He poured his heart out as he walked us through nearly every step of his process, explaining each fixture and specialized station that he had developed in his brilliant workflow. taking off all of 2014 so new built guitars could become backlogged. I'm not a good person to judge this because I have little "M"s circulating in my blood. This was back in 93-94, when the only guitar I owned was my $125 1974 Gianini. Shapers in the background and Jim’s home-made thickness sander in the foreground and jigs everywhere. It might have been fitting to have the Darth Vader imperial march music playing in the background, this thing is legendary, at least in my mind. When the orders come, he builds. Better hold on to you wallet with both hands - one of these (even used) will leave a huge dent. Jim has made guitars for players such as; Sting, Phil Keggy, Paul McCartney, and many others, and of course — James Taylor. room and in a recording studio. This Olson is #460 and was built in 1993, four years after James Taylor purchased his first Olson which I believe he still plays. I thought my OM-18V blew it away in every category, which is the closest thing I have in size to compare it to. As a luthier, especially an artsy, one-off kind of luthier like me, Jim’s shop is like going to one of the 7 wonders of the world. Hey! Talked to the soundman after, and he said it was pretty much straight up with very little EQ or effects. Jim seemed to sense the struggles we were in and to relate on a personal level. The adventures and the experiences that unfolded for each unique situation were amazing to hear. This incredible guitar is a gem. I was amazed at how little you got for your money. Thanks. . He began to tell us stories of the struggles that he and his family went through in his early days. It is so rare that a person has the skills to make a guitar, tune it, and artistically refine it so well, and on top of that also have the capacity to engineer such wonderful systems to streamline the work in a way that doesn’t detract from the unique handmade element his guitars possess. Thanks. . absolutely perfect, and it has a great setup. I am the second owner of the guitar, the former They are beautiful guitars and look incredibly crafted. It’s quite an amazing story. Simply put, the guy is a genius. Talking with Jim, and listening as he explained so many wonderful things to me, seemed to help me as a luthier, an artist, and as a person in general. That's why his waiting time is low. James Olson SJ Acoustic Guitar . It comes with the original hard case. I arrived early in the morning and even as I pulled into the driveway I was already impressed. Now, each guitar is hand made by James Olson, costing as high as $15,000. If you click the little “i” in the upper left it will display info about each photo. but, all-in-all a very balanced guitar and amp'd real well. Strumming with a pick was not great at all. Each one has a specific operation that it helps him accomplish. great build quality--extremely nice wood work. The efficiency and precision that he has been able to harness is unmatched. A stack of guitar necks partially machined and awaiting the next steps of their evolution. I never heard the full story until my visit last year to his workshop where I had the pleasure of hearing it in more detail, truly Inspiring to say the least! Olson has sold them all, there won't be anymore. It is extremely even and balanced from highs Golden Nehru Jacket Award, Friends of The Gopher Society. Jim’s setup is every luthier’s dream, the nice piece of land, the beautiful workshop out back within walking distance. Since James Taylor was my inspiration for playing the guitar in the first place, that meant a lot to me personally. Your email address will not be published. This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, Queen Annes Revenge, loyal sea dog, grog. Please contact them to ask about shipping. Anyone ever play any of his guitars? Opinions? I have to commend his vision and passion for seeing it through, which from this side of that battle was obviously a great victory. You’ll also receive emails with our best content to help build better guitars. One of my favorite things about being a guitar maker is that I can always find more to learn, which I did for sure with Jim Olson. I sat about 10 feet in front of Patty Larkin while she played her Olson at a small Milwaukee show. I'm looking to sell my 2000 James Olson SJ, This one has some beautiful upgrades. So many people hear of Jim’s famous Fadal CNC and have the idea that he can just push a button and a guitar pops out, but I can assure you that it is far from true. The model new now sells Very nice guitars. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: If you watch the listing, we'll notify you if it becomes available again. Hand Built & Exceptional Sound. Posted by Tom Bills | Education, Technique, Tools | 3. is your chance. It is Red Cedar over Indian rosewood. An Unofficial forum for those who love Martin instruments - Founded by Steve Stallings. What I didn’t expect though, was that the moment we met, I immediately knew that something was different about Jim, he was the real deal, he truly cared and it showed in his work. better than good condition with a few tiny scratches and dings, but nothing Next we went upstairs to see where the fine detail work happens. Once Taylor got a hold of one, demand soared. Might have been a diamond in the rough, but oh my, what a diamond!! | 1955 D-18 | 1972 D-18 | D-28A 1937 | D-18A 1937 | D-18 GE | CS-Bluegrass-16 | D-21 Special | D-35 | OM-18V |. They dont have the strong bass of a Martin but why should they, they are an Olson. As soon as I entered the shop there it was, The Fadal. To the left is the sanding room complete with many sanders (one for each grit) and a downdraft table, as well as the various fixtures and other little contraptions Jim has fashioned over the years to help him work faster and more precisely. 