Zemaitis
34Also known as: Zemaitis Guitars, Zemaitis Guitar Company
UnclaimedFounded by Lithuanian-British luthier Tony Zemaitis in 1955, Zemaitis is a guitar brand celebrated for its distinctive engraved metal-top, pearl-front, and disc-front electric guitars. Tony Zemaitis began his career as a cabinetmaker before building his first classical guitar, and by the 1960s he was crafting custom instruments for some of the biggest names in rock and folk music, including Ron...
Founded by Lithuanian-British luthier Tony Zemaitis in 1955, Zemaitis is a guitar brand celebrated for its distinctive engraved metal-top, pearl-front, and disc-front electric guitars. Tony Zemaitis began his career as a cabinetmaker before building his first classical guitar, and by the 1960s he was crafting custom instruments for some of the biggest names in rock and folk music, including Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan, and David Gilmour. The brand's signature metal-front design — originally conceived to shield pickups from electrical interference — was elevated into an art form by engraver Danny O'Brien, whose ornate metalwork became synonymous with the Zemaitis aesthetic.
After Tony Zemaitis's death in 2002, the brand was acquired in 2010 by Japan's Kanda Shokai Corporation, which produces guitars in Tokyo based on Tony's original designs. The lineup spans the Metal Front, Pearl Front, and Disc Front series alongside acoustic models, the Superior Series, and the more accessible Z Series. Zemaitis guitars are distributed in the United States from Paso Robles, California. The instruments remain prized by collectors and working musicians alike for their blend of bold visual design, hand-engraved craftsmanship, and a tonal character rooted in Tony Zemaitis's original construction philosophy.
Zemaitis has 56 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, and Steel-string Acoustic Guitars. Their gear is featured by 51 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Metal. Notable users include Miku Kobato, Joe Louis Walker, and Ronnie Wood.
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