Publisher Description

Boutique Acoustics: 160 Years of Hand-Built Guitars tells the history behind the important acoustic guitar makers - some recognisable, some obscure - who all have played a key part in the evolution of the instrument and the myriad acoustic guitar models we have on the market today. The book covers the birth of the steel-string, the rise of small factories, the advent of "one-man shops," the origins of various trends in guitar construction - the design of cutaways; the use of a variety of woods, polishes, and other aesthetic detailing; and the incorporation of high-tech materials, such as carbon fibre and Nomex - and more. Makers covered include Ashborn, Bohmann, Bruno, Gibson, Guild, Tilton, Washburn, Martin, Bozo, Gallagher, Ernie Ball, Klein, Taylor, Bourgeois, Tony Yamamoto, Zimnicki, and others. Also included in this lavishly illustrated volume is a comprehensive guide to every significant US maker, descriptions of the most popular styles, and a detailed reference section about boutique guitar models.

Author Biography

MICHAEL JOHN SIMMONS has spent 15 years working at Gryphon Stringed Instruments, where he has learned more about the construction and history of ukuleles, guitars, mandolins, and banjos than was good for him. Simmons is a former reviews editor at Fiddler Magazine and contributing editor at Acoustic Guitar. He's the author of Taylor Guitars: 30 Years of a New American Classic and the co-author of Acoustic Guitar: An Historical Look at the Composition, Construction, and Evolution of One of the World's Most Beloved Instruments. Simmons is the cofounder, along with Jason Verlinde, of The Fretboard Journal and The Ukulele Occasional.

Long Description

Boutique Acoustics: 160 Years of Hand-Built Guitars tells the history behind the important acoustic guitar makers - some recognisable, some obscure - who all have played a key part in the evolution of the instrument and the myriad acoustic guitar models we have on the market today. The book covers the birth of the steel-string, the rise of small factories, the advent of "one-man shops," the origins of various trends in guitar construction - the design of cutaways; the use of a variety of woods, polishes, and other aesthetic detailing; and the incorporation of high-tech materials, such as carbon fibre and Nomex - and more. Makers covered include Ashborn, Bohmann, Bruno, Gibson, Guild, Tilton, Washburn, Martin, Bozo, Gallagher, Ernie Ball, Klein, Taylor, Bourgeois, Tony Yamamoto, Zimnicki, and others. Also included in this lavishly illustrated volume is a comprehensive guide to every significant US maker, descriptions of the most popular styles, and a detailed reference section about boutique guitar models.

Details