Sullivan Handmade Guitars Testimonials at SullivanGuitars.com

" Jim Sullivan is one of the best builders of acoustic guitars around ! The quality and sound are outstanding ! Anyone who is in the market for a great acoustic guitar should give Sullivan guitars a listen. Paul Yandell "

Paul Yandell - (Comment added 2008-06-12 05:08:48)

"After having debated for quite some time, I finally decided to purchase a custom hand made acoustic guitar. Having owned a number of different makes and models down through the years I am certainly ecstatic about the fact that I bought a Sullivan model SMSA-E back in Sept, of 2007. The quality of the workmanship is out of this world. This instrument is a pleasure to play. The intonation is dead on accurate. The guitar plays in tune all the time, anywhere on the neck, from the nut all the way up the neck. I have recommended your guitars to many friends and acquaintances. Those that have seen or played on mine were simply amazed. Lots of Kudo's to you my friend, you build marvelous instruments. Lee Allan, White House, Tn."

Lee Allan, White House, Tn. - (Comment added 2008-05-29 02:34:03)

"APPROXIMATELY 11 YEARS AGO JIM WORKED ON A FENDER STRAT OF MINE. (I'M A BASS PLAYER & DON'T PLAY IT MUCH). RECENTLY I PLUGGED IT INTO A FULL STACK MARSHALL AND A PEAVEY 5150 FULL STACK AND MY STRAT BLEW AWAY THE 62 STRAT AND 58 GIBSON STANDARD REISSUE FROM THE CUSTOM SHOP. WOW!! GOOD JOB JIM. "

TANT DOWELL - BANKER/MUSICIAN (Comment added 2008-02-04 19:33:09)

"retired from playing on the Grand Ole Opry for a bushel of years....almost always electric axes and had little use for acoustics for a number of reasons I won't go into here.....then I played one of his masterpieces and it was "love at first chord!! It was quite a struggle, but he won! Now I have to go see my banker!!!"

j.martin johnson - frostbak7@mac.com (Comment added 2008-01-22 18:42:32)

"I have recently purchased a Sullivan Guitar and I want to say that the craftsmanship far surpassed my expectations. The quality of sound acoustically and electrically is way better than any Taylor or Martin I have ever played on. The detail work on the bindings and butt strip are awesome and the finish is excellent. I especially like the hand carved "S" in the headstock. The action and intonation are great too. If you have not tried or own a Sullivan Guitar you should because you are missing out on a high quality instrument.

I liked the first guitar so much I am ready to place my second custom order."

Barry Sacco - (Comment added 2007-09-04 03:33:47)

"Mr. Sullivan, you have unwittingly made a believer (and an enormous fan) out of me. I've been a diehard solidbody electric player for most all of my musical life. I've played a slew of acoustics, including the four Martins owned by my family in Nashville, and've always favored the sound and playability of solidbodies... ...Enter Arts Patron Steve Holder, bearer of the elusively one-of-a-kind 'Number 12'. With one turn at bat with this fine instrument, I've been forced to re-evaluate some long-held standards of mine regarding the guitar... Three days into my acquaintanceship with your work, I've been cursed with falling completely in love with an axe that does not belong to me, nor currently within my means to possess were it unspoken for. I am determined to, at some point in the near future, attempt to finance a commission of an exact-as-possible facsimile of 'Number 12'. I've simply never played, seen, nor heard anything quite like it. It is truly one of, if not THE finest guitar I've ever played. ...And while I'm waxing that wish-list, I'd love nothing more than to have you even consider entertaining the notion of a commission to build some prototypes of my solidbody designs. Kudos, Sir! Respectfully, JMT"

John M. (Johnny) Thompson - Scottsville Conservatory (Comment added 2007-08-27 05:13:55)

"I don't have the pleasure of owning a Sullivan guitar, but I have played them to my delight. Not only are they beautifully finished, impeccably tuned and easy to play, but in addition the Small classical body shape produces a deep warm tone not normally associated with a steel string of that size. If you've ever played a dreadnaught and then a classical in the same sitting you know whatI'm talking about. Jim has captured some of that full classical tonal spectrum in his steel string guitars. The electronics are top of the line, as well. So is everything else that goes into a Sullivan guitar. You would pay far more for a comparably made famous brand name guitar. Just look at his specs and compare them to the big guys and,..."just do the math". I can speak from experience with regard to Jim's repair skills. First, and most notably for me, he tackled an intonation problem I had with an Ibanez AE-450 nylon string. I live in PA and had several repairmen from Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas try to solve the problem for me to no avail. It turns out Jim discovered my Ibanes was built slightly out of scale at the factory. That is to say, the distance between the nut and the first fret was too long, and the saddle was not in the proper location. It's not a problem anymore and it's a joy to play a tunable guitar. In addition, he also replaced the old factory under-saddle pick-up system with an RMC individual saddle system. The installation of these individual saddles must be very precise and was a integral part of the intonation process. These pickups are the most powerful I've ever heard. Even hotter than some humbuckers! Jim has also sanded out high spots on the fingerboard of my dreadnaught and re-fretted it as well. Again a good job. I think customers will be satisfied in what ever services Jim Sullivan provides for them. "

Mark Connors - Guitarist / Instructor (Comment added 2007-08-22 17:35:33)

"Fellow Musicians,
Let me take a minute of your time to tell you about an outstanding guitar technician. His name is Jim Sullivan, owner and operator of "State Line Luthier Works" in Portland, Tennessee. I've had the opportunity to work with Jim and to see much of his work, some of which has been on my own instruments. His finish work is excellent, as is his fret work, which he has learned from some of the best teachers in the country. Jim has a very good eye and feel for his trade. He is very detail-oriented and thorough in his work and gets the job done when he says he will.

If your axe has a problem, Jim's definitely the guy who can fix it right."

Leon Rhodes - Former guitarist, Ernest Tubb & the Texas Troubadours. and Former Staff musician, Grand Ole Opry (Comment added 2007-08-14 21:20:43)

"Dear Jim,
I just had to write and tell you how great my Telecaster was after you worked on it. As you know, I've had the guitar for a long time, but it's never played as well as it does now, even when it was new. I only used to use it for gigs and then put it back in its case, but now it's constantly out, and has become my number one 'doodling' guitar.

Thanks once again for your help, and I hope to see you again soon."

Richard Smith - 2001 National Fingerstyle Champion (Comment added 2007-08-13 00:15:23)

"I am writing this letter to thank Jim Sullivan for the excellent work that he completed on two of my personal Telecasters.

I am very particular as to whom I let repair my instruments. I have used the same tech for ten years. Unfortunately my tech passed away last year, so I have been researching techs with professional repair qualities. Everyone I have found was too expensive or underqualified, until Jim. I explained to Jim what I would like done to my guitars over the phone. The work I requested was a fret dressing to each guitar and three frets installed into one. Jim assured me that my guitars would play better than they did when bought new. I was doubtful since one of these guitars was custom-made. To my surprise Jim was correct!!! I have never owned a guitar that plays as well as the two Jim finished. He is a talented professional at what he does. I hope to use his services as long as I play. Jim has my recommendation and my future business."

Richard "Wichita" Douthitt - (Comment added 2007-08-13 00:04:53)

Sullivan Guitars and State Line Luthier Works Testimonials

Sullivan Guitars & State Line Luthier Works Testimonials