LIBRO

BLUE BOOK OF GUITAR AMPLIFIERS, 2ND EDITION.

RAINBOW RISING, ROY DAVIES. the story of Blackmore's Rainbow. 296 Pages.

BOOK. A biography of Ritchie Blackmore's time with the rock band Rainbow. 8pp b/w photos.

We have waited a long time for someone to deliver a definitive book on the history of Rainbow, and in many ways this book is exactly what we have all been waiting for. In other ways however it falls short of its promises.

The many line up changes, the anecdotes from the recording sessions and live concerts, are all here, but what is missing are the in depth reasons behind the facts.

The lack of first hand quotes from the main people involved with the band, instead using quotes gleaned from old interviews, gives the impression that the book has been a peace meal construction, rather than a true study on the reasons behind the band. Was Mr.Blackmore interviewed for the book?

The book reads as if it has been written by two separate authors, the writing style of the journalist and the fan are at times poles apart. The journalist employs a style of flamboyance with the language, and the fan writes from the heart. I know the book is a compilation of two separate ideas that have been put together. At times the two flow well together, at other times the joins are very apparent.

The facts are presented within the story of the band, in a chronological manner, and the reader is certainly drawn through the history of the band in a tourist like manner. At times the book allows itself to view more important topics, but often just passes by quickly, with a casual reference to what happened. The earlier albums are looked at in depth, while the later albums are passed by with only a reference to the key tracks.

Aside from the above points, the book is a welcome addition to any real fan reference library. It clears up many points that have been in question for many years. An obvious one being whether or not “Temple of the King” was ever played live before the '95 re-formation. Thankfully we can now rest easy in our beds over that issue. The book does explore Blackmore’s reason behind the departure of Dio and the move towards a more commercial sound, and this is one of the most interesting parts of the story.

Where the book really excels, is in the appendices. The lists of concerts, records, singles, bootlegs, personnel and equipment are excellently presented bits of work. Though curiously no mention of the specs for the Rainbow, and of its later fate when it was discarded.

The story is one familiar to most older fans of Mr.Blackmore and his career, and most of the quotes and stories are also familiar to anyone who followed the band during its duration. The book has a nice easy reading feels to it, except the few times I had to reach for the dictionary, notably when the journalist started using words like “tyro”. It is an enjoyable read, and for those not familiar with the history of the band, it’s a fine starting point. For those of us more than familiar, I await a Blackmore biography, should anyone be brave enough to write one. Bit like a Rainbow album really, some great material, some highlights, some filler, and some fade out towards the ends of tracks, but overall an interesting body of work.

THE FENDER ELECTRIC GUITAR BOOK 3RD EDITION. Tony Bacon

To mark the 60th anniversary of Fender, Backbeat's introduced a new, completely revised third edition of this bestseller. Fender guitars have long been the instruments of choice for artists such as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. This book tells the complete story of Fender guitars, detailing classics such as the Telecaster, Stratocaster & Jazzmaster as well as lesser-known models. Dozens of photos reveal Fender's storied craftsmanship, while the text includes collector details for all models. The reference section lists all models and their statistics. This new edition has been refreshed and updated, with 56 extra pages and over 60 new photographs. The main text has added material and has been brought up to date to cover Fender's ever-changing history amid the fascinating developments for the company and its instruments during the eight years since the previous edition. 192 pages.

The Fender Electric Guitar Book - 3rd Edition

A Complete History of Fender Instruments
Series: Book
Publisher: Backbeat Books
Format: Softcover
Author: Tony Bacon

Inventory #HL 00331752
ISBN: 9780879308971
UPC: 884088151201
Width: 8.5"
Length: 11.0"
192 pages
 

THE FENDER ELECTRIC GUITAR BOOK

is the only volume to tell the full story of all Fender's electric
guitars - from Telecasters, Stratocasters, and
Jazzmasters to Mustangs, Jaguars, and Showmasters.

• This completely revised and updated third edition
includes a wealth of new and unseen information, along
with a host of extra photographs.

• The book explains how Fender's guitars have inspired
generations of musicians hungry for stylish and
responsive instruments. Key events, such as the
CBStakeover in 1965 and the formation of Fender
Japan in 1982, are related to contemporary guitars,
and unique interviews with Fender people past
and present shed new light on decades of
musical history.

• An unrivalled collection of colour
photographs showcases the skill and
versatility of Fender's designers, and
meticulous listings for the collector
detail all of the company's electric
guitar models from 1950 to the
present day.

• This book is a thorough,
entertaining examination of the
world's premier maker of
solidbody electric guitars - and a
book that every guitar nut and
music fan will want to own.
"Great for the coffee table or
the reference library."
GUITAR PLAYER
HL00331752

presents
the definitive story of Fender's electric guitars
in a revised and updated third edition.
leo Fender introduced the world to the
solid body electric guitar in 1950 with the
instrument now known as the Fender
Telecaster and soon added another classic,
the Stratocaster.
Fender s sleek, adaptable instruments
fuelled the pop music boom of the 1960s and
have since been heard in the hands of virtually
every guitarist of note, including Buddy Holly,
Jimi Hendrix. George Harrison, Keith Richards,
Kurt Cobain, and Eric Clapton.
The book documents the past and present of
Americas supreme maker of solid body electric
guitars. profiling fine as well as freaky Fenders
through a wealth of detailed research and an
unsurpassed collection of superb photographs.
As well as the full story, and a sparkling
gallery of photographs, the book includes
meticulous listings for the player and collector,
detailing every Fender electric guitar model
from 1950 to the present day.
With its unmatched set of features, The
Fender Electric Guitar Book is the only must-
have book on the subject.

