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2018 Olson SJ, The Tree Mahogany/Cedar
Jim Olson is at the top of his game, and playing this Tree Olson is like standing on top of a mountain—but much, much warmer. We love just how warm, responsive, and enveloping this 2018 Olson SJ plays. And why be surprised? Highly figured The Tree Mahogany back and sides with a pale Cedar top—of course it’s going to sing like a blazing fire. Individual note definition comes with a whole host of rich, velvety overtones. Built only yesterday in 2018, this Olson is basically new, plays like a dream, and boasts intricate floral and thorn inlays along the fretboard from the inimitable Larry Robinson. An honest-to-god collector’s passion.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilidng, james olson, james taylor, quilted mahogany, figured mahogany, red cedar, 5-ply, fingerstyle, bespoke guitar
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Mahogany - The Tree Add to Compare2019 Olson Collector Series, The Tree Mahogany/Italian Spruce
To celebrate his 1600th guitar, James Olson pulled out all the stops. This SJ comes bedecked with shockingly beautiful Blue Paua Abalone, The Tree Mahogany back and sides, and an Italian Spruce top from the Fiemme Valley. Larry Robinson executed an impressive inlay scheme along the fretboard to celebrate this milestone guitar. Honestly, one builder reaching 1600 guitars? Simply incredible. This one came in, and went right back out the door before we could even list it.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Mahogany - The Tree Add to Compare2018 Olson SJ Cutaway, Brazilian Rosewood/Cedar
As new as it gets, without standing at the front of the line! We’ve landed a like new 2018 Olson SJ Cutaway in Brazilian Rosewood and Cedar that’s simply incredible. Abalone appointments, Abalone dove inlays, and an exquisitely effortless playability all combine for maximum resonance. Jim’s guitars speak completely for themselves, and this 2018 SJ is no exception: clarity, dynamism, and playability are the name of the game.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Brazilian Add to Compare2011 Olson SJ Cutaway, Brazilian Rosewood/Cedar, Brazilian Rosewood Neck
A piece quite unlike anything we’ve seen from Jim Olson: a Brazilian Rosewood neck SJ Cutaway with extensive and exquisite Abalone inlays from tuners to tail. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides paired with Cedar make for Jim and James Taylor’s hallmark sound, and we have an L.R. Baggs Anthem pickup installed to carry that tone straight from the studio to the stage.
This 2011 Olson is one of the most impressive guitars we’ve ever seen come out of Jim’s shop, and it’s not just the woods (although woah, these woods are absurdly beautiful, and we’ve only ever seen a Brazilian Rosewood neck once before, on the McConnell Jordan built for Paul)—the voice is crisp to a “C,” with flawless intonation along the fretboard and balanced from bass to treble. A perfect fingerstyle guitar with family heirloom appointments.Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, james olson, BRW, brazilian neck, calton, bespoke, one of a kind
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Brazilian Add to Compare1984 Olson Dreadnought, Indian Rosewood/Spruce
Here’s an Olson that stands apart from the crowd: an Olson Dreadnought from all the way back in 1984. Indian Rosewood and Spruce, Jim’s hallmark 5-ply neck, and the same easy playability you’ll find on his more common SJs. The voice is very even and balanced across the registers, and loved it when we dug in for a more aggressive response. Being nearly four decades old, this Olson has its fair share of play wear and finish checks, but we’ve gone over it toe to tip to make sure everything is ready to roll—this one’s got a clean bill of health. Additionally, there’s a Fishman Matrix Infinity pickup installed that’s killer; ready for the stage today, the recording studio tomorrow.
