Recommended Books (from Acoustic Guitar Notes)

Recommended Books on Guitar and other Acoustic Instruments

Acoustic Guitar Notes in association with Amazon.com

The following are books that I thoroughly recommend. Clicking the appropriate links will take you straight to Amazon.com ® where you can find more details about the book, read reviews and, if you want, you can even buy it. I will update the list as the website develops. Most of the pictures on this page are scanned from my own copies of these books so they may not match the current edition.

Martin Guitar Masterpieces: A Showcase of Artists' Editions, Limited Editions, and Custom Guitars
by Dick Boak

ISBN: 0821228358 To buy or read more about this title...

Features over a hundred Martin guitars, including those of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Joan Baez, Sting and Eric Clapton.

Antonio Stradivari, His Life and Work, 1644-1737
by William Henry, Hill, Alfred E. Hill, Arthur F. Hill
Paperback 2nd edition (December 1963)
ISBN: 0486204251 To buy or read more about this title...

First published in 1902. Very readable and very detailed. The man was way ahead of his time and a brilliant draftsman, impeccable designer and craftsman.

The Beatles Complete Scores
Hardcover - 1136 pages (December 1993)
ISBN: 0793518326 To buy or read more about this title...

It can save a lot of time knowing exactly what they played.

Zen Guitar
by Philip Toshio Sudo
ISBN: 068483877X To buy or read more about this title...

This is not a method book but something quite unique. It explains how to be a "black belt" guitarist - how to play with taste, conviction, integrity etc - all the qualities that mark out the very best artists. After a slow start it goes into every facet of the guitar player's mindset and explains many of these attributes in detail with examples from the far east and quotes from western musicians. I found it a real eye opener.

Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics
by Arthur H. Benade
Paperback - 596 pages reprint edition (December 1990)
ISBN: 048626484X To buy or read more about this title...

One of the best bits for me is where he suggests temporarily fixing balls of sticky material to the soundboard as an aid to carrying out the voicing. Doing it seems well justified for luthiers who have the time and the interest.

Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars : An Illustrated History & Guide
by Eldon Whitford, David Vinopal (Contributor), Dan Erlewine
Paperback - 207 pages (January 1994)
ISBN: 0879302976 To buy or read more about this title...

A great book for piecing together the progression of the various Gibson designs. It also describes the quality of the company's products very openly - good periods and bad. This openness adds to the credibility of the rest of the book.

Steel-String Guitar Construction : Acoustic Six-String, Twelve-String, and Arched-Top Guitars
by Irving Sloane
Paperback Rep edition (June 1993)
ISBN: 0933224168 To buy or read more about this title...

I owe a lot to this book since I have adopted a lot of Sloane's methods in my own work. Many others have too.

The Luthier's Handbook
by Roger H. Siminoff
ISBN: 0634014684 To buy or read more about this title...

The secrets and science behind making good-sounding acoustic stringed instruments.

Guitarmaking : Tradition and Technology : A Complete Reference for the Design & Construction of the Steel-String Folk Guitar & the Classical Guitar
by William R. Cumpiano, Jonathan D. Natelson (Contributor), Clyde Herlitz (Photographer)
Paperback - 388 pages (March 1994)
ISBN: 0811806405 To buy or read more about this title...

There is more than one way to skin a fish and this book discusses them all.

Handbook of Ornament : A Grammar of Art, Industrial and Architectural Designing in All Its Branches for Practical As Well As Theoretical Use
by Franz Sales Meyer
Paperback (February 1957)
Dover Pubns; ISBN: 0486203026 To buy or read more about this title...

A source of inspiration and a lesson in good taste applicable to the design of labels as well as the instruments themselves.

The Steel String Guitar : Construction & Repair
by David Russell Young
Paperback Updated edition (December 1986)
ISBN: 0933224087 To buy or read more about this title...

His design philosophy comes across strongly and I think it is sound. Good accounts of how to make various jigs etc.

The Art of Violin Making
by Chris Johnson, Roy Courtnall
ASIN: 0709058764 To buy or read more about this title...

