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Topic: GAS attack-----My New Williams Guitars |
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 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.] |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 12:13 pm
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| Steel guitars give me gas too. |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 1:22 pm
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These are Erv's pics.
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Ron !
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 1:40 pm
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poppelupee
Man 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. |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 1:41 pm
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| Very nice |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 4:31 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. |
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J Hill
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 4:35 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 |
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Gene H. Brown
From:
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 5:09 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
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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!
;)
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 5:27 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. |
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Larry Beck
From:
Pierre, SD
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 5:50 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. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 6:34 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. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 6:37 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.] |
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Webb Kline
From:
Orangeville, PA
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 7:36 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.
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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
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 8:08 pm
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Yep, I love my Willy too. Its about 4 years old now and still looks and plays like new.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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Bob Blair
From:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 7 Jan 2005 8:45 pm
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| I'm bone dry here Howard, and they sure look like Fessenden fretboards to me! Real pretty guitars. |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 7 Jan 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.] |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 7 Jan 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.
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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 8 Jan 2005 4:39 am
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Lookin' Mighty Good Erv
they must sound even better
Erv don't rope steers
just the darn cat  |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 8 Jan 2005 5:54 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.] |
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Webb Kline
From:
Orangeville, PA
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Posted 8 Jan 2005 7:59 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.
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MCI D10 8+5, ZB 11/10 8+3 Early 30s Dobro, Harmony Lap Steel, ad infinitum
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 8 Jan 2005 8:52 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 |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 8 Jan 2005 10:30 am
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Here's the underside of the D-10 Erv sent me.
Ricky |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 8 Jan 2005 4:12 pm
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| Extruded knee levers.....nice! |
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Pat Carlson
From:
Sutton, Nebraska, R.I.P.
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