The Steel Guitar Forum

I picked up this guitar on E-bay. Looks like someone didn't have a case for it and thats not a good thing. I really enjoyed working on it but I still need to send it out to get a 4th knee lever put on.
Before and After pictures.

That's a very cool looking guitar. I haven't seen many of those around. What year do you think it is? Nice ZB too!!

That thing is awesome! I didn't know that there was a Speedy West guitar. What is the history on these things? Is that a hybrid type changer? I have a Speedy West bar that I got whith my first steel. It has "Speedy West" scripted into the back end of the bar. I used that bar for nearly 40 years. Anybody else have one??

Made by Marlen...........I believe that they used pull-release changers, but I could be wrong.

Hey Tony, Ah yes, If it's a Marlen, it's probably a pull release. I played on a couple of Marlens when I was young, but I believe they were all pull. Did they switch up?

Beautiful guitar and restoration job!

Thanks for the pics!

Len did switch at one point, I think the late 70s. I've seen and played all-pulls and owned a pull-release.
The cabinet looks like Len's work

This guitar was made in 1975. I've seen maybe 5 Speedy West D-10's but this is the only Speedy West S-10 that I have ever seen. I wounder just how many were produced. Dose anyone remember ever seeing another SW S-10? Because I knew they were so rare, I had to save and repair it. It's a shame that someone let it go so bad. This was my first fixer upper and I think for my next project I my have to take a stab a making a case for it. This kind of thing is nice to do for me. You do what you feel you can do when you feel like doing it. If it takes a long time to finish, that's OK. Thanks everyone

Neat...I just picked up the Marlen version of this guitar....identical RWB scheme, with a Marlen tag.....I got it for next to nothing off of CL. I gotta say, the thing sounds really really good. The pickup is phenomenal. Shockingly enough, it is a 1976. Was anything going on in 1976 that would warrant marketing a RWB guitar? Really, it is a cool guitar. Nice job in the refin. I am guessing the wood is non figured since it was originally painted? Good score and nice resto!

Duane, who were you gonna use for adding a knee? It seems there are fewer and fewer folks knowing how to make pull-release work any more

Mel, I'm thinking you got the Marlen S-10 that was on CL in Washington state (if I remember). The only difference that I remember is yours dosen't have the metal strips at either end of the guitar. Look at the second picture of the guitar as I purchased it, can you see the strip betwen the end plate and the key head. The strips are at both ends. I looked at that guitar for the longest time. Are you going to give it a new look?

Shockingly enough, it is a 1976. Was anything going on in 1976 that would warrant marketing a RWB guitar?

Bicentennial!

No, I got mine in Ventura CA. Guy bought it 25 years ago, never touched it. This guitar was gigged hard, then not touched. I need to tune it up. I have had some helpful advice on the pull release setup. I really like this guitar. I am going to keep it the same. I have a number of RWB guitars, so I dig the vibe. I will clean it up ( it is actually pretty clean) buff the aluminum and legs, and play it. THe pedal action on this guitar is fantastic. For me, anyway.

BTW, mine has no metal strips. I guess those are what are referred to as Speed Strips.

THat's right. 1976 was the Bicentennial of the first Pedal Steel.

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary to invent an original American instrument........pursuit of happiness...... frustration.....madness...we mutually pledge to each other our time, our fortunes and our sacred sanity."

Lane, I was going to ask Paul Redmond to do the work for me. I haven't asked him yet but I hear he's the man for the job.