Documenting the Marlen Steel Guitar/Stadler Music Company

Jonathan Reynolds · Post by **Jonathan Reynolds** » 17 Feb 2017 10:14 am

I'm Jonathan Reynolds and I'm writing a piece that will be published about the history of Stadler Music Company and Marlen steel guitars. If you could give me any information about Leonard Stadler, Marlen, or any copies of and brochures, advertisements, or anything, that would be greatly appreciated, and if you would be kind enough to help, I will cite and mention you in the writing.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 17 Feb 2017 11:17 am

very interesting, great guitars... I would suggest tho, to move this to "pedal steel" section...you will get more responses there...

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 21 Feb 2017 6:47 pm

Deleted

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 21 Feb 2017 6:59 pm

Deleted

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 21 Feb 2017 7:13 pm

Deleted

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 23 Feb 2017 4:31 pm

Jonathan, here's some shots of my S-12 Marlen "keyless" guitar. It's the only one I've ever seen anywhere. I'm told that Leonard Stadler bought the keyless head from Kline guitars to make this baby.. Feel free to use the pix anyway you want.....JH in Va.

Ned McIntosh · Post by **Ned McIntosh** » 23 Feb 2017 5:43 pm

Somewhere on the forum I recall seeing a statement that Joe Kline also made the all-pull changer for the Marlen steels.

Emmons and Marlen shared some components early on which were made by Quality Castings of Greensboro. (Possibly keyhead castings and end-plates?)

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 24 Feb 2017 5:46 am

Ned McIntosh wrote:Somewhere on the forum I recall seeing a statement that Joe Kline also made the all-pull changer for the Marlen steels.

Emmons and Marlen shared some components early on which were made by Quality Castings of Greensboro. (Possibly keyhead castings and end-plates?)

Interesting. The keyless head definitely looks like the Kline I owned.

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 26 Feb 2017 9:21 pm

I own the Blue Marlen pictured on the brochure. I played it on my "Blue Plate Special" CD in the early 2000's. I bought it from Leonard in either 1975 or early 1976. Luv it!!!!

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 26 Feb 2017 9:24 pm

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 27 Feb 2017 3:43 am

Is Tony Arrowwood still playing his S-10 blue Marlen? Hadn't seen him lately.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 27 Feb 2017 2:16 pm

I find it VERY interesting that he priced Formica bodies the same as the lacquer bodies.. Nowadays its what, about a $1,000 or so option for lacquer?... bob

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 27 Feb 2017 2:49 pm

Here's the one I had... Serial # S-157791.

Best playing guitar period. But also the heaviest.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 27 Feb 2017 9:47 pm

Jonathan,

Can you tell us about your Marlen? Until you told me about your all-pull guitar I though every Marlen was pull-release. It was a surprise to learn that your's was among a small number of all-pull Marlen pedal steel guitars.

Pictures?

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 27 Feb 2017 10:50 pm

There were a lot of all pull Marlens. After he went to the Kline changer, they were very stable, great sounding steels. Like the MSAs, they were a little heavy, but still the best bang for the buck you can find today. Check out guys like Arnett Mills, Tony Arrowood and Joe Turner playing their Marlens.

John H. McGlothlin · Post by **John H. McGlothlin** » 28 Feb 2017 10:31 am

Here is my Marlen SD 10 All Pull guitar with 3 floor pedals and 5 knee levers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy2uTzTAc4w

Brian Adams · Post by **Brian Adams** » 2 Aug 2017 10:26 am

There's a blue Marlen S-10 for sale on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322628433489?ul_noapp=true

Any observations or comments about it would be appreciated.

Brian

Storm Rosson · Post by **Storm Rosson** » 2 Aug 2017 2:35 pm

It's a pull release changer for what it's worth.

Brian Adams · Post by **Brian Adams** » 2 Aug 2017 2:53 pm

Storm Rosson wrote:It's a pull release changer for what it's worth.

Thanks. I asked the Ebay seller and he had no idea.

Charley Hill · Post by **Charley Hill** » 2 Aug 2017 2:54 pm

I went to the shop where they made Marlen. MAR-LEN for Marvin Hudson and Leonard Stadler. Met Leonard and had a great conversation with him. This was back in the early 90's.
After my visit, I received a very nice letter from him. The shop was in back of a drug store as well as well as I can remember.

Great Guitars!!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Documenting the Marlen Steel Guitar/Stadler Music Company

Documenting the Marlen Steel Guitar/Stadler Music Company

psg

Marlen Pull-Release and All-Pull