Other keywords: james olson, olson guitars, james taylor, allen Shadd, flatpicking, bluegrass, flatpick, herringbone, 28-style, schaller
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.3125 in Woods Spruce, Rosewood - Indian Add to Compare1995 Olson SJ, Indian Rosewood/Cedar
This 1995 Olson SJ continues in the tradition of all of Jim Olson’s guitars, which is to say that this Olson is a fingerstyle fanatics favorite (or soon to be) weapon of choice. The string-to-string balance is superb, and the play feel is gossamer. Dropped into lowered tunings, the strings remain crisp and responsive; let those bass strings rumble when you can, because the lower depths have an awesome dark growl to fill out your arrangements. Freshly brought back to peak playing condition by our very own repair team, this Olson has spot-on intonation and is ready to roll for many more years to come!
The clarity and easy projection typical to Olson guitars is represented in full force here: it doesn’t take much for this SJ to sing. The Indian Rosewood back and sides, paired with a Cedar top, impart a bright and articulate voice that really comes out in the trebles with bell-like overtones. Completed by an Olson-labelled Calton case, this guitar is ready for any and all hijinks your fingerstyling can come up with.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, jim olson, james olson, james taylor, small jumbo, fingerpicking
Here’s an additional demo with our own Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/7OT7LIQq1aQ
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian Add to Compare1999 Olson SJ, Indian Rosewood/Cedar
A powerhouse Olson SJ! This gorgeous 1999 classic in Indian Rosewood & Cedar plays like butter, and likes to be played. We see a lot of Olsons come through our shop that maybe haven’t seen a lot of play time, so it’s a special treat when one comes in that’s obviously not rested on its laurels. This Olson has been extensively played in in the past 20 years, and it sounds oh so alive.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, jim olson, james olson, james taylor, fingerstyle, fingerpicking
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian Add to Compare1993 Olson SJ, Indian Rosewood/Cedar
The Olson party continues to grow! We’ve now taken on a 1993 SJ non-cutaway with additional MOP and Abalone appointments. Indian Rosewood back and sides with the classic Cedar top, this Olson SJ is 100% James Olson–James Taylor tone. This is a particularly well preserved example of Jim’s work from the early 90s, one of our favorite Olson periods, and comes wrapped up in the tweed hardshell case to seal the deal.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, jim olson, fingerstyle, sj, fingerpicking, mother of pearl, mother-of-pearl, 405SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian Add to Compare1982 Olson Small Body, Mahogany/Spruce
A fun blast from the past of Jim Olson’s long career! We recently took in a small body guitar that Jim built back in 1982, one of about two such guitars that Jim modeled after classical designs, but with steel strings. Mahogany back and sides, Spruce top, Florentine cutaway and 25.4 scale, and Jim’s trademark 5-ply neck are all here. This Olson has seen lots of play time over the decades, but is in fine working shape and has a quick and opened up voice to prove it. The smaller body dimensions make for easy playability, but the guitar doesn’t suffer for volume and projection. An opportunity to own a piece of Olson history.
Other keywords: james olson, fingerstyle, james taylor, striped mahogany, schaller, phil keaggy
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.65 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce, Mahogany Add to Compare2002 Olson Jumbo, Brazilian Rosewood/Engelmann Spruce
This 2002 Olson Jumbo is everything, and more, that we’ve come to expect from Jim Olson. A knockout flatpicking machine with a powerful, resounding bottom end for depth and sustain. Paired with crisp trebles and projection, this Olson sings for a fingerpicker’s touch just as easily. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides Engelmann Spruce top, and Jim’s MOP doves across the fretboard. Powerful, muscular, this is an incredibly fierce and energetic Olson.
Other keywords: james olson, james taylor, fingerstyle, jumbo guitar, brazilain, englemann, engelman, herringbone, calton
Here’s a demo with our own Al Petteway at the helm: https://youtu.be/_Lejjn-q-ic
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Engelmann, Rosewood - Brazilian Add to Compare2012 Olson SJ Cutaway, Indian Rosewood/Cedar
This 2012 Olson SJ is a note-for-note match to the James Taylor Clone specs, with Indian Rosewood back and sides and a Cedar top, Abalone birds, Gotoh tuners, and Florentine cutaway—and it packs a rich and energetic voice to boot. Aside from a few marks, this baby is in primo condition, and it offers a well developed and dynamic response beyond its years. In short, this Olson is pretty darn perfect. Included is an L.R. Baggs LB6 pickup and Calton flight case.
