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  #1  
Old 05-19-2010, 02:23 PM
K III K III is offline
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Default Double build: Gwaltney & Olson

I am excited and very very humbled that two outstanding builders each will build me a dream guitar. Thanks to all of you that helped me on these decisions with their insights, recommendations and advice.

It really does not makes sense for me to own such guitars based on my playing skills, but ever since I received my Stehr, I recognized how much more fun it is to play with a guitar you love. My Stehr has really taken my playing to a different level.

The guitars will be very different, the Olson very traditional and the Gwaltney with the innovative elevated fingerboard and Carbon rod structure, but I guess it is going to be fun to compare.

I have ordered at different times (the Gwaltney really long ago), but as it sometimes happens they basically started simultaneously. Jim's build will probably take longer (12 months) because he decided to cut down after turning 60 this year and only do one class this year, whereas Greg's build should be done by October, once he focuses on my guitar.

Combining the builds will lead to more pictures more often

So here we go (no long spec list, because not all decided, but will come along as we go):

The Gwaltney will be Sinker Redwood top and African Blackwood back/sides. Greg said it would be the combo he would choose for himself, in his favorite body, a 000-13.

The Olson is old-growth straight grained BRW with a master-grade Cedar top and cut-away. As Olson as can be.

Here is the ABW (taking pictures of such a dark wood is always a challenge, but you can see that it is fairly straight grained and doesn't have Sapwood) It is really dark:


Greg has joined it already:


For the Olson, I looked at numerous sets from Jim's incredible stack, and got what I wanted: old-growth, straight-grained, dark:


I must say though, I was tempted when I saw some of the figure. Here is what I finally selected from:


And the neck blanks are done already:


So, still tough to wait so long, but at least the Gwaltney will come to my house this year.

Thanks for looking, and again for your help and advice.

Last edited by K III; 05-05-2011 at 01:43 PM.
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  #2  
Old 05-19-2010, 02:47 PM
tpp tpp is offline
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Two great sounding builds, congratulations!
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  #3  
Old 05-19-2010, 07:10 PM
hnuuhiwa hnuuhiwa is offline
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Hey Karl,

I'll be looking forward to this thread, especially the Gwaltney build as yours may be one of the builds that was moved forward when I had Greg push mine back to the later part of this year.

Mine is also a African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood, so I'll also be watching your build for ideas ...heh heh!

Aloha,

Hen
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Clark: A-Wedge Monkeypod/Snkr Rdwd
Cornerstone: Zion All Koa
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Old 05-19-2010, 10:28 PM
cpabolting cpabolting is offline
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Way to go for it. Love the Olson wood.
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A brand new duet I wrote with my daughter:
https://youtu.be/u0hRB7fYaZU

Olson Brazilian Dread #1325
Olson Brazilian SJ #1350
Olson Tiger Myrtle Dread #1355
Olson Brazilian Jumbo #1351
Olson 12-string Jumbo (one of only a few)
Martin D-42 Johnny Cash #51/200 (only 80 made)
And a few others

Quite a few limited edition and rare Martins
-----------------

http://www.kekomusic.com
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Old 05-20-2010, 10:03 AM
gregg gregg is offline
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Wow, Karl told me about the dual build thread, but I had no idea it was an Olson, I'm humbled that our progress pics will share the pages with a builder like Jim Olson. I should have the sides bent this weekend, pics to follow!

Cheers,
Greg
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Old 05-20-2010, 01:59 PM
K III K III is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hnuuhiwa View Post
I'll be looking forward to this thread, especially the Gwaltney build as yours may be one of the builds that was moved forward when I had Greg push mine back to the later part of this year.


Aloha,

Hen
Not sure, Hen, I ordered mine about 15 months ago, and it might still take a while because I know Greg has some more impatient customers than me

Quote:
Originally Posted by cpabolting View Post
Way to go for it. Love the Olson wood.
Yeah, Keith, very different from your two choices, and difficult to select. I think Jim doesn't have too many straight grains anymore, and he is keeping them for some 35k collectors series. I actually like that it is pretty dark, too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gregg View Post
I'm humbled that our progress pics will share the pages with a builder like Jim Olson.
Cheers,
Greg
Greg, like you, Jim is a very humble person and he would probably say he is proud of being presented with some young and innovative builder, too. Sounds strange, but that is the impression I got from Jim during my phone calls. Very impressive.

