1994 James A. Olson SJ guitar

Here is a classic cedar over Indian rosewood non cutaway Olson that has a lot more to give. Below is a reprint of part of an email we received from the seller of this Olson:

>> Hi Richard...
>> I tried to take some pics highlighting the blemishes but they are
>> hard to see...The back of the body has a small ding about an eighth inch.
>> the front of the body has 6 or 7 tiny dings or scratches and a
>> bit of strumming pick marks from the last fret towards the top of
>> the pickguard.. As i said this guitar was purchased in 1994
>> and is well aged and played. It records absolutely beautiful with
>> a very even sound from top to bottom. It will be a treasure in the
>> right hands. let me know what you think.."

We often get new clients who say to us, "I am going to play this guitar--not collect it. I am a musician. If it has a few dings and it has opened up already, all the better." Well, to those who fit that pair of shoes, here is a relatively affordable, basic Olson SJ. No frills and birds; simple, clear, balanced, set up perfectly by our an(*)l-genius tech and ready to lay into. It is responsive for a soft touch and has a slightly compressed kick and punch when spanked with a heavy pick. It does fingerstyle quite well. Different strokes for different folks! The nut measures a hair over 1 3/4". The scale length is 25.4". Hand made heaven.

$9,900

1996 Art Davis Non-Cutaway one-off

Full of sparkle and depth, this instrument was hand made by Art Davis for himself after 20 years of full time and intensive guitar repair experience. Nothing prepares a luthier better than having this kind of background. Great energy and focus went into this guitar that Art originally made for himself. It shows up as one of those guitars with the "magic" so many of us seek in a finer instrument that transcends the ordinary. A Grand Auditorium size, the guitar has a beautiful Englemann Spruce top with a gorgeous single 3-D wave figuring in the wood that crosses through the soundboard above the soundhole. It appears to move in the light, a magical figure, courtesy of Mother Nature. A white Mother-of-Pearl rosette ring is matched on the top edge purfling. The back and sides are highly figured pre-embargo Brazilian Rosewood with desirable green mineral streaking. The loud, clear voice has a sweet, sensitive character backed by suprising power and headroom. The exceptional Mahogany neck with slotted head was beautifully hand carved to a medium thickness. The nut measures 1 3/4". This outstanding instrument is so even and responsive--it will bring intense pleasure to a fingerstyle player. It has a juicy sweetness in the sound. Hard to describe. If you are picking up on this, I love this guitar. You may indeed, as well.

$5,600

Exclusive:
The Boaz Elkayam "Jazz Negra" archtop electrified acoustic

"Boaz Elkayam has achieved the delivery of his Clarita Negra construction system with advanced flying braces to the archtop guitar. The Master Luthier (third generation in his family) has created a new evolution of the violin family for the serious jazz guitarist who seeks new solid ground. With hand knives, chisels and finger planes, noticably without the use of power tools, Boaz sculpted and voiced this instrument slowly over a 3-year period. The lightest and oldest seasoned flame maple from his wood storage room and a thick slab of very old spruce were well utilized. I cannot describe the lively, yet pretty pianistic notes that spring from this instrument. It is as if the notes are shot from a crossbow and the player can feel the recoil!(Click here to see the March, 2003 Acoustic Guitar article on Boaz) The pickup, appropriately, is a breakthrough device (as yet un-released by the manufacturer, but available through FGC) that is a jazz-fat, quiet single coil that is hidden inside the end of the fingerboard. A mostly-hidden wheel is accessed on the underside of the organically carved pickrest. The 19-piece neck/headstock is decorated with Boaz's signature and wood triangle inlay theme, with variations in the fretboard treatment, and others on the sides, bottom and ebony tail piece. Almost impossibly, the tail piece and pickrest are bound in a blonde hardwood. A delicately airbrushed black ribbon appears to encircle the center laminations at the back of the maple neck. A low-mass 3-footed ebony bridge holds a bone saddle, easily changable for action adjustments (if desired). The action is now set medium-low. The fret work is superb, with close tolerances across the board. Perfect neck pitch. You cannot wrap your thumb easily around the neck for a "country F" due to its fluted shape. With its very subtle v-shape, it is a wonderful design for the trained musician who plays with the thumb behind the neck. Nut: 1.75" Scale length: 25.25", sides measure 2.5"-3" at bottom, but convex sculpting adds another 1/2 inch between the back and top complex carvings. The body looks like it is well-muscled! 16.25" lower bout, 11.5" upper bout. If you are a professional or a musician after hours who is driven by an exciting instrument (who isn't?), call me after you review this material. The few artists that have taken this for a test drive have been floored by this one. Bireli Lagrene and his band "Gipsy Project" visited Fine Guitar Consultants while on tour in San Diego. Bireli loved the feel and sound of Boaz's new creation." --Richard

$32,000 This model, with the same woods and sound starts at $16,000 with a more simple adornment.)

2001 Diego Huerga "Rex" S.N.#28

This luthier was a great discovery for me at the 2001 Healdsburg Guitar Festival in Sonoma, California. Diego is an intense and passionate maker. This is his life's work. He hand-fashions these instruments without the aid of jigs, fixtures or power tools. With total hands-on carving, careful fitting and voicing of this beautifully finished 17" archtop, Diego has full tactile control of the process. Spruce over flamed maple, this is a traditional jazz guitar with a powerful personality. A big, sound with a full dynamic range that is responsive for quiet passages as well. A 1 11/16" nut has 6 perfect break angles. The 25.8 scale utilizes a set of 11's to create normal tension that is nicely playable. There is a sweet clarity and power that sets Diego's guitars apart. Koa bindings, hand bound guard and tailpiece...Diego used his fine jewelry design background to create a hinged tailpiece that adds art to function. His years as a fine wood sculptor show in the gorgeous, balanced design. A medium thicknessed neck is perfectly proportioned. We are honored to represent Diego Huerga in this country. His guitars will be well celebrated on the world jazz scene. This instrument is available at a modest price for its level of build quality from an accomplished luthier. (Also see his flattop on Guitar List 1.)

$14,500 with hard case.