The Steel Guitar Forum

WEll I just finished this GREAT Single-10 Marlen for James Morehead and WOW what a sound these Marlen's Had.

I sure wish I took a shot of this Changer while I had it out....that Leonard Stadler was a GENIOUS designer...as this Changer was a work of art and was his last changer design before he passed>May he rest in peace> and I have another one on the blocks that will knock your socks off when I'm done......and Leonard if your looking down...."These are for you my friend; your Legacy lives on" We Miss You.

This is one smooooooth playing Marlen now; and with the Bill Lawrence 705> She sounds like a Dream Tone pedal Steel to me.

Hope you enjoy and any questions you have about these Marlen Pedal Steels(All Birdseye Maple)...just ask and you shall receive.


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Ricky Davis


My Homepage
Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@aol.com

Rick,
Check this S12 with Marlin changer and hardware,the body,birdseye maple with mahogany neck I built about 20 odd years ago for my son.Just recently refurbished with Leonards changer and undercarrage,plays great.
http://www.msnusers.com/WilliamsHandywork/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=26

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Bill Ford

I would say that is CLRly a beauty!
~~W.C.~~

That is som purdy lookin wood, there Ricky! Is that green lacquer stock, or a refin. job?

Ricky D-Is that one all pull or push pull???

Thanks guys.
Gino; that is oringinal Green Stain>however; the color stain is Rare as Leonard rarely used the Green stain.....as Green and Blue are the HARDEST colors to stain into birdseye Maple....and you can tell that this green has yellowed a little over the years.....but my Blue Fulawka will NEVER change colors mainly because of how Ed bleaches the wood first and sands and bleaches again...and then totally soaks it in water and lets dry for 3 months eventhough the wood is already dried for years....>well I can go on and on..but this is a long story....ha....but just take my word that it is hard to stain them those colors.....as you've seen many ShoBuds that were green...turn.
But this one looks pretty dang good and especially after I re-conditioned the finish....and you won't see the yellowing actually as much because the yellowing is what happends to the finish against/mixin' with the stain that doesn't sink all the way into the wood originally..and I can go on an on about that too....but I'm outta breath...ha
Paul that one is the Triple raise/double lower later model......and the single finger Pull-Release(Push-Pull) will be all the way done within a week(they are VERY VERY hard to work on and it's kick'in my Butt so far) and I'll have it up here for all to see this Drop-Dead Beautiful Restoration....yee haaa.
Oh and Paul I have those 4-hole pullers(bell cranks) now if you need some...of course you need to have the cross bars out to put'um on...ah..ha.
Ricky
Ricky

Nitrocellulose lacquer WILL yellow, regardless of what is used. Polyurethanes CAN dampen the tone of the wood, if too thick etc, however,
These days, you can get non-yellowing nitrocellulose lacquer (I think some acrylic components are added, and some are waterborne)), so you get the tonal benefits of lacquer w/ the durability/nonyellowing of urethanes. This coems at a cost, though, since these 'specialty' finishes do cost very slightly more in materials, however much much much more effort in man hours -- sometimes specialized equipment is needed, buffing is more delicate, and more importantly, impurities MUST be eliminated at all costs).... in other words, Mr. Fulawka, REALLY did his homework, and you really are getting your $$ worth.

I would recommend, however, if you are having an old shobud etc refinished, make sure to INSIST on true, solvent based, nitrocellulose lacquer, just to keep it like it came from the factory (the benefit too is, if you find an old bud that the finish has cracked/checked, or there are small dings, as long as the stain is intact, a full refinish is not always needed, rather a few drop fills, and a light overcoat or 2, and some good old elbow grease can get her like new.

Ricky-I set your Marlen picture for my wallpaper on my monitor 'cause it looks I am selling the white mica D-10 metal neck all pull(See Buy and Sell)so I may not need those extra bell cranks right now-but I will get back to you for them soon if the guitar does not sell or get traded

Hey Cool deal Paul...you'da man.
So if ya hear anyone needs these type bell cranks....I got'um.
Ricky

Ricky,
Have you tried leather dye? That's how I finally got the RED that I was looking for,probably get it in a lot of different colors,you might try mixing a few to get a really different color,may try that on my next one,dark purple,......maybe chartruse...NAAAAAA

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Bill Ford

You're a fine artist Ricky. When are coming to Maui?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Don McClellan on 21 April 2003 at 06:31 PM.]</p></FONT>

Bill; I don't re-finish these steels....I only re-condition the finish.
I don't have the means to strip and sand here....and if someones steel is too far gone...I encourage sending to a professional......but when I start doing that re-finish work again....I like your ideas pal...I'd LOVE to have a Purple birdseye Maple steel...how cool.
Don; funny you should ask....ha....because a friend and I are working on a duo Hawaiian show right now(Steel and Flat-top guitar) with him singing and me playing and doing instrumentals. Alot of the stuff is the way Marty Robbins did Hawaiian music with Jerry Byrd on Steel....and it's coming along super. There is a guy that he knows that is working on getting us over to the islands for a few weeks of sit-down gigs....and it will be a DREAM come true if it happens and "I" probably won't return to the mainland if that happens..ha..
Don; I still would like to take you up on your deal> but money is a prob. for me...are you leaving again for a certain amount of time??
Ricky

Ricky,

What's up?

I played a gig last weekend in Heber Springs, Arkansas. While on the gig I met this guy named "James Morehead" he said he was a beginning steel player and has a Marlen. I mentioned to him that I just saw a Marlen on line that you had recently refinished. He said "That's MY guitar!"

I was amazed that it is such a SMALL world.

I just saw that guitar a day or so before and then met the owner at a gig in the middle of "nowhere Arkansas..."

Just thought I would share..

Nice work BTW....also I love your sound on non pedal and pedal with DW. Dig it!!!!

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Tim Harr - Carter D-10 8 & 9 - Troy Cook Jr Band ~ Stardust Nashville Recording Artist


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tim Harr on 29 April 2003 at 07:44 PM.]</p></FONT>

Great work, Ricky. I'm impressed.

Tim Harr, it might be a "small world", but I wouldn't want to paint it!

"The Phantom"

Thanks Chip..

Tim; that's incredible man.....yes it is a small world and shoot Bobbe I'll paint it...ah...ha.
James is so excited that I did this Marlen for him....but he's been so busy and hasn't come to pick it up yet....and I know it's just killin' him...ha.
Ricky

REAL BEAUTY FOR SURE as always Ricky...
I can´t help but notice that the color of that guitar is exactly the same as Perseghina, which is a liquor made from a herb which grows exclusively in the mountain region in Northern Italy where I used to live...
I´ve never actually heard a Marlen, how would you describe the tone?

Your pal, Joe

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joe Henry on 01 May 2003 at 12:22 PM.]</p></FONT>