29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? My journey to visit Jim Olson of Olson Guitars began a long time ago in California at the Healdsburg Guitar festival in 2003 where I had a chance encounter with a master luthier who up until then I only knew as, “the guy who makes guitars for James Taylor”. for a starting price of $13,000+, and I have heard that James Olson may be If you want a new one, you may want to order soon. owned one. It has an impeccable, beautiful sound. But that's just my subjective opinion. It come with the original tweed case, which is in Items must be returned in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging. James Olson started building guitars in his home in the 80s, but took too long to make them to turn a profit. To meet someone so sincere and so humble in spite of his great success was very inspiring and left me feeling the same way I did the first time I met him years ago; wanting to be more like him when I grow up. I played one a few years ago. Jim explained how each step is executed and he demonstrated how the different body molds and other jigs and fixtures worked. Comfortable neck style, the action is Since that fateful day, he has become my friend and one of the few people I look up to. to lows and is an exceptional recording instrument. Guitar Truss Rods: Which One Is Best For Your Next Guitar? Certainly an impressive sight! This incredible guitar is a gem. To me they shine as folky finger picking guitars. James Olson Dreadnaught ... James Taylor’s acoustic guitar style has been instantly recognizable since the early 70s, and has influenced countless singer-songwriters since. Played several, and while their balance in the middle range is very impressive, and their workmanship and build quality is exquisite, their sound didn't really grab me. Gave it a few obligatory strums, then gingerly handed it back to him. His years old Olsen was the most exquisite, articulate acoustic I think I have ever heard. The ultimate machine. This was back in 93-94, when the only guitar I owned was my $125 1974 Gianini. The only Olson I ever "played" belonged to my brother-in-law (at the time) who had just received his long-awaited custom order. I still think very highly of him not only as a luthier, but a person in general. Kerfing Clamps & How To Build Your Best Guitars, Magnetic Mapping For Floating Guitar Pickups, Retractable Casters Installation & Review, The Luthier’s Guide To Tape For Guitar Making, Stewmac Luthiers Vice & Gift Card Giveaway, Hand Split Tone Bars (A simple way to improve your next guitar), Dust Collection – The Ultimate Luthier’s Guide. . I'd actually rather have a standard Martin than an Olson. Jim shared with me the stories of how he started using the CNC, he had it for an entire year, working long days every day, before he could finally begin to make guitars with it. There are about 20 other makers I would choose without hesitation before I would choose an Olson. James Olson Guitars. I've played a fair number of them and while I thought a couple were great there were quite a few I didn't really think too much of. If you change your mind, you can unsubscribe anytime. By viewing the slide show at the top of the page you can see all the photos of my visit to Olson guitars. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, GET 4 FREE Video Lessons From the exclusive Luthier's EDGE Video Library & More. I am not the original owner but as far as I can tell there have been no changes made to the guitar since Jim built it. Because James Taylor was one of my first inspirations to begin playing the guitar (long before I even knew anyone could make their own guitar), I couldn’t resist including a video of him playing his Olson guitar to finish off this article, enjoy! Considering the fact that I've never owned an Olson, I go back quite a long time with playing many of them. He can build his guitars very quickly. Please check the fields highlighted in red. You can view and learn more about his guitars by visiting his website: tbguitars.com, I look forward to getting your new book/dvd in the mail soon. 2006 Olson SJ Standard model guitar, Serial # 585. Muddy. 2006 Olson SJ Standard model guitar, Serial # 585. It is signed by James Taylor and the builder, James Olson. Your email address will not be published. Tom Bills has been hand crafting one of a kind custom guitars for the top players and collectors around the world since 1998. We swapped guitars for awhile that night, and after playing his Olson for awhile, I found myself preferring my M-38. He told me it cost him $4000--and I was afraid to touch it! Required fields are marked *. Fingerstyle was nice on the cedar-topped jumbo, but not amazing. We seemed to bond that day, as Jim so kindly and generously shared his experiences with us of his tough beginnings, and of the wonderful breakthroughs that came later as a result of his walking by faith and never giving up.
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