My favourite guitar is always the latest that I have acquired. Today it's a Zephyr - a Japanese copy of a Zemaitis acoustic. It's big (about the same size as a J200), red (solid mahogany throughout, apart from ebony fingerboard and bridge), elaborate (broad, Stella-like purfling and mop hearts inlaid on the bridge and around the heart-shaped soundhole, engraved aluminium plates on the peghead) and both loud and mellow. Not only that, it's nice to play, too.

Problem is, I can't find anything at all about the maker. I have always fancied a proper Zemaitis, but they go for silly prices (Clapton's auctioned for over $250,000), so this will have to be as close as I'm likely to get.

I'm currently having it set up by my friend Doug Parry at John Alvey Turner. Nothing radical, but it is obvious that its previous owner just had it as wall candy.

Alan