Williams Steel

Gary Ball · Post by **Gary Ball** » 19 Feb 2003 11:29 am

Can someone tell me a little about the Williams steel? Thanks.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 19 Feb 2003 12:10 pm

Bill Rudolph builds them and everyone I have seen or heard is great. Gonna try playing one when Bill comes to Wis Rapids in March for the Jam. Eddie Lang the Steelkid has one, as does Albert Svendahl, both forum members and they love theirs. I don't think you would be disappointed. Good sound, good construction, good service, and Bill is a heck-of-a nice guy.

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Session 500, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 19 Feb 2003 1:24 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=621&item=2508668145&rd=1

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 19 Feb 2003 2:51 pm

In my opinion they one of the best new steels out there. The tone is gorgeous and consistent all the way up the neck. Well made, beautiful looking instruments. They are up towards the top of my list.

Bob

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 19 Feb 2003 3:12 pm

The last I knew, Wally Murphy still played a Williams. I am on my second one, they are a nice guitar, and Bill is a great person to deal with.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Gary Ball · Post by **Gary Ball** » 19 Feb 2003 3:55 pm

Sounds great. Anybody have an Email address for Bill?

Post by **Joey Ace** » 19 Feb 2003 3:59 pm

Here's a pic of a new 400 Series D-10 Keyless.

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 19 Feb 2003 4:03 pm

I have never had the priviledge to play one, but Bill is one of the nicest people I have ever talked to on the phone.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 19 Feb 2003 5:36 pm

I have one, a crossover model. I like it a lot. Some pictures are at b0b.com/Williams but they really don't do it justice. I'm a crappy photographer.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 19 Feb 2003 6:06 pm

Gary,
I have an earlier [10 years] Williams
U-12 with 8p and 6k. Natural blonde birdseye
maple laquer finish. Keyless.
Almost what you would call a 'petite' guitar.

Very light, but doesn't walk, and seems to allow you "dominance" over it, rather than it being huge and intimidating.

One fine guitar, and Bill Rudolph is just the
best at public relations. A real gentleman,
and he makes sure, I mean, makes sure you are 100% satisfied with your guitar. He is with you all the way...right up to your doorstep and beyond. If something isn't just right, Bill goes out of his way to make it right.

My 'Willy' was custom made to fit my size, and I've been quite satisfied with her over the years.

Plays great and sounds greater.

Chip

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 19 Feb 2003 10:55 pm

I don't own a Williams, but I have played Larry Cole's Universal-12,and I would definatly own a Williams. I would get a U-12 with keys,and the series 400 changer on a single body.

Steve Benzian · Post by **Steve Benzian** » 20 Feb 2003 7:08 am

If you want to see some pictures of a Williams click the url. There are some closeups of the 400 changer
http://benzianlist.com/2000williams.html

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 20 Feb 2003 12:44 pm

It is obvious from looking at the changer, that the way the string locates, and the shallow angle over the finger, is designed to minimise string breakage. In view of the fact that hardly any other PSG manufacturer uses this design, I wonder if such a shallow angle has a negative effect on tone? I've never heard a Williams (as far as I know), but it seems to me, that if string breakage could be eliminated this easily, all makers would be doing it.

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 20 Feb 2003 1:03 pm

As for tone on the Willy, I think it's excellant, as for string breakage....very minimal-more likely to be a defective string, unless left on way past it's life. Sustain-I think mine has almost too much.....if there is such a thing. As for why other builders don't use that changer style: I think Bill has it patented.

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SUAS U' PHIOB
Geo

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 20 Feb 2003 2:24 pm

==In view of the fact that hardly any other PSG manufacturer uses this design, I wonder if such a shallow angle has a negative effect on tone? I've never heard a Williams (as far as I know), but it seems to me, that if string breakage could be eliminated this easily, all makers would be doing it==
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The design is patented, that's why no other company uses it. Looking at the changer of the new MSA I think they must have licensed it from Williams.

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud Pro III Custom; Sho-Bud LLG

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 20 Feb 2003 3:35 pm

A friend of mine up here in western N.Y. has a Williams universal. It has ultimate string separation, outstanding sustain and tone, and is deadly accurate on all the string pulls. The mechanics are a highly precision
design. Its also a light weight guitar. The changer is a very intelligent design.

Bruce Wutzke · Post by **Bruce Wutzke** » 21 Feb 2003 5:38 am

http://www.isd.net/wmsgtrco/

Bill's web site which includes his email.

BobG · Post by **BobG** » 21 Feb 2003 9:44 am

Another satisfied customer here.

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Bob Grado, Williams D10 (lefty), Peavey 1000,
Profex ll.

Larry Beck · Post by **Larry Beck** » 21 Feb 2003 10:59 am

http://pie.midco.net/lbeck1/willy.html
and http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/house_of_wood.htm

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 21 Feb 2003 11:23 am

My Williams has the 400 changer, and its tone is just great. I don't believe that the shallow angle hurts the tone at all. And yes, it's patented.

I've had the guitar for over two years, and have yet to break a string on it.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

KENNY KRUPNICK · Post by **KENNY KRUPNICK** » 21 Feb 2003 10:33 pm

Like b0b said, the shallow angle does not affect the tone at all. Williams is one steel I would be proud to own,with the 400 changer.Larry Cole is a satisfied Williams owner too.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 22 Feb 2003 11:19 am

Just reinforcing what's been said already. I have the prototype 400 finger on my guitar. I have broken one string in 12 years. (I should have taken it off a month before.) BTW I have played Williams exclusively for at least 18 years now. (Still saving for a new one Bill, if you're reading this). Another great thing, pick up the phone, call and talk to the builder, No middle men. SUPER GUITARS. No extra charge for lacquer, if that's your preference.

Don McClellan · Post by **Don McClellan** » 22 Feb 2003 8:26 pm

I love everything about the Williams guitars except the fret board design. To me the fret marks (not the fret lines) are unnecessarily too big, too wide and too long. I find it a bit confussing. This instrument is difficult enough without a cluttered looking fret board. In my opinion fret marks should be no bigger then the size of a dime at the lower frets and smaller, of course, going up the neck. I also prefer the fret lines to be on the narrower side. There's my two cents. Don't spend it all in one place.
Maybe Bill should offer a choice of two different fret boards. Why not? If he can offer a choice of keyed or keyless guitars, alternative fret boards couldn't be that much trouble.
There are other brands of steel guitars with bad fret board designs too. Don

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 22 Feb 2003 8:43 pm

I agree with you Don.Great looking instrument,very elegant and sofisticated except those fret boards.They look like a panel in Cessna 172 I used to fly.They should be smaler and litle less colorful, wouldn`t hurt.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 23 Feb 2003 11:00 am

As someone who actually plays one, I find the Williams fretboard very helpful, especially when trying to find the chime positions on the upper frets. I agree that it's not very attractive, but it does make it a bit easier to find the right positions.

If the fretboard were different, would you buy one, Don?

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax