Pics of Erv Niehaus' beautiful Williams

Per Berner · From: Skovde, Sweden

Erv asked me to post some pics of his lacquer Williams steel. Anything for a fellow Viking, so here they are!

Erv says: "Here is the D-10 Williams that Bill Rudolph built for me. I sent Bill the inlay that I wanted on the guitar. It has Fessenden fretboards on it. I really like the longhorn design that Jerry uses. I also have separate right knee levers for each neck."

Drew Howard · From: 48854

WOW..STUNNING guitar, Erv. Why the separate right knees? Very intersting.

Drew

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden, Derby and Fender guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.

Michael Weaver · From: Buffalo Grove, IL

Would you kindly share your copedent with us?

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

I came so close to getting mine made just like that one but decided on natural maple.

Very nice!

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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Sonny Miller · From: Lino Lakes, Minnesota, USA

I was over to Bills Shop and was flabbergasted at the quality of work he does, and his creativeness was really something to see. He is way ahead of the game when it comes to building steels. Thats why the world is beating a path to his door. Truly a global shop!I have never walked into his shop without seeing something new going on with his PSG's.

PS.Irv, Your various steels were really great looking when i was at your place of business , earlier in the year.
How are you doing with that 11 pedal Emmons?

[This message was edited by Sonny Miller on 12 October 2006 at 07:49 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Per,
Toks a micka (sp) for putting the pictures up for me. I don't know if the "thanks a lot" is in Swedish or Norwegian. My mom was bilingual, she spoke both Norwegian and Swedish so a little of both wore off on me in my youth.

My copedent is nothing special but the reason for the separate right knee levers is something I observed from Herby Wallace. When he switched necks, he would reach up under his guitar and pull down some different right knee levers.

As you all know, the more pulls you put on a pedal or lever, the harder they operate. The reason for the separate knee levers for each neck is to make them work easier. The only disadvantage is if you swith necks in the middle of a song. But this is something I never do.

The only set-up better than this arrangement is the Fulawka guitar built by Ed Fulawka. On his guitars, he has a crossover mechanism for the right knees that is operated by a couple of little knobs that you pull out or push in depending on the neck you are playing.

BTW: Bob Rains put separate right knee levers on the D-10 Rains I had him build for me, also.

So many good guitars, so little time.

PS: Sonny, I am in the process of stripping the Emmons p/p down and doing a refinish on it. It is really a unique guitar what with the 11 foot pedals and all. Hope to do it up proud!

[This message was edited by Erv Niehaus on 12 October 2006 at 07:58 AM.]

Sonny Jenkins · From: Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx

Hey,,,a beeaaauuutiful guitar,,,,I KNOW you are proud of it!!! Bill built me a 12 string keyless 4-5 years ago,,,he does fine work.

Jackie Anderson · From: Scarborough, ME

I love Bill's work! Erv, forgive me, but with all the beautiful guitars you have, it's really time for you to get a better camera so the rest of us can enjoy them more!

P.S. My Dad tells me that "tak sa mika" (sp?) is Danish or Swedish -- in Norge it's "tusen tak" (sp?), ya sure you betcha!

Thom Beeman · From: California, USA, R.I.P.

It's sure purty Erv but not as purty as your Fulawka

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Like Erv, on my MSA D-12 10+10 (you can own it, btw, see the For Sale thread!) I have a separate C6 RKL in order to have a great change:

it raises high and middle C both to C# (turns Am into A major; also get a C#dim). Then hits a double stop mechanism; pushing more, top C# raises to D, and the middle C# lowers BACK to C. Gets a great dom13 chord when used with pedal 6. Tricky to set it up just right, but a very nice change. Couldn't manage that if I'd tried all that on E9's RKL.

Great axe, Erv, I'm drooling. Did you consider Bill's x-over model, and if not, why not?

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E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II+Lexicon MPX-110 OR Line 6 Pod XT

John McClung · From: Olympia WA, USA

Hmm, I just noticed you're using Fessenden fretboards, Erv, very nice. That's the one cosmetic thing about the Williams I've never cared for, those clunky primary colored rectangles, just too horsey and inelegant for me. Yours are quite handsome! You have excellent taste.

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E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II+Lexicon MPX-110 OR Line 6 Pod XT

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Bro' Erv sure has some beauties

& that Willy's one of 'em

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Thanks guys,
Bill's fretboards were the only thing I objected to on the Williams. I had been an admirer of Jerry's longhorn fretboards for quite a while and he agree to sell me a couple. Actually I bought three. I have an SD-10 Williams also with the longhorn fretboards. That is also a beautiful guitar and maybe I can get Per to post of pictures of that guitar also.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Erv, very sweet horn.
The alternate R knees is a very cool idea.

Looks like you will be having big fun with this baby!

Fred Glave · From: McHenry, Illinois, USA

That's as pretty as they come!

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Erv-Yes, Herby pushes up both right knees when he is playing one neck to get them out of the way and then plays the other two. That is a great Idea, I have seen him doing it on His Mullen a few years ago. Ed Fulwalka has a good idea too with those push pull pins that lets the right knees play either neck. I like that too.
Your Williams is sure a Beautiful guitar and the knee levers are postioned just fine the way I like it, Separate ones in the middle for C6. I had a Carter I bought that was Junior Knights/' with 8 knee levers that was like that except you got separate right knees too. Great guitar , You will be able to get all the music you want with that one. What does it weigh all setup like that..al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Per Berner · From: Skovde, Sweden

This one's even prettier. Phew!

Sigi Meissner · From: Duebendorf, Switzerland

Per, this is an amasing axe. On the picture
I can see a very high quality. Can you tell
me a little bit about prices of williams steelguitars?

Thnx
Greetings from Switzerland

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Thanks so much to Per for posting the pictures of my other Williams. It is an SD-10 with 4 & 5. Another outstanding guitar.

If you want to see the cost of a Williams guitar, pull up Bills site at: www.williamsguitarcompany.com

If you want an outstanding lacquered guitar, Bill Rudolph is the guy to get it from. It is hard to believe, but he charges NO extra for lacquer over mica. He also has a finishing process that is so durable that even finger nail polish remover will not affect it.
Very important when you are doing your nails between songs!

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