New Soloway Swan Has Landed...!!!!

[JimBo]

Greetings,
Just took delivery on what I think is the most beautiful guitar I have ever owned... A stunning Soloway Swan with a killer Curly Mahaogany Top...Leopard Stone Inlays...and Lollar Pickups....

The build quailty on Soloways is OUTSTANDING...!!! Really high attention to detail...and the tone is to die for...!!!! I thought my other guitars were in tune until I played a Soloway...THE GRAND PIANO of guitar...!!!

Just a quick note on how I was treated when I ordered my Soloway... Jim Soloway kept me informed EVERY step of the way with photo updates and discussions regarding various options... He was easy to deal with and a great guy... His artisitic input was essential in putting this stunning guitar together.... He is a true artist and a great businessman...!!!

I can't tell you how pleased I am... I am grinning ear to ear...I would type more but I have to go and play...

Thanks
Jim
P.S. Can't wait for my Bubinga

[Jim Soloway]

I'm so glad to hear that it got there safely. 14 hours from Portland to Long Island, Fedex did good on this one. And for anyone who's interested, here's a clip and some photos that I did yesterday before I shipped it.

http://www.jimsoloway.com/TascamDemos/E073-2Both.mp3

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Top2.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073SoundHole.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Pocket.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Dots.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Peghead.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Back.jpg

[matte]

Originally posted by Jim Soloway
I'm so glad to hear that it got there safely. 14 hours from Portland to Long Island, Fedex did good on this one. And for anyone who's interested, here's a clip and some photos that I did yesterday before I shipped it.

http://www.jimsoloway.com/TascamDemos/E073-2Both.mp3

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Top2.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073SoundHole.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Pocket.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Dots.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Peghead.jpg

http://www.jimsoloway.com/Gallery/E073-Mahogany/E073Back.jpg Here's a guy who loves what he's doing. Take note.

[dkaplowitz]

Congrats, JimBo! Looks stunning! And I love the sustain in Jim's clips. You must be very psyched indeed.

[DestroyAllGuitars]

Welcome to the club JimBo. You have been blessed with a
magnificent instrument. May you play it in good health for
many years to come. You deserve this guitar and I'm truly
happy that it has landed in your hands. Enjoy it always.

Cliff

[Dan Desy]

Wonderful guitar. And Jim's guitars do indeed show the love of his craft. In addition, you can't deal with a nicer guy than Jim. And that's not a dig on other luthiers!

Even if you ask for the impossible, he's real nice and patient about it (and polite ;))!

[joek86]

Outstanding guitar, congrats! What type of fretboard wood is that?


Joe

[Jim Soloway]

Originally posted by joek86
Outstanding guitar, congrats! What type of fretboard wood is that?


Joe

Glad you like it Joe. That's cocobolo.

[joek86]

Jim, does it produce significantly different tone than Rosewood?


Joe

[Jim Soloway]

Originally posted by joek86
Jim, does it produce significantly different tone than Rosewood?

Joe

It actually is a species of rosewood. I believe it's the stiffest wood in the rosewood family and as a result it tends to be a little on the bright side. The big difference is in the feel. It's very waxy and hard and feels more like an ebony. It's one of two woods that we use for fingerboards, the other being pau ferro.

[joek86]

Thanks Jim! Allot of this is new to me as I haven't really payed any attention to exotic woods until the last few months. I have had Mcinturff guitars and Strats which have mainly "garden" variety woods. I have a Koll on order, but this time, elected not to go with fancy woods. I am just too worried that I will end up not liking the outcome.

Your guitars are really unique and interesting. I have been exposed to them on this site which is a wealth in itself, and GP Magazine. Good luck with your business, you've got a great product and rep!

Joe

[Marty Horne]

Congrats Jim,
The guitar looks beautiful and the tone is warm AND clear. You scored one very sweet axe!

[Testudo]

Just beautiful! From an appearance standpoint, it's a guitar that just glories in the wood - no colors or fancy inlays, just great looking wood.
I love the dots - I've never heard of "leopard stone" but now I realize I need it.:p
Can't wait to hear the clips when I'm on a computer with sound. Another beauty from Jim.
Welcome to the Soloway club!

[Shadscbr]

Fantastic looking Swan!!....another warm welcome to the Soloway club.....this time from the 7 string bubinga side of the tracks :)

+1 on all the comments on how much fun it is to work with Jim....I wish him the best, and will continue to have fun admiring all of his new creations.

