Show us your Williams steel guitar

Instruments, mechanical issues, copedents, techniques, etc.

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Ian Rae
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Location: Redditch, England
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Post by Ian Rae »

I've had this since September - I think I may have posted it on a thread about keyless guitars, but here it is now on this one. It's 7x5 B6/E9 uni.

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I've had to change a couple of things. Bill hadn't allowed for the Day setup and positioned the left knee levers too far to the left (I sit quite far to the right as well) but it was no big deal to move them.

Non-uni players skip this next bit!

It's only a 3up/3down changer and I need 4 raises on string 9:-

A pedal to C#
D lever to D
P8 to B#
CKV to B# (as well as lowering 5 to A#)

To get the 4th raise, he had bridged over to the first lower hole to deliver it as a split tuning. Unfortunately, to keep the rodding neat he chose the A pedal raise to do this, which meant that I could not then raise 5 to C# and 9 to D at the same time to get the 13th chord I'm used to. So I rerodded it to put the split on P8 where it causes no trouble - not as neat, but who's going to see?

None of this is intended as a criticism of Bill Rudolph, who has created yet another beautiful guitar with engineering quality to match.
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs
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Mike Selecky
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Location: BrookPark, Ohio

Post by Mike Selecky »

I also received this guitar this past September:

7x6 E9/B6th

Great guitar!


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Jon Light
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Post by Jon Light »

I've got a Williams double wide E9/B6 8+8 Uni on order. No due date just yet but....soon?
I will need to 'cobble' an extra change too -- My setup wants 4 lowers on string 8. I have achieved this on another guitar by using the basic idea of the 'infinite changes' of a rack & barrel Bud. It is a 'want' change, not a 'need' change so I will figure it out once I get the guitar. Maybe I'll go with a lower/raise finger adapter gizmo instead.
Rick Bernauer
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Joined: 15 Mar 2014 9:57 am
Location: Kansas, USA

Post by Rick Bernauer »

Here's my Williams 8x5 E9/C6 - great guitar.



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Stu Schulman
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Joined: 15 Oct 1998 12:01 am
Location: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Post by Stu Schulman »

Really nice to see people playing Bill Rudolph's Gems.
These guitars are great!!
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
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Jonathan Mitguard
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Joined: 21 Aug 2002 12:01 am
Location: San Rafael, California, USA

Post by Jonathan Mitguard »

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Mullen and Williams SU12, Owens Square neck dobro. Amps evolving Princeton II reverb w/ eminence Double T 12"
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Johnie King
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Joined: 7 Apr 2014 11:09 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by Johnie King »

I had this for a little while let me tell you Bill builds a wonderful pedal steel!!!
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Michael Meader
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Joined: 24 Nov 2017 9:37 am
Location: Michigan, USA

Post by Michael Meader »

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Jeremy Threlfall
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Joined: 3 Aug 2006 12:01 am
Location: now in Western Australia

Post by Jeremy Threlfall »

heres another photo - it looks just as nice in black and white!


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John Palumbo
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Joined: 8 Mar 2010 12:31 pm
Location: Lansdale, PA.

Williams

Post by John Palumbo »

Truly beautiful great guitars I own a 700 series S10, did have issues with the clear coat, just peeling away. But with that still possibly considering purchasing another Willy. Mine also does not have gauged rollers, but the website states gauged rollers as standard.
Steve Mueller
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Joined: 18 Nov 2010 3:19 pm
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Post by Steve Mueller »

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The D-12 Williams Sisters, a blonde and a brunette!
2016 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2015 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2023 Williams S12 4 x 5, Milkman Amps, 1974 Gibson Byrdland
Daniel McKee
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Location: Corinth Mississippi

Post by Daniel McKee »

Steve, I like your guitars. I've heard recordings of you play and they sound really good.
Steve Mueller
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Post by Steve Mueller »

Thanks Dan, We're working on the 3rd RCX album now, due to be released around 5/1/20. I've used both on recordings, same tuning and copedent. They're wonderful playing guitars, and lookers too!!
2016 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2015 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2023 Williams S12 4 x 5, Milkman Amps, 1974 Gibson Byrdland
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Nick Waugh
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Joined: 31 May 2013 8:37 am
Location: United Kingdom

