A minimalistic black background with a textured surface, creating a stark, dramatic effect ideal for showcasing design elements or text.

About the maker

Born in Bend, Oregon, during the free-spirited 1970s, Jayson Bowerman was initially immersed in the natural world of the Cascade Mountains and the High Desert to the East. When he became a teenager, though, he discovered a talent for making things with his hands, so he left high school early to study Manufacturing Engineering Technology at Central Oregon Community College and Colorado State University, where he built his first musical instrument, a carved-top two-point mandolin.

Coming Home

After graduating from college, Jayson returned to Oregon, where a traditional three-year apprenticeship at Breedlove Guitars helped to develop his passion for manufacturing and music. He worked to master every production position, then introduced several process engineering improvements, which led to new roles, including production manager, lead product developer, and custom shop builder, over the course of his 15 years of service with the company.
A minimalistic black background with a textured surface, creating a stark, dramatic effect ideal for showcasing design elements or text.

BreedLove Revival Series

During his tenure with Breedlove Guitars, Jayson was also actively involved in the Breedlove Mandolin project alongside Kim Breedlove, Steve Henderson, and Steve Carlson, principally developing the Breedlove Revival series, an award-winning Mark series of electric guitars that also included their tenor, bass, and Weissenborn-style guitar lines. Jayson’s work has twice been lauded as “Best in Show” by the NAMM industry association. He was also awarded the “Acoustic Guitar of the Year” in 2015 for his most recent major-label project, the “Oregon Series,” the design of which continues to be a top seller. The “Oregon Series” is often credited with introducing players worldwide to Oregon Myrtlewood as a top-choice instrument wood for its modern aesthetic, similar to many of the guitars built at Sisters High School.

Luthier Program

In 2006, Jayson co-founded the Luthier Program at Sisters High School with woodshop instructor Tony Cosby, where over 700 guitars have since been built, with a 98% completion rate. He continues to be an active volunteer-instructor for the program, donating materials and resources annually.

An enterprise of his own

In 2010, Jayson founded Bowerman Guitars, where he uses his skills to make custom acoustic stringed instruments of many types for performing artists and aspiring musicians. Along with his wife, Megan, and their two sons, he continues to call Oregon his home, where he lives and builds guitars on a limited basis while indulging an unhealthy interest in restoring century-old buildings. He lives and works less than a mile from his birthplace in “Old Bend”.