I think you've hit on the diff between the American stuff and the UK variety -- although Tubby Hayes' outfits never had that problem. I'm not a big Mullen fancier -- but with Auger and Kokomo he used to floor me every time I saw him -- but in this straight-ahead guise he lacks the humor, affable, breezy ease of the American players he is inspired by.
Hey Arno thanks for the kind words! Yes it is like a Melvin sound on the top manual. I think I used 888000000, no chorus, 2nd percussion on slow and loud. It makes for quite a cutting tone on the nord c2d which i dig... :)