Olson Build SJ Cutaway - Started 9/2009 #1301

[SuperB23]

Boy that sure is looking beautiful!! It's going to be a serious looker!!!

[Cornerstone Guitars]

Yes sir!! Now we're talking!

[TaylorKoaFan]

This is a stunning build. Absolutely beautiful.

[K III]

Wow!

You should only post one picture per day, otherwise we get a flash:D

[OliveFodera]

Those inlays are very, very nice. I'll bet you would need a magnifying glass to find any gaps, however minute they might be. Truly one of the great masters at the top of his class.

[SGretsch001]

I love the fretboard on this one. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

[cpabolting]

I love the fretboard on this one. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Me too! I look forward to when he builds the matching dread! (Will get started as soon as this batch is done)

[cpabolting]

Thanks for all the great comments. Those fretboard inlays were worth the wait big time.

[drcmusic7]

Congrats! What a stunning guitar you're getting. You might have mentioned this, but will the bridge have inlays too? Will it be ebony or brazilian?

I've been enjoying this thread:)

Kindly,
Danny

[cpabolting]

Congrats! What a stunning guitar you're getting. You might have mentioned this, but will the bridge have inlays too? Will it be ebony or brazilian?

I've been enjoying this thread:)

Kindly,
Danny

Bridge will have inlays and will be ebony. They will look something like this:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/Bridgeinlays.jpg

Glad you are enjoying the thread. I am eternally appreciative to Jim Olson for his patience...but it is worth it in the end.

[cpabolting]

Bridge pins will be the dark fossilized walrus ivory like these

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Bridgepins.jpg

I went with a k & k mini pickup going through a vintage endpin jack so we did not have to drill it out.

[690MBCOMMANDO]

Bridge pins will be the dark fossilized walrus ivory like these

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Bridgepins.jpg

I went with a k & k mini pickup going through a vintage endpin jack so we did not have to drill it out.

Nice choice....I recognize those exact ones ;)

[cpabolting]

Just amazing watching it all come together!

[gregg]

Pretty cool to watch Jim's processes, never played one of his guitars, but he sure builds a pretty/handsome instrument.

Cheers,

[cpabolting]

Pretty cool to watch Jim's processes, never played one of his guitars, but he sure builds a pretty/handsome instrument.

Cheers,


He is meticulous for sure. And a salt of the earth guy who just doesn't realize (or act like he does) how significant he is in the history of hand built guitars.

[mcduffnw]

Hi Keith:
A truly gorgeous and elegant guitar you have in creation with Mr. Olson!!!
We all wait in deep anticipation for it's arrival to you and your thoughts on it's merits all around.

If you have a moment, I had a question for you.

If you could have THE very very best luthiers at Martin's custom shop, or Collings, or Santa Cruz, or Froggy Bottom, or any of the very finest boutique or small shop companies, build you a comparative guitar to the one you are having Jim Olson build you, do you feel it would be as fine a guitar?

By comparative, I mean a guitar that is truly their strength in building, such as an OM body, which all of the above makers are truly superb at building.

I ask you, because as I see by your signature line, and by your comments in your various posts, that you own, or have owned, some of the finest guitars out there in the marketplace, and a wide variety of brands and styles...so I am curious what your experiences with these guitars has taught you in regards to my question.

Very Best Regards
duff

[Taylorplayer]

He is meticulous for sure. And a salt of the earth guy who just doesn't realize (or act like he does) how significant he is in the history of hand built guitars.

Hello again:

Those pictures are putting me "over the top" with excitement... and it's your guitar!

Hopefully you can post some sound files when it is finished. If the sonic qualities come anywhere near the visual -- (and I'm sure they will) -- then that will be one magnificent instrument.

Thanks again for the pics and the commentary on the build. Just think -- people will look at that guitar for decades to come and marvel at it how fantastic it is.

Peace,
Bill

[cpabolting]

Hi Keith:
A truly gorgeous and elegant guitar you have in creation with Mr. Olson!!!
We all wait in deep anticipation for it's arrival to you and your thoughts on it's merits all around.

If you have a moment, I had a question for you.

If you could have THE very very best luthiers at Martin's custom shop, or Collings, or Santa Cruz, or Froggy Bottom, or any of the very finest boutique or small shop companies, build you a comparative guitar to the one you are having Jim Olson build you, do you feel it would be as fine a guitar?

By comparative, I mean a guitar that is truly their strength in building, such as an OM body, which all of the above makers are truly superb at building.

I ask you, because as I see by your signature line, and by your comments in your various posts, that you own, or have owned, some of the finest guitars out there in the marketplace, and a wide variety of brands and styles...so I am curious what your experiences with these guitars has taught you in regards to my question.

Very Best Regards
duff

I know the individual luthiers here get a little testy...It is no secret Jim Olson builds an amazing guitar. He will probably go down as one of the most talented luthiers ever and his guitars will have an unusual collectibility factor for a long term due to that reputation and relatively low production numbers.
He loves what he does and it shows in his work. His meticulous nature probably borders on ocd (obsessive compulsive disordered) like many of these other luthiers and even me as a cpa. THat said, I think when you buy a hand built, you are buying a different stratosphere of guitar in terms of dedication to perfection, to attention to detail and to care about what will go in your hands.

