Remembering Your First Mullen Guitar ...

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

Since the excellent overhaul of my 1983 Mullen by Mickey Adams a few days ago, I've been talking on the phone with a few other Mullen owners and I noticed that in each conversation, somehow the topic always went back to their very first Mullen guitar and how fondly they all remembered it. I think it may be common that, no matter how many Mullen guitars you own, there's always that special place in your heart for your very first Mullen.

I thought it might be fun to open a thread about remembering your first Mullen ... I'd love to hear some stories from other Mullen owners about their first Mullen guitar. To open up the thread, here's my story about my first Mullen ...

I've had four Mullen guitars and loved every one of them. My first Mullen, however, was a Herbie Wallace model (aka HWP) and what a guitar it was (and still is in the hands of whoever owns it now).

Mine was a late 1987 model (if I remember right, it was built in Nov or Dec 1987 and I purchased it from Charlie Norris Family Music right after New Year's of 1988) Here's a photo of my HWP when it was brand new:

Oh, how I miss that guitar! Way back in 1991, a buddy of mine, Gary Hogue, traded his first Emmons P/P (a 1976 model) for a 1966 Emmons P/P he'd found in prime condition. I'd always wanted Gary's 1976 Emmons, so he called me to let me know that it was available at Steve Lamb's Steel Guitar World and I immediately went over and traded my HWP model for it (walked away with Gary's old '76 Emmons plus $800 in my pocket to boot). Looking back on it, I wish I'd simply bought the Emmons outright and kept my red Mullen instead of trading it.

When my HWP was new, it had a great sound, but the tone was just a little thin for my taste, so the first thing I did was put a set of George-L's E-66 pickups in it and ... WOW ... did that guitar come alive! With the E-66 pickups in it, that guitar sounded great.

If you'd like to hear what it sounded like, here's a few video links (there's more than one so you can hear the sound of my old Mullen in different situations):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad2L5FRVo6c (I Fall To Pieces)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFxEO6KuGR0&feature=related (Rockin' Robin)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT-6g7gT-Ec (A Way To Survive) The slide show in this one has several photos of the '76 Emmons that I traded my Mullen for)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKCjvHpXF1A (Highway 40 Blues) Please overlook my sloppiness on this one as it was my birthday in 1988 and the club owner, trying to help me celebrate my b-day, was sending shots up to the stage and I ended up really buzzed by the time we played this one. It's the only time I ever played on stage while intoxicated. Although my playing was pretty buzzed, the guitar's tone was great.

The last time I saw my old HWP Mullen was at one of our concerts when I was with Ty Herndon. If I remember right, we were somewhere near the northeast coast and we were co-headlining with someone else. After we'd sound checked, I stuck around the stage pit to see the opening band's steel guitar player (as I'd spied another steel guitar case backstage.

As soon as I heard the steel player begin to tune up his guitar I thought "Man, what a great tone he's got" and I walked around to see his guitar. It was a red Mullen just like my old guitar ... and when they came down from their sound check, I went to meet the steel player and found, while talking to him, that the guitar he was playing was indeed my old red HWP Mullen! Smile

I wish I could remember the steel player's name. He played really well and it made me very happy to see my old guitar again (but a bit sad as well ... I really miss that guitar).

Would love to hear the stories of your first Mullen, and hear it if you have some links to recordings of it.

And, as today is Thanksgiving as I type this, a hearty Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Very Happy

_________________
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)

Larry Baker · From: Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.

Jim, as a proud Mullen owner (my first) got it Sept. 09 at St Louis Steel Convention, I just wish it had the same notes on it that you bring out on yours. You have a great sound and touch. Everyone has their own reasons for what they do, but I can't imagine with your talent, why you would lay out of music. I hope to hear and see you live some day. Larry Baker from Missouri
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

Thanks, Larry ... I really appreciate it. Actually, my wife (or should I say ex-wife now) was mostly behind my reason for leaving music. My marriage was in trouble and I quit playing in an effort to save it. Let's just say that the effort wasn't entirely successful and when the creature moved out (oops! Shocked

Did I really say that? Laughing

) ... I meant when the wife became the ex-wife, I finally started entertaining thoughts of getting back into playing again.

I've been at it for a couple of months now and still have a very long way to go before I've got some chops back up. But, it sure is fun! Very Happy

And feels really good to be playing again (although it's only here at home in my computer room for right now).
_________________
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

I still have mine-a very early one.S-10 3X3 on a slightly bigger frame with a small pad.Sort of a frame-and-a-third.Plays and sounds great,holds a tuning,and built like a tank.I showed it to Del and Dixie one time and they thought it was made either in 1971 or'75.Early on,local steel icon Dick Meis was involved in the manufacturing end of the Mullen operation and may have had a hand in building mine.I bought it used in the summer of 1984.

