The Steel Guitar Forum

Erv. The Fulawka guitar is stunning!! That is one of the nicest looking instruments I have ever seen a picture of.

Bill,
Thank you for the compliments on the Fulawka. The Fulawka is truly a hand made instrument. Every one is Eddie Fulawka's baby. I added some levers to it after I got it and Ed wasn't so sure he should sell me the parts because he didn't want just anybody fooling around with one of his creations!

Bob,
The Fessenden has the same scale length as the Williams. That's why the fretboards work out so well. I did the same thing on my Zum. I really like Jerry's longhorn fretboards.
I told Bill Rudolph that that was the only thing I didn't like about his guitar so he put the Fessenden fretboards on it for me. He's such a nice guy.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but here's another shot of the Fulawka:

I went to see Bill last Friday as I had a problem with my SuperPro changer (it's not a Williams but Bill still fixed it) and was looking at a couple guitars he had finished. One was a single neck Blue Darlin' (possibly still available) the other a U12 that was being shipped out for Moe Bandy's steel player Some fine pieces of work to behold and the mechanics are second to none
He's also adding the additional RKL, RKR and LKV to my Pro I............just a swell down to earth guy to talk with and do business

the other a U12 that was being shipped out for Moe Bandy's steel player<<

Kevin, I'm glad you posted the above because a lot of people always say: "Well if the Williams is so good why don't the PRO's play them". I'll tell you one thing, regardless who you are, Bill does not give his Steels away..if you want one, you pay for it. The Series 600 changer is way our front IMHO...if you don't want to break strings or pins, give it a try.

Hey Erv, The Fulawka is really a beauty...too bad they can't mass produce steels like that...we are really lucky to have guys like ED

Greg Leisz and BJ Cole are a couple of more pros that play a Williams

In the last two years of playing a lot of gigs, I have broken maybe three strings on stage and the neat part is the ball end just falls off the back of the guitar because there's no space below the fingers for it fall into.

The 400 changer was good but the 600 with it's hardened fingers and redesigned hole versus the cup at the end of the finger is a very nice improvement.

Brad,
Ed puts so much of himself into his guitars that I don't know if there will be anyone to carry the torch if something happens to him. I understand he's in his 80's.

Erv, That's why I said we are so lucky to have guys like him. They put so much time building these great steels and then sell them at such reasonable prices...I don't know anyone getting rich doing this...it really seems to be a labor of love..very rare these days.

The 400 changer was good but the 600 with it's hardened fingers and redesigned hole versus the cup at the end of the finger is a very nice improvement<<

Hey Dick, Another plus is that when you have to change a string (which is rare) you don't have to hold the ball end on the changer pin, you just thread it through the hole and tune her up....really the way to go.

I stopped by to visit my dear friend Jerry Dube on my way home from New Brighton yesterday. He looked good and it made my day to see him up and around. We had a nice visit and then he let me take his new Sunburst Willy 600 for a ride. What a great guitar! Bill's craftsmanship is superb as always. I wish I had a picture of it to post. I never had the chance to play a guitar with wooden necks before, I didn't think there was a differance in tone but that sure changed my thinking.

Geo

George, The 600 series Aluminum neck, I have, sounds great, glad you like the wooden necks...the 600 series is really a great steel..that changer design put it miles ahead. IMHO

I like the way the strings attach on the 600 much better than my 400, but the cost to have the new changer put on would be much. It's a curse living so close to Bill, every time I drop in to see him I want the ones he's working on - that, would surely cause my wife to raise he..... well you know.
Geo

Hey all! Good to see the "buzz" about Bill's super guitars. Was just planning on posting a review on my new one...received an e-mail from a good friend who was also wanting to get the "skinny" on a "Willy" so I hope to get it posted this weekend...that is, if I have time after I give it it's next workout. Lots of good things to say for sure! Respectfully submitted, RK

Rick, Nice Williams guitar. Is your pedal travel long,or short. I've asked different ones here on the forum,and I'm not sure if they understand what I'm asking or not. Anyway,a friend of mine that plays,had a Williams,and the pedal travel was extremely long,and he said he asked Bill Rudolph about it,and his reply was,that if he made the travel short,it would cause the guitar to detune. If thats the case, there should be a way to correct that. The Williams guitars are truly a work of art,and they sound great too. I wouldn't mind having one myself.

uuuuh uuuuh you guys are killing me with those fantastic willy pics. daaaah maybe after a week i will get mine

Kenny,
I'll tell you about a change I had Bill make to my Williams.
I had him move the connection that the pedal rod makes to the foot pedal closer to the pedal bar. It was maybe only a 1/4" or so but it made a difference to me.
I measured that distance on my Sho~Buds, Emmons and etc. and had Bill put it more in line with these guitars.
I just sent him the pedals and he made the change for me.
It gave the pedal better leverage and eliminated the toe of my shoe from hitting the pedal rods.

Hey Kenny! The pedal travel on my current guitar is a "happy medium", not too long, or short. Some common misconceptions....a shorter travel will make for a faster-playing guitar. The player(based on technique/ability) really determines that a LOT more than the guitar. On the plus side...a guitar set-up with a bit longer travel will facilitate using "half-pedals" (such as a half "A" pedal to create augmented chords)also creating additional smoothness and definition in your overall sound.I personally prefer shorter knee lever travel(E/Eb)so long as it is within reason and not too stiff. The length of travel has nothing to do with "detuning the guitar" unless, of course, it becomes overtuned(so short that there is not enough slack in the mechanism to allow for potential seasonal expansion/contraction issues. The Williams, like most any other all-pull system can be set-up to your liking, so don't let that hold you back. Regards, RK

Hey Rick, That Williams D-10 will keep you so busy that you won't have time for anything else in life..you better send it up to me...I don't want you to get into trouble...LOL

Ok guys lets have some FUN!! this moment ive been waitin for over four months

Wow, Jani, what a beauty! Just don't forget to eat and sleep!

Jani,
What a wonderful looking guitar!
You should be VERY proud.

Yes i am proud,.. very proud!!

a very big thanks to Bill Rudolph for a great product

Brint Hannay wrote:Wow, Jani, what a beauty! Just don't forget to eat and sleep!

yes when i got home i took a big plate of groundmeat soop and it made the day as best as it goes

Jani,

awesome guitar! I gotta say, I just ordered a S12 universal from Bill with the 600 series changer and all these pictures are getting me really excited! I decided to go a different route with the color, mine will be a white mica guitar, I always enjoyed the look of those white MSA guitars! I post some pictures here when I get it!

Brian