I don’t know about you, but I like to read about the history of all of these vintage instruments that I see, repair, and play. The history of Fender, Gibson, and some of the other electric guitar manufacturers is fanscinating to me. Here are a bunch of quality books that I have found with details about the history of electric guitars.
- The History of Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster Guitars
- The History of Gibson Les Paul Guitars
- The History of PRS Guitars
- The History of Rickenbacker Guitars
- The History of Gretsch Guitars
- The History of Electric Guitars
The History of Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster Guitars
Contents
- 1 The History of Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster Guitars
- 2 Hal Leonard The Fender Stratocaster
- 3 The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
- 4 The Fender Telecaster
- 5 Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster:
- 6 Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970
- 7 Guitars From George & Leo:
- 8 Guitar History: Guitars Made by the Fender Company
- 9 The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps
- 10 The History of Gibson Les Paul Guitars
- 11 Gibson Guitars: Ted McCarty’s Golden Era: 1948-1966
- 12 Gibson Electric Guitar Book – Seventy Years of Classic Guitars
- 13 The Gibson Les Paul Book: A Complete History of Les Paul Guitars
- 14 Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon
- 15 The Gibson Guitar from 1950
- 16 Gibson Electric Guitar Book – Seventy Years of Classic Guitars
- 17 The History of PRS Guitars
- 18 The PRS Guitar Book: A Complete History of Paul Reed Smith GuitarsM
- 19 The Prs Guitar Book: A Complete History of Paul Reed Smith Guitars
- 20 The PRS Guitar Book:
- 21 The History of Rickenbacker Guitars
- 22 The Rickenbacker Book: A Complete History of Rickenbacker Electric Guitars
- 23 The History of Gretsch Guitars
- 24 50 Years of Gretsch Electrics: Half a Century of White Falcons, Gents, Jets, and Other Great Guitars
- 25 The History of Electric Guitars
- 26 Guitar Identification A Reference for Dating Guitars Made by Fender
- 27 With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars
- 28 Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia
- 29 The Electric Guitar: An Illustrated History
- 30 Guitar Heaven: The Most Famous Guitars to Electrify Our World
- 31 The Ultimate Guitar Book
- 32 Guitars: A Celebration of Pure Mojo
- 33 American Guitars Revised Edition: An Illustrated History
- 34 Guitar Rigs: Classic Guitar and Amp Combinations
- 35 Guitar Repair Bench E-Books
- 36 Guitar Building and Repair Books:
Hal Leonard The Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster is a bestselling book by A.R. Duchossoir that features everything about this American classic: its history, patents and schematics, pricing, and handy identification tips.
Includes stunning new full-color photos, Fender Custom Shop and Signature Series models, original ads, famous Strat artists, and much more. 72 pages.
The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
This book also recognizes that the Stratocaster’s deeper significance lies in the music that guitarists have created with it. You’ll hear what Strat players have to say about their instrument, their music and each other. The Fender Stratocaster both reflects and influences popular culture worldwide. The Stratocaster Chronicles focuses on the people who brought it into the world, the designers and builders who refined it, and the players who have taken it from there.
The Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster is regarded as the first commercially successful solid body electric guitar. Designed by Leo Fender at a time when the words rock and roll were not even coined, the ‘Telly’ is the senior member of a family of instruments whose sounds and looks helped revolutionize the world of popular music.
This book relates the story of Telecaster Guitars since 1950 – everything you ever wanted to know is explored through lots of color and black and white photos, charts and interviews.
Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster:
The Story of the World’s First Solidbody Electric Guitar
Packed with high-quality photographs of great Telecasters, collectible catalogs, period press ads, and memorabilia, this tribute tells the story of the Telecaster and the Fender Company through exclusive interviews with Fender figures who were there when this musical star was born. 50 color photos, and 40 black-and-white photos are included.
Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970
Featuring 250 photographs of Fender guitars-including some extremely rare guitars in private collections-as well as the largest collection of Fender advertising ever assembled, this gorgeously designed volume is a comprehensive account of Fender’s golden age. It will be irresistible to anyone interested in guitars, rock ‘n’ roll, or mid-century American collectibles and ephemera. Like the guitars it documents, the book simply brings down the house.
Guitars From George & Leo:
How Leo Fender and I Built G&L Guitars
This complete history of the Fender organization and the GandL Guitar company, reveals through rare pictures and first-hand accounts, an insider’s view of this amazing success story and the friendship that survived for a lifetime. Includes a 16-page color section featuring George’s rare guitars and prototypes. George Fullerton lives in Fullerton, California.
The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps
Features over 400 images, including legendary guitarists such as Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Neil Young, Pete Townshend, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Robbie Robertson and Dick Dale, and two CDs featuring over 100 tracks that make terms and topics come alive.
