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Author
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Topic: GAS attack-----My New Williams Guitars
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Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 07 January 2005 11:47 AM
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Some of you are aware that I suffer from terminal GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome). I am going to have our buddy, Ricky Davis, post some pictures for me of two new Williams guitars that Bill Rudolph recently built for me. I am really proud of these guitars and will let you have a look see before I comment on them any further. 
Erv[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 07 January 2005 at 11:49 AM.] |
Rick Schmidt
Member From: Carlsbad, CA. USA
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posted 07 January 2005 12:13 PM
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Steel guitars give me gas too. |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 07 January 2005 12:31 PM
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I love my new Williams, too. At first, I had planned to continue using my Sierra S-12 for gigs where I don't play C6th, but lately the tone of the Williams has really grabbed me. I've barely touched anything else in the past few months.
 
------------------
 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 07 January 2005 at 12:32 PM.] |
Ricky Davis
Moderator From: Spring, Texas USA
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posted 07 January 2005 01:22 PM
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These are Erv's pics.
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Ron Steenwijk
Member From: Greensburg,PA
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posted 07 January 2005 01:40 PM
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poppelupeeMan these are great looking steel guitars.
Is this a syndrome that you were born with Erv or did someone pass it on to you?
If it is something like influenza please let the person that gave you that drop on by at my house. And IMO ....I like the ones with the keyhead better than the keyless ones.. Ron Nikaro SD10 4x6
E.S.G.F. |
David L. Donald
Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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posted 07 January 2005 01:41 PM
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Very nice |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 07 January 2005 04:31 PM
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The black wood grain doesn't show in my pics, but it's very similar to Erv's. I opted for aluminum necks because I didn't want to risk getting too far from the sound of my first Williams. Maybe someday I'll get a more decorative one. |
Leila Tuttle
Member From: Wheat Ridge, Colorado, USA
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posted 07 January 2005 04:35 PM
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Say, I like that colorful fretboard in the first 2 photos! I hope you didn't expect a more sophisticated review from a beginner.  So what all do you like about the Williams? What does keyless mean? Thanks, Leila |
Gene H. Brown
Member From: Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
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posted 07 January 2005 05:09 PM
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Hi Erv,
Could you tell me what the waiting time is for one of these beautiful steels please?
Thanks
Gene------------------
If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!
;)
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Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 07 January 2005 05:27 PM
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Keyless means that it doesn't have tuning keys. You use the same wrench to tune the strings that you use to tune the pedals.
Yeah, I like the colorful fretboard, too. |
Larry Beck
Member From: Pierre, SD
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posted 07 January 2005 05:50 PM
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Erv:
Very Pretty! Did you get Bill's single coil pickup(s)? I love the sound.
Nice Diamond inlays!Gene: Last I heard the wait is still a few months or less, not a few years. Call Bill and he can give you an estimate. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 07 January 2005 06:34 PM
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Erv, did Bill also come over and lay the carpet for you?, because it matches your D10!Those are breath taking. Congrats and play them in good health. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 07 January 2005 06:37 PM
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Whoa there hoss,....aren't those Fessy fretboards on the D10?  or maybe that fourth vodka is kicking in....[This message was edited by HowardR on 07 January 2005 at 06:39 PM.] |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 07 January 2005 07:36 PM
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Erv, it's too cold up there in Minnesota. It will be too hard on the finish of those 2 showboats. I know of a needy family down here in PA who would take real good care of them. Then I could send my MCI and ZB to the needy Fout family down in Texas. ------------------
MCI D10 8+5, ZB 11/10 8+3 Early 30s Dobro, Harmony Lap Steel, and a whole passel of other toys
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Darvin Willhoite
Member From: Leander, Tx. USA
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posted 07 January 2005 08:08 PM
