MULLEN!! (update of buying advice thread)

[Malcolm]

Robert, you have no chance of getting a penny out of me, I have to live up to the image Mr Blyng has created for me.

Robbie, you are getting a great guitar, I had a pre RP D10 for a couple of years and only reason I sold it was the weight, my back was suffering.On day I got it I called Mr Gamble to say I had a plank of wood I was having a problem with could he come up and give me a hand.He duly turned up with tool box, you should have seen his face when he saw the Mullen, he sat there for about three hours playing it, only going when I changed into my night gown and started yawning.After twenty years of telling him to buy a decent guitar he was finally convinced. Mike and the guys at Mullen are great to deal with, talked to them many times at Dallas Show.Enjoy your new guitar.

[Robbie]

Thanks Malcolm

Nick, thanks for your foreboding message (it reads as slightly mean spirited?) but luckily I thought about those same concerns. I've been stung just buying little things from the states in the past. Anyway, I'm buying it through Promenade Music in Morecambe, so they have given me a final uk price so I know where I stand. I'd be worrying about all the extra costs instead if looking frwd to its arrival!

Yes good point Robert about the player not the guitar and my bum is on the seat practicing 24/7 to try and do the instrument justice!

[Nick Bidmade]

Mean-spirited - moi? The tax-man would have done me for over £300 had I not been vigilant. A warning to us all. Hope your Mullen is everything you hoped for.

[Donny Johnston]

I haven't played a Mullen so can't comment, BUT, if it made sound like Willie Gamble I might think about it. That's all I have to say about that. Donny.

[Robbie]

Nick I got the tone of your post wrong but yeah I completely agree with you about the potential horrors of duty and vat etc

I was pointed to this article which is a good read re: importing guitars

http://www.promenademusic.co.uk/importi ... om-america

I'll keep you all posted on the Mullens progress!

[Malcolm]

Visit Dallas show, and bring one back as baggage.I am not encouraging anyone to do anything illegal, just saying.

[Danny Mitchell]

Yay! Smuggling! If you've got the readies that's the way to go Enjoy a good trip to a steel show and get your heart rate up as you mince through the 'nothing to declare' exit

That was an interesting read Robbie. I bought my guitar through those gents and found them very pleasant to deal with.

[Malcolm]

Robbie, got to disagree with with the first part of that article, aircraft holds are pressurised, and in fact some are heated, depending on type of aircraft E.g. Pure freighter config, the cargo can be carried in main body of aircraft. As a ex airline loading supervisor, and later Station Controller for a national airline, can say I have seen thousands of instruments carried without damage , my own included going to U.S.A , Canada, all over Europe, and indeed shipping one I sold to Japan.Of course there are ones that get damaged, every sort of shipping involves risk, but if packed in correct case this is greatly minimised. You need to look into all the inherent costs and weigh up what suits you, or you can indeed do as you have done and use a reputable retailer or agent such as Promenade or Ted Nesbitt

[Ken Byng]

My only experience with a Mullen was not a successful one. I bought an immaculate red lacquer Royal Precision D10 with so called 'polished package' from a friend in this country. Finish wise it was a stunner. I kept it for about 18 months, but it had such an overly bright tone it would take the skin off your teeth. Even trying to EQ the tone through the amp didn't improve it for me. The tone just had no 'body' to it compared to my other guitars. Push pull guitars are famous for their very clean bright tone, but my Mullen was way, way brighter in tone than my push pull. Also the sustain was not good above the 12th fret.

It must have just been a one off, as Willie and Derek get great tone out of their Mullens. My great friend Buck Reid has been a relatively recent convert to Mullen, and Buck won't play an inferior guitar. Same too with Tommy White.

Perhaps I should have taken it over to the States and let the guys at Mullen give it the once over.

Not trying to put you off Robbie - just stating how it was with my only experience with a Mullen guitar.

[Malcolm]

Robbie, ignore old Blyng, you should hear what he says about my MSA