Hardcover Spotlight: "1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die"

1001 guitars, from 1525 to 2013, are featured in the new book 1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die (Universe), edited by Terry Burrows. This "small" coffee table book includes photographs of every guitar, from the earliest Spanish baroque models to the more recent Gibson Robot, on high quality paper. Not every guitar gets its own page, but the book is still nearly 1,000 pages long. Editor Terry Burrows also supplies the introduction that leads into a Foreword by Dave Gregory. An index of guitars by manufacturer and by model are included before and after the 1001 guitars, respectively.

Nine chapters are devoted to the instrument and range from pre-1930s to the 2010s. Each entry includes the history of the guitar, as well as essential information about its type, body and neck and other features. There is also at least one photo of each guitar. Some entries expand beyond one page, while other pages include as many as three different guitars. Information about albums featuring the various instruments are also included with some entries for your future listening pleasure and are occasionally accompanied by a famous musician, such as Reverend Gary Davis, with a Gibson SJ-200, Flea, with a Fender Jazz, and Keith Richards, with a Travis Bean TB1000.

It is difficult to believe that the guitar has only been considered a serious instrument since the late 19th century. However, over the past century, the instrument has emerged as the world's most popular and has been essential to the creation of blues and rock n' roll, among other genres. The guitar has become synonymous with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy Rhoads, Nancy Wilson, Jimmy Page, Jack White and The Edge, to name only a few great guitarists (and in no particular order - I do not even want to go there!). From the curious to the committed and from the novice to the professional, 1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die contains an amazing amount of information about one of the world's youngest, but most beloved instruments.

1001 Guitars to Dream of Playing Before You Die is now available.