Shad

[hemlock]

What a beautiful design.

[Jim Soloway]

Originally posted by hemlock
What a beautiful design.

Thank you.

[sundaypunch]

Originally posted by hemlock
What a beautiful design.

Yes it is. Nice lines and just the right amount of ornamentation. IMHO, many talented luthiers could use a lesson in understatement.

It is also refreshing to see a luthier that isn't content to just copy someone elses design. More should try to do their own thing instead of simply offering "improved" versions of 50 year old guitars.

[Dan Desy]

Originally posted by sundaypunch
Yes it is. Nice lines and just the right amount of ornamentation. IMHO, many talented luthiers could use a lesson in understatement.

It is also refreshing to see a luthier that isn't content to just copy someone elses design. More should try to do their own thing instead of simply offering "improved" versions of 50 year old guitars.

The #1 reason I'm having a Swan built for myself :dude

[Ron Thorn]

sundaypunch...out of curiousity, have you ever built a guitar?

[Dan Desy]

Originally posted by Ron Thorn
sundaypunch...out of curiousity, have you ever built a guitar?

Ron, I think email might have been a better medium for your comment...
:rolleyes:

[big mike]

Beautiful guitar Jim! Congrats to the owner.

[Donk70]

Jim, that is very impressive my friend. Out of curiosity, do you make any other scale lengths other than 27 inch?

[Jim Soloway]

Originally posted by Donk70
Jim, that is very impressive my friend. Out of curiosity, do you make any other scale lengths other than 27 inch?

Thanks. The 27 inch scale length is all the build. We basically have one model and it's taking pretty much all the resources we have to build that. Toss in a handfull of 7-strings per year and we're pretty busy these days.

I've considered a lot of alternatives, but what we build is a really just a reflection of my experiences as a guitar player. When I designed these guitars, I was after a guitar very specific tonal capabilities and I think with the longer scale length we've managed to achieve that. Now we're trying to see just how far we can improve and develop this design.

[sundaypunch]

Originally posted by Ron Thorn
sundaypunch...out of curiousity, have you ever built a guitar?

I'll assume that was a rhetorical question. There are plenty of talented luthiers that can make a great playing and sounding instrument with a nice finish. If I'm going to spend several thousand dollars on a custom instrument at some point it goes beyond woodworking skill and comes down to taste / design aesthetic.

Since you are interested in me in particular, I'm mainly attracted to clean lines and a bit of subtlety. Using a highly flamed maple top and a riduculous amount of inlay does nothing for me personally. I'd rather drive around with 20's and spinners on my car. Many luthiers seem to use ornamentation as a way to compensate for boring uninspired designs. Of course this is just my opinion. I can also appreciate the skill required to build a guitar, even the ones that aren't attractive to me.

And back to the original topic, I'm just complementing Mr. Soloway for a very well executed design.

[Testudo]

Originally posted by sundaypunch
I'll assume that was a rhetorical question. There are plenty of talented luthiers that can make a great playing and sounding instrument with a nice finish. If I'm going to spend several thousand dollars on a custom instrument at some point it goes beyond woodworking skill and comes down to taste / design aesthetic.

Since you are interested in me in particular, I'm mainly attracted to clean lines and a bit of subtlety. Using a highly flamed maple top and a riduculous amount of inlay does nothing for me personally. I'd rather drive around with 20's and spinners on my car. Many luthiers seem to use ornamentation as a way to compensate for boring uninspired designs. Of course this is just my opinion. I can also appreciate the skill required to build a guitar, even the ones that aren't attractive to me.

And back to the original topic, I'm just complementing Mr. Soloway for a very well executed design.
It's good there are different makers for different tastes. Flamed maple is fine by me, but I'd die before I rode around with 20s and spinners. So if we go somewhere together, I'll drive.:p

With guitar, in the end it's all about sound and feel, of course, and offhand I can't think of a luthier who is building elaborately decorative guitars that are not also outstanding playing instruments as well.

[big mike]

Originally posted by Testudo
offhand I can't think of a luthier who is building elaborately decorative guitars that are not also outstanding playing instruments as well.

Word. Some people like a little pimped out looks with their guitars, and that's okay too. As is a minimalist approach.

