English luthier Tony Zemaitis who trained as a cabinet-maker and built his first usable guitar in 1955 after repairing a damaged instrument found at his family home. By the early 1960’s he was selling handmade instruments to London’s folk and blues scene, gaining a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and tone.
By the early 1970’s, Zemaitis was experimenting with electrically-amplified instruments. Dissatisfied with pickup noise and hum, he introduced a metal front (metal-top) design which was first sold to Tony McPhee of The Groundhogs and soon after to Ronnie Wood. This metal plate served as an electrical chassis and helped suppress unwanted noise, and it became a defining aesthetic of Zemaitis electrics.
A key visual element was the engraved metal or pearl front. Zemaitis collaborated with engraver Danny O’Brien, whose artwork — featuring dragons to intricate mosaic pearl layouts became as famous as the guitars themselves.
During his career, Zemaitis produced relatively few instruments each year, resisting mass production; he reportedly limited output to maintain quality and often refused to make two identical guitars. He retired in 2000 and passed away in 2002. After his death, the brand was licensed to Japanese manufacturer Kanda Shokai Corp, which produces both high-end custom guitars and more accessible ranges (Greco).
Early adopters of Tony’s guitars were Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Donovan – many of whom were gifted or commissioned handcrafted acoustics or 12-string models in the 1960s.
On the electric side, rock and blues stars have been seen with Zemaitis instruments over the decades. Famous users include Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane among others, and, in later years, James Hetfield and Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes) to name two.
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