Custom Art Guitars

I don't know if all of our customers know that one of our specialties is our custom art designed guitars. The customer can email us an idea they have for an art guitar and we can work with them to design the guitar of their dreams. Not only can they choose the art they like but they can pick the body style, hardware, and electronics if they choose to. If you are interested in a custom art guitar please contact me by clicking the "Order Custom Art Guitar" link at the top of the page.
I have attached a guitar we just completed which gives you a good idea of how creative customers can get with their designs and the quality of our work.

3 Sisters Series are for Sale

We have just finished the last guitars in a series done by Jennifer Janesko. The art and instruments are some of the best GZ Guitars has ever done. They are for sale and price is available upon request. (Email: ggertz@gzguitars.com or Tel:(973) 698-3398. We can also arrange to commission a custom design or the art done on your guitar.
The following is Jennifer's background. I have posted her link for anyone interested in her art work.
Jennifer Janesko's distinctive art is quickly achieving international recognition. Playboy magazine featured illustrations by Janesko in the June 1998, March 1999, March 2000 and February 2001 issues. Janesko has been showcased in Maxim magazine, Femme Fatales, PINUP and took the cover of a Scream Queens issue. Janesko's work was featured in International publications such as Desire and Skin Two of England, Marquis Fetish Images
and OTO of Germany. Additional recognition has been gained through airbrush art publications, such as AIR Brush-Action, Airbrush Art + Action and Airbrush magazines. Television stations such as FOX and MSNBC have also spotlighted the artist's work. Jennifer's original art appeared in the 1994 film "Exit To Eden", directed by Gary Marshall. Recently a portrait of Janesko by artist Dru Blair appeared on the March/April 2008 cover of AIR Brush-Action.

The artist's work is a fusion of her love for pinup, fashion and glamour. High contrast and sharp direction are the two elements that form the basis of her art. The artist uses airbrush and paintbrush to create mixed media paintings. Studies are created using a wide variety of materials including charcoal, pastel, colored pencil, watercolor, ink and graphite on various surfaces. Original paintings are currently sold through www.janesko.com and various exhibitions. The artist also accepts private commissions.

Current Janesko projects include creating new original and print images. Janesko has just completed the third wine label in association with Haut Art Wines of Napa Valley. She is currently branching out in new and exciting directions with a series of images painted on guitars for GZ Guitars, Inc. The artist also has plans to teach pinup classes at the Blair School of Art in North Carolina. Soon to be announced projects will feature the artist's talents and passions in the world of fashion.

This guitar is a USA Gibson ES-335, one of the classic Gibson models along with the Les Paul. The custom pickups were made by Peter Florance at Voodoo. Modeled after the early 57' PAF (no decal) Humbuckers, they have a wonderful, warm, organic tone. Custom made formvar wire give them enhanced mid's and upper low's, and result in an incredible sound not found in stock 335's. All work was done through GZ's Custom Shop in New Jersey. This guitar is signed by the artist and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Rock & Roller Skateboards

In the last year I have seen an number of cutting edge artists paint skate boards. I have always wanted to have a go at it but, until now , never found the right format to do it. Artist Kathleen Ames had some great ideas and we worked with her to produce GZ's first Art Skateboards. TGM Skateboards provided the decks and Kathleen did all of the art in her studio. We finished them in our guitar custom shop and they look unbelievable. The trucks, hardware, & wheels were chosen & installed by Division East. (check out their link). These boards are top of the line and good to go. The bass is a new Squire Fender MB-4 and check this link for a full description. https://secure.gzguitars.com/gzbuypages/bass_board_buy.html
Anyone interested in custom paint jobs please email me and we can work out a custom board for you & guitar to match if you like.
ggertz@gzguitars.com
(the TRANSPORTATION board was done by Dave Hoffman & is not for sale)

Dallas Guitar Show

Last weekend GZ Guitars participated in the Dallas Guitar Show for the second year. It was a huge success. We received a great reception including an article by the Dallas neighbor city Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper (see photo). I have enclosed a photos of some of the highlights of the show. Actress, model and wife of Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Jerri Hall, looks at the guitars before this show. Dallas television news anchor celebrity and her son looked at some of our art guitars. (see photo with Glen in front of Jennifer Janeskos guitar "Heart Strings")In 2007 GZ did several shows in the Dallas and has a lot of friends/customers in Dallas/Fort Worth and through out Texas. I have already signed us up for the 2009 Dallas Guitar Show. If love guitars and have never been to the DGS mark it on your calendar as a "must do" event.

