Carter D-10 or Mullen RP

Pierre Belliveau · From: New Brunswick, Canada

Hi , currently play a Carter D-10 . i’m considering upgrading as i’m looking for a Different tone ... Is there a big difference between the Carter and the Mullen ... the Carter is the only steel i have ever played and there no stores around for me to compare steel for playability and tone .. thank you .. my carter i think is around 2005 and the Mullen is around a 2000
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Rich Upright · From: Florida, USA

Sound is subjective, but I would think the Mullen is more reliable, and less prone to failure underneath.
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A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag.

Jeremy Threlfall · From: now in Western Australia

your Carter is a known quantity

I guess most people would say that Mullens are better than Carters, but I don't know whether Id trade a 15 year old Carter for a 20 year old Mullen

stay with the Carter, spend your money on a fancy amp or a boutique reverb pedal if you want a new, different sound

If you do buy the Mullen, don't sell your Carter until you are sure the Mullen is an improvement for you

I reckon
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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

well in response to the TWO responses

I had played Carters non stop for over 12 years, 4 to 6 gigs each month. Never had a failure underneath. That doesn't mean It didn't need maintenance, it did, they all do. All Steels need to be cleaned, checked for tension etc...This is a mechanical Instrument.

Regarding tone, well, that may be the most dangerous thing to do, change Instruments because you MAY GET better tone. What if you don't ? Now what ?

Mullens are fine hi quality Instruments no doubt. Carters as well, maybe not considered the extreme hi end but certainly very rugged well built Instruments. My only complaint, after owning 3x D10's is the very small hardware components. They served me well. Nobody ever told me the tone sucked. Well, one time on a track, someone told me my Emmons sounded great except it was a Carter !

Just be wise is all Very Happy

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Dustin Rigsby · From: Parts Unknown, Ohio

It’s the Indian, not the arrows
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richard burton · From: Britain

If you want a different tone then it's probably better to go 'old tech', before steels became 'much of a muchness', and get an old ZB, Marlen, ShoBud etc.

Sure, they're heavy, and nowhere near as 'user friendly' as modern steels, but they do have a superior tone, in my opinion

David LeBlanc · From: New Brunswick, Canada

Hi Pierre! Have you tried other amps? I to have a Carter and find I can get a good tone out of it. I think we all crave the perfect tone, but it`s half in the hands. I`m still working on that. I do have Brads Black box . I find it warms up the tone. I also use a Lil Izzy. I have a Session 500 at the club that I play regularly that sounds great. If we play other venues I bring a Nashville 400 that sounds good, but has a little more highs . At home I have a 74 Session 400 . Another great amp. One thing I did do was get gauged brass rollers . To me helps to mellow the tone, but some may say it`s just my ears. Lol
I have a early 80`s Linkon D10 ( basically a Canadian made Sho Bud) that I fine has a warmer tone, but a little bit heavier . I find the Carter might cut more thru the mix live with a full band .I still have my MSA Classic S10. A good steel, but a little stale sounding. Next time your down my way , come take my Linkon for a spin. Dave

David LeBlanc · From: New Brunswick, Canada

And other things to consider - strings ? Nickel or stainless . Bar size and the material it`s made of. Finger picks material there made of . All have a little differences. Subtle , but still.

Rick Barnhart · From: Arizona, USA

I’ve owned a Carter D-10 and a Mullen RP D-10. They are both fine guitars, but not a nickels worth of difference between them. So, I wouldn’t consider a trade for a Mullen to necessarily be a step up. If you get a chance to trade it for an Infinity or a Franklin, now you’re talking about an upgrade. There’s nothing wrong with stickin’ with your Carter.
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Mike Vallandigham · From: Martinez, CA

I've played a newer Carter, and it was an excellent guitar, sturdy, sounded great, easy to play...

I also owned a D-10 Mullen RP. The one guitar I wish I still had.

The Mullen is not mechanically better, or anything like that, but a Mullen does had that Je Ne Sais Quois?

Know what I mean?

Ken Pippus! I'm still mad I sold that Black RP. Sad

I'll have to get another one.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

I agree. Wish I still had that one.

And, I beg to differ, the Mullen is built better and plays better. In fact, they play better than anything else out there.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

But the Carter and the Mullen both sound like fine, modern guitars.

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

I'm no machinist or engineer but I've owned both guitars and I feel the Mullen is a superior build. Well I can only speak to the G2 since that's the only Mullen I've played. But it is way ahead of the Carter I owned. More solid, smoother and I do find the sustain and tone better above the 15th fret or thereabouts. But nonetheless the Carter was still a very good guitar.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

I hope we are not straying into silly season.

If we are, take a step backwards , sell the Carter and go backwards and grab an Emmons LII or Lashley Legrande ! Nobody would argue that they sound bad or are made poorly compared to any other Instrument !

The only issue that Carter owners ever talk about is the small parts. If we are not changing copedants as a daily routine, then , as Joe Wright would say, "I didn't even know there was an underside ".

Tone and sustain above XXX frets can be and is very subjective. Strings, amp, bar weight, right hand style, left hand bar pressure etc... Too many things for me to think about so I don't play above the 15th fret !
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Justin Griffith · From: Taylor, Texas, USA

ajm · From: Los Angeles

To the O.P.: "Upgrading" and "looking for a different tone" are two entirely different things.

What are you really trying to do?

FWIW, the 2005 Carter should have the BCT.

It seems like most of the answers thus far are:
- Save your money
- Put it towards another amp and/or effects (reverb, delay)

And unless I missed it, nobody has mentioned changing pickups.

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

It's back in my basement, as I told you Mike. It sounds great, and it still plays very easily. Probably didn't deserve to get it back after abandoning it![img]

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And I think the best way to improve the tone on this guitar would be to have somebody talented play it. In lieu of that, I plan to try to accumulate more seat time.

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