A collector's guide to over 260 instruments, from early accoustic to the latest electrics.

This is a book both for players of all levels, amateur to professional, as well as music enthusiasts, whatever their interest: classical, jazz, flamenco, blues, country, rock and pop. To please fans of music past or present hundreds of guitars are described in painstakingly researched detail, each presented in full-color photographs revealing the overall shape as well as the intriguing detail.

The Illustrated Directory series provide enthusiasts with a fully illustrated, comprehensive, hardcover reference book packed with timelines, historical facts and images designed to inform and excite. Organized in alphabetical order for quick reference, many of the instruments are featured as a double page entry showing them in their entirety as well as featuring close-ups of important details special to that model.The Illustrated Directory of Guitars is the most ambitious and lavishly illustrated history of guitars for the collector and musician. The book shows in clear, detailed photographs and text over 360 landmark instruments of all kinds, from acoustic to solid, including base guitars and multi-stringed variants. Each entry has a double-page spread showing the guitar from different angles and features close-ups of details special to that particular instrument. Each guitar has been specially studio photographed for this extraordinary book. The book also features an introduction on the history of guitars, and a quick reference listing of every instrument features.

A must-have for any guitar lover! This book introduces the reader to 250 guitars of all types from the early acoustic archtop designs of the Gibson L-5 in the last 1920s, through the National resonators of the 1930s, the hollow body electric Gibsons of the 1950s, the solid body Fenders of the 1960s, to the exoskeletal carbon and glass fiber of the Parker Fly of the 1990s. Each entry has a clear color photograph of the guitar together with a detail shot featuring a point of particular interest of that instrument along with a description and a technical specification. It is arranged in alphabetical order by maker’s name and coded by the type of guitar. The guitar had a profound influence on many musical forms including blues, bluegrass, country, flamenco, jazz, folk, heavy metal, rock, soul, reggae, and modern pop.

Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia is a tour through pop-music’s most celebrated musical instrument. Covering several decades of iconic pieces, this guide describes electric guitars produced by every significant manufacturer from Alembic to Zemaitis. Alongside every model is detailed information and a host of action pictures of key players, from Chet Atkins to Joey Z. 1,200 photographs really bring each guitar to life. With 800 classic, rare and unusual instruments from all major manufacturers in studio-quality photographs, plus illustrations of key players, original ads, and memorabilia, it’s easy to get lost within these pages. Comprehensive and informative text with a unique A-to-Z guitar directory covers makers’ histories, great guitarists, and musical trends. This is the definitive guide to the electric guitar, written and researched by the world’s leading authorities on the instrument that has shaped over 50 years of popular music. In words and pictures, detailed descriptions of just why the electric guitar is the most exciting icon of modern pop music.

This is a step-by-step guide to playing the electric guitar, shown in over 600 photographs, illustrations and exercises. It shows you how to master a range of diverse musical styles, such as funk and disco, heavy rock, indie rock, electric blues, country guitar, jazz, lounge and reggae.