Luthier James A. Olson performs every aspect of guitar construction and has been
honing his reputation as a fine flattop maker
since 1977. Known for his custom tooling
and high profile clients like James Taylor and
Phil Keaggy, Olson’s starting price for a custom guitar is $12,500. He currently produces
about 40 guitars a year with a wait time of
about nine months.
The guitar pictured here is one of two Anniversary Models Olson produced to celebrate
his 30th year of guitar making. Identical except for one model having a cutaway, the
guitars have cedar tops and “special reserve”
Brazilian rosewood backs and sides. They
feature Brazilian and paua shell rosettes, old
growth Brazilian rosewood neck laminates
and WBW purfling. These Anniversary Models also feature fossilized ivory nuts, saddles
and bridge pins. This model features special
fingerboard inlays by Larry Robinson. It sold
for $35,000.
