Matt Eich founded Mule Resophonics to deliver fresh innovations on resonator design. Mule guitars are resonators with warmth and depth that combine traditional elements with modern features, yet they remain easy to play and full of nuance. Mule introduces new sounds that give players a new resonator experience that will in turn inspire new songs and new music. With that in mind, it's no surprise so many Mule designs are out of the box.
The Mule Mavis approaches the resonator with the feel and functionality of the electric guitar, expanding the resonator range and providing access to new textures and tone colors. The Mavis features a a biscuit-bridge resonator set into the solid body of an electric guitar. The body is compact and ergonomic, and it is loaded with Mule's own Tomthumbucker, a low-output mini humbucker wound in-house by Mule. The magnetic pickup makes the Mavis drop in immediately to your electric rig, while the internal resonator system introduces a distinctive layer of air, compression, and natural reverb that set it apart from traditional solid-body tones.
The Modest Mavis is the stripped-down, non-cutaway version of the Mavis. This Modest Mavis was made recently, and it is serial #445M. It features the classic Boot finish with a flat back and Flame Maple pickguard. The scale length is 25-1/4", and the nut width measures 1-11/16". In practice, the one-pickup guitar with no controls becomes remarkably versatile, not because it has tons of options, but because it encourages you explore the nuances of your playing. It responds well to a light touch, rewarding fingerstyle players with clarity and articulation, while also holding together under heavier attack with a focused, slightly gritty edge. There’s a percussive quality to the note fundamental—an inherent “thump” and bloom—that gives the classic resonator presence, whether played clean or pushed into overdrive. It’s at home in roots-oriented styles, but well suited to push into more experimental contexts.
This 2020s Mule Modest Mavis has been played and enjoyed, so it shows some minor scuffs and signs of play wear. Because there's no binding, there are some dings and marks around the edges. The worst is on the back right by the end pin, a ding and a little scratch (see photos). There's some minor pickwear around the picking area, and there's some hanger yoke wear around the back edge of the peghead. It's not a small neck profile by any means, and the V shape feels nice and comfortable in your hands. The setup is low enough to get around, but high enough to dig in and play slide. It includes its original tweed case and cool paperwork from Mule