The Dreadnought was originally introduced by the C.F. Martin Co. It is perhaps the most copied guitar of its time. With its big bass and powerful projection it has long been the instrument of choice for Bluegrass players but certainly not limited to that. It is a versatile instrument that can handle all styles of playing”. Jim Olson started to build his own version of Martin’s D-28 Herringbone w/his own take on that model. This is a very rare & very early production 1980 Dreadnaught # 056 from James Olson. He made very few Dreads ever making mostly his SJ & Jumbo models as James Taylor was his biggest endorser. It’s made w/a beautiful Sitka Spruce top w/a Herringbone border & soudhole ring. She’s got some very colorful striped Indian Rosewood back & sides. His signature neck has 5 pieces of mahogany & maple for the best integrity. Its Ebony fingerboard feels perfect. Its headstock has an Ebony lamination w/its now famous pearl moniker “O” ! She’s got Sshaller tuners & a nice original bridge w/a perfect neck angle. Jim’s earliest guitars pre-1982 are ridiculously rare & this Dread has the biggest projection of perfect tone we’ve ever heard from any maker from this period. It also has a Bluestick pickup system. Now it’s 46 years young, it’s crack free yet played in for sure showing some dings & pick wear, yet she has a fabulous patina. He is now retired & on his site it states “All Models are now Sold Out” ! Sad yes but now is the time to react & grab this wonderful example for your personal collection. A once in a lifetime chance to get 1 of Jim’s best guitars he ever made. It’s excellent overall & comes in a beautiful Calton molded hard case complete w/its own serial #’d plaque. Just in is this email below from Jim Olsen himself verifying its exact specs: Hi Craig, Wow! that is an oldie.. Thanks for the nice photos! Sitka spruce top. Indian Rosewood back and sides. Herringbone top edge, back center strip, and center ring of three ring sound hole. Indian Rosewood binding Ebony fingerboard, bridge and head stock front veneer MOP dots on fingerbaord and “O” headstock inlay Mahogany, maple and rosewood 5 piece laminated neck Chrome Schaller M6 tuners Black plastic pickguard Bone nut and saddle Calton case I think that about covers it. I suspect you knew most of that anyway? I sure hope you enjoy it and say hi to Kiko for me! All the best, Jim Jim Olson’s story: In 1971 he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota and again became fascinated with making guitars. After reading books by Irving Sloane, Arthur Overholtzer, and David Russel Young, he set up shop in the basement of his rental house and set out making guitars. His focus and determination was “cemented” when in 1973 he met Charlie Hoffman and Rod Bellville, who had recently opened a guitar making / repair shop in Minneapolis.The goal now was to quit his day job and make guitar making his full time occupation. After working as a furniture re-finisher, an electro-plater of circuit boards, and a “saw man” at a walk-in refrigeration company, he was finally able to punch the time clock for the last time and go into guitar making full time. In 1977 Olson Guitars was officially born in the basement of his house. Soon after he moved into a store front in West St. Paul that he shared with a harpsichord / dulcimer maker. For the next 2 1/2 years he made 78 guitars for a local music distributor, Metro Music, who placed them in Schmitt Music stores in the five-state area. Without any name recognition they didn’t sell well and eventually were “closed” out at cost or below. Although the experience refined his skills and defined his product, it left him dejected and pretty much broke but not ready to give up. In 1982, Jim moved his shop to an old commercial building recently purchased by a his church. In exchange for rent, he helped rehabilitate the building and eventually did the janitorial duties while he continued to make guitars and do repairs for local music stores. In 1983 Phil Keaggy purchased a spruce top Olson Guitar and soon after he commissioned the first Cedar top guitar ever made by Olson Guitars. Phil’s instrumental CD “Beyond Nature” was recorded exclusively on his Cedar top Olson and was the first real exposure to a national audience for Olson Guitars. In 1989 Jim was fortunate to sell three guitars to guitar icon James Taylor. After James’ tour in 1991 where he used his Olson’s exclusively, demand began to grow and deposits came in. In 1992 he was able to move from the church to his current location in Circle Pines Minnesota, a ten-acre property with a 3200 sq ft. shop near his house, where he continues to work to this day. Thankful for all the support from his wife Sue, guidance from peers, generosity and prayers from his church, and all the loyal customers who bought Olson Guitars, Jim is nearing 40 years in the business and has made over 1700 instruments.
