The Steel Guitar Forum

My Mullen d-10 is givin me fits with the E string. It lowers but I can also see the raise finger moving slightly. I can push the raise finger back in and it stays till I hit the lever again. I have lubed the heck out of the changer. Any ideas?. Thanks, Barry

Return spring adjustment. Check for binding.

Since you can see the raise finger moving, check to see if anything underneath is grabbing something or binding something that it shouldn't. You might be able to tell with it upside down but might have to crawl underneath and watch the action.
How old is the guitar and did this just start?

What did the folks at Mullen say to do?

Is the string centered across the finger?

Joe, I have had the guitar upside down and see no binding. It happened all of a sudden when the guitar was left set up for a week at a casino in northern Michigan. I have adjusted the spring many times to no avail. The guitar is a late 80s model.

Dave, the string is centered as i changed it thinking the string may be the problem. So for tonites show I will drag out the
mica msa that has never let me down in nearly 30 years. Thanks

I saw Mike was online earlier, I was hoping he'd see your question. You might edit your topic to add Mullen. That would probably get his attention.

Anyhow, I've had this issue a few times with my Mullen, usually when I make a set-up change. If just lubing the changer and tightening the lower return spring doesn't do the trick here's what I've found successful:

Make sure you don't have a nylon overtuned and there is enough travel and slack.

Take the string off.

Put a little light oil on the problem finger, maybe even a bit of electronic tuner lube/cleaner and let it run down.

Turn the guitar upside down.

Disconnect the return spring from that finger. You'll need a small pick with a hook.

Add a small amount of oil to the slot in the finger return plate and toward the scissors rivet/bolt.

Operate the finger manually through many cycles of lower and raise. Repeat.

If you don't have a binding problem somewhere, it's probably because the changer has gotten a little sticky over time.

This usually solves the problem for me. It's possible the return spring has just gotten weak and you need a new one.

If this doesn't do any good, seek professional advice from Mike at Mullen or Mickey Adams here on the forum.

It's usually a broken string-end stuck down in there.
There was probably a time when you broke a 3rd string and the end fell down into the changer, and now it is binding the 4th string.

I don't see how it is the lower-return-spring.
If a raise was making the lower-return-spring lift-off, then it would be the return spring... but this issue is a lower enguaging a raise.

If you take an allen wrench and manuualy push lower-finger in, so no-rods are moving, does this enguage the raise??? This test would rule out rod-binding.

I agree with Jerry about the pivot rivet. Many people forget that piece when lubing, even though no other bit needs it more.
But it only needs a drop.

My guesses would be either the return spring is too tight*, or it's over-tuned.

*When most players have a problem like this, the first thing they do is tighten the spring...when it really should be loosened.

I had a similar problem with the second string not returning to pitch on my preRP. I spoke with Mike and he suggested that I swap the return spring with a spring on the guitar that didn't have a pull on it. In my case it was problem solved. The worst case is that you can rule out the spring as the culprit.

Does your guitar have raise assist springs?

You can email me at jetdrivr@me.com....I can help...Id also be happy to tear it down and totally overhaul it if the problem persists...the late 80s changer parts may not be the more modern PRP ones. Del cut these individually. If the rivet has come loose, it would HAVE to be taken apart in order to repair it properly...