The Steel Guitar Forum

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.

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

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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.

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?)

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.

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!!!!

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

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

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





Best playing guitar period. But also the heaviest.

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?

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.

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

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

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

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.

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!!