From: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org (oppositeview-digest) To: oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Subject: oppositeview-digest V7 #48 Reply-To: oppositeview@smoe.org Sender: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk oppositeview-digest Sunday, May 1 2005 Volume 07 : Number 048 Today's Subjects: ----------------- OV: Chris' Guitar ["Ed Minton" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 20:48:09 -0500 From: "Ed Minton" Subject: OV: Chris' Guitar As far as the price on the guitar goes.well, the guitars that Tony Zematis made were always expensive and rare. I guess that it might put things in perspective to know that '57 - '60 Gibson Les Paul Standards currently bring much higher prices. You won't see prices of these instruments published when they do change hands, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't routinely bring more than $75,000.00 and occasionally $100,000.00; and if the instrument is one that was previously owned by a celebrity, you can throw the book out the window. Hendrix's white "Woodstock Strat," brought more than $300,000.00 years ago. Zematis had a clientele that he made one of a kind guitars for. He used a modified Les Paul shaped body with a narrow waist and a unique headstock, for his electric guitars. I'm not an expert on them, (Ronnie Wood's and James Honeyman-Scott's are the only ones I've seen up close), but as far as I know, the electric models were a standard shape and size. Although some of the guitars were more simply adorned than others, he commonly used a variety of engraved "metal tops," and the, shall we call it "shell tops?" That's much better than mother or toilet seat, isn't it? Sorry, I'll apologize for condescending. They are actually mother of pearl, so I guess you could call them 'Pearl Tops." But anyway, they were made for the individual owner and I believe that they often had the owners name engraved on a metal plate that was fixed to the guitar. Unfortunately, Tony Zematis passed away recently, (last year, I think), and since then, the value of those guitars made during his lifetime has, not surprisingly, increased significantly. His son has also recently begun production of a line of new Zematis guitars, based on the models made famous by his father. These ain't cheap, either! BTW-The first Zematis I remember seeing was one used by Mr. Richards in the very early 1970's. It had a knife and skull and crossbones inlaid in mother of pearl on the top of the guitar. Keith's guitar tech told me that this guitar, along with much of the stage gear used by the Stones in the early and mid '60's was destroyed long ago in the fire at his home know as the Redlands. Even though Chris came into the picture somewhat late, I think that it's kind of sad to see him trying to sell his Zematis. Surely he would prefer to keep it. I would imagine that while Justin and Iain are probably getting along on publishing and songwriting royalties, the other musicians in the band will not fair as well. One of the reasons why many bands continue to work, if only as touring bands, is so that those band members who do not receive royalties can continue to make a living. I hope he does okay, as I think that his contributions to Some Other Suckers Parade were noteworthy. Ed ------------------------------ End of oppositeview-digest V7 #48 *********************************