I think if you took the very best luthier at Martin or Froggy and they hand built ONE guitar from start to finish, you probably would get an outstanding instrument. That said, I think I would be inclined to have a handbuilt by Jim Olson over their best. I am also sure you can see many of the handbuilts done by many of the individual luthiers here on the forum and I am sure their handbuilt would best the one from the best luthier at Martin.

The way all of these individual luthiers care about what they do, I think no matter what model you chose, they would build you an exceptional instrument.

[cpabolting]

Hello again:

Those pictures are putting me "over the top" with excitement... and it's your guitar!

Hopefully you can post some sound files when it is finished. If the sonic qualities come anywhere near the visual -- (and I'm sure they will) -- then that will be one magnificent instrument.

Thanks again for the pics and the commentary on the build. Just think -- people will look at that guitar for decades to come and marvel at it how fantastic it is.

Peace,
Bill

Thanks so much for your words. I will gladly post some sound files up. It is an amazing guitar and I am very excited to have it, but to have the matching dred which Jim will start on when this one is completed. I don't think he has built a more beautiful guitar!

[Schoolside]

It is no secret Jim Olson builds an amazing guitar. He will probably go down as one of the most talented luthiers ever and his guitars will have an unusual collectibility factor for a long term due to that reputation and relatively low production numbers.

While their are many talented luthiers and many more to come, I agree with CPA's assessment of Jim Olson's guitars. "They will have an unusual collectibility factor for the long term". I would be especially enthused about collecting some less adorned models as well.

[cpabolting]

More Pictures!!!!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith114.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith115.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith116.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith117.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith118.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith119.jpg

Gotta be soon!

[mcduffnw]

Hi Keith:
Thank you very much for your reply to my question!!! Nice gentle tip-toe...

You know...I was surprised...I have just received my latest copy of "Acoustic Guitar" magazine, they're 20th Anniversary issue, and one of the sections was "20 Trend Setting Products" of the last several decades. They listed Kevin Ryans "Mission" guitar as one of the most innovative guitar designs, and I honestly thought to myself, REALLY???...what about Jim Olson's SJ model guitar? I really thought that Jim deserved some recognition for his contribution to the immense popularity of that design. I am probably wrong for thinking that way, and Kevin Gallagher offered some really strong reasons why Kevin Ryan was probably very deserving of the kudo's from AG.

Still, it seems like Jim deserved a little bit more "front and center" accolades than he received...maybe it's just me.

Thanks Again, and thanks for the photo updates from the Space Shuttle...er...I mean...Jim's spray booth...

Very Best Regards
duff

[cpabolting]

Hi Keith:
Thank you very much for your reply to my question!!! Nice gentle tip-toe...

You know...I was surprised...I have just received my latest copy of "Acoustic Guitar" magazine, they're 20th Anniversary issue, and one of the sections was "20 Trend Setting Products" of the last several decades. They listed Kevin Ryans "Mission" guitar as one of the most innovative guitar designs, and I honestly thought to myself, REALLY???...what about Jim Olson's SJ model guitar? I really thought that Jim deserved some recognition for his contribution to the immense popularity of that design. I am probably wrong for thinking that way, and Kevin Gallagher offered some really strong reasons why Kevin Ryan was probably very deserving of the kudo's from AG.

Still, it seems like Jim deserved a little bit more "front and center" accolades than he received...maybe it's just me.

Thanks Again, and thanks for the photo updates from the Space Shuttle...er...I mean...Jim's spray booth...

Very Best Regards
duff


Olson's SJ has had a far more reaching impact than Ryan's Mission plain and simple. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery and everyone has followed suit to make a guitar that is a SJ.

Kevin makes beautiful guitars and is very cutting edge with his technological innovations so I think Kevin belongs in the trend setters.

[cpabolting]

Fingers crossed...may be shipping at the end of January. Looks very very close.

[Colbyjack]

Wow. What a beauty!


It's also cool that the lacquer was sprayed on by a guy from one of the Intel Microchip commercials.


:D

[Taylorplayer]

Wow. What a beauty!
It's also cool that the lacquer was sprayed on by a guy from one of the Intel Microchip commercials. :D

I'm just happy to see that he was suited up! I've seen some industrial settings where that protocol was not always followed... and that stuff can do some nasty things to a person>

Peace,
Bill

[cpabolting]

I'm just happy to see that he was suited up! I've seen some industrial settings where that protocol was not always followed... and that stuff can do some nasty things to a person>

Peace,
Bill

When you look the build from the beginning, you can tell from the shop layout to the jigs, the meticulous craftmanship, you know Jim is a perfectionist. It never surprises me to see him doing things right.

[Taylorplayer]

When you look the build from the beginning, you can tell from the shop layout to the jigs, the meticulous craftmanship, you know Jim is a perfectionist. It never surprises me to see him doing things right.

Yes, that is true. I did notice the layout of his shop, and I have been consistently impressed by how clean and organized he keeps everything. Having been a facilities manager for 20 years, I tend to notice those kinds of things as well. That's most impressive to me.

You are going to have one truly spectacular build...

Peace,
Bill

[cpabolting]

This guitar is SO close to being in my hands!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith120.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith121.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith122.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith123.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith124.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g231/cpabolting/Olson%201301/keith125.jpg

Amazing!

[K III]

The last pic with the guitar in the otherwise empty rack looks like a young kid where the parents forgot to pick him up after school :D:D:D

Great guitar again, Keith. The dark neck is really the winner.