Closed thread. Many thanks to all of the forum members!

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 12:29 pm

Many thanks to all of the forum members who helped me with the punch problem on my Mullen. I think I have enough good answers to find my problem for the punch on my steel.

Thank you! Don

Bud Angelotti · From: Larryville, NJ, USA

Try going steel straight into the amp. No volume pedal, no gadgets, just a cable that you know works properly. Does it still not sound right? Then it's the wiring on the steel/pickup, the amp, or the amp settings. If it sounds good, then it's your pedal, a cable or gadgets. Oh, and do you only have the problem when your using backing tracks? Headphones?

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Is your Mullen a Royal or an original? It is my experience that E66 is not a good match for Mullen guitars. Nothing else will deliver the optimum sound of Mullen guitars like those original single coils built by the Mullen folks, particularly on the low end.

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 12:52 pm

Hi Bud!
I have my backing tracks separate from the the other items and I don't use ear phones. I will try your idea's after I get my new strings on the steel.
Thank you Bud!

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 1:05 pm

Hi Jerry!
The Mullen was a double neck, but changed to a single neck with a pad. It is a used Mullen. I don't know if it is a Royal. The guitar is in good shape and is blue in color with a marble look. I don't know if the E-66 was the original.

If the pick-up is the problem, what would be a good choice for replacement of the E-66 pick-up, to get the sound it's suppose to have?

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Well, first try those things that have been suggested to you. They may prove satisfactory.

My advice on pickups would be to contact Mike or Del at Mullen guitars, give them the serial # off your guitar and go with their recommendation.

Good Luck. Mullens are great guitars and I'm sure you will love it more when you are able to get the sound you are looking for out of it. It is there I promise you.

If it were a Royal Precision, it would probably have a label on the left side. Also have slots on the bridge fingers for stringing rather than pins.

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 1:28 pm

Bud and Jerry, would a blackbox help me with the better note and chord sounds if I wanted to play professionally someday? I would like to hear the differences on a video someday, with and without the blackbox.

It sure would be nice for a beginner to have some video's to watch different steel player's demonstrate the different electronic's and there sounds so a guy knows how to mix and match them for the sounds he is looking for. Is there any websites or video's out there that has this for beginners?

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Don, I don't have any experience with the Black Box. I've only heard very good things about it, but without personal hands on I have no basis to comment on how how it affects your sound.

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

What kind of thumbpick are you using?

How fresh are the strings?

How close is the pickup to the strings?

Brad

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I would advise trading for an Emmons p/p or a Zum Hybrid. Very Happy

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 2:08 pm

Thank you Jerry for all your help. Keep in contact and enjoy the rest of your day.
Don

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 2:15 pm

Hi Brad!
My thumb pick is a Dunlop(large) and my finger picks are ProPik #2.

My steel bar is Ernie Ball. My strings are JagWire and I'm replacing them after 3 months. I practice the steel
about 3 times a week.

Thanks!
Don

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 2:22 pm

Hi Erv!
Erv, why would you choose Emmons and Zum pedal steels over Mullen?

Is the sound better? Please give me some advice because I'm still a beginner and what to learn more about the different guitars.

Thank you!

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 2:26 pm

Brad

I forgot to tell you that the pick-up is about 3/16" to 1/4" below my strings.

Don

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Don,
The Emmons p/p is noted for its "growl" on the lower strings.
The Zum Hybrid has a changer that is a combination between an all pull (like a Mullen) and the p/p like on an Emmons. I can hear the "growl" when I play my Zum.

BTW: The thickness of two quarters is kind of the recommended distance between the strings and pickup. Very Happy

john widgren · From: Wilton CT

I have a pair of Mullen original single coil pickups that came out of a G2. Like new. Very nice.

If you want em, you can have one for $70.00 or the pair for $130. shipping included.

Best JW
_________________
Steel Guitar Services:
Live performance and recording. Instruments, repairs and lessons. Fresh bait/discount sushi.
(203) 858-8498
widcj@hotmail.com

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I'm pretty sure G2 pickups only fit the wide mounts slots of G2's. The earlier RP and pre RP all take narrow mount models. FWIW.

john widgren · From: Wilton CT

Yes...Widemounts on the G2 pickups...thanks for the heads up!

Best,

JW
_________________
Steel Guitar Services:
Live performance and recording. Instruments, repairs and lessons. Fresh bait/discount sushi.
(203) 858-8498
widcj@hotmail.com

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 3:32 pm

Hi John!
John I measured the open slot where my pick-up is located and it is 4 1/2" long and 1 3/8" wide. Let me know if those pick-ups you have will fit my steel.

Don

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 3:46 pm

Hey guy's..I just notice on the Mullen websites pick-up coil and parts area..that Mullen does sell the single pick-ups and the George L/E-66 coils. I wonder why the E-66?

Don

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Some people like the E66 so they offer them as an option I suppose. Those, the 10-1 Geo. L's and other humbucker pickups are definitely quieter at wide open pedal than the single coils. This may be a concern for recording or just more desirable for some players.

I guess it's their desire to offer whatever the customer wants.

Feel free to disregard my comments concerning the E66. My preference was just a personal thing. Not everyone likes the same thing.

BTW, I sent you a forum Private Message too.

john widgren · From: Wilton CT

Dear Don,

Jerry is absolutely right (thanks Jerry,) those widemount pickups of mine from the G2 wont fit yer geetar. I double checked the dimensions you provided, so you want to be sure to get a narrow mount iteration of whatever pickup you decide upon..

There's a lot of good stuff out there...good luck, and best wishes.

John
_________________
Steel Guitar Services:
Live performance and recording. Instruments, repairs and lessons. Fresh bait/discount sushi.
(203) 858-8498
widcj@hotmail.com

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Wasn't my intent to interfere, just thought I should point out differences since I put the recommendation for Mullen originals out there. John's one of the good guys around here and you can trust anything he tells you to be the law.

Don Christy · Posted 29 Feb 2012 5:23 pm

Thank you John and Jerry for sharing this great information with me.This is why I like this forum,we all help each other so we can solve our problems so we can play our steel again.
Can you imagine if we did not have this forum.We would be up the creek as the old timers would say.
Thank you all for your feed back!

Don

Brett Lanier · From: Hermitage, TN

I doubt you'll find the answer to your problems buy buying a new guitar or gadget. I hate to see nice guys fall into that just because of what some people write on the internet. We're all entitled to our opinions but I think there is plenty to be gained by sticking with what you've got for a while and learning to work with it.

Besides raising or lowering the pickup, something that comes to mind is how you're setting the low end on your amp. When I was just starting I always wanted to turn the bass up more than it needed to go so that the high strings would sound good, but that made the low strings muddy. As I learned to play better, I realized that picking the strings properly gives you a fuller sound without having to eq it in. So, less eq perhaps. It might bring out the real sound of the guitar a little better, and clearer.

Now I'm going to go against my original train of thought and say it might be a good idea to put a mullen single coil in there, and I absolutely love the low end on my Emmons(when I pick it right!).

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