To me it's a treasure,and would still be my #1 if the one pictured below hadn't joined the family a few years ago.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

Wow ... two very beautiful guitars there! And, a real piece of Mullen history to boot ... I'm intrigued with the fret markers on the older one. I've never seen those fret marker designs before.

Very nice guitars, Dave. Very Happy

_________________
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

Scott Howard · From: Georgetown, TN, USA

I bought my first Mullen as a basket case. All the pedals and knee levers were removed . The guy was playing as a non pedal. I was able to contact the person who had all the parts that had been removed and buy them as well. I also contacted Dixie and bought some parts to finish it up.

It was my first 12 string and I have liked the Universal tuning every since. It had just a black and white fretboard when I got it and I added the multi color board. I also added a Crawford cluster .

Shortly after I bought the red 12 string I ran across a teal SD-10 and we got it for my son. His first steel and first Mullen .

Theses are from scans so the true color does not show up.

_________________
"The Oddball" A MSA Keyless with pedals to the right.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

Dave, I remember that gig and I believe I remember that old bus of Willie's. Wasn't it a Flex? Yep, that would be me playing. I was with Ty Herndon from 1990 until 2000 and never missed a gig. What I don't remember is which guitar I was playing that day. I carried three steels with me: the 1983 Mullen that I've got now, a very dark sort of cherry mahogany mica Mullen and a black 1976 Emmons (all three were guitars from Gary Hogue) and I'd switch back & forth for a variety. On the day you're talking about, I was probably on the dark colored Mullen, or the black Emmons.

Scott, those are some great looking guitars. You did a great job with the red one getting it all back together. It's really cool to see your guitar and your son's guitar both sitting there in the same room. Twin steels, and it's all in the family. I think that's great! Smile

_________________
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)

ebb · From: nj

early 60s 12 string r&b

Bobby Burns · From: Tennessee, USA

Could we get a look at the underside of those two old ones?

ebb · From: nj

sn 40003377

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

Wow, what a beauty ... Mickey Adams and I were just talking on the phone today and he mentioned something about Mullen guitars being made in the '60s. I'd never knew that Del had been building them that long. Smile

_________________
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)

ebb · From: nj

reply to deleted post am unable to delete

Scott Howard · From: Georgetown, TN, USA

I realized it was the same guitar and deleted the pics. here they are again . A nice part of the history.

_________________
"The Oddball" A MSA Keyless with pedals to the right.

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

I picked up this Mullen D-10 8 + 8 in the late 90s from Forum member, Wayne Pauly. Serial no. is 2457 and it was built in Dec 1992. I believe Junior Knight had it for a short while. It's the only Mullen I've owned and is not a Royal Precision nor a G2. No matter, I've been happy with it.. Thanks. stevet

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

Man, what beautiful guitars!

Scott, those are some great pictures and is really educating me on the Mullen guitars prior to the early 1980s. The 1983 model I have now was the first Mullen that I ever really "noticed" although I knew the name existed back then. Of course, I've been noticing Mullen guitars ever since! Smile

Steve, that double neck is absolutely beautiful. If that's the guitar I think it is (and one that Junior had for awhile), then I'm pretty sure I've seen that guitar up close and personal before. Either that, or the one I saw was a twin just like it.

I know I saw either that one or a twin of it at the Mullen booth one year at one of our Texas steel shows and it really caught my eye.

You know, there's a lot of great steels out there on the market and I'll never take anything away from them or their quality ... but, for me, there's just nothing like a Mullen guitar. I've been under the "Mullen spell" ever since I first played one. Smile

_________________
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)

Larry Baker · From: Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.

Jim, I envy you being close enough to talk to and visit with Mickey Adams. What a guy He is. Hey Mickey, how about moving to Missouri. Larry
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P.

Jim Lindsey (Louisiana) · From: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (deceased)

Larry, I agree ... ole Mickey is quite a fellow. It's definitely been a pleasure getting to know him here recently ... and I'm hoping he and I can get together with our guitars in some spare time and turn into mad scientists, trading licks & tips & doing some twin steeling. Would be great fun! Very Happy

_________________
1986 Mullen D-10 with 8 & 7 (Dual Bill Lawrence 705 pickups each neck)
Two Peavey Nashville 400 Amps (with a Session 500 in reserve) - Yamaha SPX-90 II
Peavey ProFex II - Yamaha R-1000 Digital Reverb - Ross Time Machine Digital Delay - BBE Sonic Maximizer 422A
ProCo RAT R2DU Dual Distortion - Korg DT-1 Pro Tuner (Rack Mounted) - Furman PL-8 Power Bay
Goodrich Match-Bro by Buddy Emmons - BJS Steel Bar (Dunlop Finger Picks / Golden Gate Thumb Picks)

