Help! Mullen string pin came out.

Dan Kimpel · Post by **Dan Kimpel** » 29 Apr 2017 10:32 am

Does anyone know what length/diameter these are? I found another post on the forum about another guitar and that led me to this site: https://www.mcmaster.com/#roll-pins/=17esptt

My guitar is an '89 Mullen that I just got and I just got done polishing and was putting new strings on for the first time. I thought the string broke, but it turns out the pin went flying. I can't seem to find it, but I think a new one shouldn't be that hard to put in. I haven't even played the guitar yet, and this happens! Anyone who knows what part to get and how to put it in, your help would be much appreciated. I would like to avoid paying to ship this to Mullen to fix what I think should be a simple issue.
Thanks in advance,
Dan

Gary Watkins · Post by **Gary Watkins** » 29 Apr 2017 10:42 am

Check here: http://www.mullenguitars.com/Parts.htm#.WQTd-bpFzIU or with Mickey Adams

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 29 Apr 2017 10:43 am

One phone call to Colorado would likely lead you to a replacement pin.

http://www.mullenguitars.com/index.html#.WQTeghuGOPg

Dan Kimpel · Post by **Dan Kimpel** » 29 Apr 2017 10:54 am

I called and they aren't in on Saturday I assume. I'm pretty ancy, because I've been waiting on shipping, then spent time polishing and oiling everything, and I thought I'd be tuning up and playing today. If I can head to the auto store and grab a part that still may happen. Thanks for the suggestions though! I appreciate all of the help I've gotten in my short time on this forum so far.

Dan Kimpel · Post by **Dan Kimpel** » 29 Apr 2017 10:57 am

Maybe Mickey will chime in, he may know the size of the part.

Dan Kimpel · Post by **Dan Kimpel** » 29 Apr 2017 11:37 am

Upon further inspection, it's broken. Mullen wants 299 +S&H to rebuild and replace the pin. I don't think it needs a rebuild so I guess I'll be doing it on my own. Pretty disappointing to have to take everything apart or spend over 300 on a guitar I'm not even sure I like yet and I already spent almost 2 grand on. This is quite an unexpected and unwelcome turn of events.

Bill Moore (RIP) · Post by **Bill Moore (RIP)** » 29 Apr 2017 12:03 pm

Surely you could buy a new changer finger from Mullen at a reasonable price. That it all you really need.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 29 Apr 2017 1:41 pm

Dan, you will have to remove changer and replace that changer finger and as Bill Moore said, I'm sure you can get one from Mullen for less than $50. It's possible to drill another hole and put in another pin but changer needs to come off anyway so a new finger would be much better. You or someone must have had a string ball not all way on pin which will cause them to break. Had an Emmons that did that and I just replaced finger.
If you have never owned a guitar with those pins, just make sure the string ball is all way against finger when installing new strings. I know how frustrated you feel but an easy fix.

Fred Justice · Post by **Fred Justice** » 29 Apr 2017 3:19 pm

Dan, most pin's are 1/16" x 1/2" at your local hardware store.
If the old one fell out, then you have room to put another one back in.
Use tweezers and a tad of super glue, and some sort of wedge to push it in. should be an easy fix.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 29 Apr 2017 6:40 pm

Mullen wants 299 +S&H to rebuild and replace the pin

to rebuild what? 20 cents pin? Im not understanding this.... what do they want $300 for?

Patrick Huey · Post by **Patrick Huey** » 30 Apr 2017 6:07 am

Damir,
The price was Mullen's quote to rebuild the entire changer.

Patrick Huey · Post by **Patrick Huey** » 30 Apr 2017 6:10 am

Are the fingers available from Mullen interchangeable with a pre RP changer? I helped Dan purchase this guitar from a local lady and shipped it to him. It's an S12 pre RP.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 30 Apr 2017 7:17 am

Patrick Huey wrote:Damir,
The price was Mullen's quote to rebuild the entire changer.

there is no need to rebuild the entire changer if pin got out, just do what Fred told you to do....

Patrick Huey · Post by **Patrick Huey** » 30 Apr 2017 7:47 am

Damir,
The pin unfortunately didn't pop out it broke off.

