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Topic: New Williams 700 series |
Albert Svenddal
From:
Minneapolis, MN
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 7:35 pm |
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Wow oh wow! I recently got my new Williams 700 series steel
and it it the best steel I have played! The sustain and tone is
absolutely stunning. There have been several changes made to
the 700 series that I believes accounts for this. I will post some
sound bites and photos as soon as I get back from my tour in
Canada!
Blessings, Albert
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Williams D-12 9x7, Emmons PP D-10, 8X5, Quilter SteeAire amp. |
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Roger Miller
From:
Cedar Falls, Ia.
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 7:54 pm
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Albert, Kathy and I were in Bills' shop the other day. I can't believe the beauty and workmanship in those guitars. Big things to come with the Williams guitars, Thats' no doubt.
Roger |
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Albert Svenddal
From:
Minneapolis, MN
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Posted 13 Aug 2009 8:03 pm
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Roger, you are right. I also love his new patent on the pedal
attachments. The pedals are now each individually adjustable.
I am looking forward to playing it at the Iowa Jam this year and
seeing you again.
Albert
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Williams D-12 9x7, Emmons PP D-10, 8X5, Quilter SteeAire amp. |
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Larry Lorows
From:
Zephyrhills,Florida, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 2:17 am
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I have a Williams 400 and I can't imagine anything better. They sure are a great guitar. Larry
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U12 Williams keyless 400
Vegas 400, Nashville 112, Line 6 pod xt |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 6:21 am
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What are the differences between the 400/600/700 series? I had heard/read something about changer material.
Bill
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Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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Larry Weaver
From:
Asheville, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 7:25 am
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Albert,
That's great news.....especially since I just ordered a U-12 from Bill yesterday!!!
Man, I have to say that Bill is a terrific guy to deal with.
I really like the look of his changer design!
Now the waiting begins.  |
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Ryan McMahon
From:
The Land Of Sky Blue Waters
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 7:52 am
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Williams guitars are the best!!!So very lucky to have an accomplished designer/builder in my own backyard!!I own a 600, and plan to have a 700 built in the spring!!The nice thing is, my guitar was promised in three to four months,and i recieved it in about two months!!Thanks Bill! you rule!
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Williams and Fulawka Guitars |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 7:56 am
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Bill, if you call or e-mail Bill Rudolph, he will explain the major differances. I have a 400 and 600, and the differance I notice is in the changer, the 400 doesn't have a hole for the string to go through like the 600, and the material it's made of. Knee levers are a little differant in style and the pedal connect on the side of the 600 rather than the top of the 400. Other information you can get from Bill or Albert.
Geo |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 9:59 am
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Albert, congrats on the new steel guitar! The only Williams guitar I ever owned was built for me by Bill, a model 400 keless with 8 + 8. It got delivered to my house on the very day he said it would, despite all the extra work Bill had to do to cram all that hardware underneath the compact keyless body.
Greg |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Larry Weaver
From:
Asheville, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 12:42 pm
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+1 on the pictures!  |
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Barry Hyman
From:
upstate New York, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2009 6:47 pm true joy
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I got my 700 series (5 + 5, wood body/wood neck, natural lacquer curly maple, George L E-66 humbucker, S-12, E9th) in May and it is 48 pounds of pure happiness! My Alzheimers Prevention Tool! It looks so good, it sounds so good, it works so good!!! My only problem is I have to fight off the people who want to fondle it -- I still can't stand fingerprints.
The 700 series guitars have a one-piece keyhead that might be harder to clean underneath but that is probably more stable and solid. And the way the pedal rods attach under the skirt is different too as I recall -- I'm not sure -- this is the only Williams I have ever owned, so I am vague on how it differs from previous series. But if there is a better steel out there, I don't need it. The metalwork is impeccable, the woodworking is exquisite, the finish is positively radiant, and the sound is beyond compare. It is easy to tune, including the pedals, knees, and splits, it stays in tune, and the cabinet drop is musically insignificant.
I also agree that Bill Rudolph is as pleasant, helpful, patient, and detail-oriented as a human being can be. Probably most people who make pedal steels are righteous, but I can certify for Bill -- he will make you happy!
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2009 8:36 am Williams all the way
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| IMHO if you want a great steel with a changer that does not break strings, has great tone and playability, the Williams Steels are hard to beat. It is the only "all pull American Steel" that has this new type of changer, the other two are Foreign made, the Anapeg and the Excel. Bill Rudolph holds the patent on this design and anyone that tries to copy it will receive a "cease and desist", the way I understand the situation....except for Anapeg because they both had the same Idea at the same time even though they were 1000's of miles apart....but Anapeg is a very expensive Steel and few people can afford it. Give the Williams a tryout if you are looking for a new or different Steel. |
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Peter Nylund
From:
Finland
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Posted 15 Aug 2009 11:42 pm
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Okey, here we go again. I might not be the right person to say something here but I don't think you can compare the Willams changer with Excel and Anapeg. I think they have a lateral movement in their changer which isn't the case with the Williams changer. The Williams changer still rotates around the axle just like any other guitar. Doesn't it? Another interesting guitar when speaking of changers is the Lamar. Unfortunately I have not been able to try one out.
