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Topic: Mullen or GFI ? |
Karsten Pedersen
From:
Denmark
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 9:48 am |
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| Hey guys,- thinking about buying a new guitar,- what's best, Mullen or GFI.... and why? |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 1:05 pm
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There are other brands worth looking at.
Also consider shipping. |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 3:03 pm PSG's
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| Mullen and GFI make great guitars. Excel, Justice, MSA and others are all fine guitars. Buy a pro model. The first thing I look for when looking at guitars is the cross shafts. I won't purchase anything with round cross shafts. I'm sure some players feel different about that but my personal choice is to eliminate problems. Changer needs to be All Pull also. Unless your a steel tech a Pull Release changer will be a major problem. I checkout steel guitar websites regularly. There's close up pics and lots of info on each one. Currently, I'm playing Excel guitars. Good luck. |
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Hamilton Barnard
From:
Oro Valley, Arizona (deceased)
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 3:17 pm
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| I've owned both but kept the Mullen. Now own four. |
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Tom Campbell
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 4:01 pm
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Do what Billy suggested and also check out how the rods are connected in the bell cranks.
Split bell cranks use a barrel or dog-bone to secure the rod. A single "slab" bell crank will use a spring type clip or just "hook" into the bell crank. The "dog-bone" and "barrel" can be a real pain-in-the-a....when making copedent changes. |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 5:19 pm Happy With Mullen
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| I played Sho Buds for 35 years. I now own a Mullen Discovery 3+5. I like the mechanics of a Mullen Guitar. And the Mullen is a great sounding PSG. Just as good or better than my Buds. Had Sho Bud Pro I, LDG and a D 10 pro III. Nice flight model!!! I played a GFI and it pedaled harder than the Mullen and my Buds. |
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Larry Jamieson
From:
Walton, NY USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 5:23 pm
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| I bought a GFI pro model and only kept it a month or two. It was just too light weight for me, didn't fell "solid" enough. I have had two Mullen guitars go through my shop and they were both fine instruments, very solid, well built, and played easily with positive knee lever and foot pedal action. If I was in the market for a new guitar today I'd have Mullen on my short list... |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 5:24 pm
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It's kind of like asking "which should I choose? Ford Explorer or Toyota RAV4?" Two items that are both in the same usage category, but very different in assembly and appearance.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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Quentin Hickey
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 5:37 pm
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| Larry Jamieson wrote: |
| I bought a GFI pro model and only kept it a month or two. It was just too light weight for me, didn't fell "solid" enough. I have had two Mullen guitars go through my shop and they were both fine instruments, very solid, well built, and played easily with positive knee lever and foot pedal action. If I was in the market for a new guitar today I'd have Mullen on my short list... |
I just bought steel replacement legs for my GFI D10 and it is now a stationary workhorse Larry with all the possibility and tone benefits of a GFI. If that is all that is stopping anyone from buying one I suggest doing as I did and you won't regret it. I found the solid aluminum legs move around too much compared to traditional steel legs. |
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Kevin Barber
From:
Marianna, Florida, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 6:08 pm
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There are other brands out there, but you specifically asked about either a GFI or a Mullen.
They are both good steels and they both play good.
My first steel was a GFI Ultra SD-10. After a few months of getting it, I changed out the GFI pickup and the tone improved. The GFI is light, easy to work on and seems pretty solid.
A year after I got the GFI, I sold it and bought a Mullen Royal Precision SD10. It's a little heavier than the GFI and the tone was better (to me anyway)with the stock Mullen pickup. The pedals have an easier action.
You may be happy with either one, but I'm happier with the Mullen, but that's just MY preference, it may not be yours. This is just MY opinion and someone else may have a totally opposite opinion between the two steels, hehe. |
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Mark Hershey
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 6:40 pm
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I would go for a GFI ULTRA.