Dan Kimpel · Post by **Dan Kimpel** » 30 Apr 2017 8:51 am

I should be able to have someone drill out the broken pin and put in a new one from the hardware store. Thanks Fred for the advice in how to replace it. Thanks Patrick for helping me get the guitar. I'm looking forward to playing it one of these days!

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 30 Apr 2017 9:28 am

I would try a pin vise fitted with a mini drill bit (smaller diameter than the roll pin) to manually extract the broken pin from the finger. If it doesn't let loose right away, apply a little heat from a low-wattage soldering iron. Chances are good that it will pull free. Next step would be a manual (non-powered) hand drill. Power tools would be my last resort.

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 30 Apr 2017 12:29 pm

FYI
How pins sometimes can break is because the end of the string is not all the way down on the pin and has slid up on the tip of the pin.
Creates more leverage on the pin.
I did this once and don't recall how I fixed it but I think Jim Flynn from Lone Star steels fixed it for me.

Greg Lambert · Post by **Greg Lambert** » 30 Apr 2017 12:36 pm

This scares me. I have a Derby that has pins. I always wind the string a few times and then push the ends all the way on. I hope this never happens to me.

Dave Grothusen · Post by **Dave Grothusen** » 30 Apr 2017 12:44 pm

In my opinion drilling a steel pin out of aluminum will be a real challenge. And probably a hardened steel pin to boot.

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 30 Apr 2017 3:18 pm

When changing strings on the PP pins I would sick a wooden dowel or something like an eraser to hold the string on the pin.
I have a small round tapered paint brush (about 1/2 inch) that I use and then can brush dust out around the tuners.

Chris Robbins · Post by **Chris Robbins** » 30 Apr 2017 3:50 pm

I don,t know about drilling it out or not I do know I broke a pin in my Justice D10 which was my fault,sent it back to Fred and he fixed it for nothing, now thats what you call great service.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 30 Apr 2017 6:03 pm

I had the a pin shear off on a P/P which was totally my fault......forgot to snug the ball-end of the string up against the changer finger after changing strings.

Anyway, a buddy and I drilled a new hole above the old one and inserted a steel pin. We drilled it without removing the changer.....just punched a mark for the new hole and slowly drilled using an extra long bit while matching the approach angle to that of the other pins. We worked slowly and it was definitely tense but we prevailed.

I wouldn't recommend this route for the faint of heart. Removing the finger is the more prudent procedure, but I had a gig that night and was sufficiently desperate to take the riskier course.

It worked perfectly fine for the next 2 years, until I replaced that changer finger during a total guitar rebuild.

Mitch Ellis · Post by **Mitch Ellis** » 30 Apr 2017 8:44 pm

Dave Grothusen wrote:In my opinion drilling a steel pin out of aluminum will be a real challenge. And probably a hardened steel pin to boot.

My thoughts exactly. If the steel pin is hardened, a standard drill bit will not drill through it, but instead, slide or roll off and get into the aluminum. I would try a tool called an "ease-out", if they make one small enough, to remove the pin.

Mitch

Andy DePaule · Post by **Andy DePaule** » 30 Apr 2017 9:03 pm

Damir Besic wrote:
Mullen wants 299 +S&H to rebuild and replace the pin

to rebuild what? 20 cents pin? Im not understanding this.... what do they want $300 for?

Thats way too high, I'll do it for $295.00 plus shipping

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 30 Apr 2017 9:06 pm

Do not try to drill a hardened steel pin out of aluminum. That is a NO NO. The drill will go off into the soft aluminum and Oh crap.
I worked in a machine shop and many times had people bring in aluminum items they had tried to drill out a pin or screw and made a mess we could not repair properly.

I would suggest remove the finger. Take it to a local machine shop. They deal with broken pins, drills and taps on a regular basis.

The other option is check for clearance. And drill another hole at same angle, just above or below the broken pin and install a new pin.
Good Luck and Happy Steelin.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Help! Mullen string pin came out.

Help! Mullen string pin came out.

broken pin

Help! Mullen's string pin fell out