Taurus Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Im not particularly experienced to guitar making or anything, but as soon as i came across Tony Zemaitis Guitars i loved the pickguard artwork. I would like to make/get hold of an engraved scratchplate of the style of Danny O'Brien (zemaitis engraver), for a fender standard strat. Im not sure where to start? Any Ideas on anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotrock Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Post some pics up so we can have a look. Well not me, I haven't got a clue but someone around here will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovekraft Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Zemaitis Photo Gallery Engraving has come a long way since Tony and Danny started doing their signature pieces - you can probably get a laser engraver to do your pickguard now. The only trick will be coming up with patterns - the rest, as i understand it, is as easy as scanning the artwork into a computer and programming the engraver. If you want to do it by hand, maybe Craig can give you some pointers on it. I do know that it requires a good eye, a steady hand, and a lot of practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minideluxe Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 Could you etch something like that ?? - Always been interested myself...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taurus Posted July 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 id just want a design similar to this one. Look how beautiful this guitar is If i had $35,000 - $40,000 i wouldn't hesitate to getting one. Are there any similar pickguards like this that are more available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren wilson Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 I always wondered who made those narrow-waisted metal-topped Les Paul-type guitars! And i had no idea he made such beautifully engraved tops! Wow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesW Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 I like the the 5-string one he made for Keith Richards in the mid 70s - similar to the one above in shape, but dark wood and inlaid with mother of pearl daggers and skulls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decalshopmike Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 I'm pretty sure Zemaitis used silver, or silver plated brass ( ??? ) sheet for the guitar tops on these - they would have been pretty easy to hand engrave as the metal is very soft - obviously getting the design right would be the hard part. I also dont think he engraved them himself, some guy who used to engrave guns and stuff used to do them for him ( this is from memory from an old Keith Richards interview about them ). I know someone who's got an 80's one he had personally made for him by Tony, think he got it for half retail at the time ( around $4000 ) - now its probably worth about $100,000 as the top was very personalised and the design was a one off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_M Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 A guy named John Catto made an awesome Metal Top LP Style Guitar (pics here) and I believe there was a thread over at the MIMForum dedicated to it were some of the process was discussed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavnerGuitarWorks Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 John Cattos guitar blows away any Zemaitis I have ever seen. He paid someone to do the top after creating the design with his computer. It wasn't cheap, but well worth it. If I was you, I would start this thread at MIMF, since he is a regular there. Believe me, you will learn alot from him. I am in love with all the guitars he has built, especially the Zemaitis copy and his Bigsby Merle Travis replica. They both kick major arse! I would give anything to have my Zemaitis back, (I had one of the pearl covered models). I found it in a pawn shop in a tiny little town in Tennessee for $600. Of course, I sold it and made one hell of a profit. Enough to buy my shop and all the tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 id just want a design similar to this one. Look how beautiful this guitar is If i had $35,000 - $40,000 i wouldn't hesitate to getting one. Are there any similar pickguards like this that are more available? That is a great looking guitar, but you will have to be nuts to waste that much money on a guitar that will look better on a Medieval Castel Wall instead of on your hands being played... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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