Metal front guitars also included an engraved designs made by his friend and customer Danny O'Brien, who had started engraving plates for guitars headstock until Zemaitis himself suggested O'Brian to engrave the fronts, as well.

Applying that principle to his guitar, he produced the first metal-front guitar. Zemaitis took the model from a radio magazine, where he noted that every unit had a metal chassis with the components mounted on it. Inspiration for metal-fronts came for his observation of Fender guitars, upon which he considered they have design faults relating the position of the pickups in relationship to the strings. His first metal-front was made for Tony McPhee, of The Groundhogs in the late 1960s. Zemaitis' characteristic metal front guitar was designed to reduce the humming of the electric guitars. Other musicians that asked Zemaitis for guitars were Mark Bolan, Ron Wood and Ronnie Lane. Īfter starting to build acoustic guitars, Zemaitis began to manufacture electric models, with some prototypes used by George Harrison. During the 1960s, Zemaitis made 12-string guitars for notable musicians including Ralph McTell, Spencer Davis, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. His instruments became popular in blues and folk music musicians of London, gaining good reputation among them. After doing the military service, Zemaitis improved his methods to manufacture guitars.

Zemaitis started to build guitars for his friends, selling them the instruments at lower prices. He repaired his first guitar in 1952 and built his first instrument –a classical nylon-string guitar in 1955. History īorn Antanus Casimere Zemaitis, of Lithuanian descent, Tony Zemaitis (as he is known to his friends), began a five-year apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker in 1951. The brand's slogan is 'The Elements of Tone'. Zemaitis is globally known for its unique metal and pearl front guitar designs. Current products by Zemaitis include electric and acoustic guitars. In the United States, Zemaitis is distributed by the 'Zemaitis Guitar Company' based out of Paso Robles, California. Zemaitis's guitars are based on designs by British luthier Tony Zemaitis, who died in 2002. Kanda Shokai is also owner of Greco, another guitar brand. Zemaitis Guitar is a guitar brand owned by Japanese Kanda Shokai Corporation, which manufactures the instruments in Tokyo. 1955 68 years ago ( 1955) in London, England

Fregata f11 zemaitis