What Music books are you reading right now?

costafonix

I've just received my copy of Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars (3rd edition), this is the write up :-

"Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars is the most extensive and detailed list of specifications ever published for identifying, dating, and establishing the authenticity of an instrument. This new edition is enlarged and updated, making it once again the essential guide enabling collectors, dealers, players, and fans to determine the authenticity, rarity, and relative value of vintage acoustic and electric guitars, basses, mandolins, banjos, and amps. Gruhn's Guide's thoroughness, detail, and clear organization have made it without peer, the must-have tool for discerning an instrument's manufacturer, model, and date-and most importantly, whether it is in original condition. "You will not find a better guide, nor one that is so easy to use." - Vintage Guitar magazine

very detailed, less pictures than I thought it would have but a goldmine of information.

AlanRatcliffe

Master Handbook of Acoustics by F Alton Everest - for about the sixth time. Heavy going, but I get more with each reading.

Bob-Dubery

I've just about worn out my copy of Joe Boyd's marvellous "White Bicycles". There was supposed to be a follow up book coming, but it hasn't surfaced. I've been dipping into (or revisiting bits of) Paul Zollo's "Songwriters on Songwriting". It's a curate's egg, but the good bits are really good. So I'm interested to see what everybody else is reading. I really like sort of "meta" books, like the one I bought (can't remember the title) that examined the whole idea of "authenticity" in rock music.

costafonix

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Master Handbook of Acoustics by F Alton Everest - for about the sixth time. Heavy going, but I get more with each reading.

Just read the specs about this book on kalahari.net thanks for that Alan,,, I can see another book order coming on, ?

nick

Started reading Nikki Sixx's Heroin diaries but as I suspected so far its turned out to be mindless drug adled waffle.

AlanRatcliffe

CostaFonix wrote Just read the specs about this book on kalahari.net thanks for that Alan,,, I can see another book order coming on, ?

One of my go-to reference books. Probably the best on the subject without getting too technical (which is a scary thought when you consider just how heavy some of the book is). Pricey, but worth it.

Squonk

Any good books on FX out there? Would like to understand this complex part of guitar playing.

singemonkey

Just finished Stanley Booth's The True Adventures of The Rolling Stones. One of the best rock and roll books I've ever read. A very personal account of touring with the Stones just as they reached their peak in '69 - leading to the Altamont disaster. He puts you in their living rooms, concerts, and recording studios. There's lots about the time, lots about the stones, and lots about the music. Magic.

Looking forward to reading Boyd's book soon though.

Squonk

singemonkey wrote Looking forward to reading Boyd's book soon though.

A great book about a great time in history, I would love to have been in London in the 60's. Durban wasn't quite the same ? Did you download on the kindle?

AlanRatcliffe

Squonk wrote Any good books on FX out there? Would like to understand this complex part of guitar playing.

There are a few good basic ones, generally written from more of a studio perspective and some serious audio effects design books (particularly on the digital side). But for guitar effects, start with the Dave Hunter book: http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Effects-Practical-Handbook-Softcover/dp/0879308060 - nothing too complex, but a good starting point.

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote A great book about a great time in history, I would love to have been in London in the 60's. Durban wasn't quite the same ?

London? He were also in Yorkshire, lad, chasing that young Waterson lass. Also getting out of his skull in Edinburgh and Glasgow, bailing out jazz musicians in Vienna, getting Lonnie Johnson to give a show in his parent's Princeton living room, putting Mike Bloomfield in the Butterfield band, and, lest we forget, was stage manager the night Dylan "went electric" at Newport

Amongst other things.

Squonk

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
Squonk wrote Any good books on FX out there? Would like to understand this complex part of guitar playing.
There are a few good basic ones, generally written from more of a studio perspective and some serious audio effects design books (particularly on the digital side). But for guitar effects, start with the Dave Hunter book: http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Effects-Practical-Handbook-Softcover/dp/0879308060 - nothing too complex, but a good starting point.

Thanks. This looks like a good read

Squonk

X-rated Bob wrote
Squonk wrote A great book about a great time in history, I would love to have been in London in the 60's. Durban wasn't quite the same ?
London? He were also in Yorkshire, lad, chasing that young Waterson lass. Also getting out of his skull in Edinburgh and Glasgow, bailing out jazz musicians in Vienna, getting Lonnie Johnson to give a show in his parent's Princeton living room, putting Mike Bloomfield in the Butterfield band, and, lest we forget, was stage manager the night Dylan "went electric" at Newport

Amongst other things.

Good stuff Bob, but loved the part of the book in London, The UFO Club, Floyd etc.

Neon-Gecko

Busy reading (and drooling over the comprehensive wealth of photos) Electric Guitars - The Illustrated Encyclopedia written in 2003 by Tony Bacon.

http://www.kalahari.com/books/Electric-Guitars/632/33665934.aspx

From the inside jacket:

"Electric Guitars The Illustrated Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive guide ever produced, covering seven decades of great musical intruments. You will find here the highest quality photo of electric guitars produced by every significant manufacturer, from Alembic to Zemaitis, alongside detailed information and a host of action picture of key players - from Chet Atkins to Joey Z. This book shows in words and pictures just why the electric guitar is the most important and exciting icon of modern pop music."

A really interesting read with regards to the role that manufactures and musicians played as to how the electric guitar has evolved into what it is today.

chris77

The Fender Telecaster Hanbdook by Paul Balmer http://www.amazon.com/The-Fender-Telecaster-Handbook-Troubleshoot/dp/0760336466 (I just love those discounted sales tables at Exclusive Books ?)
Some nice "case studies" of specific models and a couple of nice pictures, but not enough new or usefull enough information to make it one of my favourites. Some very usable tips for setting up your tele though.
My favourite and most referenced guitar book ever is still The Guitar Hanbook by Ralph Denyer.http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0679742751/ref=sib_dp_pt/190-6065218-9323827#reader-link. If it ever gets stolen I will buy another, even after having read through it about a million times already. ?

joealien22

Just started reading John Pearse's "The Penguin Folk Guitar Manual". On lease from my Pops.
Keen to improve my fingerstyle guitar techniques.

costafonix

chris77 wrote The Fender Telecaster Hanbdook by Paul Balmer http://www.amazon.com/The-Fender-Telecaster-Handbook-Troubleshoot/dp/0760336466 (I just love those discounted sales tables at Exclusive Books ?)

wow, I havent been so lucky at those sales tables at Exclusive Books,,, good spotting there Chris,

Squonk

Luc wrote Just started reading John Pearse's "The Penguin Folk Guitar Manual". On lease from my Pops.
Keen to improve my fingerstyle guitar techniques.

Sounds like something up my street

joealien22

Squonk wrote Sounds like something up my street

I have just started it, but it's got some nice exercises that are starting to break my bad habit of only using my thumb and index finger to pick with.
Will let you know how it goes.

slyd

Maybe not educational, but "Scar Tissue", autobio by Anthony Kiedis of RHCP is a real roller coaster ride ! ?

Awesome!