Family Affair

GZ Guitars could never do all of the great events and promotions without help from a variety of people. GZ recently participated in the 2008 Dallas Guitar Show and it was one of our most successful events ever. I would like to thank my sister Lindsay for organizing helpers and Lenno Summers and Willy Welch for their help with the booth (see photo) My son Marshal took the helm Friday and my wife Claire even flew in to support the event Saturday. My best friend John & his son Evan came up from Austin and even carried my Marshall stack upstairs for me which is a true measure of friendship (see photo)A humble thank you to you all and anyone who I missed I am sorry and I appreciate your participating. We rocked!

2008 DALLAS GUITAR SHOW

It is that time again that we load up the truck and head home to Texas for the Dallas Guitar Show. GZ Guitars has a booth for our 2nd year and I look forward to seeing all of you who were there last year as well as any new folks who may be able to attend, please stop by. There will be over 25 painted art guitars for sale and some incrediable pieces on display. I will post photos of the show when I return the end of the month. It is April 18, 19, & 20 and I have posted the link for more info.

Gibson Custom Jimmy Page Les Paul Custom

My passion is custom guitars. Today my friend & Guitar Guru Mike Bisulca, Asst. Manager of Springfield, New Jersey Guitar Center, invited me to check out the just released Gibson Custom Shop Jimmy Page Les Paul Custom (see photo of Mike & I with the "Black Beauty"). Recently, seen in all of the guitar magazines it is a exact replica of a guitar Jimmy had stolen when he was touring with Led Zepplin in 1970. It was built to Jimmys personal specifications. In March 2007 I had the opportunity to purchase one of the Jimmy Page Custom Shop Doubleneck guitars(see photo with Gibson VP Brett Arney). So I can tell you these guitars are the best Gibson Custom Shop puts out and the top of the market collectors pieces. If you are interested in one of these call Mike at (973) 921-0677 and he can get you set up. Mike is my go to guy at Guitar Center.

Food Superstar

My birthday was last week and my wife took me to a great steak restaurant in New York called Choice Meats. I had one of the best steaks I have ever had and had the opportunity to meet one of my true hero's Guy Fieri of the Food Channel Show "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives". OK I am busted that I watch the food channel but I never liked it until I saw Guys show. He show cases local places that have a a mythology and serve great down to earth food. Guy was really fun and we had a great time. I know you are asking "What in the f*#k does this have to do with GZ Guitars? This guy is like a rock star of food. I always like to tell people about cool stuff I hear about and you will never know what I am talking about unless you check out his show. It is on Monday through Friday at 10pm Sat at 1:30pm and Sunday 10am. I have posted his website on my links so check him out and go wild.

Stevie Ray Vaughn- Great Tribute

I am always surprised about all of the great people & cool things I run across while I am out representing GZ Guitars. I believe that Stevie Ray Vaughn was one of the greatest of guitarists of all time. I recently was given a book about Stevie that I think every fan should read. It was written by Cutter Brandenburg (Mr Cee)who was a friend of Stevies growing up in Dallas and worked as his equipment & road managers during the early days of his career before he became an international superstar. He also worked with a long list of great bands through out his career. The book is filled with personal stories and photos of his time with Stevie and other famous musicians. If you are a guitar player, SRV fan or rock & roller who is interested in how it was "Back In the Day" order this book. I have posted Cutters website to order books in my links. He was kind enough to sign a copy for me. This is a unique and will SRV collectors piece so don't miss out.

It's 2008- Let's Get Busy

I know 2008 will be an exciting year at GZ Guitars. We have plans to do both art and music shows to diplay our new Art Guitars, and the blog will keep you posted. I am excited that I have new artists I will be working with and have already comissioned new guitars which will be out the end of February. I will be posting bio's on the new artists when we post their work. We will be changing our website with a greater focus on Art Guitars, but will still continue to build and customize guitars and disply work by other custom guitar builders as well. I am most excited about a project that I am working on with a very talented artist. It will produce some of the best Art Guitars we have ever done. I have enclosed a sneak preview of a proto type we just finished and plan to produce a limited series to sell by March.
So keep checking in and I hope 2008 is a great year for you. Glen

D Home Magazine

I am excited to start 2008 with a feature in D Home Magazines February 2008 issue. On November 4, 2007 we had the opportunity to feature some of our art guitars in a show at East & Orient Co. in Dallas. D Home, who are the top Home & Garden Magazine in Dallas / Ft. Worth, featured a photograph of our art guitar titled "Modern Art" and wrote an article about a guitar we had on display which was painted by top New York graffiti artist John "CRASH" Matos. With the sucess of the Dallas Guitar Show and the E & O Show in 2007 GZ is becoming well know in Big D.

Matters Magazine

2007 was a great year for GZ guitars and it ended with getting a profile done by Matters Magazine. Matters is a feature magazine that focuses on Northern New Jersey which includes the home of GZ Guitars Maplewood. It was an honor that they chose to focus GZ Guitars. If you are interested in reading the story or Matters please check the link posted on the home page.