No post without pics (don't quote me later on, please), so here you see a few more Olsons necks waiting to be carved
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Old 05-20-2010, 07:42 PM
mcozma mcozma is offline
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Thumbs up

Karl, you are one lucky guy - these builds will be amazing, I'm sure, so keep us posted and wanting for more
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  #8  
Old 05-22-2010, 09:20 AM
K III K III is offline
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Default Olson update

Binding, endwedge, headstock and peghead overlay as well as all bindings will be done in the black Braz that was used for Commando's Italian/BRW SJ:
. Everything is going to be really straight. What an excitement.
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Old 05-22-2010, 11:56 AM
hnuuhiwa hnuuhiwa is offline
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Yummmm.....love the dark braz look! I think it'll work great with the B/S. Which one will you use it on...the AB or Braz, or both?
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Andrew White Production: Cybelle 112 Rosewood/Sitka
Andrew White Production: Cybele 312C Crossover Rosewood/Red Cedar
Clark: A-Wedge Koa/Snkr Rdwd 12-str
Clark: A-Wedge Monkeypod/Snkr Rdwd
Cornerstone: Zion All Koa
Cornerstone: Tenor Ukulele Prototype #2 All Koa
Fay: OM Mac Eb/Englemann
Stehr: Aud. Braz/Snkr Rdwd 8-str

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  #10  
Old 05-22-2010, 02:43 PM
goodvibes goodvibes is offline
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Outstanding builder and wood choices!! Enjoy the ride, they look to be gorgeous guitars
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  #11  
Old 05-23-2010, 02:25 PM
Martin_Nut Martin_Nut is offline
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Nice couple of guitars you have going there - thanks for taking the time to post all those photos. Lots of fun to watch. Both wood sets look very fine. I'm a particular fan of straight Braz, but boy ABW has some big fans out there.
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  #12  
Old 05-24-2010, 05:36 AM
K III K III is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hnuuhiwa View Post
Yummmm.....love the dark braz look! I think it'll work great with the B/S. Which one will you use it on...the AB or Braz, or both?
Hen,
the black Braz will go with the Olson. If would have taken it for b/s, but Jim ran out of it. On Greg's guitar, we will probably choose some contrasting light color, like a flamed maple. By far my absolute favorite binding is Mike Baraniks spalted Koa Sapwood, but that is unavailable.



Also, I recently saw a really cool wood. It's blue and called "Blue Mahoe". I guess it would make some cool accents, too.
http://www.exoticwood.biz/bluemahoe.htm
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  #13  
Old 05-28-2010, 07:07 AM
cpabolting cpabolting is offline
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Where are your Olson pics slacker??
__________________
A brand new duet I wrote with my daughter:
https://youtu.be/u0hRB7fYaZU

Olson Brazilian Dread #1325
Olson Brazilian SJ #1350
Olson Tiger Myrtle Dread #1355
Olson Brazilian Jumbo #1351
Olson 12-string Jumbo (one of only a few)
Martin D-42 Johnny Cash #51/200 (only 80 made)
And a few others

Quite a few limited edition and rare Martins
-----------------

http://www.kekomusic.com
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  #14  
Old 05-28-2010, 07:45 AM
K III K III is offline
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Default Olson update

Quote:
Originally Posted by cpabolting View Post
Where are your Olson pics slacker??
Here On the first few pictures you can see how Jim's CNC machines do the cutaway





And the box is taking shape. I like the grain, and you can see the dark Braz endwedge, too.


Coming along nicely.
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  #15  
Old 05-28-2010, 08:45 AM
cpabolting cpabolting is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by K III View Post
Here On the first few pictures you can see how Jim's CNC machines do the cutaway


Coming along nicely.
To those who think Jim doesn't hand build.....that is one interesting machine. He uses CNC for rough cutting certain things and that's it. And when I say that they are built with passion and love...trust me...his guitars exude that from their sound and beauty. You have to love the working hands there!
__________________
A brand new duet I wrote with my daughter:
https://youtu.be/u0hRB7fYaZU

Olson Brazilian Dread #1325
Olson Brazilian SJ #1350
Olson Tiger Myrtle Dread #1355
Olson Brazilian Jumbo #1351
Olson 12-string Jumbo (one of only a few)
Martin D-42 Johnny Cash #51/200 (only 80 made)
And a few others

Quite a few limited edition and rare Martins
-----------------

http://www.kekomusic.com
Reply With Quote
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