The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi there,

I've narrowed down my search for a new steel to either a Mullen Royal Precision or a Williams 700. I would get an SD10, Emmons copedent in either make.

I realize that I am choosing between two great guitars. But I am curious about the differences people have experienced in playability, tone, or anything else worth noting?

I love the idea of either guitar. I definitely like the wood look that the Williams offers better, aesthetically. But the Mullen looks pretty sleek too.

Thanks in advance.

I have a SD-10 Williams 400 Red Lacquer finish the tone and sustain are second to none. I've heard the 700 are even better. Can't speak for the Mullen I've never had the pleasure of playing one.

Barry

Hi Charley,
I have both a Royal Precision and a G2. I use the Royal Precision for recording and it stays set up in the studio 100% of time. I have owned all 3 models together (Pre RP, Royal Precision, and G2)at one point in time, so I had the opportunity to compare them. All of them were very easy to play. The Pre RP is very good. The RP has a very good sound and you can dial almost any sound tone with it. The ease of string replacement is easy, I actually prefer the pin type change instead of the newer style G2 (slot) It is just a personal thing. You will not find an easier guitar to work on. The change of pulls is very easy and can be done in min.
The entire Mullen line is very good quality and play very easy. I have not had the opportunity to play the Williams. I understand that they are good guitars as well. I play a lot and have not experienced any wear on any of my guitars. Remember, that you are speaking with a total Mullen believer!
My opinion, your mileage may vary.

I have a Williams 700 series S10 with another one on order. I love it so much that my new build is pretty much identical to the one I have now, both lacquer with wood necks. The tone is amazing and it sustains beautifully. The changer design is incredibly convenient and I almost never break a string. I haven't played a Mullen, and this is all subjective, but you can't go wrong with a Williams. Bill and Tim Rudolph are really great to work with as well.

I have owned both and I give my kudos to the Williams. I had an RP Mullen and while it was a good guitar I just couldn't get what I wanted for tone. I admit I am not a metal neck player. Also when I decided to part with my RP with 8&9 I almost had to give it away.

There is no upcharge for a lacquered guitar with Williams.
BTW, they really don't use lacquer, they have a finish that is second to none!
Erv

Both are great guitars. Love my Williams

I bought a "New" Mullen SD10 last year which is my first pedal steel but not my first guitar. The quality is outstanding as is the tone, The workmanship also is next to none. I can't compare other PSG's but I am sure there are a lot of great guitars out there "Sho bud, Emmons' Carter, the list goes on.

The Mullen reminds me of buying my first "Fender" Strat, then Tele, then Strat, then Gretsch and so on. The point is, if you buy quality in a Mullen, or Williams, etc, you can't go wrong. Everyone has different taste's so buy quality, if you have no experience on the PSG things will change and you will wind up owning a bunch of guitar's, amps and everything else like the rest of us.

Use the search button on the Forum as it contains a wealth of knowledge from very experience players who will help you through the early stages of learning this great instrument.

I've owned two Williamses (sic) and really liked both of them. I've never owned a Mullen.

Hey Charlie, I have had a Williams 600 for several years and it is still full of inspiring sounds for me. I have played a Mullen Precision and they are pretty impressive guitar mechanically. Everything worked so smoothly that it was a little disarming. I am sure you can set it up to give whatever feel you’d like but the one I played was almost too smooth. I am used to guitars that give you a little more feedback. Kinda like road feel in a car and feeling a little resistance in steering versus effortless smooth Cadillac power steering. My Williams is fairly bright but the Mullen was even brighter. Both great guitars, good luck!

Just remember, the choice of pickup is a big part of the types of tone. It's hard to chose a PU. Most of us go by what the rumors say. It's not like you can just swap several out to try. MSA has the best way of doing that.


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John Ely wrote:Both are great guitars. Love my Williams

Late to the party on this thread, but is this the brown mahogany finish?

In addendum to my post above, I have now owned a Mullen RP for about a year. It is a 2000 model and I really like it. I added an Alumitone pickup on the E9th neck as I do most of my steels.

FWIW, I have played Williams and Mullen, for me they are both great, but in the long run, for me . . . . Mullen hands down, smooth playing, stays in tune, minimal cabinet drop, compact, great customer service, all in all, 5 stars IMO.

Old post from 4 yrs. ago, but still relevant I guess. I believe Charley has decided on a Mullen guitar judging from his subsequent posts and classified ads.

I have to respond this way. I have owned 3 or 4 Mullen D10s and one Williams 400 keyless D10.

I like them for different reasons. The Williams for the keyless feature, the compact size and tote friendly weight.

It did not have the sound and feel of the Mullen that I crave. I sort of concur with John B above.

I'm sort of in the market for another Mullen D10 if I can find the build year, model and price I'm looking for. It would likely be the last guitar I buy.

I've played a 700 series Williams S-10, and now a Mullen G2, S10. Both really nice guitars. I always thought the Williams played a little stiff for me anyway and just really could not get a good feel for it. Also cosmetically & not a big deal but the jewel finish on the aluminum neck is really very fine on the Williams, as compared to a deeper engravement on the Mullen. But both Great guitars. MHO

I used to own a Williams 600. Great guitar. The one thing I didn't care for was the big bulky knee levers, but that is such a trivial point. It broke strings as often as my Carter, almost never. I don't see string breakage as really a guitar issue (barring any burrs), more of a "change strings more often and they won't break as often" kind of issue.

I also owned a Mullen SD12. Another great guitar. The only thing I didn't care for on it was the cabinet drop on string 6 when I would press the A pedal. It was plainly audible. No other guitar I have owned had that much audible cabinet drop. Had I kept it longer, I would have installed a compensator rod to raise string 6 to be in tune with the A pedal. That includes 2 ZB Customs, a Kline, a Sho~Bud Professional and Super~Pro, Williams, and a Carter. Maybe the Mullen G2 would be my choice if I went for a Mullen.

Richard,
I agree about the knee levers on the newer Williams.
I had a couple of the model 400's and I really liked the knee levers on that model.
I guess it must be a cost issue.
Erv

I have a new RP SD10 and I love it. It's very fast, smooth and mostly quiet. Some rod noise underneath as they rattle but I don't notice it anymore. You could probably dampen, but older guitars are much noisier. None of that comes through the amp. I played a lot of guitars, new and old, and this one checked all the boxes for tone, playability and price. I can say, I have not played a Williams, only that I really like my RP

I did have to do the Tunable split upgrade on 6 because the changer is different than the G2. And I added a 1/2 stop to 1 on LKL. Mullen has been great to deal with on getting parts fast