Williams Keyless.. serial # 27..ugly girl..

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 10 Jul 2005 6:15 pm

.. VERY early Willy Keyless.. Geez, Bill had
to go scrounging around for parts to sell me! He did come up with what I needed!.. He's a good guy ..

I WANTED to hate this guitar, because I became aware of its finish problems AFTER buying it[ebay],but before I received it..
I tend to buy on impulse and sometimes pay the price... I was ready to disclose what she needed and just pass her on..

However as I started making tentative "deals", I started tweaking, adjusting,lubricating,tigtening and otherwise fondling this old steel.. It turns out it has a VERY sweet "vintagey" sound like a cross between a Sho Bud and a good old non pedal steel... REAL nice sustain also..
After several hours pulling all the rods, moving every bellcrank,adjusting all lower returns,etc,etc. this old Willy is REALLY starting to come to life..

It is a fairly basic mechanism and is easy to work on if you almost know what you are doing..
It plays nice.. not as smooth and precise as my Carter, but as good as most steels of this era I would think... My Carter is a very light steel, HOWEVER it feels like its made of cast iron compared to this Willy..So light its unreal, yet still quite stable...
The finish is dog dirt ugly its true,[someone BRUSH painted the bar dings!] but if this steel plays in tune and stays in tune, a refinish may be in its future.. The body is BEAUTIFUL birds eye and should NEVER have been painted IMHO... anyway, in the past if I made up my little mind to hate a piece of gear, I wanted it gone,period...
For some reason however,this old girl is growing on me...

Its unique,REALLY sounds and sustains VERY well, and just kind of looks like she needs me.
I almost feel like having a talk with her telling her "if you just stay in tune, I'll take that ugly paint off and show the world that GORGEOUS wood body you REALLY have"..

It WILL drop the 3rd string down a full tone which is a vital part of my copedent..

It's funny.. there's certainly nothing special about this steel, but something keeps telling me, THIS is the #2 I've been looking for... I've gone through 3 others in the past few months,, always something...

Its just an old somewhat dated pedal steel.. but there is "something" about it...

please forgive my "long winded" post... bob

Russ Tkac · Post by **Russ Tkac** » 10 Jul 2005 6:30 pm

Bob,

If it's bar dinged and ugly it sounds like a natural for you!

I could not resist. I bought an old Fender 400 a while ago. It has many bar dings and the like but I don't even notice them. The thing just fits me! Ugly and old! Got to love it!

Enjoy,
Russ

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 10 Jul 2005 6:53 pm

Does that mean it ain't for sale no more?

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 11 Jul 2005 1:08 am

Yeah Bob.You got me all confused this time buddy.
Is it or is ot NOT for sale anymore?

Ron

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 11 Jul 2005 3:11 am

Ron, check your mail.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 12 Jul 2005 6:11 pm

It appears from your email to ME, Bob, that you're not selling this guitar, correct?
CONGRATULATIONS on finding a good 'un!!

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 13 Jul 2005 4:40 am

Not yet Steve.. It is really growing on me.. It sounds beautiful[ask Dave Mudgett or Chip Fossa.. they both liked the sound over the phone

]...

I think it will stay in tune acceptably,it plays good for a 20 year old axe,and has a certain "vibe" that I can't explain... This is the 4th lacquer guitar I've had here in the past few months looking for a second steel, and each day I'm liking it better.

It in not as smooth and precise as my Carter, but it feels better than other guitars I've played from the 80's .

I may refinish it sometime in the future to display the gorgeous birdseye maple this guitar is made of.... someone brush painted over the bar dings!!

also, I guess I like the fact that Williams guitars are not as common as others..
Not crazy about the keyless design,but I am getting used to it.. the initial "shock" is over, and now I think I will be able to live with the design pretty well. The guitar intrigues me. bob

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 13 Jul 2005 9:24 am

I would keep the guitar.
If you clean it up adjust it properly, it may even get better.
Enjoy!

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud LLG; Guyatone 6 string lap steel; John Pearse bar; Emmons bar; Evans SE200 amp