Born in 1931 in Marón de la Frontera, the Spanish luthier Jose Alberto Pantoja Martín learned the rudiments of the art  in the workshop of Manuel Ortega Sousa,  the guitar maker in Sevilla who also trained Andres Dominguez Guerrero. He acknowledges, however, that other guitar makers, such as Juan Montero Aguilera in Cordoba, with whom he developed a special friendship, have given him valuable advice.

Jose has been building guitars since 1957, and has had his own shop since 1967. J. A. Pantoja Martin has trained a number of luthiers, among them Frank Reijkers of the Netherlands and Maximiano Fontiveros Sola.  He works alone, using traditional methods and designs, building his guitars completely by hand. He uses using only the finest woods for his guitars, woods that have been allowed to dry for many years.

The results of his impeccable craftsmanship are superb classical and flamenco guitars. Pantoja Martin's handmade classical guitars have a very refined, lovely tone. His flamenco guitars are vibrant and have been bought by such great guitarists as Paco de Lucia, Sabicas, Los Panchos and the Mariachis de Santa Rosa (Mexico).