The Steel Guitar Forum

Looks like a shobud changer?? Could it be a
Marlen...
https://www.musicgoround.com/product/40 ... edal-steel

Pw

That is an old Marlen that started out as a pull/release. Someone put the Sho-Bud changer on, and changed the undercarriage and pickup. It probably sounds pretty good.

WOW! $500.00 for shipping! MAN, they really want a local pick up!

Stay away from Music Go Round. They are a complete rip-off. Look at the outrageous shipping charges they charge. I wouldn't trust them at all. I ordered something from them before. Can't remember what right now, but it didn't work. They don't stand behind their sales.

I would stay away from Music Go Round also. I believe that is a Marrs fretboard. May be a Marrs or a Sho-bud that Marrs upgraded. Marlen used musical notes for fretboard and I haven't seen that inlay on a Marlen.

It’s a Marlen cabinet. I had the exact same inlay and it’s configuration on a new, D-10 Marlen that I picked up from Leonard Stadler in the late 60’s. However, my end plates had straight edges, unlike the cutaway design as shown that was a little earlier. He had both end plate designs whenever my guitar was built, probably during a changeover/update period. Mine was a pull release and someone has converted this one to all pull with a Sho~Bud changer. Note: Marlen fretboards had musical note designs/markings.

Jerry. You're right. Those are the end plates that were used in the mid 60's. I haven't seen that inlay before. I read on a forum thread that Duane Marrs used to upgrade older Sho-buds with his own changer after he left Sho-bud. I wonder if he could have put a new changer and worked on the undercarriage.

That cabinet is exactly like my Marlen from the late 60’s, same two-tone color and inlay. It’s been a long time but if I remember correctly, I called to order a guitar and Leonard told me he had just finished one and the buyer had changed their mind for some reason unknown to me. So, I drove down there and picked it up. I had never seen that inlay design prior to that day and certainly not in that configuration on the top as well as the aprons. I’ve searched for my old D-10 Marlen for years but never have found it, eventually gave up. If not for the end plate design on the guitar, I would think that is possibly how mine ended up. My Marlen was stolen in Ashland, KY in 1978 but luckily, the police found it and I got it back. I foolishly sold it about a year later to someone in Huntington, WV. I’m sure that guitar began life as a D-10. It could very well be Duane’s work given the Sho~Bud changer and Marrs fretboard. Either way, I would think that guitar is capable of producing a great tone in the hands of a good player. Guitars like this one interest me, would like to know it’s history.

Jerry
I would contact the store and see if that was your guitar. I don't know it ended up in Wisconsin but you never know I can investigate for you I know slot of players up north

P.w

Paul, thank you however, the police found and returned the Marlen to me and I sold it about a year later to someone in Huntington, WV. That’s in the tri-state area of KY, WV & OH. It most likely remained in one of those states. I would have liked to purchase it back but it never surfaced again.

They would have an easier time selling it if they posted pics of the undercarriage mechanics

Jerry

Thanks for the cool story. It would be nice to know the history. You mentioning Leonards store caused a nice memory.

Patrick Huey wrote:They would have an easier time selling it if they posted pics of the undercarriage mechanics

Not really, as those early models were the worst Marlens. The cross-shafts were too skinny, and the plastic bearings Leonard used were about the cheapest you could buy. This was also the era when Leonard did a lot of his work with files and hacksaws, so some of the mechanical parts are rather crudely made and irregular.

In short, this isn't a good 'un to own.

Donny Hinson wrote:

Patrick Huey wrote:They would have an easier time selling it if they posted pics of the undercarriage mechanics

Not really, as those early models were the worst Marlens. The cross-shafts were too skinny, and the plastic bearings Leonard used were about the cheapest you could buy. This was also the era when Leonard did a lot of his work with files and hacksaws, so some of the mechanical parts are rather crudely made and irregular.

In short, this isn't a good 'un to own.

Danny, wow thanks for the info. Good that prospective buyers know that. I did see that they have since posted photos of the undercarriage. It would be good if you could take a glance and see if that’s the case as I am not very steel parts savy couldn’t tell much one way or another.

There are pictures of the undercarriage - not great ones, but if you scroll the pictures to the right, you'll see them.

Dave Mudgett wrote:There are pictures of the undercarriage - not great ones, but if you scroll the pictures to the right, you'll see them.

Yes, I sent them a message asking them to add pics of the underside last week and they have since added those you mentioned, Dave. From what I could see they seem to be poor quality photos. Possible poor quality because the undercarriage looks a little raunchy to me....dirty needs cleaning something lol good quality photos would highlight a number of issues possibly?