1981Jester 12 String: Made in Holland Legendary Copy of Martin

This is truly a One-of-a-Kind Instrument. The Jester "brand" carries a very unique history and relationship with the Martin Guitar Company. We know the basic history of the Jester Brand through the more available, though still rare, 6 string D28, but we can find almost nothing about the 12 string model. You can't find these guitars easily, and there is very little info online.

What is the history of the Jester Company and their D28 Acoustic Guitar? Is their D28 an exact Martin copy? 

Here is what we compiled through vatious guitar forums: 

Is it a Martin or Not?             

No,,,,and maybe,,,,

The Jester D28 acoustic guitar is a bit of an enigma. It's an exact knock-off of the famous Martin D28, but it's unclear who made it or when. What is known is that this guitar was produced originally in Holland and Romania between 1981 and 1985. Today, the Jester D28 is a sought-after vintage guitar, prized for its quality craftsmanship and unique sound. So what's the story behind this mystery guitar? Here is what we know:

The Jester D28 was born from hand-crafted construction and quality that creates a unique sound and look. The first Jester D28 guitars were mass-produced in Romania and Holland between 1980 and 1986, but their origins remain shrouded in mystery. We do not have any history around the 12 String version.

Around 1976 a young John Pearse came to America from Germany after working for the Baldwin String company and went to work for CF Martin making and designing accessories for their guitars. He married a girl from PA who was a musician and they went back to Germany. John Pearse started making his own line of strings as well as some other instruments. In his bio it mentions that he sold strings to Jay Associates International, the makers of the Jester guitar.

In 1979 Jay Associates International was incorporated. In 1980 they applied for, and received a copyright patent, from the US government for the Jester logo to be used on guitars. In 1981 Jester guitars were built in Holland and Romania. They are apparently copies of Martins, right down to the bracing.

In 1988 the Jester logo was allowed to lapse. The last known address for Jay Associates International was in Easton PA. Someone contacted the current owners at the address and they said that in the '80s the house was owned by a Mr. Johnson who was some kind of executive at the Martin Guitar company.

It is understood that a music store in the Easton area was the importer of Jester guitars. The plan was to go big time with Jester being the house brand. However, Martin got wind of the guitars, filed a lawsuit, and put a stop to their manufacturing. What is left today is this history and almost none of the guitars that were produced, especially 12 strings...