About

Guitars have long inspired me. I wanted to bring out the most creative player in others.

I’ve been playing guitar for a long time. I’ve played so many different instruments that each influenced or affected my playing in subtle or dramatic ways. Guitars make me feel creative and allow me to express myself so clearly, whether one note played at insane volumes or a quiet passage through reverb and tremolo. I’m good when I’m playing guitar. I’m creating. It’s something I must do.

When I dreamed up MPLS Guitars, I aimed to build musical objects that inspire me, you, us, to create, express, build, destroy, and rebuild.

For over nearly a decade, MPLS Guitars has worked with local and national artists and musicians who are striving to create something unique. Some of the bands and artists that play and have worked with MPLS Guitars:

• Bruise Violet

• Lutheran Heat

• Bloodnstuff

• The Blind Shake

• Blaha

• The Hand

• Hayley Briasco of Clairo and Kim Tee

• Sheridan Fox

• Holler House

• Grant Cutler

Since 2010

Jacob Swogger and Anthony Emanuele started MPLS Guitars in Jake's brother-in-law's garage in 2010. Self-taught guitar and pickup builders, Jake and Tony focused on original designs from day one, offering unique, high-design, high-quality electric guitars, baritones, basses, modular synth cases, and more.

As of 2023, Jacob is the sole owner of MPLS Guitars. Tony and Jacob are still good buds and in fact play music and hang out together often. Check out our band at mplsjake.com/deepfakes if the spirit moves ya.

More about Jacob Swogger

I am a visual artist: mplsjake.com & instagram.com/jacobswoggerart

I’m a musician: mplsjake.com/deepfakes & instagram.com/deepfakesmpls (I was also in the Umbrella Sequence in a past life)

I live in South Minneapolis with my wife, three kids, and a whippet named Grover.