Does anyone recognize this guitar?

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Timothy Comstock
Posts: 2
Joined: 30 Oct 2025 1:17 pm
Location: Black Mountain

Does anyone recognize this guitar?

Post by Timothy Comstock »

Howdy y'all, I'm new here. Brought home a steel guitar a few days ago and have been learning to play a bit. It has some age on it (the case especially), currently has 3 pedals, 4 knee levers and appears to have had a vertical lever at some point as some hardware remains. Can anyone here tell me anything about it in terms of make or likely time frame? There is what looks to be a place where a brand name was located on the front of the guitar, although it could have been some other type of sticker. The fretboard does say Mullen but I'm not sure that really means much. So far it works well and stays in tune.

IMG_1324[1].JPG
IMG_1325[1].JPG
IMG_1326[1].JPG
The rods seem a bit convoluted/cross over each other unnecessarily, but all the changes tune up fine.
IMG_1327[1].JPG
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Bobby D. Jones
Posts: 3120
Joined: 17 May 2010 9:27 am
Location: West Virginia, USA

Re: Does anyone recognize this guitar?

Post by Bobby D. Jones »

Looks like a piece this, And piece of that guitar. May have been built in late 1970's-80's, My Swag.
Mullen fret board, The changer fingers and mount looks like early MSA.
The top of the body heavy wood, and Neck wood, Both look very well Finished.
The heavy welded aluminum body has excellent forming and welding. Looks like a heavy built GFI body style. Pickup looks to be from an early MSA guitar.
It looks to be a very nice guitar, Built with care. If it tunes up, Plays great, Would be a nice guitar.

Good Luck on your steel journey, Happy Steelin.
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Mike DiAlesandro
Posts: 1888
Joined: 8 May 2010 7:36 am
Location: Kent, Ohio

Re: Does anyone recognize this guitar?

Post by Mike DiAlesandro »

My best guess is it looks like a modified ZB Student guitar, with the ABS shell removed, and the cabinet stained and finished. The changer mount looks correct for that guys, thought the keyhead looks like an MSA style 2 piece keyhead. The front legs look ZB, and the Magnesium frame looks to have been modified at the changer end to accept different changer and pulling system...

Here is a student ZB for comparison -
IMG_0660 Large.jpeg
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Bob Carlucci
Posts: 7271
Joined: 26 Dec 2003 1:01 am
Location: Candor, New York, USA

Re: Does anyone recognize this guitar?

Post by Bob Carlucci »

looks like its a well done parts guitar, put together by someone that knew what they were doing. if it plays good, tunes good, sounds good it IS good. If it were mine, I would not give a minutes thought about what it is, where it came from, or who built it, nor what they built it from..I would play it, and enjoy it for what it is... bob
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!

no gear list for me.. you don't have the time......
Timothy Comstock
Posts: 2
Joined: 30 Oct 2025 1:17 pm
Location: Black Mountain

Re: Does anyone recognize this guitar?

Post by Timothy Comstock »

Thanks for the responses, that's all helpful info. Yeah I'm just happy to have a guitar to play in general, but it's nice to have a bit of understanding of what I'm working with. I assumed aluminum for the box, didn't consider that it may be magnesium. It's a little short for me but I've made it work by putting a book under each of the two legs closest to me. I'll address it in a better way once I can play with some confidence. Other than that, unless/until something breaks it appears to need nothing except to be played.