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Yep, I love my Willy too. Its about 4 years old now and still looks and plays like new.  ------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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Bob Blair
Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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posted 07 January 2005 08:45 PM
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I'm bone dry here Howard, and they sure look like Fessenden fretboards to me! Real pretty guitars. |
steve takacs
Member From: beijing, china
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posted 07 January 2005 10:48 PM
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The really great thing about Williams steels, is that, in addition to the way they sound and play, Bill Rudolph DOES NOT charge extra for lacquer bodies. They cost the same as mica unless you get the special shadded paint job which adds $100 to the price. That's a savings of at least $500 over most builders. Those who have these steels or who have seen them can attest to the artistic work he does on the wood. Howard, I do think you are correct; those look like Fessy fretboards. steve [This message was edited by steve takacs on 07 January 2005 at 10:52 PM.] [This message was edited by steve takacs on 08 January 2005 at 05:32 AM.] |
Les Anderson
Member From: Rossland, BC, Canada
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posted 07 January 2005 10:53 PM
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Bobby Lee; how long is that bar that you are holding in the pic you posted? It looks as though your bar reaches from your finger tips to almost the heal of your hand.------------------
(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)
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CrowBear Schmitt
Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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posted 08 January 2005 04:39 AM
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Lookin' Mighty Good Erv
they must sound even better
Erv don't rope steers
just the darn cat  |
George Mc Lellan
Member From: Duluth, MN USA
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posted 08 January 2005 05:54 AM
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Bill has been using the fretboard pattern for many years as seen on b0b's. I bought my first Willy from him in 86'. The one on Erv's must be a "fake". Geo[This message was edited by George Mc Lellan on 08 January 2005 at 08:41 AM.] |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 08 January 2005 07:59 AM
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I think Erv's havin' too much fun with this fretboard mystery. I'm keepin' my lips sealed, but I know the story. ------------------
MCI D10 8+5, ZB 11/10 8+3 Early 30s Dobro, Harmony Lap Steel, ad infinitum |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 08 January 2005 08:52 AM
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I knew that I couldn't put anything over on you guys!!! Yes, these Williams have Jerry Fessenden's fretboards on them. That's about the only thing I didn't care about on Bill's guitars, the fretboards. They are just a little too "busy" for me. I like the longhorn design of Jerry's fretboards and he was gracious enough to sell me some. His guitars have the same scale length as the Willaims so it really worked out well. In fact, Bill Rudolph is trying to find out where Jerry gets his fretboards and possibly come up with an alternate design for the Williams.
The pickups are Jerry Wallace TruTones. Bill puts a lot of them in his guitars. I waited about 3 months for my guitars. I sent to Constantines for inlay samples, ordered what I liked and had Bill install them. Besides the wood inlays there are strips of mother-of-pearl on each side of them. You see Fessenden guitars like this also.
My SD-10 is a 4 x 5 and my D-10 is a 9 x 10.
Yes, that is correct. I have 10 knee levers on this guitar. I sent Ricky some pictures of the undercarriage but I think they were too fuzzy and he didn't post them. On my right knee, I have separate levers for the E9th neck and the C6th neck, so that's the reason for the 10 knee levers. Bill can give you just about anything you want on a guitar. And as was mentioned above, he doesn't charge any extra for a lacquered guitar.
If you have any more questions, I'd sure be pleased to answer them.
Erv |
Ricky Davis
Moderator From: Spring, Texas USA
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posted 08 January 2005 10:30 AM
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Here's the underside of the D-10 Erv sent me.
Ricky |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 08 January 2005 04:12 PM
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Extruded knee levers.....nice! |
Patrick Carlson
Member From: Sutton, Nebraska, USA
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posted 08 January 2005 04:22 PM
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Super looking Axe Erv. Has Mrs. Niehaus been up to your Music room lately?  [This message was edited by Patrick Carlson on 08 January 2005 at 04:24 PM.] |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 08 January 2005 07:56 PM
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Les, that's a BJS 15/16" bar. It's 3 & 9/16" long. |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 09 January 2005 07:37 AM
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Pat,
I have soooooo many guitar cases sitting around anymore that my wife quit asking me questions or counting.
