Zemaitis

product types: 

  • electric guitars

Information: 

Tony Zemaitis started making guitars in the 1950s entering full time guitar makingin 1965. He made guitars  During the 1970s, he began experimenting with placing a metal shield on the top of the guitar in order reduce noise picked up by the guitars' pickups. To decorate these guitars, Zemaitis enlisted the skills of gun engraver Danny O'Brien. The designs include elaborate pearl inlay, either of figures like dragons and skulls or complete mosaic-like inlaid tops.

He worked mostly by himself from a home workshop in Chatham, Kent in England, producing just a handful of guitars every year. Tony was also happy to work with enthusiastic amateur guitarists and even sold 'Student' grade models to those with
lower budgets.

Since Tony Zemaitis retirement in 2000, original Zemaitis guitars have become highly collectible(especially in Japan). After Tony's death in 2002, the Zemaitis family continued the guitar-building business in 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 Tony Zemaitis Sr. Danny O'Brien is still involved in designing the patterns for the metal engraving on the new guitars.

 

Location

Chatham , KEN
United Kingdom
Kent GB