By the way, I've seen strings break on a Williams, more info from Mr Sandvik. 
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I know my playing is a bit pitchy, but at least my tone sucks |
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Jani Peter Sandvik
From:
Kolppi Finland
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 12:22 am
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info comes indeed.  ive broke atleast 12 strings since april 2008. and they will continue to brake as normally when they are in use, but in fact the changer design makes the strings last longer, but that doesnt mean they are unbreakable.
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Sandwich Productions
https://www.facebook.com/sandwichproducts/ |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 7:03 am Williams are made in the USA.
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Jani said >>but "in fact" the changer design makes the strings last longer<<
Peter, correct me if I'm wrong but I do not think the Larmar is an "all pull steel". Also, the Excel and Anapeg are not Americam made Steels. The changer design of the Williams puts less of a bend on the strings where the ball end is attached to the changer thus giving longer string life. I have my Series 600 since 2007 and have not broken any strings but I probably don't put in as many hours playing it as Jani. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 7:04 am
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| Jani Peter Sandvik wrote: |
| info comes indeed. ive broke atleast 12 strings since april 2008. and they will continue to brake as normally when they are in use, but in fact the changer design makes the strings last longer, but that doesnt mean they are unbreakable. |
 That's a lot of breakage! What kind of strings do you use? How much do you play? Is the guitar keyed or keyless?
I haven't broken 12 strings in the past decade.
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-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Jani Peter Sandvik
From:
Kolppi Finland
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 7:58 am
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| b0b wrote: |
That's a lot of breakage! What kind of strings do you use? How much do you play? Is the guitar keyed or keyless?
I haven't broken 12 strings in the past decade. |
i use daddarios . And i try to play at least 2 hours a day it depends on how long my working day is. And the guitar is keyed.
And b0b i assure that neither would i break so many strings if id change strings more often. i use the strings for over a half a year
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Sandwich Productions
https://www.facebook.com/sandwichproducts/ |
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 8:15 am Time To Change String Brands ??
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HELLO JANI,
Since you have broken so many guitar strings, perhaps it's time to try either "COBRA COIL Strings" or JAGWIRE Strings. 
ROGER |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 8:46 am GHS (super steels ) work for me.
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| Jani, I use GHS (super steels) and have not broken any strings since 2007, I like you, do not change strings but I put way less playing time on it then you do. |
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Jani Peter Sandvik
From:
Kolppi Finland
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 9:15 am
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Yes it is good to try out different stringbrands.
When i got this williams i wanted it with daddario strings but im not sure if it came with them. But strings broke, and after a half year i changed daddario xls strings. and they lasted long till last saturdays jam then the 014 the second string on my c6th broke and Peter Nylund was there witness it. so these daddarios have lasted more long than the ones that were originally placed on it from the factory.
And i do have alot of single strings of the brand SIT, and they arent my favorite. So ive now been looking for stringsets, and daddarios have changed their sets, and they are alot more expensiver than others. So ill gladly try out jagwire and ghs etc.
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Sandwich Productions
https://www.facebook.com/sandwichproducts/ |
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Peter Nylund
From:
Finland
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 9:26 am
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Brad, here is the website to Lamar steel guitars, http://lamarsteelguitars.com/products.html
At least the website says it's an all-pull guitar, and the picture shows a straight pull changer.
In your first post I thought you ment that the Williams changer was to be compared with Excel and Anapeg, which I think they are not. To me it seems they have quite a different approach. Maybe the specialist, Mr Carl Dixon could explain the secrets of the Excel changer. They are all first class instruments and I love the way the Williams sounds in the hands of Mr Sandvik. Well, I showed him both my licks back in the 90's when his bed springs were still rusty. 
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I know my playing is a bit pitchy, but at least my tone sucks |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 1:31 pm Williams is the way
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| Peter, thanks for the info but when talking steels I like to keep it to the well know brands...Anapeg is the gem of the steel world but few can afford it and the production rate is so low that they take a long time to acquire. The Excel is, as I hear, a great steel but communication between the buyer and the builder may be difficult. With the Williams communication between buyer and builder is a snap. Few people play the Lamar, so information is limited. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 16 Aug 2009 6:39 pm
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Brad I fail to see the logic in this comment ?????
{It is the only "all pull American Steel" that has this new type of changer, the other two are Foreign made, the Anapeg and the Excel.}
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 17 Aug 2009 7:04 am Choices
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| Paddy, I did not means to exclude the Anapeg and Excel from anyone's choices. I only meant to say that the Anapeg was very expensive and had a low production rate and may be difficult to to purchase...the waiting time for the Williams is probably 3 to 6 months...last time I checked. The Excel is another great steel that people should look at when shopping for a new steel. People should always look for the best engineered product regardless of where it is made....but price and availabilty are also factors in anyone's decision |
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