GZ Guitars was founded ten years ago by Glen Gertz and John Stanton in Maplewood, New Jersey. They originally met in, Glens home town, Dallas, Texas, in the seventies where Glen was an avid musician and guitar collector and John had distinguished himself as one of the up & coming talents on the Dallas art scene. At the time of their meeting they were both involved in other projects but kept in touch.
Glen Gertz and John Stanton
In 2001 Glen had the opportunity to open GZ Guitars specialized in customizing art guitars. While looking for an artist to do custom painting he contacted John. They became partners with John taking the job as the company Art Director.
Guided by his 40 years of experience with electric guitars, and with Johns incredible art work and design talents, GZ started creating custom instruments and immediately gained notice from the art & music communities. They became well know on the East Coast and developed an exclusive market of musicians and collectors. Through a chance meeting with the famed graffiti artist and art guitar painter John “CRASH” Matos (see www.crashone.com), Glen was inspired to try focusing exclusively on producing art guitars to complement the custom work he was already doing.
Glen Gertz and John “Crash” Matos
In 2007 they went back to their roots and participated in the Dallas International Guitar Festival which was a great success. They have participated every year since, which has led to the decision to open an office in Dallas.
In 2005 John left to join a project designing and decorating luxury hotels in resort islands. Glen continues to work with established fine artists and is making plans to open a custom shop and “Guitar Gallery”.
They continue to produce guitars which are not only incredible sounding and playing instruments, but are true works of art as well. As a result of the quality of their work, they have developed, and continue to expand a niche market. They work in their custom shop with professional artists, finishing guitars they paint for their own portfolios, commissioning them to paint guitars to sell, as well as commissions for customers who want custom guitars painted. To keep in touch with their customers GZ launched a website to enhance their presence at music and art shows selling and displaying GZ Art Guitars to the general public.
Today, GZ Guitars is one of a select handful of companies committed to only building these unique instruments by working with established artists from various backgrounds, doing commission work for companies and private individuals, and working both in the art and music. Glen also personally works with many of today’s’ top pickup and hardware manufacturers to incorporate new ideas that will produce innovative sounds and new looks in his instruments. The combination of a great artists’ base and a great shop give GZ the capability to build, customize, paint, and finish guitars in any fashion that a customer might request.
GZ Guitars has participated in many national guitar and music shows, art gallery events, and have even had their instruments displayed as backdrops at exclusive, high-end events. The GZ story has been covered by numerous regional and national publications.
In 2011 GZ plans to continue focusing it’s energies on this growing art guitar market. A newly redesigned website has been launched, and they have plans to open a Guitar Gallery where artists can display their art work on guitars.
No matter what the direction GZ takes they have never deviated from their original principal: “WHERE MUSIC MEETS ART”