Metal body Multi-Kords

[Eric Watts]

Curious about the Harlin "Kalina" cast aluminum body guitars. Does Anyone have pictures of the undercarriage of any of these??

Have several wood versions like You see a lot of. But the all metal ones are hard to find. Just wanting to se how the molds were made for the guitars. I bet temp changes would really cause some tuning issues.

[Michael Lee Allen]

I've had both wood and metal body Multi-Kords. As to the metal body ones I've only seen the standard single neck four pedal version. And only with the black fiber "drum case" material carrying case if that survived. Mechanics were identical to the other Multi-Kords. No photos survived multiple cross-country moves and multiple replacement computers. They were heavier than the wood version so that was probably why not many were made. The target market back then was students so light weight and portability mattered. The only plus to the metal ones was metal tuner and changer covers that would not break or shatter when the instrument went into the case upside down. ALL Multi-Kords should have had those covers made of metal instead of brittle plastic. There was a tuning issue with the metal bodies in temperature changes. In old Chicago buildings with radiator heat a Multi-Kord would be totally out of tune overnight while a Fender 400 standing next to it would be still playable. I don't know the time frame the metal cabinet versions were built. There are so few that it wasn't long before they were dropped. Multi-Kords were always made in small batches so there is all kinds of variety in the pickups, knobs, and trim. I wouldn't even try dating them other than "pot codes" as Harlin, their dealers, and distributors used the same "cut sheets" as illustrations for many years, changing only the text and prices.
MLA

[Eric Watts]

Thanks for Your input!!! So size and mechanics were all the same. Interesting!! Was there any tone difference in the cast aluminum vs wood? The patterns for the molds must have been one piece. I wonder if they were typical carved wood or something else. If I had some pictures of the underside I might be able to tell. Hope some other Folks chip in!

[Michael Lee Allen]

It's been about three decades back as far as remembering things. Just some random thoughts here. I do not remember any real difference in tone from the bodies. The main difference would have been the pickups used. There was a real variety and I'd describe most of them as fairly low output and dull-sounding. No idea of where they were sourced from. Some were probably made in-house at Pickett's. The main thing about the metal bodies that I remember is the two removable legs on the right-hand side were straight up and down, not splayed outward. The early wood-bodied instruments were made this way too, but the metal ones were heavier and there was a definite tip-risk. Later wood bodies had the right legs splayed out for more stability. Bodies had to have been the same size. I took a drum-fibre case from a metal body one to a local drum case builder. He made templates and did a lot of ten or twelve of them. I was finding the guitars without cases. The wood body guitars fit perfectly. Just based on the simple metal pickup covers and the knobs available at the time I'd GUESS the metal body ones were made late 1940's into the early 1950's. Pot codes on the controls are probably the only way to date production. I don't remember ever seeing serial numbers. Once the metal bodies were gone there were no real mechanical or structural changes made. Just a constant change of cosmetics, colors, electronics, and controls. Catalogs and other print advertising use old photos and cut-sheets. Some are really out of date. There's one 1974-75 listing that has a photo that's from the 1950's.
MLA

[Anthony Lis]

Interesting.