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Author Topic:  Another new "Willy" makes the scene
Rick Kornacker


From:
Dixon Springs, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 12:18 pm    
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The(not too)long wait is over! One more exquisite example of Bill R.'s outstanding work.Just a quick look for those inclined.Have done a little bit of tweaking and "test-driving" since yesterday...lots of good "vibes" so far.Will give a down the road evaluation soon. Respectfully submitted, RK Cool




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Greg Cutshaw


From:
Corry, PA, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 12:49 pm    
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Rick,

Bill builds a great guitar and great customer relations! Looks like the tuner design has advanced a lot since I bought my Willy a few years back. I noticed the tuner has what looks like removable endcaps and other enhancements.

That's one sweet looking guitar!

Greg
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Bent Romnes


From:
London,Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 1:24 pm    
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Rick,
It's neat the way they did the string mounts on the changer. Could you post a close-up of that please?
Thanks
Bent
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Brad Malone

 

From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 1:50 pm     Williams 600 series
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Hi Rick, Glad you finally got your new Williams 600 Series Steel..your fretboard design is exactly like mine. Please give us an update after you have had more time to evaluate
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Tucker Jackson

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 2:05 pm    
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Rick, that Williams is just outstanding. Congratulations!
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Billy Carr

 

From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 2:12 pm     D-10
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Beautiful guitar!
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Brad Malone

 

From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 2:17 pm     Williams 600 series tuner
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Hey Greg, I've had my Williams 600 series for over three months and have yet to break a string. The playability and tone are great. The changer design IMHO is miles ahead of the other Steels. Bill Rudolph holds the US patent on the changer design.
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Bill Ford


From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 2:20 pm    
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Bent Romnes wrote:
Rick,
It's neat the way they did the string mounts on the changer. Could you post a close-up of that please?
Thanks
Bent


Looks like they got the windings below the crown of the changer...supercalidocio...well you know.

BF
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Steeling for Jesus now!!!
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 6:39 pm    
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First off, WOW what a great guitar you have!

I would like to send mine in for the 600 upgrade as I like the way it keeps the string from falling out of the pocket like the 400 unfortunately does.

Other than that,it's hard to beat a Willy. Bill's attention to detail is among the finest being built today.
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Chuck Thompson

 

From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 21 Oct 2007 10:51 pm    
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Whoa! that is soo beautiful!
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Larry Lorows

 

From:
Zephyrhills,Florida, USA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 3:52 am    
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Great looking guitar. I've had mine for 6 years now and I still think it's the best. Larry
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Rick Kornacker


From:
Dixon Springs, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 7:44 am     First impressions...
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Hey guys/Willy owners...thanks for the "thumbs up" Many of us have been talking about the "600" series changer. Having had the experience of owning a "400" for comparison I can already say that a)string separation is about as good as it can get.Anyone having the notion that a lacquer finish guitar is a little too mellow in tone and not as crisp as a mica body will be surprised(wood necks may mellow it out a bit.)b)the changer in general is smooth city, string breakage should be minimal.I believe that the steel changer fingers are a welcome break from the status quo(as significant as the change from pot metal to aluminum)
.Anyway, just a few preliminary observations to add to the mix.Respectfully submitted, RK Idea
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Bent Romnes


From:
London,Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 7:49 am    
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Thanks Rick. That gives me a better idea how the fingers are made.
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Brad Malone

 

From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 8:06 am     Williams
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Looks like they got the windings below the crown of the changer<<

Hey Bill you spotted another factor for less string breakage..the farther the windings are away from the crown of the changer plus the lesser bending of the string at the changer leads to less string breakage IMHO. When the pressure of the pull is on the wrap area of the string the wrap tends to cut the string a real no no, IMHO.
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Brad Malone

 

From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 8:21 am     Tone
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Anyone having the notion that a lacquer finish guitar is a little too mellow in tone and not as crisp<<

Hey Rick, You are 100% correct, the Williams 600 series, lacquer finish guitars with the aluminum necks have a real crisp full bodied bite to their tone...great for playing single notes or chords...jazz players as well as country and POP players will really love this Steel...I cannot speak about the wood neck models.
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Carl Williams


From:
Oklahoma
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 1:18 pm    
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Great looking rig Rick...really like your color scheme! May have to try a Williams one day... Winking Carl Williams
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 1:21 pm    
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Hey Carl,you ought to have your name put on the front of it.
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Carl Williams


From:
Oklahoma
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 1:36 pm    
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Well alrighty then Dick, that is a thought! Laughing Seriously, I talked with Bill a few years ago and learned how he named his guitar...makes sense to me: William Rudolph Fine looking guitars and I believe b0b has a Williams! Smile
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Bill Cutright

 

From:
Akron, OH
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 4:24 pm    
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Just curious: how do the tuneable half stops work? On the guitars I've seen that have them, there's holes drilled right behind the end of the strings with the adjustment screws in them.?
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Carl Williams


From:
Oklahoma
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 5:13 pm    
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Smile
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 5:37 pm    
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Bill stopped using tunable Allen Screw splits about the time I bought mine which was around 1.5 years ago.

He now uses rods like many are using these days.

The 2nd string is adjusted using the 9th as a half stop. The 6th lower uses a second rod on the B pedal.
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Al Marcus


From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 6:27 pm    
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Rick-Beautiful Guitar, lots of good features.

Dick, I noticed that too, no split screws. MSA Millenium, Emmons, and Zumsteel all use them. So that way a player can use any split he wants without getting underneath with pull rods, etc. Williams always had them before. I am disappointed that he dropped them, I personally liked the split screws.

I sure like the way he has the strings go through that hole on the changer fingers, great idea!.......al.SmileSmile
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 7:10 pm    
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Hi Al,

The 400 series changer was headed the right direction but with the redesign and hardening of the fingers on the 600,I think Bill has hit a home run.

If you ever get a chance to see one at a show,take a look under the hood. I've said it in past posts but his machine work is superb and you can see for yourself how his finishes look from previous posts.
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Al Marcus


From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 7:49 pm    
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Hi Dick, Thanks. I havn't seen a 600 up close yet. We are in the boondocks in Michigan.
I used to have a 400 Keyless. But I like the tuning pegs better.....al.SmileSmile
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My Email.. almarcus@cmedic.net
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus
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Olli Haavisto


From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2007 9:22 pm    
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I have a brand new Williams with the 600 changer with split screws.
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Olli Haavisto
Finland
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