INSTRUMENTAL REFERENCE, BIOGRAPHY

THE STORY OF THE FENDER STRATOCASTER. Minhinnett.

BEATLES GEAR, SOFTCOVER A. BABIUK.

Series: Book
Medium: Softcover
Author: Andy Babiuk
Now in paperback and updated with new material and photos, this acclaimed book is the first to examine the guitars, basses, drums, keyboards, amplifiers everything The Beatles used to become history's greatest rock 'n' roll band. It analyzes all the gear and how the trend-setting Beatles played it to sculpt an unforgettable range of sounds. Year by year, Beatles Gear examines in fine detail specific instruments, amplifiers, and other equipment used by each artist from the pre-Beatle days in 1956-57 Liverpool, throughout the global Beatlemania of the '60s, to the group's disbanding in 1970. 256 pages.

THE STRATOCASTER CHRONICLES, Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat. Tom Wheeler.

Series: Book
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Medium: Hardcover with CD
Author: Tom Wheeler

The world's most famous guitar had a golden anniversary in 2004, and this official, authorized book/CD package offers the best photos, quotes, facts and sounds to properly celebrate this achievement. From Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix to today's hottest players, the Fender Stratocaster defines rock'n'roll for generations of fans and players.

Special features include exclusive photos from the world's greatest guitar collection, as well as a CD with musical examples of famous Strat sounds and styles hilariously performed by Greg Koch even spoken excerpts from the author's interviews with the Strat's beloved inventor, Leo Fender.

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. 280 pages.

GRETSCH, The Guitars of the Fred Gretsch Co.
Series: Guitar
Publisher: Centerstream Publications
Medium: Softcover
Author: Jay Scott
This is the comprehensive, must-own owner's or collector's manual for any Gretsch fan. It uncovers the history of the guitars through 32 pages of color photos, hundreds of black & white photos, and forewords by Fred Gretsch, George Harrison, Randy Bachman, Brian Setzer, and Duane Eddy. It contains 30 chapters covering each Gretsch model in depth and a section of patent numbers and drawings for collectors. Find out what makes the essential rockabilly guitar such a collector's item and such an icon of popular music history. 9? x 12?. Softcover. 288 pages.

GRATEFUL DEAD GEAR, The Band's Instruments, Sound Systems, and Recording Sessions, From 1965 to 1995

Series: Book
Medium: Softcover
Author: Blair Jackson

The origins and secrets of the Grateful Dead's magical sound are told! This book is the first in-depth examination of the Dead's technical side, including their recording methods. From the Acid Tests of the mid-'60s to the famous Wall of Sound PA setup in the '70s and on to their exceptional later touring systems, the Grateful Dead were always on the cutting edge of technological innovation and experimentation. This exhaustive study includes clear and concise explanations of the band's equipment technology, instrument design, and studio recording techniques, plus a history of the group. Features: more than 100 photos and diagrams, many never before seen; new interviews with band members and tech personnel; suggested listening for every era of the group's history; and more! 290 pages.