Mickey Adams · From: Bandera Texas

My first Mullen was acquired from a guy in Denver. His name is Billy VanKuren. It was a red D10 8+5, and I traded a Rosewood 72 PP which I paid 450.00 for...Yep..450.00. That guitar lasted me 12 years before I purchased an HWP from Del....5 more have passed through my hands since...and I loved 'em every one..
_________________
ARTIST RELATIONS: MSA GUITARS
2017 MSA LEGEND XL D10, S10, Studio Pro S12 EXE9
Mullen G2, Rittenberry S10, Infinity D10, Zumsteel 8+9
Anderson, Buscarino, Fender, Roman Guitars, Sarno Octal, Revelation Preamps, BJS BARS, Lots of Blackface Fenders!

Stan Paxton · Posted 30 Nov 2009 9:42 am

I've still got my first Cool

(& only) Mullen, got it new in the mid to late 80's I think; blue lacquer, and play it 3-4 times a week. Love a Mullen.
_________________
Mullen Lacquer SD 10, 3 & 5; Mullen Mica S 10 1/2 pad, 3 & 5; BJS Bars; LTD400, Nashville 112, DD-3, RV-3, Hilton VP . -- Gold Tone PBS sq neck; Wechter Scheerhorn sq neck. -- "Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone." -anon.-

Bob Poole · From: Myrtle Beach SC, USA

Here's mine...pic is borrowed off Forum & is from previous owner...Mine like quite a few others was a Mickey Adams guitar...I did some trading around to get it.I saw this guitar in a post by the previous owner & fell in love with it.when i saw it the first time,my wife was in the kitchen & overheard my reaction which was something to the effect of,"Damn"...without coming in the room,she said"what color is it & how much"i told her "don't worry,it's already sold,but come look @ this,it's beautiful"her reaction was "uhhuh,it's red & looks like a pedal steel"she then proceeded to reassure

me,"look honey,just be patient & the right one will come along...so,it won't be that one but you'll find the one you want"...sometimes,it amazes me how things work out because within three months that very guitar was in her new home & i could not be much happier...now,if i can just get the right lottery ticket,there'll be another SD-10 Pre-RP & a new G2 from Mickey to keep her company...

Bill Moran · From: Virginia, USA

Great taste in guitars Jim !!
My first Mullen was a 1990 Pre RP, Black with 8+4. I sold it and bought Hal Ruggs Franklin. I had always heard Franklin was the best and it was a good guitar. Just not as good as the Pre RP. So I sold the Frankiln and ordered the new HWP from Herby. I never looked back ! Smile

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Bill

Gary Walker · From: Morro Bay, CA

"Do I remember my first Mullen?" Sure do. Still got it and play it. A '91 D-11 9 & 8 pre-RP and looking at buying a new G2, double Latte, double cream, etc, etc. (luv-em)

Mickey Adams · From: Bandera Texas

WOW Jim is this a cool thread!!....Look at all the history here..
Although I dont have pictures, Ive got a story..
My first guitar was a Sho Bud Pro...I bought from a pilot in Tampa...Johnny Pepel..
My second was Johnny Boyce's Emmons PP which I paid 450.00 for...A DREAM AXE!
I traded it for a rosewood Mullen D10 8+5 which was a tone monster..
3 was a Blue HWP, which I traded the Rosewood one for...And the rest is G2 history..I have 2 G2s now and a third lacquer one in queue!!..

_________________
ARTIST RELATIONS: MSA GUITARS
2017 MSA LEGEND XL D10, S10, Studio Pro S12 EXE9
Mullen G2, Rittenberry S10, Infinity D10, Zumsteel 8+9
Anderson, Buscarino, Fender, Roman Guitars, Sarno Octal, Revelation Preamps, BJS BARS, Lots of Blackface Fenders!

B. Greg Jones · From: Middleport, Ohio USA

I got my 1st Mullen in 92' at St. Louis. Tom Brumley was playing Mullen then and introduced me to Del and Dixie. Just to let you know what kind of people they are, I will tell you this. I only had $500 to put down on the guitar. Dixie made me an invoice and Del said he would build me another just like the one I wanted as all the guitars there were for sale. About a week later I called and spoke with Dixie again. She said that after I left, Del cased the guitar up and put it away and hauled it back to Colorado since I was the 1st one to play it. He wanted to make sure I got that very guitar. They sold every guitar that year except mine, which they held for me. I still have the guitar and its been a real workhorse, been on the road and through all kinds of terrible conditions and its never let me down!!

In 97' they built me an SD-11, red lacquer with pearl inlays, set up just like one of Tom Brumley's guitars. Try to get some pictures on here later.

Great thread!!!!

Greg

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