A unique record of the history, social background, lives and work of the great violin makers of the past, combined with a clear practical guide to making violins.

Violin-Making, as It Was and is
by Ed Heron-Allen
ASIN: 0706310454 To buy or read more about this title...

First published in 1884. Still available but only just. I must read this one again when I have time. It is fascinating to read how things used to be done, from someone who obviously had some very strong opinions. His old-fashioned writing style is very refreshing. He covers everything - the great makers and all aspects of construction from design to tools, jigs and varnish recipes.

The Violin : Its Physical and Acoustic Principles
By Paolo Peterlongo
ASIN: 0800880196 To buy or read more about this title...

This was the book that got me started in comparing violin and guitar building knowledge. It also sparked off my admiration for the work of Antonio Stradivari.

The Complete Works of O'Carolan. Irish Harper and Composer (1670-1738)
ISBN 0946005168 To buy or read more about this title...

Only gives the melody lines - but then that is all that was written down at the time. There are numerous little-known gems in here. The book is also good for brushing up your sight reading. It is hard to get but worth the effort of trying. Amazon sometimes have links to second- hand copies.

The Guitar Handbook
by Ralph Denyer
ISBN: 0679742751 To buy or read more about this title...

Contains so much useful information about all aspects of acoustic and electric guitar. You must read it whether you borrow it or buy it. You'll be surprised at how much you didn't know.

Acoustic Guitars and Other Fretted Instruments : A Photographic History
by George Gruhn, Walter Carter (Contributor)
ISBN: 0879304936 To buy or read more about this title...

Plenty of retro-style inspiration here with all the important American fretted intruments since 1800 and their makers.

The Art of Inlay : Design and Technique for Fine Woodworking
by Larry Robinson
ISBN: 0879305959 To buy or read more about this title...

Larry Robinson's inlay artistry is second to none. He describes the techniques and shows beautiful pictures of his work.

Sound Reinforcement Handbook
by Gary Davis, Ralph Jones (Contributor)

ISBN: 0881889008 To buy or read more about this title...

This book gave me an understanding of things I didn't even know were important. It goes into the theory you need in terms you will understand. It describes how the equipment works, how to set it up and operate it, and even how to solder audio cables to numerous different connectors. Every aspect from sound, mics, preamps, mixers, loudspeakers, processors, cabling and test equipment is covered.

Acoustic Musician's Guide to Sound Reinforcement and Live Recordings, The
by Mike Sokol (Illustrator), Diane Rapaport (Editor), Walter Rapaport (Editor)
by Larry Robinson, Richard Lloyd (Photographer)
ISBN: 0134335090 To buy or read more about this title...

Explains how to set up a stage for acoustic acts and discusses the selection and placement of speakers, amplifiers, microphones, and pickups. It gives information on working with numerous instruments, even weird ones, and describes how to record onto cassettes and CDs.

Handbook for Sound Engineers
by Glen Ballou
ISBN: 0240804546 To buy or read more about this title...

All aspects of audio engineering are covered in detail and the technology is impressively up to date.

Newnes Audio & Hi-Fi Engineer's Pocket Book
by Vivian Capel
ISBN: 0750620013 To buy or read more about this title...

This little book has an enormous breadth and goes into plenty of detail. It approaches the subject from a different angle to the other books I recommend and therefore does not overlap much with them. Chapters on sound, acoustics, mics, the gramophone, CD, tape, radio, amplifiers, loudspeakers and PA. It's a good one to have while waiting to see the dentist. The writing is small so I would not recommend it to those with impaired vision.

The Acoustic Guitar
by Nick Freeth, Charles Alexander, Martin Taylor
ISBN: 0762404191 To buy or read more about this title...

A large, glossy, value-for-money book with superb pictures. Everything seems to be covered except Guild and 12-strings. All the great makers get reviewed - Martin, Gibson, D'Angelico, D'Aquisto, Monteleone, Maccaferri, Torres, National and even a few from the UK.

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