Just ordered a cedar top, SJ cutaway. It's a gift to me for my missionary and ministry work. I'm humbled and so excited! I've lived frugally (like most missionaries), typically eating one meal a day, serving and getting joy and peace in life from other ways than material things. This will be the most amazing thing I've ever owned by far! I don't even know how to feel about it, except thankful, humbled, and excited.

Still playing my fathers 1982 Olson he bought from a local music store in Minnesota 30+ years ago. He was set on buying a Martin but left with an Olson. James, your guitars are beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

He deserves every bit of success coming his way.....he's worked for it.

If you have ever loved doing anything, if you ever had to do something you hated to do something you loved, if you have ever taken on a challenge that had no promise of reward; the montage at the end of this video will bring you to tears.

That portion of his story about the church working with him to provide a workshop while he provided custodial services is awesome. That's how the church ought to work in the world. How cool.

Mr. Olson, I read about your fine guitars in 1993 and wrote you requesting a price list in 1994. I was ready to purchase when my wife became pregnant and the guitar was put on hold. I tried again in 1998 but fell ill and required a liver transplant. I am now battling B cell lymphoma and can't afford to even think about purchasing. I still have your hand written response and price list from 1994. I look at it every now and then and cherish the thoughts of what might have been. You were very kind to answer my inquires the way you did. Even though I'll never own one of your magical guitars I have the amazing honor to hear them played by wonderful musicians every day. Thank you for your art and gift of music to the world. Kindly yours, Joel Bernstein

I can't begin to understand the gifts that this gentleman has ! To be able to construct such an object with all of its intricate inlays where the smallest mistake would be obvious and then to hear the finished item sound like something from heaven's hallway ,is just magical... What a rare thrill ...

What a guitar. And what a story. What inspiration. I loved his last sentence..I'm Jim Olson, and I make guitars. Ultimate understated guy. Class.

I would love to get my hands on an Olson guitar for 5 minutes. What a dream. James Olson is the real deal. He creates the most spectacular handcrafted guitars. I’ve played Taylor, Martin and Gibson but the sound emanating from an Olson guitar is light years ahead of his completion. Take a bow Mr Olson. You are the master.

Great! Great! Great work, Olson. God bless you. You make woods sing.

After hearing and seeing numerous high end guitars over the years, and owning a Martin D28, a hand made Matt Lunn, and a few others, I've decided at 75 years old and with prostate cancer that it's now time to own an Olson. Like yourself James, I've been listening to James Taylor for over 50 years and always was so overwhelmed with the purity of his guitar sound. I'm sure that I couldn't afford one but like to dream. Thank you for building a guitar that will be an owners last guitar!!!

I had the honor and Great pleasure of playing one the the Guitars for James when I was doing a sound gig at the Itailian embassy in Washington DC for Nancy polosi,s inauguration celebration . James wasn’t there yet and jame,s manager asked the owner of the sound company is there anyone on your crew who could sound check jame,s guitar , well I sat on that stage n played that guitar and it was amazing!! Played amazing and sounded like no acoustic guitar I had ever heard in my life. It was heaven . I pray one day to be able to Afford one. Hands down best guitar I ever played .

A very humble man. I wanted so much to own a James Taylor clone. Now knowing the man behind his guitar I am now more than ever more determined to own one. It’s expensive I understand so got to save up.

Beautiful guitars.

Easily the best musical investment I ever made: buying the Olson JT guitar. As a lifelong fan of James Taylor the clarity and transparency of the Olson sound always appealed to me. I still remember picking it up at Jim's workshop one cold morning and spending time with Jim, while he explained the nuances in sound of different types of wood. As a mechanical engineer I was very impressed with his homegrown tools: no wonder the quality of his guitars was so constant. A wonderful man at the top of his craft. I have been playing my Olson for 17 years now and am still in love with the sound: thanks Jim!

I met Jim and toured his shop about 20 years ago - kind, humble, gracious… and his guitars are butter in the hands! Wish I could afford one.

It constantly amazes me how people of extraordinary abilities overcome adversity with hard work, love and faith to express themselves. A guitar maker is no different than any artist, musician or sculptor. I am glad that he has had success. And I love the fact that he uses cedar tops on some of his steel string guitars. They sound excellent when played fingerstyle.

What a great story! Seems to be a very humble man

James, what a great video and wonderful story about your life and humble beginnings with your wife and making guitars in your church. You certainly do deserve adequate financial compensation for the love and artistry that you put into each custom made guitar. I can appreciate and understand about the years of trial and error the you put into creating your guitars. God gave you a gift and you are sharing it with the world through artists like James Taylor, David Wilcox, and Justin Hayward and many others. May God continue to bless you and your family.

What a great man ! Would love one of his guitars .

James Taylor brought me here! Beautiful instruments; delightful documentary...

