The Steel Guitar Forum

my willy is blue laqure birdseye, 400 D-10
keyless,and has the best E-9 tone I have ever played and it only weghts 36 lbs.

also I never break a string if I change once every month, and I really like that changer,I can change a set in half the time
it takes to string up my Emmons,good stuff
Tom

Hi Big John . I guess i really do'nt know what you are looking for . But i have a new Williams and an old Sho-Bud that i still love . And i know several players that have Williams guitars here in Columbus . And for me i think that the Williams is a great looking and sounding steel . And it is'nt that heavy to carry and also stays in tune with the best of them . Maybe you can enlighten me please .And Bill Rudolph is a great guy to work with . God bless you all .
Regards ,,,Gary.

Hey, nice read on this thread.
What seems to be the pickup of choice (best overall; makes the Williams sound like a Williams) on these steels?<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Rex Thomas on 06 January 2004 at 06:02 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hi, Rex . I like the ''E-66'' in my Williams . But i'm sure there are other pick-ups that are just as good . I have a 10-1 in my Sho-Bud . And it seems to sound ok also . Gary.

Hey, Big John i think that i finally got it !!. It's a little cold up here so it takes a little longer to sink in !. Gary.

Bill winds his own single coil pickups which are real good.....!

I just placed a order for a new Williams A SD-10
Bill; said I would have it by mid to late Feb.
It will have 3 floors and 6 knees. the color will be Burnt red stained aprons, and a natural top with E-66 pickups. I'll have photos when I get it to post..
Billy..

Billy,
I also am thinking of having Bill build me a guitar. You picked the same colors as I had decided on. I really like that burnt red color with the natural top. Are you going to get a wood or metal neck? Key or keyless?
Erv<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 14 January 2004 at 07:11 AM.]</p></FONT>

Thanx, Steve B. Just wondering what the default pup would be. I see a couple of E 66's & a vote for Bill's single coil. Anybody else? Steve Schmidt? What pickup works for you in your Williams?
Thanx!

A couple of years ago I had Bill install BL-710s in my guitar. I used them for a couple of months and decided to go back to Bills stock single coil pickup. In my opinion, his single coil pickups sound great and I will have them put in my new guitar when I order it.

THAT'S the stuff I'm wanting to hear. Thanx for your time, Steve.

When i had Bill build my new steel i had the ''E-66'' pickup put into it and i'm real happy with that . Mine is a SD-10 with 4 floor pedals and 5 knee levers with an add on ''pull train'' that Bill will make for you which i guess makes it 6 knee levers . Mine is a real pretty ''windsor'' blue . Or at least i think that is what Bill called it . I have the aluminum insert in the neck also . Anyway it is a very nice guitar . I would suggest that if you have a chance to try one you may like it . Regards,,,Gary .

Thanx, Gary!

Mr. Preston
Would you post some photos of your Blue Williams?
Thanks
Billy...<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by B.Jenkins on 15 January 2004 at 01:52 AM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by B.Jenkins on 15 January 2004 at 01:53 AM.]</p></FONT>

Hi Billy . I think you have to have a web site to post pictures and i dont . But i will send you a picture to your e-mail . I hope that you enjoy it ,dont look at the goofy guy behind it . Gary.

Hi Gary: I wouldn't mind seeing a photo of that new xmas williams myself.
Thanks, Bill W.

Hi, Bill i will send you a couple pictures of my ''Willy'' right now . Regards,,,Gary.

bumperoni

I have a 2004 Williams 400X D10,which brings the no. of Williams i have owned over the last 30 years or so to three.Never a problem with any of them.

I have had ShoBuds and Emmons but always came back to the Williams.Especially nice these days with the lighter weight metals being used.


The last two steelers who tried my new Williams, have stated that the tone was almost enough to put a person into shock. They stopped playing and stared at me with a open mouth! And Stated "What Tone" I commented that the pickups were Truetone Pickups! And that Bill Rudolph was the creater of this fine guitar. And lives 20 miles away!

I am fighting Carpal tunnel and a broken bone in my left wrist, and my right hand is fighting the leftovers from a stroke years ago. I am playing the steel with a thumb pick only at this time. Sounds almost passable too!
I have something to look forward to after the operation on the 22nd of July.

Keep a positive outlook!

A lot of times I wanted to give up on the steel but that beautiful steel keeps telling me to go for it one more time. It is a very inspiring guitar just to look at.

Sonny i wish you well . This is one instrument that gets into your blood real fast . It is sweet music to my ears . Good to see this thread is still alive . I dont know where it came back from ! Regards ,,,Gary .

Bill is presently building me a D-10 guitar. It will have 9 foot pedals and 10 knee levers (separate right knee levers for C6th neck). I am putting TruTone pickups on it.
I would like to pick up a Sho~Bud LDG but the price has risen out of sight so I am talking to Bill about a new SD-10.
Erv

Hi, Erv , thanks for the tab .My 'Willy' is sounding better each time that i play it ! It has all the bite that anyone would want . I can get the ''west coast '' style and just about any other type of steel that i want to . I am using the ''Jagwire'' strings and i love them . I like the Stainless Steel Strings with a 38 for my tenth . I am using the E-66 pick-up . Thanks for your reply . Regards,,,Gary .

I talked to Bill today and found out that the guitar he's building for me will be the first Williams D-12 crossover guitar. Think about it - it might be the only D-12 crossover ever made by anyone. Looks like I'll be getting it next month.

I guess you could say I'm excited.

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<font size="1"><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)</font>

I have used three different pickups that cam from Bill Rudolph, of Williams guitar and all have been Awesome!
My current brand new D10 400X came with Truetone pickups and my experience with Jerry Wallace PU's have all been excellent.

I have had Bill wind some wonderful pickups for guitars i have used in the past.

I have metal fretboards because i got used to the metal necks from my experience with other Steels in the past.And the guitar just happened to have metal necks when i first saw it.
I have been admiring Steve Schmidts guitar here in MN for a long time, and finally i got my chance and ordered one. Best thing that ever happened to me.
I have some pictures of the 2004 Willie, for anyone who wants some.