Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
Repairing, restoring and recycling guitars has become a passion for a dedicated luthier who wants to make the world go round through music.
For 20 years John Jenkins has plied his trade that he calls Smalltown Guitars in Parson, where souls are actually soothed (once a broken or old guitar is fixed or restored).
As a teenager, Jenkins’ life changed when he heard ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ by Neil Young. Since then he always wanted to have a guitar in his hands.
He learned how to build guitars through a course in 2002. He quickly discovered how to fix them too, which set his career wheels in motion.
At this point in time he became aware of the environmental impact that guitar-making had on old growth forests, such as sitka spruce and rosewood.
“The decline of these trees has a lot to do with instrument making,” Jenkins said, adding that further research prompted him to re-route his vision by delving more into repairing and restoring guitars for people.
“I became passionate about keeping guitars in good condition, repairing, restoration, and adjustment.”
Jenkins has seen a number of broken guitars in need of major repair.
“People love their guitars, they become very attached to them. To take a guitar that someone has an attachment to and repairing it so they can play it again is very rewarding.”
Sometimes all it takes is a simple adjustment to make a guitar sing again. Often people will struggle with their guitars and become frustrated to the point they will put them back in the closet. It’s a shame because that’s not where they belong. Just like laughter, playing the guitar is the best medicine.
Sharing his skill to make people happy is what drives Jenkins to do what he does every day. And you don’t have to go to a major city to get your guitar fixed, which is a relief.
In addition to tuning guitars, he also gives lessons And no, you don’t need an “ear for music” to learn how to play well. Jenkins, who buys and sells guitars, also helps people find the specific guitar they are looking for. That’s because his goal is to keep guitars in circulation. For more information, call 250-439-9531 or visit smalltownguitars.ca.
