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Topic: Bill Rudolph, Williams Guitar Co. |
Jason Fredensborg
From:
Zimmerman, Minnesota
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Posted 1 Jul 2019 7:48 pm |
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| Stopped by Bills shop today to shoot the breeze and learn a few things about the mysterious pedal steel guitar. Bill was kind enough to show me around his shop, and show me the workings of a steel in great detail. I had lots of questions, and he had lots of answers for me, and a nice guy to boot. The entire pedal steel world, for as small as it is, sure is helpful and friendly! Glad I found this website, and glad I had a chance to learn a few things from a guy like Bill who has been around a lot longer than me. I’m still trying to learn all I can before I decide where I want to start in the universe of PSG...Used or new..12,10...single, double..It’s nice when people are so helpful. Bill obviously makes a beautiful, quality instrument, and I just might end up getting something from him. Anyway, just wanted to put it out there that Bill is a hell of a guy, and a hell of a craftsman. I’m no expert in PSG obviously, but after seeing Bill’s shop, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase a Williams Guitar. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 2 Jul 2019 12:00 am
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Yesterday,I went to Jon Light's place yesterday so he could once again undo some of my stupidity and got to look at Jon's new Williams guitar...a thing of beauty,I wouldn't hesitate to have one of Bill Rudolph's gems,Glad to see his guitars are being played by name players...Nice folks those Williams people.
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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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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 2 Jul 2019 3:59 am
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I've had my Williams almost a year and I love it. With these instruments you don't have to choose between mechanics and looks because they're both superb.
I needed to make some changes to mine when it arrived (entirely my fault for not making my order crystal clear) and Bill sent me the parts I needed right away. They're easy guitars to work on as everything is simple and robust - and yet amazingly light.
_________________
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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Rick Kornacker
From:
Dixon Springs, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2019 5:10 am "couldn't say it any better!"
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Absolutely! Almost twenty years ago a person that knew anything about a Williams guitar might have said that it was "the best kept secret". Not hardly the case today. My first Williams was ordered from Bill sight unseen. Never really saw or played one. Eventually checked out Wally Murphy's guitar at Nick Nixon's in St. Louis when we were touring. At the time I was "jonesin' for a guitar with a Sho-Bud "vibe" and discovered that he had the cure. A cutting-edge guitar with modern mechanics, and "the look". IMHO, lacquer guitars are the bomb! It was everything that I craved in a guitar. Many can appreciate the look and sound of a a fine Stradivarious violin. Could you imagine one made of plastic? Anyway, to me, Bill's beautiful guitars are what steel guitars should look(and play) like. He has got some awesome design characteristics that other builders just wish they could copy. Bill, and his son, got it goin' on for sure! You will not be disappointed. Respectfully submitted(from here in the "holler"). RK
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"think MORE...play LESS" |
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Rick Kornacker
From:
Dixon Springs, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2019 5:12 am "couldn't say it any better!"
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Absolutely! Almost twenty years ago a person that knew anything about a Williams guitar might have said that it was "the best kept secret". Not hardly the case today. My first Williams was ordered from Bill sight unseen. Never really saw or played one. Eventually checked out Wally Murphy's guitar at Nick Nixon's in St. Louis when we were touring. At the time I was "jonesin' for a guitar with a Sho-Bud "vibe" and discovered that he had the cure. A cutting-edge guitar with modern mechanics, and "the look". IMHO, lacquer guitars are the bomb! It was everything that I craved in a guitar. Many can appreciate the look and sound of a a fine Stradivarious violin. Could you imagine one made of plastic? Anyway, to me, Bill's beautiful guitars are what steel guitars should look(and play) like. He has got some awesome design characteristics that other builders just wish they could copy. Bill, and his son, got it goin' on for sure! You will not be disappointed. Respectfully submitted(from here in the "holler"). RK
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"think MORE...play LESS" |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2019 7:23 am
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Yes, Bill and his son, Tim, make for another dynamic due! 
Erv |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2019 7:30 pm
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I've had two Williams guitars and both were lightweight, and played and sounded great. I agree Bill and Tim are great guys.
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Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro. |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 2 Jul 2019 8:42 pm psg
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| One of the best guitars on the market backed by great service. Very pleased with mine !!! |
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Ron Hogan
From:
Nashville, TN, usa
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Ron Hogan
From:
Nashville, TN, usa
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2019 7:20 am
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These go back a few years:
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Steve Schmidt
From:
Ramsey, MN, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2019 6:29 am
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| Yes, you won't find two nicer guys than Bill and Tim. They do fantastic work. At 62 a lighter single neck sure sounds appealing and when the time comes, no doubt I'll be paying Bill a visit. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 4 Jul 2019 6:50 am
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I bought mine for other reasons but the lightness is a welcome bonus. How they make a traditional solid and solid-looking instrument weigh so little is remarkable. Good engineering, I suppose - cleverer than it looks!
_________________
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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Cameron Parsons
From:
Angleton, Texas
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Posted 4 Jul 2019 8:35 am
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Yep!
D. All of the above
I’ve been playing Williams for two years now. My blue one is a 2017, and my orange one is a 2018. They both have a very modern, versatile, full-bodied tone with great clarity. The mechanics are excellent and have no problem handling my 9x9 setup. Bill and Tim are great with customer service!
Check out some videos:
https://youtu.be/k4as-ov_Teg
https://youtu.be/Bca91WMDraU
https://youtu.be/Gj6Em-pEC54
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Jeremy Threlfall
From:
now in Western Australia
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Posted 5 Jul 2019 8:14 am
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Great gigging guitar - I get a great mid-rangy sho-buddy honk out of mine (wood neck), Plays easy, goes on 10-15,000 km (6-9,000 mi) trips in the boot of my car without complaint, stays in tune and looks great!
2016 build:
2003 build:
Australian Holden (GM) Statesman. Used by the police in the ‘States as Chevrolet Caprices (converted to left-hand drive and stick shift in Melbourne for export) Chevy LS1
I take this and my ‘Big Willy’ (it’s a 12 string) across Australia from Perth to the east coast for a bit of a festival circuit each Spring)
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Luke Drifter on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ralwaybell
https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.j.threlfall
http://ralwaybell.bandcamp.com/ |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Jul 2019 9:35 am
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I bought a Williams in 2006 and still play it all the time. Bill is a great guy and builder.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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