Rock Hardware (Book) [Paperback]

Paul Trynka (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1996

In the 1950s, rock and roll was played on simple instruments with simple audio equipment. But today, rock music can be as technically complex as any Hollywood blockbuster. Rock Hardware uncovers how the instruments and technology of rock have evolved, giving new insight into the mechanics of rock music's most famous moments on stage and in the studio. The book explores the range of instrumental and technical choices, including acoustic guitars, electric guitars, basses, amps, drums and percussion, keyboards, electronic music, brass, woodwinds, live sound systems, and recording technology. An absorbing narrative and 200 striking color photos depict the design intricacies of classic and contemporary landmarks in rock's fascinating instrumental history. Rock Hardware gives today's musician an understanding of how to choose from the vast array of old and new instruments, and how to combine the tools and technology to create their own new milestones in rock history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Discussions of rock hardware are usually of interest only to rock musicians, as anyone who has ever been friends with one can attest. But this beautifully illustrated, well-written book manages to make the history of electric guitars, keyboards, winds, and even studio production and live sound recording both accessible and interesting to lay readers and musicians alike. Each of 14 chapter-essays focuses on the development and usage of an instrument or class of instruments in pop music. Though some of the information is rather technical (and some of the writing a bit stilted), most of it is presented in a clear and concise style?probably because most of the book's contributors are freelance writers and editors used to writing for magazine audiences. Lavishly illustrated with high-quality color and black-and-white photos, this title does an admirable job of filling a gap in the literature and is recommended for all popular music collections.?Rick Anderson, Contoocook, N.H.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Devotees of rock instrumentalists will want to peruse this incredibly well-illustrated and lively celebration of the most commonly used weaponry in the rock arsenal. The emphasis is more on the hardware than the players, which makes the book fit in with the Fender, Ludwig, and other musical-equipment-maker picture histories out there. Most of the musicians mentioned are American or English--hardly surprising in a rock book, but which does mean, for instance, that there are more Paul McCartney than Robbie Shakespeare references in the chapter on bass guitar. The synthesizer chapter includes action pictures and discussions of barons of bombast Rick Wakeman and Keith Emerson as well as Depeche Mode's Vince Clarke. For drummers, the usual suspects--Starr, Moon, Bonham, and (Ginger) Baker--get lined up. In each chapter, discussion is comprehensive though brisk. Altogether, this snazzy combination of pictures and text is ideal for those who appreciate well-crafted devices for making loud music. Mike Tribby

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879304286
• ISBN-13: 978-0879304287
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,810,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Luscious music info, September 2, 2003

By 

Scott Aller (Ft. Collins, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rock Hardware Years of Rock Instr (Balafon Library) (Paperback)

This informative book of music and music history is split up into several subsections of the art and it's instruments. While covering most of the key equipment used to compose a band by today's standards, it also covers some of the key concepts of live sound and recording music. If one were interested in any type of music or any sort of musical instrument, then this book would offer a lot of useful and interesting information.

From a wide of array of topics, come the main focuses detailing Guitars, Basses, Amps, Drums, Brass, Woodwind, Pianos, Synthesizers, Computers, Live Sound, and Recording. Each section examines the instruments history and how it was used in the past, it's modern day characteristics and uses, and it's process of development.

Several musicians and music writers themselves wrote the information in this book, therefore the information is very credible. By giving great insight to the past, the present, and the near and far future of music and music instruments, this book offers a significant amount of luscious information aimed to help any sort of performer, instrumentalist, singer, or songwriter out there.

This book has an average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 11.7

3.0 out of 5 stars Luscious music info, September 2, 2003

By 

Scott Aller (Ft. Collins, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rock Hardware Years of Rock Instr (Balafon Library) (Paperback)

This informative book of music and music history is split up into several subsections of the art and it's instruments. While covering most of the key equipment used to compose a band by today's standards, it also covers some of the key concepts of live sound and recording music. If one were interested in any type of music or any sort of musical instrument, then this book would offer a lot of useful and interesting information.

From a wide of array of topics, come the main focuses detailing Guitars, Basses, Amps, Drums, Brass, Woodwind, Pianos, Synthesizers, Computers, Live Sound, and Recording. Each section examines the instruments history and how it was used in the past, it's modern day characteristics and uses, and it's process of development.

Several musicians and music writers themselves wrote the information in this book, therefore the information is very credible. By giving great insight to the past, the present, and the near and far future of music and music instruments, this book offers a significant amount of luscious information aimed to help any sort of performer, instrumentalist, singer, or songwriter out there.

This book has an average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 11.7