mullen

Charlie Moore · Post by **Charlie Moore** » 1 Jul 2005 5:39 pm

Well i just bought my first mullen,it is best built guitar i've seen,tone is ok,i played emmoms 24 year's so tone is not the issue,it 's NOT gonna be there i know but easy playing easy to change set up made up my mind,..love it...
Charlie......

Buck Grantham · Post by **Buck Grantham** » 1 Jul 2005 5:58 pm

Charlie, It's gonna take a little while to get adjusted to the guitar since you've been playing Push-pull guitars so long . I have been playing mine about four years now and I love it. I would never want to go back to my push - pull even though I'm keeping it . I played push-pull Emmon's for over 20 years.

Max Williamson · Post by **Max Williamson** » 1 Jul 2005 5:59 pm

Charlie,best move I ever made Buying a Mullen Royal Precision about 2 years ago after playing Emmons for years.Easy pedal action,stays in tune and tone to the bone.

Max

Curt Shoemaker · Post by **Curt Shoemaker** » 1 Jul 2005 6:43 pm

I agree with Buck. It may take you awhile to get use to the Mullen, but stick with it and the tone will come around. I played Emmons for several years. I changed to a Mullen and couldn't be happier with the guitar and it's tone.

Dale Dorsey · Post by **Dale Dorsey** » 1 Jul 2005 9:54 pm

Charlie; Keep working with the tone. I've had a few different ones and wound up getting extremely close the first few times as far as tone goes. I finally got the one I wanted to sweet perfection. Try different pickups after trying different settings and don't use any effects at all to determine the real sound of the guitar. I don't know what you're playing through, but different amp and speakers change things drastically sometimes. The guitar should always play like a dream and is worth the time it takes to get the tone you desire.

Charlie Moore · Post by **Charlie Moore** » 2 Jul 2005 6:58 am

Thank's guy's,Dale it has George L's PF-I's in it now 19000 ohm,i would like to stay with the humbucking p/u's to keep down the hum,i know true tone's would be best but!!i used a NV 400 with the emmons but my Vegas 400 sound's better with the mullen,i'll keep working with it because it is a FINE axe..by the way Buck i sold my p/p because i knew what i would do..thank's fellow's
Charlie.....

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 2 Jul 2005 7:10 am

I traded my push-pull for a '92 Mullen, and I love the Mullen's tone, although it sounds nothing like a push-pull. But isn't it interesting how, with all the Emmons-bashing that shows up on the forum, the Emmons push-pull is still the yardstick that we all measure tone against?

Michael Breid · Post by **Michael Breid** » 2 Jul 2005 8:23 pm

Roger Blevins told me years ago that if I ever played a Mullen I would be hooked. I played a D-10 a few months ago and was hooked. I just ordered a new Mullen that will be here about the last of July. Thanks Regor(Roger's nickname.Roger spelled backwards)for all your support. I owe you one pal. See you Sunday, the 31st of July at the Baldknobbers Steel Show in Branson. Michael

Herby Wallace · Post by **Herby Wallace** » 3 Jul 2005 5:03 pm

Well I probably shouldn't comment here, but I can't help it. I first started playing a Mullen in 1984 and I have been selling them since 1984. Of course, like any manufacturer, there have been many changes over the years. I personally play the one we call the HWP model which is different from the Royal Precision. The HWP has a different changer, the wood thickness is different in several places in the body as well as many other changes. The pickup in my guitar is a single coil that Del Mullen winds to 22,000 ohms, but is different than his other pickups. Now let me first say that the Royal Precision is an excellent guitar, but the HWP definately has a different tone, and I prefer the HWP for the tone difference. You owe it to yourself to compare the two. I have always liked the tone of a push-pull and seems to be the standard that most builders compare too, but all around I still prefer the HWP model Mullen over anything I have ever played. Now, I don't want to say that it sounds like a push-pull as I have heard that statement many times from different manufacturers, but for what it is worth, I did an album a couple of years ago with a vocalist named Duane Dee which is called a Tribute To Ray Price. This album contains 18 Ray Price tunes, such as: Way To Survive, Touch My Heart, The Other Woman, Night Life, Heartaches By The Number and so on, and I have been told by many steel guitarist that they were amazed at how close it sounded to a push-pull. Again, I am not saying this as to bragging, but that was the sound I was going for. I guess before I close, I will put in a plug for that album if anyone should be interested. It sells for $18.00 plus $6.00 shipping and handling.

Herby Wallace

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Charlie Moore · Post by **Charlie Moore** » 3 Jul 2005 7:43 pm

Herby,i'm glad you spoke on this issue,i love the mechanic's of the mullen it is a superb piece of workman ship,now by playing psg for 24 plus year's i know that tone has a LOT to do with the hand's as well as the amp,building etc,so i said all that to say the push pull has it's sound and mullen has it's sound as well(not the same imo)but to say one is superior over the other i can't say,but what i CAN say i heard you play at Hot Spring's and i told my friend's that that tone you had on the red mullen was the best i had EVER heard,no way to be any better,like Buck Grantham told me get a guitar close to the tone and be happy because if it ain't a push pull it ain't gonna sound like one,....
Thank's Charlie.....

