If you reading our magazine, chances are that you’re both a guitar nut and an avid reader. With that in mind (and in no particular order), here’s a handful of guitar-related books published in 2011 that our editors think you’d enjoy.
1. Between the Ideal and the Possible, by NK Forster and Dave Best
It’s hard to imagine how many hours photographer Dave Best must have put in at luthier NK Forster’s workshop. In this softbound picture book, he captures the guitar making process from start-to-finish and seems to be at just the right spot for all the artsy wood shaving, gluing, sanding and bracing shots imaginable. The photography Best captured is some of the nicest we’ve seen on the art of lutherie and the text, penned by Forster, is filled with informative passages that will appeal to any acoustic guitar nut.
2. Spann’s Guide to Gibson, by Joe Spann
Before Spann’s Guide came out, dating and documenting old Gibsons was a crude science at best. As any Gibson fan knows, this was a company that marched to the beat of their own drummer. Spann is a born researcher and poured through old shipping ledgers, interviews and more to paint one of the most complete pictures of Gibson history around, includling the dates behind those mysterious Factory Order Numbers. Not for the casual enthusiast, but a must-have if you’re a Gibson-phile.
3. Regal Musical Instruments: 1895-1955, by Bob Carlin
What guitarist hasn’t contemplated buying one of the many insanely cool instruments made by Regal in the first half of the 20th century? FJ contributor Bob Carlin tells the definitive story of these wildly varied instruments from Chicago. A great read with many beautiful photos.
4. Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York
For those of us who weren’t able to visit the Met’s big 2011 exhibit on the Italian-American tradition of archtop guitar building, here’s the next best thing. The Met’s book features gorgeous photos of the guitars of John D’Angelico, Jimmy D’Aquisto and John Monteleone. A true art book featuring some of the guitar world’s most aesthetically-pleasing instruments.
5. The Other Brands of Gibson, by Paul Fox
Two vintage Gibson tomes in one year? Hard to believe it, but it’s true. While Joe Spann takes a close look at official Gibson products, Fox tells us the story behind all those other brands that Gibson actually assembled, such as Kalamazoo, Recording King, Trujo and Kel Kroydon. In some cases, these cheaper off-brands were actually far more rare than their pricey Gibson-branded bretheren. Now you can read about them all.
6. The Dream Factory: Fender Custom Shop, by Tom Wheeler
Having covered the world of Strats and Fender amps, author Tom Wheeler now sets his sights on the Fender Custom Shop. This nearly 600 page book is filled with gorgeous photographs and stories featuring some of the most esteemed electric guitar builders alive today. You don’t need to own a Custom Shop instrument to appreciate this book, but you may very well feel the urge to buy one after you’ve read it.
7. The Guitar Collection, by Walter Carter, John Peden and others
A handful of guitar historians and photographers (including FJ contributor John Peden) travelled around the country photographing some of the world’s most famous guitars for this epic tome (which features an equally epic list price tag of $1500). Production-wise, this huge book is the nicest thing we’ve seen on fretted instruments since the big Tsumura banjo book. And the guitars inside, many of which have appeared in former issues of the FJ, are some of the world’s most coveted.
8. Guitar Lessons: A Life’s Journey Turning Passion Into Business, by Bob Taylor
Today, Bob Taylor helms one of the largest acoustic and electric guitar companies in the world. But that wasn’t always the case. In Guitar Lessons, Taylor candidly recounts some of the early years of Taylor, the struggles that he and his partner Kurt Listug faced along the way and the many lessons they learned from their mistakes. This is as much a business motivation book as it is “guitar book,” but any guitarist (or small business owner) will appreciate these behind-the-scenes stories.
9. 2012 Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide, Allan Greenwood
The world of vintage guitar collecting (and prices) continues to change on a daily basis. Values are all over the map from their historic highs. Despite all that, the VG Price Guide is a valuable resource for anyone trying to get a nice baseline on “what’s it worth?” This is the lastest edition and, while it may not reflect real-time price fluctuations, it sure beats scanning eBay over and over again.
10. A subscription to the Fretboard Journal.
Technically, we’re a magazine, but with over 100 pages of ad-free editorial in each issue, we’re about as close to a coffee table book as you can get. Each issue is filled with interviews and stunning photographs featuring your favorite artists and instruments. Best of all, a one year subscription will yield you 512 pages of stories and photos you won’t find anywhere else (each quarterly issue is 128 pages) . All for just 40 bucks.
