Zemaitis Guitars

Zemaitis Guitars is a guitar-manufacturing company based in Tokyo, Japan. The company's guitars are based on designs by the English guitar maker Tony Zemaitis. The company is led by the luthier's son, Tony Zemaitis, Jr., and produces electric and acoustic guitars.

Zemaitis guitars are world-renowned as handcrafted, precision instruments of the highest quality. Some models are highly collectible and sought after and have a particularly high price tag. The guitars are also noted for their engravings by Danny O'Brien.

History

Tony Zemaitis began producing guitars in the 1950s and entered the guitar making profession full-time in 1965. During the 1970s, he began experimenting with placing a metal shield on the top of the guitar in order to eliminate microphonic noise picked up by the guitars' pickups. To enhance the visual aspect of the guitars, Zemaitis enlisted the skills of gun engraver Danny O'Brien. Such designs include elaborate pearl inlay, either figures like dragons and skulls and bones, or complete mosaic-like inlaid tops.

Since Zemaitis Sr.'s retirement in 2000, original Zemaitis guitars have become highly collectible and command very high prices. After his death in 2002, the Zemaitis family continued the guitar building business from Tokyo, offering both high-end hand-built guitars, and a more affordable "Greco Zemaitis" line of guitars. The current production is based on original drawings by the luthier.

Guitars made by Zemaitis are featured in a museum in Tokyo.

Guitar owners

Guitarists who are Zemaitis players include:
* Joe Walsh
* Marc Bolan
* Eric Clapton
* Dave Edmunds
* Gilby Clarke
* Peter Frampton
* David Gilmour
* Steve Hackett
* George Harrison
* Jimi Hendrix
* James Honeyman-Scott
* Greg Lake
* Ronnie Lane
* Nils Lofgren
* Alvin Lee
* Micky Moody
* Mike Oldfield
* Carl Perkins
* Keith Richards
* Rich Robinson
* Mike Rutherford
* Ron Wood

External links

* [http://www.zemaitis.net/ Zemaitis.net] , official company website
* [http://www.zemaitisclub.com/zemaitis-gallery.htm Zemaitis owners' gallery]
* [http://www.musicianshotline.com/issue/features/200607_builder_zemaitisguitars.asp Interview with Tony Zemaitis, Jr.]