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Topic: Can Anybody Tell Me Anything About This Williams 400 Guitar? |
Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 22 Mar 2017 6:59 pm |
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Like maybe how old it might be, what the quality of these are, what to expect, etc...
Looks pretty nice. What pickups are those?
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 22 Mar 2017 9:00 pm
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They are great guitars. I had a 600 Series guitar that I had to sell. That really hurt. Contact Bill Rudolph at Williams. He'll be able to tell how old it is.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, NV400, NV112 . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 22 Mar 2017 9:02 pm
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I used to own a D10 lacquered Williams 400 built in 2002. It was much the same except the labels were die cut v. those badges and mine was keyless.
Can't tell anything about the mechanics, but judging from what I can see, I would estimate that one is from the late 90's or perhaps around 2000, no later.
The pickups are the single coil units that Bill Rudolph used to put on his guitars. They have polished pole pieces and sound very nice.
My Williams played wonderfully, was compact in size and weight, never broke strings and was a high quality instrument. I can't really describe the tone as they have their own character, but nice. Should have kept it.
I think I sold it for around $21-2200 6 or 7 yrs. ago. |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 5:44 am
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| Thank you, both. I did also send an email off to Bill last night. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 8:49 am
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That picture is not too clear on my computer but the pickups look like Jerry Wallace TruTones.
By the looks of the foot pedals, it's an early Williams. |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 8:59 am
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 9:02 am
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 9:03 am
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 9:03 am
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 9:04 am
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 9:52 am
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I stand by my guesstimate for dating. It has the same mechanics as my 2002 build. Same pedals, same anodized levers, pullers, same changer fingers, same alu. necks, same boards, same pickups which, I repeat, are Bill Rudolph's jeweled pole piece units, not Truetones.
One of the endplates should have a serial number stamped inside. For exact dating, you can run that number by Bill if you can find it. |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 9:55 am
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It has 465 stamped on it. I just sent that to Bill, still waiting for a response.
I don't suppose it really matters, I've done paid for it, so it's gonna be mine regardless of how old it is.
It looks to be in pretty nice shape, definitely not all tore up. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 10:16 am
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You'll like it, great guitars!  |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 10:18 am
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Its been a while since Williams put those W logo on their steels.. I had an older Willy with that type sticker.. I am sure if the owner contacts Bill Rudolph, he could find out the exact month/year it was built... bob
_________________
I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 10:42 am
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It's earlier than 2005. Mine is a 2006 and Bill told me he had stopped using the W sticker just before mine was made.
The fingers on that one are the standard Aluminum where the newer models all have Stainless Steel fingers with a redesigned hole where the string goes through so it won't fall off while your restringing your guitar.
One thing I notice and it might cause you some problems is that the return springs appear to be very much out of adjustment which would cause some tuning issues.
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 10:56 am
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Thanks, Dick! It's been several years since I had a pedal steel around, I'm gonna have to re-learn all the little adjustments that need to be made.  |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 10:59 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
| You'll like it, great guitars! |
Thanks, Erv, I know I will! I've been missing my pedals. |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 11:40 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
That picture is not too clear on my computer but the pickups look like Jerry Wallace TruTones.
By the looks of the foot pedals, it's an early Williams. |
I'm pretty sure those pickups are the ones Bill made himself. They look like the one on my 400 SD-10, which Bill told me was one of his. The corners of the top plate are sharper than the corners of a Truetone. Bill told me he stopped making his own pickups and used Truetones instead sometime after my guitar was made.
Last edited by Brint Hannay on 23 Mar 2017 11:44 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 11:43 am
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| How do you like the Williams pickups, Brint? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 11:43 am
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Brint,
I think you're right.
Here is my Williams with the Trutones:
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 12:00 pm
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| Tim Heidner wrote: |
| How do you like the Williams pickups, Brint? |
I only have the one, on E9th (SD-10 guitar  ). I'd describe it as a bright, clear tone. Sounds especially good in the lower register. DC resistance is 17.4k. |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 1:47 pm
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| Are those aluminum fingers interchangeable with the newer stainless ones? |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 6:13 pm
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Bill replaced my Aluminum fingers and the Axle with stainless so I'd say yes. Bill would be the man to ask to be sure.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2017 6:31 pm
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I think those are Williams own single coil pickups. The name badge on the front was the same on the Williams I bought in 2004, which also had the 400 series changer.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 28 Mar 2017 1:56 pm
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w00t!
Scheduled Delivery:
Thursday, 03/30/2017, By End of Day
Never did get a response from Williams. |
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