Tuning for Mullen steel

Daniel Gillett · Posted 1 Aug 2002 4:40 pm

I just got a used Mullen steel while my LeGrande III was sent back to Emmons for repairs this week. Does anyone have the tuning stats for this guitar? My Emmons tuning did NOT work. This info would sure save me a lot of time before I go through and retune all of the pedals and levers.
Thanks, Dan

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

There is really no such thing as a chart for a particular brand of guitar. It's not that simple (unfortunately). Different Mullens will tune differently -- as will different Emmons guitars or any brand -- it's more a very subtle variation from guitar to guitar.

My advice would be to start with Jeff Newman's tuning chart and see if that sounds better than what you're using. Listen carefully for what sounds out to you and tweak it as you think sounds best, then write that down and use it for that guitar. Once your ear is developed so that you can tune from an E note, by ear, you can refine all the open strings and pedal/lever pulls to suit your own tuning prejudices. WE ALL HAVE THEM. There, unfortunately, is no 'one size fits all' formula for tuning a pedal steel.

Hope this helps.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2000 Fessenden S-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Good advice Larry.....al

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

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[This message was edited by Jeff Lampert on 02 August 2002 at 08:13 AM.]

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Tune it by ear then take the readings off the meter. I have owned Mullens with considerable cabinet drop. Your fifth string pedals down may have to go well past 10 cents flat to get the beats out. Watch that E string for drop on the meter when you push A&B down.

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