In addition to the Internet based resources out there, there is always good, old-fashioned, tried-and-trusted paper-based technology. These are strange physical objects that we used to know as… books. Here are a few that might be of interest to guitar lovers. Some of these are currently published, others are long since out of print, some are regularly updated, while others are pretty much one-offs.

This list is a bit of fun and is not intended to be comprehensive. The odd error may also have crept in, so I wouldn’t rely on it as a robust source of research material. Apologies too if I’ve missed anything crucial. For info, I have NO affiliation with any of the authors or publishers listed…

Notes:

  1. To order the table by a specific column, click on the arrows in the table header (ascending and descending).
  2. To search the table, enter characters in the search box. Only rows containing the search text will be displayed. To re-display all rows, delete the text in the search box.
Guitar Books:
TitleAuthor(s)PublisherDateISBN
150 Years Of Fender: Half A Century Of The Greatest Electric GuitarsTony BaconBackbeat Books20000-97930-621-1
250 Years Of The Gibson Les Paul: Half A Century Of The Greatest Electric GuitarsTony BaconBackbeat Books20020-87930-711-0
3Blue Book Of Electric Guitars: 15th EditionZachary R. FjestadBlue Book Publications Inc.2014978-1-936120-56-7
4A Concise History of the Classic GuitarGraham WadeMel Bay Publications Inc.2001978-078-664-978-5
5A Concise History of the Classic Electric GuitarAdrian IngramMel Bay Publications Inc.2001978-078-669-228-6
6Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated EncyclopediaDave HunterMerchant Book Company Ltd.20031-904779-15-8
7An Illustrated History and Directory of Acoustic GuitarsDr James WestbrookAnness Publishing Ltd.2015978-1-78019-374-8
8An Illustrated History and Directory of Electric GuitarsTerry BurrowsAnness Publishing Ltd.2015978-1-78019-420-2
9Blues Guitars For DummiesJon ChappellWiley Publishing Inc2007978-0-470-04920-4
10Classic Electrics: A Visual History Of Great GuitarsWalter CarterOutline Press (Book Publishers) Ltd.2008978-1-906002-0
11The Electric GuitarPaul TrynkaVirgin Books Ltd.20010-7535-0653-X
12Electric Guitar Handbook: A Beginner's Guide To The Technical Aspects Of Guitar PlayingAlan RatcliffeNew Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.2005978-1-84517-180-3
13Electric Guitars: The Illustrated EncyclopediaTony BaconMerchant Book Company Ltd.20001-904-779-14-X
14Fender: The Sound Heard 'Round The WorldRichard R. SmithHal Leonard19950-634-05875-4
15The Fender Electric Guitar Book: A Complete History Of Fender InstrumentsTony BaconBackbeat Books2007978-0-87930-897-1
16The Fender GuitarKen AchardMusical New Services Ltd.1977None
17The Fender Stratocaster: A Complete Guide To The History And Evolution Of The World's Most Famous GuitarA.R. DuchossoirHal Leonard19940-7935-4735-0
18Fender Stratocaster Manual: How To Buy Maintain The World's Most Popular Electric GuitarPaul BalmerHaynes Publishing2006978-1-84425-321-0
19The Fender Telecaster: The Detailed Story Of America's Senior Solid Body Electric GuitarA.R. DuchossoirHal Leonard19910-7935-0860-6
20Gibson Electrics: An Illustrated History From The Mid-'30s To The Mid-'60sA.R. DuchossoirHal Leonard19940-7935-9210-0
21The Gibson GuitarIan C. BishopMusical New Services Ltd.1977None
22Gibson Les Paul Manual: How To Buy Maintain And Set Up The Legendary Les Paul Electric GuitarPaul BalmerHaynes Publishing2008978-1-84425-478-1
23Gruhn?s Guide to Vintage Guitars: An Identification for American Fretted InstrumentsGeorge Gruhn and Walter CarterBackbeat Books1999978-0-87930-5
24Guitar: The Shape Of Sound - 100 Iconic DesignsUltan GuilfoylePhaidon Press2023978-1-83866-558-6
25Guitar Aficionado: The CollectionsTom Beaujour & Christopher ScapellitiTime Home Entertainment2013978-1-61893-095-8
26Guitar Effects Pedals: The Practical HandbookDave HunterBackbeat Books2004978-0-87930-806-3
27Guitar Fanily Trees: The History Of The World's Most Iconic GuitarsTerry BurrowsNew Burlington2018978-0-85762-179-5
28Guitar For DummiesMark Phillips & Jon ChappellWiley Publishing Inc19980-7645-5106-X
29Guitar Heaven: The Instruments And Players That Electrified The Music Of Our LivesNeville MartenMitchell Beazley2007978-1-84553-304-1
30Guitar Identification: A Reference For Dating Guitars Made by Fender Gibson Gretsch and MartinA.R. DuchossoirHal Leonard1983978-1-4234-2611-0
31Guitarist Presents: The World's Greatest Electric GuitarsSeven Oaks2018978-1-78177-877-7
32The History of Rock in Fifty GuitarsBruce WexlerThe History Press20169-780750-969888
33History of the American Guitar: 1833 to the Present DayTony BaconBackbeat Books2012978-1617130335
34The Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price GuideAlan Greenwood & Gil HembreeVintage Guitar Books978-1-884883-19-4
35Play It Loud: An Epic History, Style, Sound & Revolution Of The Electric GuitarBrad Tolinski & Alan Di PernaDoubleday2016978-0-385-54099-5
36The PRS Electric Guitar Book: A Complete History of Paul Reed Smith ElectricsDave BurrluckBackbeat Books2014978-1-4803-8627-3
37Rock Chronicles: A Visual History Of The World's Greatest 250 Rock ActsDavid RobertsNew Burlington2018978-0-85762-178-8
38The SG Guitar Book: 50 Years of Gibson's Stylish Solid GuitarTony BaconBackbeat Books2015978-1-48039925-9
39Six Decades Of The Fender Telecaster: The Story Of The World's First Solidbody Electric GuitarTony BaconBackbeat Books2005978-0879-30856-8
40The Ultimate Guitar BookTony BaconDorling-Kindersley19910-7513-4519-9
41Warman's Vintage Guitars: Field GuideDave RogersKP Books20050-89689-223-9
42Zen and the Art of Guitar: A Path to Guitar MasteryJeff PeretzAlfred Publishing Co.20120-7390-2817-0

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