Yes, I really like those extruded knee levers. I even had Bill make me some longer ones for the left knee. It seemed like the ends hit me in the middle of the knee and didn't feel very good. He made me some 2" longer and that did the trick. Bill aims to please, a typical Minnesotan!
Erv[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 09 January 2005 at 07:40 AM.] |
Terry Sneed
Member From: El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
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posted 09 January 2005 03:11 PM
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Them are purty Erv! I think you should post some sound clips on here so we can here just what the Williams steels sound like. I don't think I've ever heard a Williams.
Terry ------------------
Zum D10 /8x5 / session 500rd
steelin for my Lord
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Jack Anderson
Member From: Scarborough, ME
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posted 09 January 2005 04:52 PM
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I have an S-10, 5+5 that I bought from Al Marcus last year, which I think has one of Bill's own pickups in it, and it sounds sooooo sweet! As much as I love my Jerry Wallace-equipped Sho-Bud (and my other, stock Bud), there is something really special in the sound of that Williams. And it has beautiful lacquer, it's light and wonderfully engineered. Mr. Bill has a real way with these little guitars. |
Jim Bob Sedgwick
Member From: Clinton, Missouri USA
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posted 09 January 2005 05:34 PM
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Terry: Log onto Williams guitars (They can be found under Links). There are some sound samples there. I've Played Williams guitars since 1985. Just about any tone any all pull guitar can generate can be found on a Williams. My current one is about 14 years old and still plays like new and sounds great. |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 10 January 2005 09:50 AM
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Another neat thing about these guitars is that the foot pedal rods have little numbered plastic markers that fit around the rods so there is no mix up on which rods go where. I think Bill has these for sale if you want to put them on your brand X.
Erv |
Pete Burak
Member From: Portland, OR USA
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posted 10 January 2005 10:22 AM
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How do you Keyless Williams owners like the Keyless tuning system used on this brand?
I am concidering getting an S12U Keyless (one of these days )like the one pictured at the bottom of the Sights & Sounds link: http://www.williamsguitarcompany.com/Sights%20and%20Sounds.htm?Sights+%2B+Sounds=Sights+%26+Sounds
I like the compact look, with laquer finish/wood body, and aluminum neck.Can anyone post a close up of the Keyless tuner system?
Coming from a Keyless where you don't need a tool to tune the open strings, I have a few questions...
Is there any noticable play when fine tuning using the tuning wrench?
Any issue with loose threads or worn threads over time?
Anything that you think is a concern?
Did you get used to having to use the wrench to tune the open strings?
Do the tuners rotate smoothly and are they easy to turn?
Is there a locking system?
How would you rate the tuning precision (ability to fine tune or micro adjust +/- a cent or two), and tuning stability?
Also, it looks like there is a black colored piece near the nut, what is that?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
~pb
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Glenn Suchan
Member From: Austin, Texas
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posted 10 January 2005 10:46 AM
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Pete, The black "piece" is/are actually the tuning fingers on the gearless mechanism. Keep on pickin'!
Glenn |
Daniel Vorp
Member From: Sarver, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 11 January 2005 09:21 AM
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Hi Erv, allow me to chime in here. I also just received a new Williams guitar. It's a beautiful teal color, all birdseye wood with what I call a rope inlay and a True Tone pickup installed. I ordered it having never really seen or played one, just based upon online pics and nothing but positive comments on the Forum. When I first pulled it out of the case I was stunned at how beautiful and intense the color is. The craftmanship and attention to detail are first rate. It plays very well. Regarding the sound of the guitar, it offers clear definition and sustains quite nicely. Ordering it like I did, it sort of felt like waiting on a blind date. This blind date turned out to be all I had hoped for. My appreciation goes out to Bill Rudolph for an excellent job on my new Williams guitar. |
Erv Niehaus
Member From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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posted 11 January 2005 01:26 PM
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Daniel,
Yes, I totally agree. Bill is certainly a stickler for details. I forgot to mention before that his vertical levers are "double jointed" so you can bend them back flat against the guitar when you put it in the case. Also, they are totally adjustable to the proper angle of the dangle you are looking for. |
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