The History of Gibson Les Paul Guitars
Gibson Guitars: Ted McCarty’s Golden Era: 1948-1966
This book is Ted McCarty’s first and only complete biography, and a book that gives us a glimpse into a golden era of his factory and his loyal employees who made some of the world’s most desirable guitars. It features over 100 photographs, some from Ted’s personal archives and never before published. “Ted McCarty was the architect of a Golden period in Gibson’s history. During his 18-year tenure, he helped to reestablish the company’s historic leadership in the industry through a number of musical innovations that still resonate today.” Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry E. Juszkiewicz
Gibson Electric Guitar Book – Seventy Years of Classic Guitars
The Gibson Electric Guitar Book is a comprehensive, richly illustrated guide to Gibson electrics past and present. Starting with the ES-150 – generally acknowledged as the first commercially successful electric guitar – through the 335s, Les Pauls, SGs, Firebirds, and more.
It is packed with facts, stories, and images that tell the story of Gibson’s great guitars and their most famous and influential players.
The Gibson Les Paul Book: A Complete History of Les Paul Guitars
The guitars are discussed within the context of both popular music and the international guitar market. All models are covered, and the appendix includes a comprehensive reference section listing information needed to identify and date each model. High-quality photos highlight differences in model specifications and showcase many beautiful and collectible pieces. Designed to appeal to musicians, guitar collectors, and rock fans alike, this volume will prove useful in most libraries. –Eric C. Shoaf, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon
Roger H. Siminoff, author of technical guides for guitar, mandolin, and banjo construction; and country music author Michael McCal.
Gibson Electric Guitar Book – Seventy Years of Classic Guitars
The Gibson Electric Guitar Book is a comprehensive, richly illustrated guide to Gibson electrics past and present. Starting with the ES-150 – generally acknowledged as the first commercially successful electric guitar – through the 335s, Les Pauls, SGs, Firebirds, and more.
It is packed with facts, stories, and images that tell the story of Gibson’s great guitars and their most famous and influential players.
The History of PRS Guitars
The PRS Guitar Book: A Complete History of Paul Reed Smith GuitarsM
This spectacular volume showcases the stunning designs, technical innovations, and ingenious workmanship of Paul Reed Smith Guitars — today’s most important maker of electric guitars. It portrays every facet of this cutting-edge company’s evolution, and spotlights outstanding PRS models. A breathtaking photographic gallery displays the Signature, signed by Smith; the Dragon, featuring opulent shell inlays; the Swamp Ash Special and Rosewood Limited, using non-standard materials; and the Santana models, honoring the best-known player of PRS guitars, Carlos Santana.
A special section highlights exquisite examples of PRS’ penchant for guitar building with the finest maple woods to create striking “flame-top” and “quilt-top” designs. Featuring 200 color photos, 5 fold-out spreads and a handsome slipcase, this book joins a line of lavish numbered limited Collector’s Editions.
The Prs Guitar Book: A Complete History of Paul Reed Smith Guitars
Punctuating an anecdotal narrative, rich color photos showcase the Smith-signed Signature models, exquisite inlaid Dragons, Santanas and many more, plus PRS– renowned use of the finest maple woods to create stunning “flame-top” and “quilt-top” effects. The first to tell Smith’s entire story, this handsome paperback is an unparalleled treasure. Packed with collector details and specs. 9-7/8 inch. x 12-1/2 inch., 142 pages, hundreds of color photos.
The PRS Guitar Book:
A Complete History of the Paul Reed Smith Guitars – 3rd Edition
Other featured guitars include the latest acoustic-electrics, and the Santana models that celebrate the partnership between PRS guitars and their best-known player, Carlos Santana. A special section highlights the company’s famed use of highly patterned maple woods, displaying the most stunning “flame-top” and “quilt-top” examples. This definitive book also provides an absorbing photo-essay on the making of a PRS guitar, plus specifications for identifying and dating PRS instruments. “The PRS Guitar Book is a must-have for any collector, PRS owner, or anyone who appreciates PRS guitars.” -Guitar Digest “Masterful … tons of gorgeous, full-color photos.” -Guitar Player “This hefty volume of brilliantly colorful guitars made by Paul Reed Smith exemplifies the best and the brightest…” -Dirty Linen “A fitting tribute to a company which has, in a short time, come to symbolize a quality alternative to the ‘big two’ American electric guitar manufacturers.” -Vintage Guitar
The History of Rickenbacker Guitars
The Rickenbacker Book: A Complete History of Rickenbacker Electric Guitars
This book traces the history and story of the remarkable and unique Rickenbacker guitars.
Rare, unusual and outstanding Rickenbacker models are shown in specially commissioned full-color photographs, and meticulous listings for the collector detail all the company’s electric guitars from 1932 to 1994.
Essential reading for players and collectors.
