Jacob began making string instruments when he was 14 years old in the workshop of violin-maker Edward Curtz (Kingston, NY). After interning with Edward for four years, Jacob moved to the Netherlands where he studied woodworking at Hout-En Meubilerings College. When he returned to New York, Jacob’s continued interest in violin-making brought him to the North Bennett Street School in Boston, MA. Upon completing his education, Jacob moved to Berlin to work in the workshop of Andreas Kaegi, where he continued to make new instruments along with repairing and restoring instruments. Subsequent to working with Andreas for eight years, Jacob opened his own workshop in Berlin.