One of the great parts of my job at guitargearheads.com is the fact that I never know what is going to show up in the mailbox. Last weekend I received a package from a publishing company that I am working on a review for. In the package was a book that smelled like it just came off the printing press. This book is called "Classic Electrics - A Visual History of Great Guitars", and is put out by Jawbone press. It was written by Walter Carter, who is a songwriter, guitar historian, and the author of several other book.

This book is a great reference book to guitars throughout the years. It is packed with brief yet informative histories of over 350 guitar models from more than 70 guitar manufacturers. There are large pictures in full color of each guitar, as well as the dates of manufacturer for each model is listed.

One example is the G&L Comanche. I am quite familiar with this guitar, as it is one of the G&L models that I have drooled over since I first saw a picture of it on one of their catalog cover. When I saw the picture of this guitar in this book, I was quite surprised. The original Comanche was much different than the one offered today. The body design featured a slimmer body with more tapered horns, and the headstock was much different than the popular shape we have come to know since Leo Fender designed it when he was still the owner of Fender Guitars. I also learned that the Comanche was discontinued after Leo passed away in 1991. It was not offered again until 1998, when it was revived by the current management of G&L guitars.

This is just one example of the knowledge that you will find in this book. It makes a great reference book, or even a coffee table book for your studio or band jam area. This is a great book, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of the electric guitar.

Title: Classic Electrics - A Visual History of Great Guitars
Author: Walter Carter
Publisher: Jawbone Press
www.jawbonepress.com

Gary Allen

You’d think I’d be more up on these things. It may be old news to you, but I just found out that our friend Bob Taylor from Taylor Guitars (www.taylorguitars.com) has just started a new company called R. Taylor. Basically it is a signature brand of Taylor guitars.

I have a Taylor 714-CE that I adore, and always thought of it as a pretty high end guitar, but these new R. Taylors are definately drool worthy. Starting at about $4,500 for a base model - you’d better pinch your pennies. For some additional bone-age, you can add some very rare options that you’d have trouble finding ANYWHERE else. This is largely due to the resources of Taylor Guitars in general to acquire and stock materials that smaller luthiers can’t afford to inventory.

Here’s the opening of Bob’s letter on why he started R. Taylor:

I've been building guitars for three and a half decades, and even though my factory has grown large, I've personally made thousands of guitars. One at a time. There is something so gripping about painstakingly making a guitar--a single guitar--and putting attention into every detail, sandpaper and chisel in hand. A luthier never tires of this.

I tried to pull some pictures off of the website for you to see but they are using Flash - so you’ll just have to visit yourself.

http://www.rtaylorguitars.com/

Dan