Robert Jones · Post by **Robert Jones** » 4 Jul 2005 5:47 pm

Herby has hit the nail on the head here. I have always loved the tone that the HWP Mullen had. Of course Herby's touch has something to do with it as well. My latest is the 4th Mullen that I have had. It will probably be my last since I loaded it up with everything. I may add a rod or two, but I am very pleased with the tone as well as the action of Mullen over anything else I have ever played. Not to say that there isn't other good steels out there on the market. There is. Not everyone is going to like the Mullen. That's why there are other brands out there. You will find your tone in time Charlie. Just keep working on it.

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Mullen Royal Percision D-10 Red Laquar Pearl inlay 8&8
"Life is too short for bad tone".

Mike Mantey · Post by **Mike Mantey** » 6 Jul 2005 7:28 am

Charlie I can try and help you find the sound you like. I need to know what model/year guitar you have and we can go from there. The R.P. and HWP have very different characteristics and a pickup that works in one may not work so well in the other. I know we can find the tone you want. We did a comparison check here and at the Pheonix show with an old push pull, with your back turned you could almost not tell the difference. I have also had several emails, phone calls, and personal conversations with many Mullen players that have said their guitar sounds so much like a push pull it is not funny. They are just all opinions and it will not sound exactly like a push pull if it is not a push pull, but with the differences in the mechanics between the Mullen and the push pull, and such a similarity in tone, you really couldn't go wrong.

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Mike Mantey
Sales & Production Manager
Mullen Guitar Co., Inc.
(970) 664-2518 www.mullenguitars.com
[This message was edited by Mike Mantey on 06 July 2005 at 01:15 PM.]

Charlie Moore · Post by **Charlie Moore** » 6 Jul 2005 6:20 pm

Mike it is a 99 model RP ser.# 0062 it has George L's in it now PF I,i need to stay with humbucking p/u's if possible,any help WILL be appreciated because i LOVE the guitar..thank's in advance...
Charlie.....

Mike Mantey · Post by **Mike Mantey** » 7 Jul 2005 6:26 am

I would recommend trying the George L 10-1. I do believe it is a much better pickup for the Royal Precision.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 7 Jul 2005 9:25 am

Does anybody know what year the RP model came out for sure? I thought I read where it was like 2000 or 2002. I know Mike knows. I have a 2004 RP with stock pups, and I couldn't be happier with the tone. To my ears it's purty close to an Emmons, and a LOT easier to pedal.
I have a keeper!

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Mullen D10 /8x5 / session 500rd/ American Strat Highway 1 model
steelin for my Lord

[This message was edited by Terry Sneed on 07 July 2005 at 10:35 AM.]

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 7 Jul 2005 1:19 pm

There is absolutely NO similarities in tone between an Emmons push/pull and a Mullen. I don't care what pickup or amp you use, or what great player is playing one. I've seen and heard both guitars played by the greatest players in the world. I've also owned more than one of both. The guitars are at opposite ends of the spectrum as far as tonal qualities go. Mullen guitars are very well made and do play great. Easy to work on also.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 07 July 2005 at 02:22 PM.][This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 07 July 2005 at 02:24 PM.]

Mike Mantey · Post by **Mike Mantey** » 7 Jul 2005 2:08 pm

The first Royal Precision was built in Dec, 1997. With an improved Royal Precision starting in 2000. Then over the past 5 years we have made some minor improvements and automatically incorporated them into production. I have to agree with you Terry the stock single coil pickup sounds the best in my opinion. If I had to choose a humbucker which many do, I would go with the 10-1. I know the Mullen has its own tone, but I do think it is similar to the push pull. This is my opinion, for what it is worth.

Al Miller · Post by **Al Miller** » 7 Jul 2005 3:07 pm

Well I Guess I Will Chime In Here..
I Have To agree With herbie these guitars surpass ANYTHING I have played in the last ten yrs or so.. I played a Royal precision at the dallas show last yr and it did have a differnt tone and feel than my 95 model which if i am correct is very similar to the HWP . the RP plays almost too easy
if that is possible.. I recently had a mishap with the stage crew at a show im working and my guitar was damaged .. I sent the guitar to Dell And Mike And Dixie And They Pushed Me ahead of other customers to get my guitar back to me so I have to say the service is second to none.. I have heard some comments on wait time for a new guitar from mullen but each guitar you get is made with the love and care of people that Know what we need in a pro pedal steel ..
im working on my 12th yr as a Mullen
player and dont see a change Anytime in the near future If Your looking for a new Guitar call dell Mullen or Herbie Wallace first you wont be sorry..
Boo Miller

Charlie Moore · Post by **Charlie Moore** » 7 Jul 2005 9:12 pm

Well,i played the mullen out for the first time today,i recorded two song's which i was VERY pleased with the tone,it was as CLOSE to my push pull i have ever heard,i will play it(the CD) for my friend's this week bet they won't know the difference,Kevin i have to differ with you on the other end of the spectrum statement,they are different but not THAT much,i've played push pull for 24+ year's,i'm telling you it's close,close,close......Charlie.....[This message was edited by Charlie Moore on 07 July 2005 at 10:13 PM.]