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Topic: Williams vs Jackson |
Ron Ross
From:
Midwest City,Oklahoma
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Posted 8 Apr 2011 4:21 am |
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I'm doing my research before purchasing a NEW guitar....I was wondering how a Williams 700 compares to a Jackson Pro-IV? Both are awsome looking and sounding guitars..But what are Williams players saying? What are Jackson players saying?..Also..any of the Williams players have the keyless? Any and all advise and help will be helpfull..Thanks.Ron
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"Kick'er off there Wichita" |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 8 Apr 2011 4:51 am Re: Williams vs Jackson
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| Ron Ross wrote: |
| what are Williams players saying? What are Jackson players saying?.. |
They are saying the same thing Mullen and Zum and Emmons and MSA and Desert Rose and Justice and GFI and Raines and Rittenbury and Franklin and Fessenden and Star and everybody who owns every other brand all say: "I LOVE MY NEW GUITAR!"
They're all wonderful, but they're all slightly different. The best thing to do is to go to St. Louis and check them all out, and see which one you like the most. But you will get an outstanding instrument no matter what brand you choose.
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Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Larry Lorows
From:
Zephyrhills,Florida, USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2011 4:56 am
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I agree with Mike, and I do love my Williams. I'd order another one and wouldn't hesitate. Larry
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U12 Williams keyless 400
Vegas 400, Nashville 112, Line 6 pod xt |
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Scott Swartz
From:
St. Louis, MO
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Posted 8 Apr 2011 6:19 am
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Nothing can substitute for trying them out in person.
I find things I like and dislike on all the brands, so being able to quickly compare is well worth the travel cost.
I am lucky enough to live in St. Louis and its easy for me to go the the ISGC and check out steels, but OK is not too far.
If you are a serious buyer, they will all figure out a way to get you behind a steel, just ask.
BTW I own one of the brands you asked about but what I like may or may not line up with your likes.
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Scott Swartz
Steeltronics - Steel Guitar Pickups
www.steeltronics.com |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2011 6:51 am
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I agree with Scott. There are many differences between brands that can affect how well you might like a particular guitar even though they are all well made. Yes they are all precisely machined but some are engineered better than others.
One of the differences is in the compactness of the body. With the more compact guitars the weight can be less, it takes up less stage room and in my case I can easily reach the E9th left knee vertical when playing the C6 neck on a D10.
A few guitars that I have owned even though they were precisely made, had very indistinct pedal stops or very uneven pressure through the pedal stroke making 1/2 pedal actuations very difficult.
Some manufacturers meet their delivery times, some miss them regulary by 6 months. Issues like tone, guitar height and how it's affected by undercarriage parts hanging down when using your regular playing shoes are hard to assess unless you play a guitar in person.
The list goes on and on but their are major differences in the two brands you mentioned and you will find people that prefer one and not the other. I drove a hundred + miles just to play a Williams guitar privately before buying one. Since mine was a model 400 I don't think I am qualified to comment on the current Williams guitars other than to say that Bill delivered my guitar when he said he would and I've never head that experience with any other builder.
Greg
Last edited by Greg Cutshaw on 9 Apr 2011 7:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Larry Jamieson
From:
Walton, NY USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2011 4:57 pm
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I have a Williams and it is an excellent guitar. Bill
will also deliver it when he says he will, and talk you through the ordering process so you get exactly what you want in terms of finish, height, pedal and lever set up, etc.
You might pose a question on the forum to see if there are any Jackson and Williams owners in you area who would let you sit down behind their guitars for a half hour or so. You are welcome to come to my home and try mine, but it is about 1400 miles...
Good luck in your quest! |
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Jeff Pickering
From:
Wichita, Kansas
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Posted 9 Apr 2011 5:49 am
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I don't have any experience with Jackson, but my new Williams is killer! Bill was fantastic through out the process.
