New Williams D12

Steve Mueller · Post by **Steve Mueller** » 7 Sep 2015 8:51 pm

I picked up my new Williams D12 in late July in Minneapolis from Bill Rudolph, a great guy who built me another great guitar. He spent as much time as I wanted with him as I went over the guitar in his shop. It's a real gem as you can see. Cabinet drop with pedals 1 and 2 only 1.5 cents. Plays like a dream with sustain to spare. Now I have 2 blonds - a D10 and a D12. I love the keyless tuning, much easier for me than keyed. My E9 tuning has added an A and an E at the bottom. The C6 has an F# as string 1 and a D as string 2 added to my regular C6 with a G on top. Bill said it's the first one he's built with that tuning - I'm not sure if that's good or bad! I've found a ton of uses for the F# in combination with different pedals, even more than I suspected. I can't say enough about Bill's work.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 8 Sep 2015 4:02 am

I had a Williams model 400 keyless for a while.Super compact body and it's was amazing how Bill was able to pack all the hardware I had (8 +*) underneath. Your guitar is pretty awesome!

Hal Braun · Post by **Hal Braun** » 8 Sep 2015 6:53 am

Beautiful .. Same graduating class as mine.. Same color too!

Dale Rottacker · Post by **Dale Rottacker** » 8 Sep 2015 7:11 am

Always loved the pictures I’ve seen of the Williams cabinets...
Steve this is one pretty guitar... Congratulations

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 10 Sep 2015 6:31 pm

Oh my Oh my

Jerry Hedge · Post by **Jerry Hedge** » 11 Sep 2015 7:42 pm

Steve it was a pleasure talking to you a few months back. That is one beautiful guitar. I just wished I had the money to buy you old Sho-Bud when you had it for sale!!!

Russell Adkins · Post by **Russell Adkins** » 12 Sep 2015 10:59 am

sharp guitar , I like the keyless look also

Jason Montgomery · Post by **Jason Montgomery** » 13 May 2017 10:39 am

beautiful color...is this a custom color from Williams or a stock color?

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 13 May 2017 11:15 am

I believe that's Honey Amber which is stock.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 16 May 2017 6:17 pm

Great looking Williams. Keyless....only way to go.

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 16 May 2017 7:10 pm

That is really awesome! To be a D-12 it looks really compact.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 16 May 2017 7:23 pm

OOPS.......

Brandon Schafer · Post by **Brandon Schafer** » 16 May 2017 7:47 pm

That's a really handsome guitar! Way to go, Steve!

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 16 May 2017 7:52 pm

George Redmon wrote:I have a Williams S-12 8 floor, and 5 knees in Bordeaux, that i ordered
from bill last fall, and it too is stunning. Keyless rules.

Dan Robinson · Post by **Dan Robinson** » 16 May 2017 8:50 pm

Dick Wood wrote:I believe that's Honey Amber which is stock.

That Amber, she sure is a honey. Gorgeous. Congrats, Steve. What are the pickups?

Daniel McKee · Post by **Daniel McKee** » 16 May 2017 8:52 pm

I would imagine it is a lot easier to restring with the 700 series style changer where the string cant slip out of the groove. If I ever get another, it is probably going to be a keyless Williams.

Steve Mueller · Post by **Steve Mueller** » 18 Jun 2017 9:33 pm

Pickups on both my Williams D12's are Telonics 427's.

steve takacs · Post by **steve takacs** » 30 Nov 2017 4:37 am

Bill Rudolph and his son Tom create works of art and well functioning and sounding pedal steels. My wife and I have been to their shop a couple of times and have found both of them to be fonts of steel guitar knowledge and plain friendly guys. Stevet

Slim Heilpern · Post by **Slim Heilpern** » 30 Nov 2017 6:51 am

Congratulations Steve! These Willy's are such beautiful instruments. I got my U12 a couple of months ago and I'm lovin' it! I had emailed Bill in September to ask about lead time for a new U12 (migrating from a D12) and he gave me the details and mentioned that he happened to have one that was ready to ship if it suited my needs, and well, it was pretty much exactly what I had in mind so I took it... absolutely no regrets!

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 30 Nov 2017 11:05 pm

My friend Lucky Oceans just played his Williams D-10 at the PSGA show in Connecticut a few weeks ago.

Greg Milton · Post by **Greg Milton** » 30 Nov 2017 11:20 pm

steve takacs wrote:Bill Rudolph and his son Tom

Steve, I think Bill's son's name is Tim.

Amazing guitars! The pedals and knee levers are so responsive. Wouldn't part with mine for quids...

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 1 Dec 2017 2:21 pm

Lots of guitar there and beautiful cabinet. Maybe a sound clip with it sometime?

Steve Mueller · Post by **Steve Mueller** » 1 Jul 2021 8:14 pm

I played this D12 as well as my green Williams D12 on both the Root Cellar Xtract albums("Rear View Mirror Eyes" and "Lonesome Miles"). Also on our 3rd album "Dusty Afternoon" being released on October. Available online with many of the cuts in Youtube.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 1 Jul 2021 10:36 pm

I've had this U12 since 2018. It's a work of art, and when I'm too old to play, it'll still be a beautiful piece of furniture. Forgot to mention it sounds good too

Steve Mueller · Post by **Steve Mueller** » 2 Jul 2021 6:42 am

Ian, Burnt Orange? Great color with the curly maple.

The Steel Guitar Forum

New Williams D12

New Williams D12

Psg