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Genuine 1992 Zemaitis Metal Front

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276
Hey JB I have one of those in the right handed persuasion :)

It's the one that I modded with the a Germanium Boost and a G&L tone circuit. I love it...

naked under the metal top (nice piece of African Mahogany)
iEcVikY.jpg

Chisels and Dremel tools can be fun
ZfQKrf8.jpg

let's get the wiring party started
DDcVF6e.jpg

starting to come together
GOdJ04E.jpg

little mini switch added for kicking the boost on (New controls master vol, hi cut, low cut, and boost level)
JAykS2Z.jpg

Rangemaster OC44 circuit installed
I5AzISw.jpg

tidy time
jQYVkOe.jpg

back together for quick test run
DJwXTG8.jpg

new custom knobs and, oh yeah, I replaced the Zemaitis pickups in this with some Dimarzio Anniversary PAFs
9fLNwaj.jpg

Very cool! Thanks for the detailed look.

Yeah, the wood is particularly nice on these. Glad I didn't go for the black.

Very high quality on these MIJ. Satin finish feels great, the scarf joint was well executed. No mods for me yet, too much else going on, and my stable is large, so down the list. Perhaps pickups, someday.
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
I think that the etched models filled with black paint looks a bit odd, and not like his handmade engraved guitars so I removed the paint and buffed it by hand for a more realistic look:

photo
276992196_10226401547281375_2156655396514103301_n.jpg


Here's an old thread from when I made a tribute Zemaitis for an annual x-mas gig that I used to do.

What model is that? I've never seen a Japanese reissue with plastic pickup rings? And the wood doesn't look like anything I've seen before. Is that one of the Korean models with NATO wood? As for the look you're going for, maybe it'd look better if you traced the acid etching with a Dremel Engraver for the OG look.

Funny thing, I've noticed between the Korean models, the Japanese production models, and lastly the custom shop, is that the Duraluminium on each of them are different alloys. It is especially evident in the custom shop models. Also, the custom shop model necks are sublime. They are fatter than the production models, but still a C shape, and they are beefed up just behind the nut for strength. And the finish on the necks are as good as anything I have ever felt.
The difference between the custom shop models and the productions models are very much like the difference between USA production Gibsons to the custom shop.

LnqMod7.jpg
 
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rockabilly69

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Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
aye!!!!! now you guys have Me looking for one!!!!!!!!!!!!!:LOL:
I have a pretty extensive knowledge of the modern Zemaitis reissues, if you are seriously looking at one, send me a link to the one you a looking at, and I will let you know how good of a deal it is. And if you tell me what you like (disctop, full metal top, inlaid wood top, 22 fret, 24 fret etc), I will keep an eye out for you, as I'm always looking at them .
 
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rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Here's a friend from San Diego with endorsment deal
: https://zemaitisguitarcompany.com/pages/ken-mochikoshi-horne
Congrats to your friend!!! Sounds like a really good player but the a bit heavy of a tone for me. If I had deal with them, I would have them change pickups in their guitars, they just are too high output. The bridge on those is 16K and heavily potted. Recently though, that have been putting Fralins PURE PAFs in some of their custom shop models.. And they are even using the same type of Fijian Mahogany as the Gibson Custom Shop.

 

Phil 52

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
823
rockabilly, thanks for posting the video.

I always loved The Faces live performances.
I agree with what Glenn Tilbrook said in the introduction.
To me too Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood were at their peak when with The Faces.
I always liked Ronnie's playing in The Faces better than what he later
did with the Stones.
Can't find the right words. But I think he felt more free in what he wanted
to play. In the Stones he might felt a bit of controlled by Mick and Keith.

And it was back then when I got attracted by The Faces' Ronnie and Plonk to Zemaitis Guitars.
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
rockabilly, thanks for posting the video.

I always loved The Faces live performances.
I agree with what Glenn Tilbrook said in the introduction.
To me too Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood were at their peak when with The Faces.
I always liked Ronnie's playing in The Faces better than what he later
did with the Stones.
Can't find the right words. But I think he felt more free in what he wanted
to play. In the Stones he might felt a bit of controlled by Mick and Keith.

And it was back then when I got attracted by The Faces' Ronnie and Plonk to Zemaitis Guitars.
I agree with everything you say here Phil, and like you, they were my introduction to Zemaitis guitars.
 

Phil 52

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
823
Above In post #31 I mentioned the late great Ronnie "Plonk" Lane.
For the record and the viewing pleasure here a couple of pics
of two of his Zemaitis Guitars.
(Copyright Keith Smart)
 

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rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Above In post #31 I mentioned the late great Ronnie "Plonk" Lane.
For the record and the viewing pleasure here a couple of pics
of two of his Zemaitis Guitars.
(Copyright Keith Smart)
Oh, I know Keith, him and I emailed back-and-forth many times
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
rockabilly, thanks for posting the video.

I always loved The Faces live performances.
I agree with what Glenn Tilbrook said in the introduction.
To me too Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood were at their peak when with The Faces.
I always liked Ronnie's playing in The Faces better than what he later
did with the Stones.
Can't find the right words. But I think he felt more free in what he wanted
to play. In the Stones he might felt a bit of controlled by Mick and Keith.

And it was back then when I got attracted by The Faces' Ronnie and Plonk to Zemaitis Guitars.
Speaking of the Stones, check out this live Ronnie Lane show with Ian Stewart playing the Boogie Woogie!

 
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Phil 52

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
823
Oh, I know Keith, him and I emailed back-and-forth many times
Yep, Keith was the chief of The Zemaitis Guitar Owners Club.
Tony himself filled out the form for my membership back then.
Because from when the club was founded Tony only dealed with members of the ZGOC.

Keith also was the magazine editor of our "THE Z GAZETTE".
I still have the issues from 1996 until 1998.
It's fun to have a look at these so many years later.
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Yep, Keith was the chief of The Zemaitis Guitar Owners Club.
Tony himself filled out the form for my membership back then.
Because from when the club was founded Tony only dealed with members of the ZGOC.

Keith also was the magazine editor of our "THE Z GAZETTE".
I still have the issues from 1996 until 1998.
It's fun to have a look at these so many years later.
YlyI975.jpg
 

NINFNM

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2018
Messages
75
With than thin waist, these Zemaitis have to be pretty unfortable to play sitting down, right? Staying too low I guess
 

currypowder

New member
Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
3
Just stumbling on this thread. Although late to the party, thought I would share some quick pics of my Custom Shop Aces & Eights MF model. As others have said, the CS models are just fantastic. I had an early Greco model that I let go once this one hit my hands. It came to me used from Japan, but in nearly un-played condition.

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