JKM Guitars, as it is shown on this site today, has taken a long time to get to this point. Even throughout the years, the main driving force has always been the urge to make some really nice guitars!

Guitar making wasn’t originally something I had intended to get into, while doing my A-levels I had the ambition to become a doctor, but lacked the grades by some margin! While looking for an alternative science based degree, I stumbled across the Musical Instrument course run by London Metropolitan University. I had originally passed it off as a novelty, but as time went on it seemed to have planted a seed in my head. Much to my parents surprise, I no longer wanted to follow medicine or science, but instead wanted to stick little bits of wood together to make noisy boxes!

I went through my degree honing the basics of instrument making, and dabbling in more adventurous designs. What I didn’t realise at the time was this train of building pushed me on the path to break away from the norm, from standard shapes of guitars you’ve seen a million times, and try and put my own style and aesthetic into my builds.

After I finished my degree with a first, I continued my studies to complete a masters degree in Musical Instruments in London. After a year of trying to set up as a self employed luthier, I decided that more experience was necessary. At this point I moved from my home village of Storrington, West Sussex, up to Downpatrick, Northern Ireland to join the ranks of one of Europe’s most renowned guitar making companies, Lowden Guitars.

I spent 7 years there, and was lucky enough to work in many different departments such as soundboard carving, inlays, and soundboard making, working on thousands of guitars during my time in the company. This along with all the tips, insight and experience passed on to me by my enthusiastic and knowledgeable co-workers, really opened my eyes to all the finer details and finesse that goes into every aspect of the guitar.

I continued to develop my designs and techniques during my employment, then during the lockdown in 2020 I decided to put my furloughed free time to good use and get back into building my own instruments. It was not soon after, having gained the confidence in my own work and skills, that I decided to venture into self employment once again, taking JKM Guitars and putting it out into the world.

It has been 5 years now, and as my skills and instruments have improved, my guitars have found homes from Bulgaria to North Carolina. Even in 2025, approaching 17 years of building, my desire to try new things hasn’t diminished. This year I proudly reveal the development and launch of my new bracing pattern, Helix Bracing. These instruments will be yet another step in the path to make heirloom quality guitars that continue to excite and inspire its players. 

It’s been an exciting journey getting to this point, and I can’t wait to continue making noisy boxes!

Jacob K Menear BSc, Ma.
Proprietor