Swanson oms?

[Steve-o]

Has anyone ever seen or played a Swanson OM? Swanson web page
They sure look nice. I'm contemplating my first OM purchase and haven't decided new or used or when. Since Mark Swanson builds in Michigan, I thought I'd think locally.

[otterly2k]

I've never encountered one, nor even heard of them, and I follow CBOM's pretty closely. The website pics look good... work looks clean and detailed, nice lines, well-proportioned, etc. If this builder is local to you, the best thing to do is to arrange to go meet him and his instruments face to face.

If you do, be sure to report back!!
KE

[Avi Ziv]

If I'm not mistaken, I think Mark Swanson is active on the MIMF forum

Avi

[Steve-o]

Thanks for the reply Karen. I will take your advice and go test drive one. Mark Swanson says he has one I can demo. As you probably noticed, he builds guitars too. Since he is in Grand Rapids, it makes me wonder if he apprenticed at the luthier school you just attended.

[otterly2k]

I have no idea, Steve-o, but let us know what you learn. Those are some very nice looking instruments.

[Steve-o]

Karen, I'll be sure to weigh in, but it may be a while before I play the Swanson. I'd like to compare it to the OMs at Elderly, which hopefully will include a Peterson. I'm in no hurry to buy, just starting the journey.

Improziv, you are correct. Thanks for the tip.

[John Flynn]

You may want to look at this guy's OM's also:

Joe Mendel OM

I love mine!

[otterly2k]

call Elderly before you make a pilgrimage there to play a Petersen. I was there a couple of months ago and all they had in stock were 2 Weber Sages and a Johnson. Unless you live close by. But if you don't... make sure to call first.

Where are you in Michigan?

[Bill Van Liere]

Steve, Karen , Johnny and anyone else

If it were not for the fact that I play a Steven Owsley Smith octave mandolin, which I purchased it about 1990, I would probabaly be playing a Swanson.

Mark is a wonderful builder of octaves and guitars, some of his guitars really knock my socks off. The Grand Rapids duo; Archive, comprised of Jim Spalink and Fred Wilson, are some of the very best sting players in the Grand Rapids area. Both Fred and Jim play Swanson guitars and octaves. Sorry I did not chime in earlier here.

[Steve Davis]

Trillium mandolins are very nice too.

[Steve-o]

Thanks for the replies Bill, Steve, and John. Right now, I am open-minded about all the options. I doubt I'll pull the trigger this year, but maybe next. I really like that curly redwood/koa octave that Mark built for Ralston Bowles. Bill can you be more specific about how they sound? How about fit/finish?

[Bill Van Liere]

Well as a group of instruments the tone and build are very clean. I will put the fit and finish above average in the octave world, but bear in mind I have seen some rough ones in my day. The tone is strong and should work well in a session or band situation. I first played Fred Wilson's Swanson about five years back, I think, and the build seems solid and should hold up well over time. Always dangerous to compare makes (so I'll leave other names out) in an open forum but comparing other octaves in Mark's price range I would probabaly go with a Swanson. Also Mark is a personable builder who I am sure is a pleasure to work with.

[jc2]

I played one at a festival once and came THIS close to buying it. Good tone and loud and well built. It was an OM with just about a 20 inch scale and a very pretty thing.

[Steve-o]

I played one at a festival once and came THIS close to buying it. Good tone and loud and well built. It was an OM with just about a 20 inch scale and a very pretty thing.

Thanks jc2. I'll bet that was the Wheatland Festival. I'm afraid I would have been too impulsive in your shoes, so I'm avoiding such temptation until I have the coin.