Post by Nick Waugh »

My caption for Michael Meader's picture:

"Well officer Michael was speed picking. He got faster and faster until there was an explosion, and all that was left of him was his shoes!"
Tommy Boswell
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Joined: 4 Jan 2008 1:59 pm
Location: Virginia, USA

One more Williams

Post by Tommy Boswell »

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My first D10. Bill had this one in stock ready to ship, built it for a steel show that got cancelled during the lockdown. I called at the right time. Williams guitars are great.

(Note: When I asked Bill why there was no "700 Series" designation on the guitar, he said it's beyond 700, and they have stopped putting series numbers on their guitars.)
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Johnie King
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Post by Johnie King »

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Richard Sinkler
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Location: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Post by Richard Sinkler »

This was my Williams. I sold it several years ago.


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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 53 years and still counting.
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Larry Ball
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Location: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

Post by Larry Ball »

My SD12 Extended E9
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Mullen SD10, Sho~Bud SD10 LDG, Show-Pro SD10 LDG, Peavey Nashville 112, Telonic's F100 Multi-Taper Super Pro V/P, too many other guitars, amps and effects to mention.
Steve Mueller
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Post by Steve Mueller »

Larry,
Is that Bordeaux? Nice!!
2016 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2015 Williams D12 8 x 8, 2023 Williams S12 4 x 5, Milkman Amps, 1974 Gibson Byrdland
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Bryan Crowley
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Joined: 30 Jun 2017 8:15 pm
Location: Crescent, Oklahoma

Williams

Post by Bryan Crowley »

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Larry Ball
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Joined: 14 Nov 2017 4:35 pm
Location: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

Post by Larry Ball »

Yes Steve it is…
Mullen SD10, Sho~Bud SD10 LDG, Show-Pro SD10 LDG, Peavey Nashville 112, Telonic's F100 Multi-Taper Super Pro V/P, too many other guitars, amps and effects to mention.
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John Larson
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Location: Pennsyltucky, USA

Post by John Larson »

Larry Ball wrote:My SD12 Extended E9
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What does that steel weigh case and all?
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5
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Larry Ball
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Location: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

Post by Larry Ball »

Truly I have never really weighted it. However fully assembled it is much lighter than my “Mullen” SD10, this is mainly because of the light weight legs. It is also about 1” shorter in length because of the keyless head.

I believe Greg Cutshaw (forum member) stated his exact guitar weighted 26.9 # and 31.6 # with case.

I have split cases with makes it feel like a feather and for an old guy with a bad back it is a relief.
Mullen SD10, Sho~Bud SD10 LDG, Show-Pro SD10 LDG, Peavey Nashville 112, Telonic's F100 Multi-Taper Super Pro V/P, too many other guitars, amps and effects to mention.
Dan Ray
Posts: 45
Joined: 10 Feb 2021 9:39 am
Location: North Carolina, USA

2023 Williams SD12

Post by Dan Ray »

Here she is, 21 months later. Bless Bill Rudolph and company, she is fantastic.

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I think she's still in the break in period, this is my first new-new guitar. She's got the Rick Schmidt Ext E9 set up with some extras, thanks Rick for the cool ideas.

I'll be honest, I'm feeling a bit discouraged after waiting almost 2 years and spending so much. Not because of Williams (it's literally exactly what I ordered and much more) but by the 2 extra strings. Anyone have any similar antidotes? She's gorgeous and the boys at Williams absolutely nailed it, just curious of how others switched from 10 strings to 12.
Williams D10 600 9x9, Quilter Cub, Helix FX
Steel Newbie.
Over 20 years playing drums and guitar.
Bill McCloskey
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Post by Bill McCloskey »

Funny you should ask. This just arrived today and I've been playing it since it arrived. This one is used, but another friend just got his williams today as well. It is a day of Williams.
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Check out my latest video: My Biggest Fears Learning Steel at 68: https://youtu.be/F601J515oGc
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