So that's an Olson Guitar! Now, that is sound - thanks Mr. Olson.

Goosebumps down here in Texas, Jim! My Bill (a woodworker himself) says: "You don't make guitars, Jim, you make beautiful sculptures with strings on them"! So proud of you.

Jim, back in (I think) around 1987 or so, I was the pastor of a church in Colorado Springs... there was a wonderful musician, who was working part-time as our church janitor, Keith Harms. (He was also giving my son guitar lessons). He had a brand new "Olson" guitar, and I was traveling to speak up in Canada, with a layover in Minneapolis. He asked me if I could take his guitar with me, to give to you for some adjustments. I met you at the airport, when I got off. I remember, you were surprised... I was just a '30-something' young pastor at the time, with one of your guitars in tow. A week later, I came through the MN airport and you met me with Keith's guitar, all fixed, and I took it aboard! I've always remembered meeting you!!

A real artist who creates some wonderful instruments - and this piece was very well shot and edited. Bravo.

I envy no one more than those that have an insatiable love with a craft, and nothing ever stops them from doing what they love. My grandfather was the premier gunsmith and engraver in the US, as many letters and gifts from his peers made note of. Utterly devoted to improving and learning more was his only focus. He told me once to learn everything you can about what you are doing now, because you never know where it will take you. That did stick, and I'm now a great engineer that is too old to want. I didn't get any of his genes sadly. Mr. Olson, you have a beautiful story that largely is made of cleaning toilets while staying true to your craft. God bless you sir, more every day. I'm sure you'll meet my grandfather where all the true craftsmen finish their journey.

I saw a video of James Taylor with one of your guitars and that helped me to find out about you. I'll never afford one and I don't play that well, but if I could I'd try to get one ! Beautiful mission you are on.

no doubt a very satisfying form of legacy -- Olson name will live on in music of the past and yet to come.

Also I enjoyed this video and what a beautiful story ❤️ you are gifted Mr. Olson

In 1999, I played an Olson that a man I worked with owned (4 year waiting list I do believe). I have played high end ($5,000+) Gibsons, Taylors, Martins,and Larrivees, but the Olson was easily the best sounding and easiest to play acoustic guitar I have ever held in my hands.

Thanks Jim great story, beautiful guitars, thanks.

Gorgeous guitars and film making. Very nicely done Thomas and James!

with my guitars not selling right now I find my sell still getting up and making them anyways thanks for cheering me up...🎸

Yes, you certainly do make guitars, Jim Olsen...works of art.

What a great story, and an equally fine man.

Im sure there is some publicist that will field this comment but I just fell like saying... Thank You. Ive been a builder for 20 years, for the passed 10 a full time professional luthier and the passed 2 years I have owned my own shop as a full time builder. Im building about 6 a year along with more repair than I would like. I hope to be building around 20 or more a year, in the next 3 years. There are a handful of luthiers that have been a huge inspiration to me and I can say have set me on the path that I am on. Kent Everet, Mike Doolin, Charles Fox, Kathy Wingert, and absolutely James Olsen. Its amazing luthiers like Olsen that have set the bar so high. Olsen guitars have made myself and other luthiers work so hard to reach a new level and are the reason hand crafted guitars of today are so high quality. I will be displaying my work at the Memphis acoustic guitar festival this year, in part from the inspiration of great builders like James Olson...Thank You!

GOOD VIDEO, JAMES TAYLOR MENTIONS YOUR GUITARS WITH HIGH REGARD - YOUR GUITARS LOOK AND SOUND GREAT - BRAVO TO ALL CRAFTSMEN LIKE YOURSLF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW! What a testimony of God's gracious gifting. I'm reminded of Bezalel (Ex. 31:2-5) who was gifted and "called by name" to craft for God's glory. I seem to share such kindred spirit with Jim. It was "Sweet Baby James" that encouraged me as a 15 year old to change my playing style to acoustic exclusively. That style has served me well in worship after becoming a Christian more than 40 years ago. Hopefully, God will allow me to one day purchase one of these guitars and meet Jim personally.

One of the "best" days of my life, playing your guitars & talking with you - Hope to visit again one day Jim

Love it. Love his guitars. I'll have one someday.

Love his spirit and reminds me a bit of my own struggle to find that one thing God put you on Earth for.... thank you Jim for sharing your story as it encourages this nearly 60-year old man to press on and seek out my dreams.

The finest guitar I've owned ... by far! I am so grateful to have met Jim and purchased my beautiful Olson in 1991 just after I relocated to Minneapolis/St Paul. I've played nothing else since! Jim, you are truly a master!!

what a beautiful life Mr Olson

What a beautiful story.

So wonderful to see dreams come true. Thank you for sharing Mr. Olson.

Wonderful story ... like so many others who follow this route; it becomes all of our joy and ( at times ) all of our pain. Thank you for your honest and heartfelt reflections.

