Zemaitis Custom Deluxe

Built in England, 1994. Hand rubbed finish on an all mahogany body/neck, gorgeous ebony fingerboard, engraved aluminum front plate. Les Paul style single cutaway. All hand made hardware (except Grover tuners) Fingerboard is wide, neck's a little thin, full 2 octave scale. Equipped with Gibson '57 PAF reissues, standard LP controls (2 volume, 2 tone, 1 three position toggle switch

I play mostly country and was strictly a telecaster guy for years. The Z sounds amazing, the metal front adds a brightness and twang that is really great for my style. All electronics are first rate so the guitar is very quiet. Zs have a unique sound that is very powerful and kind of aggressive, but incredibly full and musical. The blend of wood and metal makes for a very resonant guitar, even unplugged.

I have never altered the set-up, it came to me perfect. Mr. Z did left some rough edges and tool marks on his guitars, especially in the control cavities, but i don't mind.

Except for the fact that the guitar is worth a small (big?) fortune, I would take it to all my gigs. It's solid and incredibly well made.

Mr. Z passed away a couple years ago. However, Danny O'Brien, the engraver is still around doing his thing. He was very helpful in redoing the truss rod cover for me.

I see the Harmony-Central says that they won't post reviews that aren't critical, but I really cant think of anything to criticize, except the absurd cost, but that's the free market, I think the guitar cost about $6,500 new, I paid serveral times that much.

I'm a player and collector, I have owned and played most of the "great" guitars, including black guard teles, & slabboard strats, pre war D-28s, gold top Les Pauls, etc. This is far and away the best electric guitar I have ever played. It feels warm and alive in your hands and the tone is incredible.

I've had a chance to play the new Z reissues (both the mass produced Grecos and the handmade $8,000 ones) they just don't compare. This guitar was 100% handmade by a master after he had spent 40 years perfecting his craft and it shows.

The Tony Zemaitis hand-built super guitar.

Features: basically anything you wanted, back in the days he was still making them. Tony was famous mostly for his metal front humbucker equipped "Les Paul" shaped guitars. If you were wise, you opted for his hand-made aluminum hardware: the sound is unbelievable.

I have two of his Custom Deluxe guitars:
a 1993 Pearl front, and a 1994 engraved Metal front. Both are equipped with dual humbucking '57 reissue PAF pickups. They both sound incredibly rich and creamy. Tony uses a very specific construction on both his bodies and necks. It's his secret! The wood on both guitars is mahogany.

There are to me no words that will adequately describe how superb and fantastic a Zemaitis guitar sounds. I usually can pick one out on a record immediately. Tony's guitars have all the overtones, even on the highest notes the guitars sing and scream through the densest mixes. You have to play this to believe it!
Recently I watched a video of when I played my pearl fronted Z during a soundcheck. The muscle of the sound was icredible, even through the tv speaker!

The guitar (as was to be expected from such a craftsman) was set up perfect. I tried to "customize" it to my own preferences, and kept track of the number of turns I gave each screw. I ended up EXACTLY where Tony had set things!

I've had my two Zemaitis guitars for over 7 years now. They have travelled back and forth between Netherlands, Spain, and the USA several times. I have used them live and in the studio on many many occasions (although now I don't play them live anymore...), in tiny clubs and on huge outdoor stages, in below-zero weather and in blistering sunshine. To my total amazement I have yet not had to do any adjusting on them.

They are of course finished with the sound as a first, and protection coming in second. The finish lasts very well but is prone to damage ("nicks"). That is the reason I don't play them live anymore.

Tony is the most gentleman of gentlemen. He gently talked me out of certain ideas I had on the first guitar. He told me the secret recipy of his fingerboard oil. Etc.

I have had an incredible correspondence with Tony for those 7 years that I've been playing his guitars.

The Tony Zemaitis hand-built super guitar.
I am amazed every time I pick them up to play, how one man can make so much beauty and quality. At a glance his guitars are exactly that: hand-made. After one playing session they tend to change your view on guitars, and what you can expect from them.

BE FOREWARNED: after this, how can you go back to the Gibsons etc? (this is what happened to me: after buying the 1st Zemaitis, I sold all other guitars, among them a 57 Goldtop, and bought a second Z)

Just a follow up to my posting...Tony Zemaitis has retired as of Feb. 2000 There are no new Zemaitis's being made, no matter what ANY so called Dealer says. I will be adding more info on this to : www.zemaitis.com

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Made by Tony Zemaitis in England, each guitar is made for they person who orders it. You send a tracing of your hand so he makes the neck for you. Made from Mahogany, with a hand rub finish. The workmanship is a bit rough but ti adds to the hand made craftmanship. You order your own pick-up configuration. Stop Tailpiece, gotoh tuners and a engraved metal front.

These is the most ALIVE guitars I have ever played. Unplugged you can feel the vibrations up your arm as you strum the guitar. Depending on what pick-up you order may have different sounds than mine, I have Gibson Humbuckers and re-issue 57 PAF + in mine.

The finish is hand rubbed and then sanded down, 30 times. Tony says this lets the guitar "breath". The action was perfect, no need to adjust it. These guitar, being custom built, fits like a glove, and plays like butter.

With production down to 2-4 guitars a year, and prices going up, I dont take these out much. But I use to use them all the time and they have never failed me.

WEll, since the guitars are built in England it would be hard to send them back for repairs or adjustments, though they were not needed. There were some knobs that were broken in shippng, and I was sent replacements and extra's with out a problem.

I have been playing for about 20 years, and being a big Ron Wood fan I have wanted one of these guitars for years. I feel this is the best investment I have made. I own about 20 guitars, some new and some vintage, but the "Z"s are my Favorites. I wish I could buy more.