep 2004 6:38 am
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Thanks RICKY,man thats a pretty guitar!!and
to come from a great christian family,yes
every church should have one,and THROW the
organs out.OH OH,i probaly just got in trouble!! ha ha . Man steels in gospel music
just makes it.I played for years in Baptist
Church.people love it and what a blessing
farris |
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Ron !
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Posted 22 Sep 2004 5:21 pm
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MAN what a guitar!!!!
Db
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Posted 25 Sep 2004 5:08 pm
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only 1300 bucks,man,if I didn`t have two great steels already I would have jumped on this one for sure.
Db
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"Promat"
~when the tone matters~
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