The History of Gretsch Guitars
50 Years of Gretsch Electrics: Half a Century of White Falcons, Gents, Jets, and Other Great Guitars
Introduced in 1954 as one of Gretsch’s “Guitars of the Future,” the White Falcon was an overwhelmingly impressive instrument. The influence of this spectacular new guitar spread to other models and guitar manufacturers. It was the dawn of a half a century of awe-inspiring guitars.
This book compiles the best of Gretsch’s inventions over the past 50 years and tells the stories of their creation and the people behind them, including artists Pete Townshend, Tom Petty, Alanis Morissette, Chet Atkins, Elvis Presley, Sheryl Crow, John Frusciante, Jimmy Page, and Bo Diddley.
The History of Electric Guitars
Guitar Identification A Reference for Dating Guitars Made by Fender
Covering eight more years of models and updated with new photos and industry revelations, this handy book is an indispensable tool for novice and expert collectors to date instruments from the four most popular guitar manufacturers.
Good for either your own instruments or a guitar that you are considering buying, this classic includes serial numbers and common features to help you date instruments quickly and accurately.
This new edition features a suggested reading list, author bio, and over 150 illustrations.
With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars
It is a record of one man’s lifelong love affair with the guitar . . . and it is much, much more. Whether writing about household names such as Fender, Gibson, Martin, and Dobro or about marques revered by aficionados–D–Angelico, Hauser, Stromberg, and Torres–Kellerman brings to bear the same sure storytelling instincts and keen attention to detail that characterize his bestselling fiction, making each entry a sparkling mini-essay as much to be savored as the sensual photographs that follow.
Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia
From the award-winning team that produced the best selling Ultimate Guitar Book comes the most comprehensive book about the electric guitar. The A to Z format in Electric Guitars covers more than 120 makers from around the world and details their successes and failures through 1,200 unique color studio quality photographs.
This book focuses on the iconic electric guitar with an introduction that places it in an historical context, running from early acoustic instruments in the 16th century to amplification experiments in the 1930’s. A 65-year period from 1935 to 2000 is covered.
The Electric Guitar: An Illustrated History
Illustrated throughout with stunning, specially commissioned photographs,this is the definitive book on the history and culture of the electric guitar. It looks at the effects of the new developments, the stories of the pioneers behind the primitive instruments and the guitarists who made the instrument so influential.
Completely updated for this new edition in paperback, this classic book is an essential addition to all guitar enthusiasts’ bookshelves. Updated edition of the classic title The Electric Guitar, including a brand new section on 90s Retro and Britpop and a new profile on the 90s classic guitar Specially commissioned photography that brings out the full color and texture of the guitars. Foreword by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
Guitar Heaven: The Most Famous Guitars to Electrify Our World
The instruments showcased in Guitar Heaven have left an indelible impression on popular music, both in terms of sound and visual impact. This fascinating gallery shows the instrument not as the two-dimensional object so often depicted in most guitar books, but as a vibrant, epoch-changing icon of the twentieth century–and into the future.
The Ultimate Guitar Book
From 17th century Stradivari to the latest guitar-synthesizer hybrids, it’s all here: instruments famous and rare, antique and novel, including guitars owned or used by notable musical figures from Les Paul to Paul McCartney. The text includes helpful notes on the instruments’ construction, as well as information about legendary designers like Martin, Gibson, and Fender. Whether you are a guitarist, collector, or simply an admirer of exquisite musical craftsmanship, this lovely book is a testament to human ingenuity in search of the perfect sound.
Guitars: A Celebration of Pure Mojo
Here are milestones in the guitar’s search for its true self–Torres’s classical, the amazing Gibson L-5–and experiments that ushered in a new world of sound–Rickenbacker’s “Frying Pan” and Les Paul’s “Log.” Plus B. B. King’s Lucille, Willie Nelson’s Trigger, Eric Clapton’s Brownie, the J-160E that John Lennon played during his 1968 “bed-in” with Yoko, Jimi Hendrix’s hand-painted Flying V in full psychedelic regalia. And the far-out Gittler–no body, no neck, no peghead, yet every inch a guitar.
American Guitars Revised Edition: An Illustrated History
The only comprehensive history of the guitar, from the Civil War to the present.
Guitar Rigs: Classic Guitar and Amp Combinations
This unique guide examines the classic combinations of guitars, amps, and pedals used to create the most unforgettable sounds in pop, rock, and blues music. Dissecting a wide range of setups, the book pinpoints specific elements that contribute to sought-after tones, and it teaches guitarists of all levels how to get these sounds with gear available today.
It also explores how mixing and matching gear can change each setup’s tonal properties, making this book a must-have for both die-hard gear fanatics and those just beginning their quest for fantastic tone. The accompanying CD provides myriad combinations of guitar, amp, and effect setups. Includes 70 color photos, and 40 black-and-white photos.
Guitar Repair Bench E-Books
Guitar Building and Repair Books: