Rebuilding Mullen S12

[Dennis Detweiler]

Bruce Zumsteg made a jig for drilling tiny holes in pull rods. I never saw it, but assume some kind of small metal block with an 1/8 inch hole to insert the rod and another pin size hole 90 degrees to guide the bit into the rod? Likely a high carbon or stainless block.

[Bobby D. Jones]

I considered making a jig.
If I was doing 100's of rods I would have made a jig. It would take a tool steel /drill rod hardened threaded insert for the drill bit, So it would not wallow out the hole and go off center.

[Bob Carlucci]

This guitar came from near the Atlantic Ocean. I wonder if salty sea mist caused this problem.

I worked on the cross rods today, I used a wheel of steel wool with a plastic binder, It took the weird crud off.
The cross shafts, Pull rods, Little plates that the pull rod hooks into, Pedal stop brackets and changer bar stop plate are Cadmium plated. The cadmium and chemical reaction is the problem.
I think shinney stainless steel pull rods would give the under carriage a classier look.

it could be 2 feet from the Atlantic and it would be unaffected by salt, unless splashed directly by salt water.. There is no such thing as "salt air".. Thats a fairy tale. Salt does not suspend with water vapor. Those pull rods look like many I have seen on a pedal steel after a few years,,,Just a slight amount of pretty much normal oxidation. Polish them if you want, but an oily rag once a year would preserve them as is for the life of the guitar, and they would work fine...

[Mickey Adams]

I bought this guitar about 13 years ago…
This was one of the first S12s that I overhauled …
I believe I converted it to EXE9

[Bobby D. Jones]

Hi Mickey: It was set up Mullen 12 Uni. tuning when I got it.
But it was out of adjustment in several ways. Had some levers tuning nuts backed way off.
I am setting it up Jeff Newman Uni. to match my GFI.

[Bobby D. Jones]

I hid out today, Waiting on the big storm the weather profits are talking about.
I am glad to be putting parts back on. Nut rollers lubed and installed. New Strings. Started rodding it up.

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Got A-B-C pedals rodded, Got RKR rodded. Great to see tuning nuts in the tuning window. New rods looks great.

[Bobby D. Jones]

With the cold weather, Schools closed. Good day to work on guitar. "Slowly" "Together Again".
I got all the Rods, Bell Cranks, In guitar for 12 Jeff Newman Uni. tuning. Took more time, Changing pedals and moving knee levers. (On hold now) I am now debating to add raises that is on my GFI Keyless. Raise 1st F# to G#, 2nd D# to E.

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The new stainless Steel rods, Was more work, But look much better. About time to go 1 change at a time, Setting up the guitar.

[Brian Lee]

Nice work! That's looking great! Thanks for the tip on the sleeve for supporting small drill bits- great idea to prevent wandering of the tip from flex of the bit, and also a great tip on knocking the burr off after center punching. I'll be trying both methods the next time I drill rods for cotter pins. Keep up the great work!

[Bobby D. Jones]

Since I had made new rods for LKR, Have bell cranks, aluminum sleeves and nylon tuning nuts.
I installed on string 1 the F# to G#, On string 2 the D# to E. Now to setting the guitar up.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Friday got A-B-C pulls set up, Got 3 horizonal knee levers pulls set up. Having trouble with the Lower Return Spring on LKV B to A# lower. It thinks its a rubber band, Instead a steel spring.