Re: Multi-Kord steel guitars

I started taking steel guitar lessons from Harlin Brothers in 1953. The Multi-Kord was a staple at the studio and I got my first one the next year. In retrospect, its simplicity was its beauty, although I did not really appreciate that until I became a mechanical engineer years later.

I taught at Harlin Brothers from 1957 to 1964, eventually becoming their senior instructor and leader of the Multi-Kord orchestra. As a tinkerer, I made a few modifications including a specialized basic tuning (E C# A E C# A) which made a couple of the pedals work pretty hard, but the harmony effects were great. I also added a 7th string at one point, but gave up on that idea. The pedals allowed a 1 1/2 step change in pitch either up or down, so they were quite versitile.

Jay Harlin's personal machine was a 15-pedal model. I was blessed to play that often in performances. It was never duplicated, although an 11-pedal model enjoyed some degree of success. That was a beautiful 8-string machine which was purchased by some of the comtemporary steel men of the time. Expensive though.

Note on engineering. I could never "mess up" a Multi-Kord even though I tried a lot of combinations such as 2 pedals at a time. I played a Fender once and was too quick on a pedal change, and it went balistic. Again, the simplicity of the Multi-Kord was the key.

On a personal note, I do not believe Jay ever filed any patent infringement suits although he could have done so. He was more interested in the furtherance of technology than most or his contemporaries. I am proud to have known him.

**** Brooks

Click here to view the original discussion.