[Jim Soloway]

Originally posted by big mike
Word. Some people like a little pimped out looks with their guitars, and that's okay too. As is a minimalist approach.

Mike, are you going to make it by the San Rafael show? I'll have my idea of a "pimped out" Swan there. Dark blue Pearlescent finish, mother-of-toilet-seat binding, all chrome hardware including heavy chrome rings, torquise fingerboard dots. I was after something that Danny Gatton could have played with Robert Gordon, although I suppose if it was Danny's he'd have wanted silver pinstriping as well.

[big mike]

Originally posted by Jim Soloway
Mike, are you going to make it by the San Rafael show? I'll have my idea of a "pimped out" Swan there. Dark blue Pearlescent finish, mother-of-toilet-seat binding, all chrome hardware including heavy chrome rings, torquise fingerboard dots. I was after something that Danny Gatton could have played with Robert Gordon, although I suppose if it was Danny's he'd have wanted silver pinstriping as well.

Ah I wish...no won't make it.:(

Sounds AWESOME though. I loved the blue and pearloid one you had at NAMM!!

[Stevo57]

I'll come by and check that pimped Swan out! See if you can get Saul make an appearance too!

[Donk70]

Originally posted by Jim Soloway
Thanks. The 27 inch scale length is all the build. We basically have one model and it's taking pretty much all the resources we have to build that. Toss in a handfull of 7-strings per year and we're pretty busy these days.

I've considered a lot of alternatives, but what we build is a really just a reflection of my experiences as a guitar player. When I designed these guitars, I was after a guitar very specific tonal capabilities and I think with the longer scale length we've managed to achieve that. Now we're trying to see just how far we can improve and develop this design.

Thanks for the response Jim. I love your work and wish you the best in the future.

[David Myka]

Originally posted by Jim Soloway
I've considered a lot of alternatives, but what we build is a really just a reflection of my experiences as a guitar player. When I designed these guitars, I was after a guitar very specific tonal capabilities and I think with the longer scale length we've managed to achieve that.
Jim, the design works great. It was a pleasure playing the Swans at the NYC show and getting a chance to experience what you are doing with this design. For the results you desribe you nailed it perfectly. These new guitars are looking and sounding very sweet. Just beautiful.

~David

[Jim Soloway]

Originally posted by David Myka
Jim, the design works great. It was a pleasure playing the Swans at the NYC show and getting a chance to experience what you are doing with this design. For the results you desribe you nailed it perfectly. These new guitars are looking and sounding very sweet. Just beautiful.

~David

Thanks David.

There's an old expression that says: "The river runs deep or the river runs wide". As a musician, I've always chosen the former. I've focused on a very narrow set of skills and explored them as deeply as I could. There is always a hope that other people will enjoy and appreciate what I play, but it's always been much more important to me that I enjoy what I'm playing.

What we're doing with the guitars we build follows precisely the same philosophy. We've focused our skills on a single design that accomplishes what I want musically: clarity, warmth and articulation in a single instrument. Now we're exploring just how far we can go with that single design. As long as we accomplish our musical goals and continue to improve, then I'm satisfied. Fortunately, there seem to be enough players who like what we're doing to keep us both going and growing. As validating as that may be, it's really a bonus. The ultimate reward comes from simply being able to plug in one of our guitars and finally have the sound coming from the speaker match what I hear in my head.

[Dan Desy]

Originally posted by Jim Soloway
Thanks David.

There's an old expression that says: "The river runs deep or the river runs wide". As a musician, I've always chosen the former. I've focused on a very narrow set of skills and explored them as deeply as I could. There is always a hope that other people will enjoy and appreciate what I play, but it's always been much more important to me that I enjoy what I'm playing.

What we're doing with the guitars we build follows precisely the same philosophy. We've focused our skills on a single design that accomplishes what I want musically: clarity, warmth and articulation in a single instrument. Now we're exploring just how far we can go with that single design. As long as we accomplish our musical goals and continue to improve, then I'm satisfied. Fortunately, there seem to be enough players who like what we're doing to keep us both going and growing. As validating as that may be, it's really a bonus. The ultimate reward comes from simply being able to plug in one of our guitars and finally have the sound coming from the speaker match what I hear in my head.

Wow, Jim! That could be the foreword for the "Soloway Story" book, whenever it comes out :)