My favorite GFI tone was when I saw Bob Dylan play on The Late Show and his steel player was on a Black GFI Ultra. Sounded incredible. Just based on that recording I've always had a bad case of G.A.S. for GFI and hope to have one someday.
I've heard incredible things about GFIs from other players, especially the late great Bobbe Seymour.
Like everyone else has said, you can't go wrong with either. My guitar teacher had a Mullen and it sounded/played amazing. It really just comes down to personal preference. |
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Rich Upright
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 6:46 pm
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Not familiar with GFI mechanics, but I own a Mullen & can tell you...it walks all over the GFI tone wise.
_________________
A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag. |
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Harry Johansen
From:
Kvalsund.Norway/Valencia Dumaguete,Phils.
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 10:15 pm
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| Your neighbour country Germany is also worth to check,please check WBS steelguitar,even Sarah Jory plays a WBS. |
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Per Berner
From:
Skovde, Sweden
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Posted 30 Aug 2016 10:28 pm
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The easiest way to decide is probably to get in touch with your fellow Dane, Henning Kock in Odder. He usually has several fine steels for sale, and knows just about everything about them!
Try h e n n i n g k m u s i c at h o t m a i l . c o m |
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Karsten Pedersen
From:
Denmark
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Posted 31 Aug 2016 8:35 am
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Thanks guys/gals,- it all helps and I will post my decision shortly.  |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 31 Aug 2016 11:00 pm
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Mullen has far better tone. Both have excellent mechanics and under the hood engineering. I love GFI knee levers, they can work in either direction.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 1 Sep 2016 5:05 am
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Have you played either of those steels ?
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Bob |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 2 Sep 2016 3:32 am
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I think that you should buy one of each,Then sell the one that you like less.They are both great guitars! 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 2 Sep 2016 4:58 am
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Between those two, Mullen...no contest. I'm not afraid to say it. GFI is a little lighter, but that's it.
I'm going to edit this reply and instead of deleting it just say that Mullen is my personal preference. After listening to people like Pete Finney, Norm Hamlet, Mike Sigler, Ralph Mooney, Fred Newell et al. play GFI that they must be a fine guitar and they sound just fine.
Like Charlie Stepp of Derby said one time when someone was disparaging "Brand X", "nothing wrong with that guitar, lots of good guitars out there....people wouldn't be playing them if they weren't".
....Therefore, I concur with those that stated...try 'em for yourself if you can. Not everybody likes the same thing.
Last edited by Jerry Overstreet on 2 Sep 2016 4:11 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Asa Brosius
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Posted 2 Sep 2016 6:03 am
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| Both companies make a few different models. If at all possible you should play these guitars before buying a new one. |
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Steven Tekulsky
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2016 7:41 am Mullen?
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| I'm a beginner...bought a Carter Starter and soon found that it was flimsy, hard to use pedals and levers....got a great deal on a Mullen Discovery here.....and love it! |
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Mark Hershey
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 5 Sep 2016 8:06 am
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| Jerry Overstreet wrote: |
Between those two, Mullen...no contest. I'm not afraid to say it. GFI is a little lighter, but that's it.
I'm going to edit this reply and instead of deleting it just say that Mullen is my personal preference. After listening to people like Pete Finney, Norm Hamlet, Mike Sigler, Ralph Mooney, Fred Newell et al. play GFI that they must be a fine guitar and they sound just fine.
Like Charlie Stepp of Derby said one time when someone was disparaging "Brand X", "nothing wrong with that guitar, lots of good guitars out there....people wouldn't be playing them if they weren't".
....Therefore, I concur with those that stated...try 'em for yourself if you can. Not everybody likes the same thing. |
I couldn't agree more with your update. The recorded and live tones of a gfi I have heard on live YouTube recordings by the players you have mentioned along with Donnie Herron sound really good to my ears. Often when I have to buy a piece of musical equipment that I can't try out I listen to recordings by the pros to hear The full potential. There is a lot of good music to be made on a GFI. Same goes for Mullen you just have to go for what is right for you. |
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