Zemaitis Bass C22B MF - 2017

Here is a C22B MF Zemaitis metal front bass guitar from the Zemaitis Cashmere series. This model features Zemaitis' traditional monocut body with a metal plate, and is equipped with two J-type pickups. Made in 2017 in Korea, this is a killer instrument that would surely want you to pick up the instrument everytime you walt past it.  
 
The original engraved Zemaitis bridge and deep joint of the Nato / Maple neck to the Nato body provide a clear, punchy midrange and long sustain.
 
The Bass is in great condition, professionally set up and ready to hit the stage! Comes along a semi-hard case that is amazing to carry around without breaking your shoulders or arms. 
 
Some history about Zemaitis...
Born Antanas Kazimieras Žemaitis, of Lithuanian descent, Tony Zemaitis as known by his friends, began a five-year apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker in 1951. He repaired his first guitar in 1952 and built his first instrument, a classical guitar, in 1955. Zemaitis started to build guitars for his friends, selling them the instruments at lower prices. After completing his National Service, Zemaitis improved his manufacturing methods. His instruments became popular among blues and folk music musicians of London, gaining a good reputation. During the 1960s, Zemaitis made 12-string guitars for notable musicians including Ralph McTell, Spencer Davis, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.
After starting to build acoustic guitars, Zemaitis began to manufacture electric models, with some prototypes used by George Harrison. Other musicians that asked Zemaitis for guitars were Marc Bolan, Ron Wood and Ronnie Lane.
 
Pearl front guitar - Zemaitis' characteristic metal front guitar was designed to reduce the humming of his electric guitars. His first metal-front was made for Tony McPhee, of The Groundhogs in the late 1960s. Inspiration for metal-fronts came for his observation of Fender guitars, which he considered to have design faults relating to the position of the pickups in relation to the strings. Zemaitis took the model from a radio magazine, where he noted that every unit had a metal chassis with the components mounted on it. Applying that principle to his guitar, he produced the first metal-front guitar.
 
Metal front guitars also featured engraved designs made by his friend and customer Danny O'Brien, who had started engraving plates for guitar headstocks until Zemaitis suggested O'Brien engrave the fronts as well. Zemaitis' guitars became popular among rock artists and consolidated as a landmark of Zemaitis guitars. In the mid-1970s, Zemaitis made his first "mother of pearl" fronts for Ronnie Wood and James Honeyman-Scott.
 
Although Tony Zemaitis died in 2002, the demand for his guitars continued increasing, as well as their prices. The "Zemaitis" licensed guitars started to be manufactured in Japan, while many guitar makers worldwide copy Zemaitis' designs.