Below are a few videos of Bill making instruments and playing them. For example, you can watch him make and play his version of the Weissenborn Guitar. We hope you enjoy watching him make and play some of he best toned instruments. Before you watch, here is a great story. Fred Coon was a friend of Doc Watson’s, before his passing, for 47 years. Fred took Bill over to Doc’s house for a visit and jam session. About five tunes into the session, Doc asked Bill if he could play Bill’s mandolin. (Bill makes fabulously toned instruments). About five tunes later, Doc hands the mandolin back to Bill and said, “son, there’s not a fierce note in that thing.” Doesn’t that say it all?
| About Bill’s Mesquite Guitar | Bill Guitar Tune |
| Bill On His Unique 5th String System | Bill on Instrument Woods and Tune |
| Bill On Making Banjos – Sally In the Garden | Bill-Banjo – Belle of Lexington |
| Bill’s Mesquite Guitar with Deep River Blues | |
Who Was Johnny Hilt? – For many years, John Fitzgerald Hilt (Johnny) was employed as an iron worker in the coal mines of West Virginia. He lived a hermit’s existence in the family homestead on the south side of Clinch Mountain in the Poor Valley section near Tannersville, Virginia. He was a man of nature and he had a wild bird, a titmouse, named Alexander (picture below) who used to visit him daily. Fred is trying to find the picture he took of Alenander sitting on John’s fiddle while he played. Johnny’s fiddle style was truly wonderful. It was a strong, driving style and when Fred took Johnny to meet Doc Watson at Doc’s home, Doc and Johnny played together for an afternoon, just sharing and enjoying the spirit of old-time mountain tunes – a jam session to remember. More on this an other stories to follow…