New Williams S10

[highrisejesus]

I took delivery of my new Williams S10 a few months ago. The issues with it started on day 1. These are the issues so far:

1. I asked for my guitar to be the same height as my Carter. Carter adapted the legs and rods to my height - 5 feet 6". Bill Rudolph promised me that the standard size would be ok. Well it wasn't and I spent months trying to sort this out, which I did at my own expense.

2. One of the machine heads broke and had to be replaced.

3. On Tuesday this week, at a rehearsal, the LR knee lever fell off when I tried to operate it. This knee lever, and the RR KL are attached directly into the wood. The screws are too small the LR KL screws have now threaded the wood, and the RR KL is also going the same way. Bill Rudolf has told me to move the knee levers slightly and re-screw them. But obviously they will rip out again, and also the KLs are in the perfect position, why would I want to move them.

Anyway, I could do with some advice on this. I have told Bill that the shoddy workmanship is a total shock to me, given the reputation of Williams guitars. I imagine it will be near impossible to get a refund given that Bill in the USA. That's what I would like to do though, just get my money back. I paid over £3000 to get the guitar here.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

That is the first complaint I have ever heard about a Williams guitar, everyone I know that has one are happy as Larry with them. I would be happy to put some bigger screws in it if that is whats needed

[highrisejesus]

Yes John, that's why I am so shocked by this, Williams has an A1 reputation. But it's as if he's put an apprentice on this job or stopped caring in some way. The problem with putting a bigger screw in, is that this will get ripped out sooner or later. The knee lever has to take the force of a your knee, and 2 screws into the wood is not going to be robust enough.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

I would have thought that with a modern all pull mech being so light to effect the change two screws would have been adequate but the properties of wood is vastly different to metal, I found that out when they sent me out to test an overhead crane made of wood, there are no tables to measure deflection.
Wood can be hard or soft but the problem is not insurmountable if you like the guitar in your place I would just fix it and carry on 3K plus is not a lot to pay for one of Bill's beautiful new guitars just look at what you would have to pay for a new Mullen or Emmons !
I think this is just another case that proves Buddy got it right in every particular, The levers I have crudely made similar to the P/pull have 4 screw holes but that would seem like Belt and Braces on a modern all pull.