Larrivee and Olson

Started by 247hoopsfan, May 14, 2019, 05:53:19 PM

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A guy came up to me after I had played my JCL 40th Edition in church a few months ago.  He said my guitar sounded very nice and wanted to know what it was.  Turns out he was a luthier who started making guitars a couple years ago.  He was about to go to Europe to buy wood and invited me to come check out his shop when he got back.  So I went over yesterday and spent a couple hours.   He has 4 OM style guitars under construction.  He had one finished that he plays, it was Sinker redwood over Claro walnut.  Sounded very nice.
Then he asked me if I had ever played an Olson, which I hadn't.  He said he had 3 of them, and proceeded to pull out a James Taylor model SJ, cedar over EIR.  He just handed it to me and let me play.  It sounded great, thick rich tone, beautifully finished, great sustain.  I wish I would have had my JCL with me to compare because it sounded similar.  The cedar gave a deeper tone, but it made me realize that Jean Larrivee knows what he's doing.  Turns out that my new found friend is a personal friend of Jim Olson, and Jim has actually given him sets of Brazilian rosewood.  He said Jim Olson is no longer accepting orders, and even recently turned down an order from Boz Skaggs.  But Boz did get his Olson SJ after all when a foreign customer of Olson's could not come to the US and pick up his Brazilian SJ.  Olson will not ship out of the country because of the CITES hassle.
So you never know what might happen when you are playing your Larrivee.  I don't really need a new guitar, but this guy is pretty good for just 5 guitars, and he has been hanging around with Jim Olson.  Here is the live recording of what I was playing that Sunday.  This is right from the sound board, so it sounds a bit electronic.  Sounded much better in the auditorium.   https://soundcloud.com/vbcmusic/guitar-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/247hoopsfan

1971 Yamaha FG200 (My original guitar)
1996 Yamaha DW5S
2002 Yamaha LL500
1990 Goodall Rosewood Standard
2007 Larrrivee JCL 40th Anniversary
1998 Larrivee OM5MT
1998 Larrivee D10 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"
1998 Larrivee D09 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"

Jim Olson could make a guitar, sell it to someone and that person can turn around and sell it for twice as much. I understand this drives him crazy. 

Nice playing; nice tone, too.

So this guy knows Jim Olson - maybe he worked in Jim's shop for awhile (if he's already building nice guitars)?

Are you/he in the MN area (where Olson builds)? I'm in southwest MN...

:donut :coffee
2021 C-03R TE left-handed
Larrivee owner since 1992

Hey Mikeymac, no I'm out on the "left" coast, San Francisco Bay Area as is George (my new luthier friend).  George met Jim Olson about 10 years ago and has visited Olson's shop quite a bit.  Olson shared a wealth of knowledge with him and they communicate regularly.  George is a retired insurance exec, about 65. He is a musician too, made 2 albums in the late 1970's.  He plays guitar and bass, and has always wanted to make guitars.  He has a website, but the few guitars he has made are by word of mouth. 
https://bowenguitars.com
https://soundcloud.com/247hoopsfan

1971 Yamaha FG200 (My original guitar)
1996 Yamaha DW5S
2002 Yamaha LL500
1990 Goodall Rosewood Standard
2007 Larrrivee JCL 40th Anniversary
1998 Larrivee OM5MT
1998 Larrivee D10 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"
1998 Larrivee D09 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"

Thank you for sharing your story. Nice to hear Larrivee is on par with such fine custom instruments!
2017 Larrivee D-40 8>)
2018 Taylor GS Mini Koa

Quote from: 247hoopsfan on May 15, 2019, 09:56:02 AM
Hey Mikeymac, no I'm out on the "left" coast, San Francisco Bay Area as is George (my new luthier friend).  George met Jim Olson about 10 years ago and has visited Olson's shop quite a bit.  Olson shared a wealth of knowledge with him and they communicate regularly.  George is a retired insurance exec, about 65. He is a musician too, made 2 albums in the late 1970's.  He plays guitar and bass, and has always wanted to make guitars.  He has a website, but the few guitars he has made are by word of mouth. 
https://bowenguitars.com

Just checked out his website - wow - he keeps some impressive company! Albert Lee and Larry Carlton? Doesn't get any better than those guys!
2021 C-03R TE left-handed
Larrivee owner since 1992

Mikeymac, you ever been to Olson's shop since you live in MN?
https://soundcloud.com/247hoopsfan

1971 Yamaha FG200 (My original guitar)
1996 Yamaha DW5S
2002 Yamaha LL500
1990 Goodall Rosewood Standard
2007 Larrrivee JCL 40th Anniversary
1998 Larrivee OM5MT
1998 Larrivee D10 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"
1998 Larrivee D09 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"

Quote from: 247hoopsfan on May 18, 2019, 02:35:44 PM
Mikeymac, you ever been to Olson's shop since you live in MN?

Nope ... I don't need the temptation (not that I could afford to even THINK about being tempted!).  :arrow
2021 C-03R TE left-handed
Larrivee owner since 1992

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