Return of the Mono Cones
Return of the Mono Cones
The short of it: we are making mono-cones again in addition to the tricones. New sounds mean new songs and unwritten songs are why we do this work. You can get on the list here: https://www.muleresophonic.com/products/20969-steel-bodied-resonator
The long of it: In 2012, after learning that playing music on stage was the least fun thing in the world for me, I decided I wanted to make tools for musicians. I could be part of the music without being on stage. So apparently I’ve spent the last 13 years modeling my career after Richard Miller in my favorite movie, “Almost Famous”. I understand the humor and irresponsibility of this model but luckily traveling a "long road to the middle" has worked out ok so far.
In the beginning I was trying lots of ideas at once. It was a necessity - I didn’t know anything so I certainly didn’t know what I should be doing or not. I was hoping I would figure out what worked before I starved or had to go back to temp work in a factory. Eventually temp work won out over starving. The midnight shift manager asked our group, "So which one of you likes to work out?" I didn't at the time but the others disliked it more. We walked to the front of the CNC line along walls completely covered in blue fluid. My job was to stand in the puddle of coolant and to use a hook to swing newly forged engine blocks from the mile of pallets behind me onto the line. It was difficult. At home my lungs felt heavy from the mist. I eventually found a steel pallet I could stand on instead of the puddle. I noticed the chipped blue paint and the rusted metal underneath and it was beautiful in a terrible place. Inspiration. Eventually I had 12 guitar orders and so Mule began.
As I started to figure the guitars out I learned I needed to limit the things I was doing so I could get better one thing at a time. The tricone set up with F holes wasn't being offered so I settled on that. It gave musicians a new sound.
The long of it: In 2012, after learning that playing music on stage was the least fun thing in the world for me, I decided I wanted to make tools for musicians. I could be part of the music without being on stage. So apparently I’ve spent the last 13 years modeling my career after Richard Miller in my favorite movie, “Almost Famous”. I understand the humor and irresponsibility of this model but luckily traveling a "long road to the middle" has worked out ok so far.
In the beginning I was trying lots of ideas at once. It was a necessity - I didn’t know anything so I certainly didn’t know what I should be doing or not. I was hoping I would figure out what worked before I starved or had to go back to temp work in a factory. Eventually temp work won out over starving. The midnight shift manager asked our group, "So which one of you likes to work out?" I didn't at the time but the others disliked it more. We walked to the front of the CNC line along walls completely covered in blue fluid. My job was to stand in the puddle of coolant and to use a hook to swing newly forged engine blocks from the mile of pallets behind me onto the line. It was difficult. At home my lungs felt heavy from the mist. I eventually found a steel pallet I could stand on instead of the puddle. I noticed the chipped blue paint and the rusted metal underneath and it was beautiful in a terrible place. Inspiration. Eventually I had 12 guitar orders and so Mule began.
As I started to figure the guitars out I learned I needed to limit the things I was doing so I could get better one thing at a time. The tricone set up with F holes wasn't being offered so I settled on that. It gave musicians a new sound.
Recently my friend Tom Feldman has started pestering me for some single cones and what I've learned is that if musicians start pestering you for a tool you should make it. And so here we are: the mono-cones have returned.
It's all happening.