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Original Zemaitis Guitars

Phil 52

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
823
For those who are not familiar with Tony Zematis and his guitars
I'd like to post at first some older mag articles.


Edit:
Alas, I can't find the "attach files" button.
That's the only way to post pics from here.
So this thread is over before it really started.
Sorry!
 
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AA00475Bassman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
3,769
Some threads will allow drag & click , some you need something else like Imgure . I would like this explained . Thank you Victor
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
For those who are not familiar with Tony Zematis and his guitars
I'd like to post at first some older mag articles.


Edit:
Alas, I can't find the "attach files" button.
That's the only way to post pics from here.
So this thread is over before it really started.
Sorry!
email me any photos that you would like for this thread, and I will host them for you danpweldon@msn.com

To do this yourself, sign up for a free photo hosting site like IMGUR, and you can upload directly to them. They will supply you with a code (IMG) that you can use here.
 

Phil 52

Active member
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
823
Hi rockabilly69

email sent to you with scans of the article I mentioned in my initial post.

Hope it works
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Phil I may get into trouble putting those pics up here to display without permission from the magazine as I've run into that, but if you have a link to the magazine article you got those from I can post that. If not...

Here is another great article about Z guitars and covers pretty much everything in the other article and then some, there are some good pics too...




For those not familiar with Zemaitis Guitars, here are some of my reissues which are all Japanese built.

Gen 1 Greco/Zemaitis Disctop ebony fingerboard 24 fret (modified with all new wiring and Tom Short Custom pickups)...

X7Fm3UF.jpg


Gen 2 A24 rosewood fingerboard 24 fret (modded with germanium boost, G&L tone circuit, all new wiring harness, 21:1 tuners, custom knobs)

Sm38rG8.jpg


Gen 2 A22 padauk fingerboard 22 fret (modded with new wiring harness, Tyson Precious and Grace pickups, 21:1 tuners, custom knobs and switchtip)

FEHBzC7.jpg


Gen 2 SUJ101 LTD13 rosewood board 23 fret (modded with new wiring harness, MR2000SB Dynasonic style pickups, 21:1 tuners, custom knobs and switchtip)
nYsGUt7.jpg


Gen 2 Custom Shop ebony board 22 fret lacquer finish (modded with Tyson Precious and Grace pickups and custom knobs and switchtip)...
KKJsok0.jpg


After Tony's passing, his son and wife authorized a company out of Japan to make some models based on actual drawings. Their first few models built came in two levels. The Custom Shop was the upper level and they cost around $10K. The custom shop tried to get as many details right as they could. They used seasoned Honduran Mahogany and the multipiece construction they employed, which wasn't a cost cutting measure, but the way the originals were built, was very accurate to the original designs! The originals were built like this because Tony Z felt that type of construction reduced wolf/ghost tones. They also hand made the hardware (bridges, tailpieces, plates, etc) They even brought in Danny O'Brien to do the engravings. who did the originals for Tony Z. This was a very small shop, and the guitar was touched by very few master craftsman hands. All of the electronic components were top notch quality. And the thin lacquer finish was very close to the way Tony Z did it.

They also made a more approachable model branded Greco/Zemaitis built in the typical production manner. These guitars also showed a high level of quality, but even at their lower price level $3000 to $5000 they were a hard sell. These guitars weren't built with Honduran Mahogany, and they used production built hardware, also they weren't hand engraved or lacquer finished, but they still used very good components (same electronics and tuners as the custom shop)

A few years later Zemaitis relaunched a new line branded Zemaitis but priced similar or even a bit lower than the Greco/Zemaitis line. They even subdivided that into Custom Shop ($4000 to $5000), Japanese built Antanus ($2000 to $3000), and Korean built Casimiere ($1000 to $2000).

They are currently realigning what shop will make what guitars as their Korean production stuff is getting really good. And they are introducing some new more original designs!
 
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