The Steel Guitar Forum

I've seen some of these Harlen Brothers Multi-Kord pedal steels for sale on Ebay and Reverb. Are these any good? How are they supposed to be tuned?

This one looks really nice. https://www.ebay.com/i/202863261353 Is it overpriced?

These are not Pedal Steels like the modern Pedal Steels (or the older Bigsby's and Fender cable pedal steels). The Pedals are intended to change the tuning, for example from a C6th to an A7th, etc. This would be more useful for a non-pedal player.

If you are looking for a "Pedal" steel, this is not what you want.

I know nothing about prices for them.

These steels are a lot like the Gibson Electroharp. The pedals are not suitable for playing traditional pedal steel. They were designed for the player to be able to change between several non-pedal tunings on a single neck steel. They are what they are, but don't expect to have much luck trying to get a modern pedal steel sound out of them. They are a different beast all together.

As Larry has noted, conceptually they are for the non-pedal players that wanted a single neck instead of a 2, 3 or 4 neck guitar to get multiple tunings. It is easy to change the tunings due to the changer design if your goal is to play with different tunings. The actual instrument construction is a bit marginal, with wobbly legs, marginal wood and the "beautiful MOTS" finish. Mine is like this one, but has a much different pickup in it. So, when I want to use it, I have to use a pre-amp to boost it. As for parts, you need to be creative as there aren't many available. As for price, to me this is way over priced for what it really is. Yes a piece of history but it is never going to be a PSG by today's standards.

Had a look at the ad and anytime I see a quote from a seller like this:

"I'm not a Pedal steel player so can't say how the rest is..."

I'd recommend running in the opposite direction and keeping your money in your pocket for a better instrument! Besides, as many have already mentioned this isn't really a pedal steel so much as a steel with pedals

What were the tunings they used? Just major and minor chord tunings, or were they more complicated than that?
I don't play like a pedal steel player anyway. I like to strum and sing. If I could strum different chord flavors by pushing pedals, that would be fun.

The one on Ebay looks almost new. Was there a printed instruction manual with them?

Along with what has been said, if you want to strum along, the pedals were designed for complete tuning changes, not to change for example from G to C like modern pedal steels can.

The mechanism is old and clunky. Although I don't know about price, what is being asked is high. A friend recently sold one that was complete for $200 (plus shipping) to a collector, not someone that was going to play it.

Best advice I can give is "forget it".

There have been a bunch of posts here on the forum in the past. You can check them out for additional detail. As for instruction manual, the little I have seen was not helpful. Jay Harlen (the inventor) and his brothers had a music store in Indianapolis where they taught and sold the instruments. My guess is that they may have had teaching materials the were different than the manual. So, back in the 40’s and early 50’s when these instruments were developed, the players used multi necks, so these, in theory “lightened the load”.

You will still have the problem with wobbly legs. On mine, I made inserts for the top of the legs to tighten the fit on the legs and secured them with machine screws to reduce the play. It took about 2 to 3 hours with a lathe and milling machine to do that. They are still not rock solid, but much better. Just wanted it to look original.

If your style is not single note runs, but rather strumming, you might be able to find some changes/tunings that would essentially make this a “5-pedal autoharp”. But then, it becomes a very expensive 5-pedal autoharp. But then you have bragging rights because you’ll be the only one on your block that has one. If you have “10 Benjamin’s” that are absolutely burning a hole in your pocket and you are set on owning this piece of history.....then go for it. I got mine for free and put some time and money in it just because of the historical significance only.

The actual shipped cost at the stated price is $1098 + tax, which, in my opinion, is very overpriced for one of these. I see them for $300-400 in good shape pretty regularly. Here are a couple of examples from the forum For Sale from several years back, and I think these are pretty representative:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=206347

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=180007

As everyone says - this is not a modern pedal steel. I had a Gibson Electrharp, which is very similar but had all the early-50s Gibson accoutrements like a real nice flamed maple body, a good-sounding P90 pickup. But the changer was pretty useless for anything but changing the tuning. These also go for around $300-400. They are what they are. You could learn the basic techniques of nonpedal steel guitar playing on one. But if you want a modern pedal steel capable of smooth changes in chords/notes while playing, look elsewhere. And I would not pay a cent more than $300 for one of these. You can buy a solid modern starter pedal steel like a Stage One or Justice Jr. for around a grand to $1200. Just my opinion.

My first steel was a Multi Kord....6 string with 4 pedals...I gave a musician friend $10 for his pawn ticket, and paid $16 for the guitar....It was crude, but it made the sound I was looking for at the time..I used the pedals as a pedal steel. From that, I went to a Fender 400, a Sho Bud Fingertip, and now a Justice Pro Lite...But that beast was my start as a steel player..

my first steel was a d8 multi kord, which i still have. i played it with two pedals tuned to an E tuning, i raised the 2nd string from
b to a c#, and the 3rd from a g# to an a. i paid 40.00 for it when a was about 19 years old and i am pushing 80. y. ext birthday....thanks jack

I would agree with most of what has been said.
But with an 8 string string with 4 pedals you can get a modern pedal steel sound. It requires both feet on the pedals and working the vo!ume control with the pinky finger on the right hand.
My late friend Gene Mears was an expert and could play Ralph Mooney to a tee. He tuned like the E9 without strings 1 & 2.
I have one of the last models that has rods instead of cables.
I agree as far as the first guitar advice. There are a few beginner guitars that are good.
The best part of a good name brand is you will generally get your money back in the future if you change your mind.
Yes that guitar is way over priced. 3 to 4 hundred is more like it.