About Us

About

Our Story

Jaroslav Mach started making guitars in 1975. It didn’t take long before the instruments became highly sought after by Dutch, but also foreign, professional guitarists. One of the first fans of his guitars was Pieter van der Staak and later Jorge Oraison. Although Jaroslav is in fact self-taught, he was very inspired by José Romanillos, among others. An influence that is clearly recognizable in the earlier instruments. Ignacio Fleta was also a great inspiration in this early period of Jaroslav’s career.
His guitars where then sold all over the world as far as Japan.

In the 1980s, Mach interrupted his guitar-making career for an adventurous period in the United States. In the US, the interest and market for hand-built guitars is mainly focused on steel-string instruments. The interest for classical guitar construction, however, has always remained and the knowledge has matured over the years.

When Jaroslav moved back to his native Czech Republic in 2012, to Kutna Hora, the itch started again. At the insistence of various guitarists and old acquaintances, he and his wife Melanie have taken up the profession again with more passion than ever. ‘It’s just like cycling and swimming. Once it’s in your fingers you can’t lose it.

Although Melanie has always worked and contributed ideas in the background, her role became increasingly evident in this second period. She mastered more and more aspects of guitar making. When Jaroslav suffered a stroke in 2015 and was seriously hampered in his work due to permanent paralysis of his right arm, Melanie took over a large part of the actual construction and learned the trade down to the last detail from Jaroslav.

After Jaroslav’s sudden death in 2020, Melanie moved the workshop to the Netherlands where they started in 1975. A difficult period, but in which the memory of Jaroslav through making guitars remains more than alive. With two extra working hands from her brother Wim in the workshop, it is possible to give Mach Guitars a third life.

It is now 2024 and after this four-year break, we are back to the point where we can actively offer guitars again. During this period we have experimented with new methods. We have added double top guitars, both classical and steelstring, to the range and all instruments can be equipped with an ergonomic beveled corner for the forearm.

We hope to continue for a long period of time. Meet us, you are most welcome.