Sounds like pure dedication ❤

This is America's reply to the Japanese ethos of "Shokunin", the practitioners of the principle of striving for perfection by repetition everyday. A man who has pursued perfection in his craft his whole life. Bravo.

What a nice and warm story, and the happy end! I really hope, he´ll build a lot more of these very fine guitars!

what a great video....love your guitars Jim

Yours is such an inspiring story. And your commitment to your art has brought so much joy and beauty in other people's lives. Thank you for staying the course.

I recently purchased a guitar from Mr. Olson’s protege, Drew Heinonen. Mr. Olson taught Drew well! Truly a gifted student and luthier. I am thrilled beyond measure with my Heinonen SJ. Lord Bless you Mr. Olson.

I'm very proud to have met Jim and to own one of his masterpieces. What an outstanding video!

Really wonderful to come across this interview. I went to high school with Jim and his younger brother Tom.

Inspiring, humbling, thoughtful, beautiful, generous,...Loved this story! Thank you for following your heart.

You are amazing Jim! I love your story! I will own one of your guitars someday... it has always been a dream!

Buying one of his guitars is one of my dreams cant wait till i will be able to. Glad to see he is a nice person.

what a great story, humble and hard beginnings. Thanks for sharing, it is inspiring to whatever you do in life

There is no same in being janitor , there was a artist in the works great job love your passion for wood it would be great to have such a skill a wood lover myself

Beautiful Guitars and history !

THis is a great interview !!

Hes soo humble...:)

Mr. Olsen, I truly enjoyd your story Sir! Your guitars...I love how the notes sing out! I'll never own one but that wont stop me from listening....Thank You so much!

Son of a sowing machine.... Saw Phil and the Olsen Friday nite. Still love the sound of that guitar.

Great video!! Thanks for sharing your story!

I love this story. I would love to meet Mr . Olson. I love the church story. I am a small boat builder trying to get going and this motivates me

God bless you James! So glad you became successful in your craftsmanship of guitar making.

I love your story. I liked the way that everything worked out even though it probably did not feel like it would while you were living it.

A great uplifting story of following a dream and having it become reality ...James Taylor sitting in your shop must have been a pinch me moment

Wow they sound awesome beautiful sound!!!

Good story. Sounds like a beautiful guitar. Thanks for sharing.

I was lucky enough to play one of his guitars. It sounded, and felt amazing! It knocked Santa Cruz out of the #1 spot of my holy grail guitar list. Maybe someday!

Thank you....still smiling...

Jim, you were generous in responding to my email a few years ago. I bought a used Olson guitar (#67, hand written label) 35 years ago from the Homestead Picking Parlor in Richfield, MN. This video is great, love hearing the your business has grown and the expansion into technology. For anyone curious, his guitar sound wonderful, having a rich sound and are so easy to play.

I've never played one your guitars, never even knew there's such brand out there but your story, the miracluos flow of your talent through your successful career is certainly fascinating and inspiring, making me wish I could meet you sometime and learn from you however our career paths are way apart. Wishing you peace, blessings and good health sir!

Wow, I didn't know any of this. Very inspirational. God Has blessed your efforts.

beautiful.....

Dear Jim.....I just ran across this video and I can't tell you how happy it made me...I still have my old Martin D-28 that you struggled to make playable for me...I remember the last time I brought it to you and you told me that you just didn't have time to work on it anymore..you were still in the church and things were really starting to get rolling...it is so nice to see your kind smiling face again...yer old pal....fizz

This is really lovely. I'm a long time James Taylor fan too, and obviously he's a stratospherically good musician. But your guitars truly sing, and I think that they and JT are the perfect combination. Thank you for hours of pleasure.

What a quality well done video! So thankful I watched this…was so moved by Jim’s story and the production of the video. I look forward to meeting Jim one day and playing one of his guitars. Thank you, Jim, for pursuing the dream God gave you and encouraging us!

Amazing !

Outstanding!

Good on you for following your dream James-amazing sounding guitars :)

Would love to own one of these beautiful masterpieces!

What a blessing! My dream would be to play an Olsen Guitar one day….

What an inspiring video !

Very inspiring !

Beautiful video and yes, your guitars are wonderful!!

Over the years I have played many nice sounding guitars including a few Olsons. One make I found that is right up there with an Olson is a Goodall.

Very interesting and inspiring video.

Wow, what a cool story. Thanks for sharing =)

Such a great story!

Hey Jim. I love your humility and your instruments. Maybe some day, I'll be fortunate enough to play one. Thanks for sharing! :)

Jim you are a great soul! You deserve it all! Ciao....my friend. Roberto

Beautiful guitars

Such a deep sound

extraordinary achievement

The best guitar ever!!! And Phil keaggy plays awesome with olson guitars!!!

Wonderful

I love your story!