About JHS

JHS Building
Established in 1965 by its eponymous founder, John Hornby Skewes, and his wife Madge from their modest home in Garforth near Leeds, the couple built JHS up from a standing start with just a few small accessories.


Fifty plus years after those humble beginnings, and now operating from a purpose built warehouse and office complex close to junction 47 of the M1 motorway, JHS has become a truly international company, representing over seventy industry leading distributed brands in the UK/ROI, the countries of the European Union, USA and beyond.

JHS proprietary brands, including Fret-King, Vintage, Encore, Santos Martinez, Pilgrim and Laka fretted instruments, KAM audio/lighting equipment, Antoni orchestral stringed instruments, Odyssey brass and woodwind, Kinsman musical accessories, PP Drums and JHS Hornby recorders are represented in over 130 markets worldwide.

By working closely over recent years with a number of industry renowned builders, designers and master craftsmen, JHS brands have gone on to win accolades, awards and praise across the board for products that are bursting with professional features and specification, punching well above their often modest price tags.

Now headed up by Linda and Dennis Drumm, JHS offers thousands of lines and is active in a multitude of categories - a true full line distributor stocking just about anything and everything a musician or reseller of musical products could need.