CONTENTS
THE FENDER STORY
The complete history from the earliest
days in the 1940s right through to
Fender's current instruments and
players, plus an accompanying gallery of
full-colour pictures.

REFERENCE SECTION
Every Fender model spec'd and
explained, from 1950 to 2007, made in
the USA, Mexico, Japan, and Korea. Plus
a chronological inventory and systems
for dating, including serial number keys.
INDEX
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

the fender story
mostly wooden - but from the metal bar used in the player's left hand to stop the
raised strings, which were generally tuned to an open chord. During the 1930s and
later the term 'Spanish' was used to identify the other type of guitar (less popular at
the time) which was played upright against the body. Leo would call this the 'standard'
guitar.
Doc Kauffman wrote later about the early days of K&F. "[Leo and IJwould go down
to the store, and at the rear was a metal building that housed the guitar department,
and we would work till midnight." This description of a guitar "department" is
certainly optimistic. Most people who saw the "metal building" remembered it as a tin
shack hastily and cheaply assembled behind Leo's radio store. Doc continued his
account: "I used to assemble all our instruments and string them up and playa few
steel licks, and Leo used to say he could tell how production was coming along by
counting the tunes I was playing." 3
Leo met another significant person at this early stage, one who would become a
key contributor to the later success of the Fender company. Don Randall was general
manager of Radio & Television Equipment Co (known as Radio-Tel),based in Santa Ana, just
15 miles south of Fullerton. One of Randall's customers was the Fender Radio Service.

FENDER ELECTRIC INSTRUMENT CO.
Leo had not served in World War II, because of a childhood illness that cost him his
right eye. Randall, who spent three years in the army, said that Leo was able to expand
his shop's trade in those war years. Randall recalled: "During that period there weren't
too many people about to do that kind of business. When I got out of the service I
came back and started doing business with Leo again, selling parts and equipment."
It was around this time that Leo and Doc Kauffman decided to split. "It seems Doc
was afraid to carryon with the business," said Randall.4
Leo was happy to work into the
middle of the night at the tin shack making the K&F lap-steel guitars and amps, but
Doc wasn't so keen to spend long hours locked away from the world.
Leo said later: "It costs a lot of money to get into large-scale production, and the
1930s depression was still fresh in Kauffman's mind, so he didn't want to get involved.
He had a ranch or farm ... and he was afraid [thatJ if we got over-extended on credit
he might lose it. He thought he'd better pullout while he had a full skin, so in February
of '46 he left it all with me."s
According to one colleague, Doc - who remained lifelong friends with Leo - was
asked later if he resented selling out, given the subsequent success of the Fender
business. "And Doc said no, he was never sore, because Leo would have killed him
before he got through with it anyway," referring to the exhausting hours. "Doc liked
to spend time with his family, he didn't like staying down the shack till 10 or 11 at
night, seven days a week. Anyone that worked with Leo had a hard time not over-
working, because Leo expected you to be on call all hours." 

BOOK NOT AVAILABE, OUT OF PRINT

THE STEVE HOWE GUITAR COLLECTION. Edizione con illustrazioni a colori, sulla collezione di strumenti a corda, e sull'utilizzo durante la carriera del musicista degli YES. Chitarre antiche, moderne, lire, liuti, sitar, digitali, ecc. .

Publisher's Note
Throughout his consistently successful career, rock guitarist Steve Howe has built up a collection of guitars which is unparalleled in diversity and richness. For the first time, this book offers a private view of Steve's fabulous collection, showing 125 instruments ranging from antique lyre guitars to modern solidbody electrics. During the 1970s Steve Howe was guitarist in Yes, the most successful and adventurous of all progressive rock groups. In 1981 Steve formed Asia, since when he has worked as a member of GTR (1986), Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989), and in the reunited Yes of 1991. He has also made four solo albums, was instrumental in the production of the Symphonic Music of Yes album (1993), and has appeared as a guest guitarist on recordings by Queen, Lou Reed, and many others. Every instrument in The Steve Howe Guitar Collection is shown in superb full color photography, some at nearly two-thirds actual size on special fold-out pages. The work of 40 instrument makers is represented, including celebrated companies like Gibson, Fender and Martin alongside less familiar names such as Panormo, Sho-Bud and Levin, dating from the 1780s to the 1990s. As well as the standard guitars, the collection includes a host of related instruments such as banjos, bass guitars, guitar-synths, lutes, tenor guitars, mandolins, pedal steel guitars, sitars and harp guitars. Steve's engaging commentary details the circumstances in which he acquired each of the instruments in his collection. He pinpoints exactly how the guitars have been used during 30 years of recordings and tours, from his first pop group The Syndicats (1963) to his latest solo album The Grand Scheme of Things (1993). The SteveHowe Guitar Collection is a unique combination of guitar history, musical memorabilia and beautiful photography. It brings alive the most fascinating and wide-ranging individual collection in instruments ever seen together in one book, and documents the continuing career of one of rock's finest guitarists. 88 pages.

STRAY CATS, RUNAWAY BOYS. BAND TAB.