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Williams 700 Series S-10
Sarno Steel Guitar Black Box
Hilton Volume Pedal
Boss GX700
1969 Fender Twin Reverb w/JBL's |
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Rick Kornacker
From:
Dixon Springs, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2011 9:08 am ...just my honest opinion(and observations)
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First of all..I truly believe that virtually every new guitar presently being built is somewhere between exceptional and spectacular! The one thing to take into serious consideration is the Williams "700" series changer. The steel fingers provide such an improvement in overall tone(in comparison to the "400" series, my first "Willy"). Also, the shape of the finger which stretches the string more laterally as opposed to pulling it over a sperical-shaped finger makes string breakage almost a non-event.These two issues constitute a great event/achievement in pedal steel manufacturing history. I have had no experience with the Jackson..but it looks to be a very nice machine also. In my over thirty years playing experience, having owned many different guitars, I believe I have found my true "keeper"..satisfying in every way. Respectfully submitted, RK
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"think MORE...play LESS" |
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Jeff Pickering
From:
Wichita, Kansas
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Posted 9 Apr 2011 9:52 am My Williams
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Here are a couple of pics of my new Williams!
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Williams 700 Series S-10
Sarno Steel Guitar Black Box
Hilton Volume Pedal
Boss GX700
1969 Fender Twin Reverb w/JBL's |
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Olie Eshleman
From:
Seattle, WA
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Posted 9 Apr 2011 1:55 pm
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Another Kudos for Williams! My 700 series was delivered a few days earlier than quoted, looked and sounded better than I had hoped. I have a keyless, and it is quite easy to get used to, stays in tune. I have changed the copedant around quite a bit already and it's quick and simple to do. I play mine through a Webb and get compliments on my tone all the time. The wood neck through an Alumitone pickup really 'growls'. And compared to my old MSA classic, It weighs next to nothing.
In the end it's a little, er, a LOT about aesthetics, i like the look of a Williams over a Jackson, and since I couldn't play either one before I bought, the choice was easier. I was torn between an Excel and a Williams, and I think had I gone with an Excel, i probably would be saying how much I loved it:D Talking to Bill Rudolph on the phone made a big difference for me, i instantly trusted him to build the best guitar he could, and keep his word.
You'll be the one who has to look at it the most and you probably won't regret either choice. This probably doesn't help much but give them each a call. It's a big decision. And unless you can afford the new steel AND a plane ticket to a steel show, you gotta buy somewhat blind. |
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Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2011 3:57 pm Williams Steels are great
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| I agree 100% with everything Rick K. said. I just watched Kevin Clemens play his Williams on the Presleys TV show on RFD-TV..what a great player if the Williams is good enough for TV it is good enough for me...like Rick said..it has a great changer design. |
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Paul Foster
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2011 5:28 pm Williams guitars
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HI all my fellow pickers
I have been playing for about 2 years and have owned 7 pedal steel guitars, Gfi,Sho-Bud,Msa,Ect Ect,My last was a D-10 Mullen, which I liked very much but decided I didnt need a double neck with my limited experience. My friend had a Williams and I played it and said to him"Where did you find this" I had never seen or heard of a Williams, but believe me It didnt take long to get acquainted!! I now own a 600 single neck 10 string with 3 and 5 knee levers. I have owned it a year this month I play it almost every day and I have never broken a string, not even one, it never goes out of tune {Well almost} have not changed strings and everyone that plays it feels the same way after a few minutes of their "Test Drive" Do your self a favor and try one, you will be a fan I gurantee it!!! Paul Foster |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 12 Apr 2011 5:51 pm
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| Both are nice guitars, though I'd love to buy a Jackson Madison '63. What a great living room addition it would be. |
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George McLellan
From:
Duluth, MN USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2011 2:13 am
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I have a keyless mica S10 Willy 400 and it has a differant tone than my lacquer 700 keyed. Both sound great and the weight is nice. I also have a SD10 Mullen that weighs more but also is a great guitar.
Like everyone has said, try them out and make your own decision. You would probably get the same responces if you were in the market for a Chevy, Ford or Buick.
Geo |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 16 Apr 2011 9:45 pm
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From 1999 to 2004, I played an Emmons and I loved it, but I wanted to try another brand. In 2004, I bought a GFI Ultra D-10 and the sound and tone were pretty good, then by 2009, after tryin' out a Jackson Steel(Madison 63), I decided I wanted a Jackson. So, last year, I bought a Jackson BlackJack Custom. I've never played a Williams, but I can say this, the Jackson Steel's got a classic Sho-Bud sound and tone, and I love it. It's the best steel guitar I've ever played. I love how it looks too, with a pad and the pedals are smooth too.
Brett |
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