Olson SJ

1995 Olson SJ, Indian Rosewood back and sides, Engleman Spruce Top, Baggs LB6 pickup, Abalone doves on fretboard, Abalone top trim, ebony fingerboard, abalone design on bridge, abalone back strip, non-cutaway

I use this guitar for fingerstyle playing primarily. It is clear, excellent note separation, rich full sound. I play it through a California Blonde amp. I've played hundreds of guitars and have never found its equal.

The neck plays like butter. The neck is a little wider than I am used to (my old guitar is a Martin D-25), but I am making less mistakes all the time.
The guitar is absolutely flawless cosmetically. Not a scratch. Not bad for a seven year old. I bought it in January 2002 and believe it was owned by a collector. It looked brand new. I even compared it with new Olsons waiting to be delivered when I visited Jim Olson's shop. No difference detectable.

This guitar is truly a work of art. I admit to being paranoid about playing it outside of my home. I've never owned such an expensive instrument before.

Jim installed the pickup for me and even changed the pickguard for me. He is a fine, fine man.

I've played guitar for 25 years. This is a dream guitar. If you ever get the opportunity to play an Olson, go for it. Better yet, if you ever get the opportunity to buy one, do it.

This is a brand new, sweet looking Olson SJ with a cut-away, tuners with Ebony buttons, 20 frets, an L.R. Baggs LB6 pickup and a Joe Mills Microphone. I have an abalone ring around my soundhole, with no other ornamentation. It's exactly what I asked for, so I have to give it a:

I play a lot of acoustic fingerstyle. Um...yeah. This guitar is amazing. The bass on my Martin is a little bit...boomier, I suppose, but the Martin has a bigger body. It's very mellow and the harmonics are amazing. It's hard to beat.

The action is as good as any acoustic I've ever played before. It plays like my electrics. The finish is high-gloss, so it can get pretty shiny. I love it.

I don't play much live, but the Olson's work for James Taylor and Phil Keaggy among others. I would always bring my Martin for backup, but that has to do with my temprament more than my fear of this guitar busting.
The tuners I ordered were Schallers, but James put on better (and more expensive) tuners for no additional cost. I don't know the brand, however, but they are the smoothest tuners I've ever used.

James is a top-notch customer guy. I don't think there's anything he wouldn't fix.

I've been playing over five years (not long enough to own an Olson, really, but that's your problem, not mine). I have a Martin and several electric guitars that now don't receive much playing time. It's hard to believe that my Martin - yes, my Martin - is now my beater guitar.

94 model bought used Jan 2000
All solid Indian Rosewood/Western Red Cedar
5 ply neck
No pickup when bought but now fitted with a Baggs LB6X as used by James Taylor
No cutaway
No pickguard
Cased replaced with a Calton by me.

As is well known Jim Olson's guitars are wonderful instruments and this is as close to perfection as ou can get.
Works best with a combination of light and medium phosphor bronze strings. Low E .56 medium and B and high E being medium also with the rest lights. In this string configuration the optimum sound can be obtained for both finger and flat picking. A full set of lights whilst still sounding good flatpicked is clearly better when using fingers.

6 years old this guitar was mint!

Have been using it live and do not doubt durability. Ask James Taylor he only uses Olson guitars and has toured extensively with his.

Jim Olson is AMAZING and will talk to you anytime, often at the cost of lost worktime for him. Despite both my Olsons being bought used he offered to repair any problems for free!

35 years a guitarist with 10 guitars including 3 Martins and a Gibson. Olsons are easily the best I have.
If lost I would search high and low for a replacement. I am very lucky to be the owner of two of Jim's amazing instruments. I used to spend hours in guitar shops playing everything they had but now don't bother because I have the best at home

First of all, I must make it clear, this is not my guitar!!! (Mine should be ready around March of 2001!) The guitar I'm talking about is actally James Olson's wifes guitar, that he made for her. I went up to his house and work shop and he gave me a grand tour, all in all I took an hour and a half out of his day. It was amazing to see what was around.
The guitar itself was a Small Jumbo, which is a slightly smaller jumbo. (DUH!) Four and three quarters of an inch thick and 17 and a half inches long. I believe those are correct measurements. For those who can't tell, this is a small guitar. But it is easily one of the loudest acoustic guitars I've ever played. It had a beautiful rose from the fifth to the seventh fret. Unfortunately, I played it acoustically and I can't even hope to describe it's amplified capabilities.
Increadibly low action. Most electrics aren't as good. Harmonically rich. No dead spots like you find on a lot of Taylors and Martins. Not sure of the woods.

I play acoustic music. THE HOLY GRAIL. Not even joking. I played it for about ten minutes. Haven't been more impressed by anything else in my entire life. Harmonics were incredible. Everything was so perfect that I was willing to lay down $5100 for one for myself. I think that speaks for itself. I'm not independantly wealthy, and I have to work for every dime for that.

Finish was flawless, everything else was perfect. Action, like I said, was perfect.

I can't really comment on this, but they live up for Sting, Phil Keaggy, and James Taylor.

James has been absolutely incredible in my communications with him. He gives away his specs for his instruments for free!!! It's amazing. Wonderful guy, really nice guy.

Beautiful guitar handmade from the best possible tools and woods and every thing else. Moreover, it's from a great guy I can really trust.