How the Fender Bass Changed the World (Paperback)

by ROBERTS (Author) "To overcome some of the problems poor strings cause, bass players used dozens of different tunings..." (more)
Key Phrases: stringed bass instruments, flatwound strings, graphite neck, Precision Bass, Leo Fender, James Jamerson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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About the Author
Jim Roberts was the founding editor of Bass Player, and now writes a column for the magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: BACKBEAT BOOKS; illustrated edition edition (May 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879306300
• ISBN-13: 978-0879306304
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #140,717 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensable history of the electric bass, October 2, 2001

By A Customer

New to playing bass, I was thrilled to discover this book. Roberts doesn't assume any pre-existing knowledge on the part of the reader, yet even if you've been playing rock and roll for decades, you will learn a ton and have fun in the process. If you have any interest at all in the electric bass, buy this book. It covers the history of the instrument, its manufacturers, and its most famous players, in detail. Tons of great photos. Yet, the most important feature of this book is how it puts the electric bass in its proper place in the history of rock and roll--a far more important place than you might think, prior to what you'll learn in these pages. Not to be missed!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for Players & Non-players alike! A+++++++, October 15, 2001

By	James S. Lawrence (Spencer, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is extremely entertaining and educational. I have been playing bass over 25 years, and have enjoyed it completely. Jim Roberts covers a wide range of electric bass guitar history, and also identifies some classic albums and bassists as examples of electric bass history in the making. This is also a wonderful book for beginners, who want to learn how the bass guitar changed the sound and texture of music since the 1950s. Fantastic photographs and memoribilia throughout. I highly recommend it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice collection of pics and info, January 12, 2002

By	Reader in OC (CA USA) - See all my reviews

Jim Roberts really wrote a winner with this book. The pictures are great, but one picture in particular of a store display of three new custom color mid-fifties Precisions is worth the price of the book. Bravo.