Amplified: A Design History of the Electric Guitar

Product Description
"For me, a truly compelling, fact-packed read all about how guitars are made, look, sound, and play. Atkinson admirably recounts a century of history, invention, and experimentation by experts and amateurs of a revolutionary instrument. Highly recommended for anyone who has a guitar, and for anyone who wants one."—KT Tunstall, singer-songwriter and guitarist
"Atkinson has put a fantastically exhaustive amount of work into this book for all of us global guitar nerds to enjoy. It’s so much fun to dive into it full immersion, and glean everything from details on iconic artist guitars to strange inventions from creatives on the fringe!"—Jennifer Batten, guitarist (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck)
“A great resource for all guitar players, tinkerers, and enthusiasts. Atkinson’s well-researched book provides essential and fascinating facts of this unique instrument’s development over the course of more than a century.”—Paul Brett, rock guitarist, journalist, guitar designer
“Atkinson has dug deep into the history of the electric guitar to create a detailed view of the ways in which makers and musicians have tried—and in many cases succeeded—to move its design forward. This engaging new book will be required reading for anyone interested in the development of one of the most popular and revolutionary instruments ever created.”—Tony Bacon, guitar historian and author
An in-depth look at the invention and development of the electric guitar, this book explores how the electric guitar’s design has changed and what its design over the years has meant for its sound. A heavily illustrated history with amps turned up to eleven,
Amplified celebrates this beloved instrument and reveals how it has evolved through the experiments of amateur makers and part-time tinkerers. Digging deep into archives and featuring new interviews with makers and players, it will find admirers in all shredders, luthiers, and fans of electric sound.
Review
"Atkinson strives to separate fact from myth in this well-researched, accessible exploration of the electric guitar. . . . Readers learn how the basic instrument is created, with fascinating highlights such as the integration of automobile engineering techniques and evocative new body shapes. Beautiful color photographs, contemporary advertisements, and examples of musicians displaying their own favorites add interest. . . . Decidedly welcome. Atkinson's rigorous scholarship and clear affection for the subject shine."
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Library Journal
“In this thoroughly researched and illustrated history, Atkinson traces the design and development of the electric guitar from invention to international mass production. . . . The book is packed with color photos and contemporary adverts—Atkinson has tracked down some rare images. . . . The book offers an exhaustive and attractive discussion of a classic of modern design.”
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Wire
“The chapters are both informative and gripping and feature countless quotes from expert luthiers, guitar gods, collectors, customization authorities, collectors, music journalists, designers, and fans. Furthermore, dozens of vintage ads from the 1940s–1990s give some impressions on how a guitar, its upgraded design or features, changed over the decades. . . . A well-researched, hardcover coffee-table book with excellent pictures.”
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popculturehelf.com
"There are plenty of books on electric guitars, but very few consider them as industrial design products. Yet models such as the Fender Stratocaster or Gibson's Flying V have become part of the visual language of contemporary culture, bizarrely enduring designs that seem somehow not to have dated."
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Financial Times
“A great resource for all guitar players, tinkerers, and enthusiasts. Atkinson’s well-researched book provides essential and fascinating facts of this unique instrument’s development over the course of more than a century.”
-- Paul Brett, rock guitarist, journalist, guitar designe