Other keywords: lutherie, james olson, jim olson, fingerstyle, small jumbo
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian Add to Compare1992 Olson SJ, Indian Rosewood/Cedar
This 1992 Olson SJ falls in one of our favorite ranges for Jim’s guitars from the 1990s. The voice is sweet and melodic, completely opened up and responsive, and the setup is slinky smooth in just about every application. The original LB6 pickup has been replaced with a McIntyre Feather (you’ll find the LB6 in the neck compartment of the case), and we’re happy to report that it sounds rich and organic, even plugged straight into an amp without additional preamp power. Bill Tippin did some work on this beauty, and it’s in fabulous condition for many more years of good tunes ahead. Indian Rosewood back and sides, Cedar top, the classic Olson sound.
Other keywords: james olson, james taylor, jim olson, phil keaggy, fingerstyle, olsen, doves, tweed tkl, schaller
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian Add to Compare2000 Olson SJ Cutaway, Indian Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce
Sold! Before we could even list this beauty. Suffice it to say, this 2000 Olson SJ is a killer piece of work in Indian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce. Keep checking in with us, though: Olsons come our way more often than you’d think. Better luck next time!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Indian Add to Compare2018 Olson SJ, Brazilian Rosewood/European Spruce
Practically brand new, this 2018 Olson SJ still has that new guitar smell, and plays as smooth as butter in the pan. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, European Spruce top, Abalone trim along the top and back center strip, all wrapped up in a Calton case for safe keeping. The Brazilian back has some seriously dramatic figure and lots of rich, brick-red hues against blacker bands.
The voice of this SJ has an easy clarity to it that’s perfect for fingerstyle. The upper mids and treble response in particular are glassy and pronounced, lending an air of shimmer to the tone which really sang out when we dropped into DADGAD territory.
Interested? Give us a shout. This Olson won’t linger.Other keywords: james taylor, finger style, fingerpicking, small jumbo, brazilain, abalone, gotoh, flight case
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian Add to Compare2009 Olson Presentation SJ, Brazilian Rosewood/Cedar
Really, can you get much more gorgeous than this? We’re talking about a masterpiece from one of America’s master builders, a 2009 Olson Presentation SJ in Brazilian Rosewood and Cedar. Adorned with striking blue-green Abalone across the headstock, fretboard, body, and rosette (right down to the Fossilized Ivory bridge pins and vine inlay), and voiced with Jim’s signature sound, this guitar makes perfection seem possible. Doesn’t hurt that it’s also dressed to the nines as a presentation grade instrument.
Not only is the Brazilian Rosewood of the highest calibre and the fit and finish flawless, but this SJ powerfully demonstrates the pinnacle of that classic Olson sound—crystalline bell trebles, sonorous basses, glass-smooth mids that hang in the air like confetti. Playability is so smooth as to be effortless, like feathers beneath your fingertips. In altered tunings this Olson really opens up and the Cedar warmth smooths the note separation. If more guitars were built this wonderfully, the guitar world would be so much the better for it.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.813 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Brazilian
James A. Olson (“Jim”) has been handcrafting acoustic flattop guitars since 1977. His instruments began getting national attention in the mid 1980s, after Phil Keaggy commissioned the first cedar-topped Olson SJ guitar and began playing Olson guitars almost exclusively on his acoustic albums and in concert. In 1989, James Taylor purchased three of Jim’s guitars; through Taylor’s visibility, Olson guitars became known and prized by a wide variety of players around the world. Today an impressive number of well-known players in styles spanning fingerstyle to bluegrass to country to pop are proud Olson owners, including Leo Kottke, David Wilcox, James Taylor, Graham Nash, Sting, and many others. But most of the 40+ or so guitars Jim is able to build each year go to players of less renown (like those of us who contributed to this site, and perhaps like you), although of perhaps equally discriminating taste!