Guitar Family Trees

"Guitar Family Trees is a striking visual account of the most prominent guitars in the instrument's illustrious history, from the earliest Renaissance acoustics right up to state-of-the-art 21st century models. This comprehensive book charts the history of the most respected manufacturers and the evolution of their guitars in more detail than ever before. Specially designed photographic guitar family trees, including four special fold-outs, provide at-a-glance overviews of the development of every make and model, decade by decade. Terry Burrows then takes a close-up look at 200 iconic models to create an invaluable catalog of guitars. A stunning full-color photograph of each model is accompanied by informative text tracing its development, with key design and sound features highlighted, and an exhaustive specification list. Burrows also reveals the guitarists who love to play each model, and the tracks on which you can hear it played"--Publisher description.

Guitar Family Trees is a striking visual account of the most prominent guitars in history.

To meet Freeman Vines is to meet America itself. An artist, a luthier and a spiritual philosopher, Vines' life is a roadmap of the truths and contradictions of the American South. He remembers the hidden histories of the eastern North Carolina land on which his family has lived since enslavement. For over 50 years Vines has transformed materials culled from a forgotten landscape in his relentless pursuit of building a guitar capable of producing a singular tone that has haunted his dreams. From tobacco barns, mule troughs, and radio parts he has created hand-carved guitars, each instrument seasoned down to the grain by the echoes of its past life. In 2015 Vines befriends photographer Timothy Duffy and the two begin to document the guitars, setting off a mutual outpouring of the creative spirit. But when Vines acquires a mysterious stack of wood from the site of a lynching, Vines and Duffy find themselves each grappling with the spiritual unrest and the psychic toll of racial violence living in the very grain of America.

A visual catalog of that follows the histories of important guitars and their manufacturers.

"Guitars inspire cult-like devotion: an afficionado can tell you precisely when and where their favorite instruments were made. And she will likely also tell you about the wood they were made from and its unique effects on the instruments' sound. In Following Guitars, Chris Gibson and Andrew Warren trace guitars all the way back to the tree. It is a book about musical instrument making, the timbers and trees from which guitars are made. It chronicles the authors' journeys across the world, to guitar festivals, factories, remote sawmills, Indigenous lands, and distant rainforests, in search of the behind-the-scenes stories of how guitars are made, where the much-cherished guitar timbers ultimately come from, and the people and skills involved along the way. The authors are able to unlock insights on longer arcs of world history: on the human exploitation of nature, colonialism, industrial capitalism, and cultural change. They end on a parable of wider resonance: of the incredible but unappreciated skill and care that goes into growing and felling trees, milling timber, and making enchanted musical instruments; set against the human tendency to reform our use (and abuse) of natural resources only when it appears too late"--

(Book). First published in 2001 and now updated and expanded, History of the American Guitar begins in New York City in the 1830s with the arrival of Christian Martin, from Germany, to set up the Martin company. From that historic moment, the book takes readers on a fascinating and comprehensive visual tour of U.S. guitar history. Over 75 brand names are represented, with more than 300 guitars photographed in stunning detail, including Bigsby, Danelectro, D'Angelico, D'Aquisto, Ditson, Dobro, Dyer, Epiphone, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, James Trussart, Kay, Maccaferri, Martin, Micro-Frets, Mosrite, Oahu, Ovation, Regal, Rickenbacker, Stella, Stromberg, Suhr, Taylor, Vega, Washburn, Wilkanowski, and many more. The interrelated stories of the guitar, mandolin, and banjo are mixed seamlessly with the history of the diverse American music that grew and prospered with these instruments, from country to blues, from jazz to rock. The bulk of the instruments illustrated were part of the celebrated collection of Scott Chinery, photographed before Chinery's untimely death and the subsequent break-up of his unique collection. The book presents every important episode in the story of the American luthier's art and is an unparalleled resource for every musician, collector, and music fan.

In his fourth volume of Family Trees, celebrated rock historian Pete Frame spans several decades and many musical styles to offer another unique insight into the development of popular culture. Among the featured artists are Jeff Beck, Black Sabbath, CSN&Y, The Cult, Dr Feelgood, Bob Dylan, Happy Mondays, Buddy Holly, Iron Maiden, The Lightning Seeds, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Mamas And The Papas, New Order, Oasis Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd, Public Image Limited, Santana, Sex Pistols, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Smiths, Spirit, Stone Roses, The Velvet Underground.

The story of any great band includes walk-on parts by scores of musicians who left the scene before fame and fortune came calling. All diehard fans love to trace the connections and lineups of their favorite bands, including the unexpected lucky breaks, the name changes, and all the missed chances before they hit the big time. Rock Connections brings you the fascinating histories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and encapsulated biographies of the biggest names in music from the last fifty years. From Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Coldplay, the evolution of the most important acts is traced. You'll also find a grab bag of fascinating extras, including features on key record labels, producers, clubs, and festivals, along with the lowdown on the bands who made them great. All this, plus enough entertaining trivia to satisfy even the most hardcore fan. Want to find out how the band you love came to be? Then use your Rock Connections.

Teach yourself the essential piano chords plus many more! Organized as a chord per spread, for the left and right hands, this is a handy, comprehensive reference for jazz, pop, rock and soul musicians playing the piano or keyboard at any level. This no-nonsense, easy to carry, wiro book will fit on a stand and into a music bag or hand bag with the minimum of fuss. Revised and updated version, replaces ISBN-13 9781844517152