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Dave Hunter
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Totally Guitar: The Definitive Guide Hardcover – October 21, 2004

by Tony Bacon (Editor), Dave Hunter (Editor)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 81 ratings
See all formats and editions
Totally Guitar is the biggest and most complete book on the world's most popular instrument, full of expert tips and fascinating stories for both beginning and advanced players. An unrivalled guide to the guitar, here are the stories behind 100 key electric guitar makers, from Alembic to Zemaitis, with fabulous color photos of all the greatest models from the 1930s to the 2000s. Here too is advice on how to string, tune, set up, clean, maintain, and store a prized instrument. Add 1,250 bars of music, 250 chords, the biggest glossary of guitar terms ever assembled in one book, and hundreds of essential tips on 10 hot playing styles from acoustic to rock 'n' roll and the result is a modern bible for the guitar-obsessed.
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  1. Print length
    608 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thunder Bay Press
  4. Publication date
    October 21, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    10 x 1.5 x 12.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1592231993
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1592231997
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thunder Bay Press; First Edition (October 21, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1592231993
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592231997
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10 x 1.5 x 12.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 81 ratings

About the author

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Dave Hunter

Dave Hunter

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Dave Hunter is a leading guitar writer and a musician. His books include Totally Guitar, Guitar effects Pedals and Guitar Rigs.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
81 global ratings

Customers say

Customers say the book has great pictures and a concise history of guitars. They also appreciate the wonderful information on guitar instruction.

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PhotosGuitar instruction
9 customers mention "Photos"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the photos in the book great and nice.

"...It has a wonderful series of extensive photos illustrating guitars and their components, as well as many different makes and styles of guitars...." Read more

"This book is impeccably well illustrated to say the least!!..." Read more

"Literally this book is huge in size. Great pictures and a concise history of guitars history...." Read more

"...I can sit and see the beautiful pictures of guitars (on beautiful paper by the way)and read the in depth information on so many topics to do with..." Read more

6 customers mention "Guitar instruction"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's guitar instruction wonderful, with great photos and explanations of the history of the guitar.

"This book is well written, and well illustrated. It explains the history of the guitar, the evolution into American makers, electrics, jazz, rock,..." Read more

"Literally this book is huge in size. Great pictures and a concise history of guitars history...." Read more

"...pictures of guitars (on beautiful paper by the way)and read the in depth information on so many topics to do with guitars...." Read more

"Lots of usefull information...I've just been jumping to the sections that peaks my interest and get my attention...." Read more

Totally Guitar - The name of this book says it all!!
5 out of 5 stars
Totally Guitar - The name of this book says it all!!
This book is impeccably well illustrated to say the least!! Whether you own and play a guitar, own guitars for art or collect them, this book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who appreciates guitars!! This book covers ALL guitar manufacturers and everything that you could ever want to know about guitars!! Totally Guitar makes a GREAT coffee table book at 608 pages in length and is a good sized book!!! I have added five photos that I took of this book, so checkout my photos that I have shared above. If you buy this book, you will NOT be disappointed whatsoever as it is WELL worth the money!! Get it, you know you want it!!!
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Top reviews from the United States

Steve
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for those wanting to learn a lot about guitar.
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book is well written, and well illustrated. It explains the history of the guitar, the evolution into American makers, electrics, jazz, rock, and other genres. It explains as well , how electric guitars are used to achieve certain sounds. It has a wonderful series of extensive photos illustrating guitars and their components, as well as many different makes and styles of guitars.

It also has a hugely broad set of tab for guitar, showing the budding guitarist a variety of things to work on, from folk to rock to jazz, blues, DADGAD, and other musical genres, to help a guitarist get a taste of a lot in one book.

This book would be, and has been, a book I give to beginning guitarists because it touches on so many aspects that interested guitarists are anxious to know and learn. There's something for every guitarist in this book, including those of us who have been playing a very long time.
4 people found this helpful
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musotto
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have for all serious electric guitar aficionados!
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2015
Verified Purchase
I have numerous books on electric guitars, as well as a very large collection of guitar tuition books, tapes, DVD courses, etc.. This book now takes pride of place in my collection.

The "Guitar Manufacturers" chapter which is close to 300 pages (around half of the book) is amazing and it is easily worth the price of the book for this section alone. I make electric guitars and have modified most of my Gibsons, Fenders, Musicmans Samicks, etc., but after going through the entire guitar catalogue section I now have a much better overview of both current and past electric guitar manufacturers and their model ranges. In fact, I was so intrigued by the Leo Fender designed noiseless split pickups for the G&L Comanche model pictured in the catalogue section that I searched internet reviiews on the Comanche and then purchased a set of these pickups online from the G&L website. I now also have a short list of electric guitars that I want to add to my collection.

But this book is much more than an amazing catalogue of electric guitar models. There are comrehensive chapters on guitar construction, amplifiers and effects, guitar maintenance, and last but not least, an excellent chapter on guitar playing styles and techniques with all the instructive examples in both music notation and tab.

Actually, the price of this book in good used condition can be very low (I paid around six bucks plus shipping for mine in excellent used condition) so there is no reason for any serious guitar player and/or collector not to have a copy.
One person found this helpful
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james
4.0 out of 5 stars cool book
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
cool book
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William Curry
5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Guitar - The name of this book says it all!!
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book is impeccably well illustrated to say the least!! Whether you own and play a guitar, own guitars for art or collect them, this book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who appreciates guitars!! This book covers ALL guitar manufacturers and everything that you could ever want to know about guitars!! Totally Guitar makes a GREAT coffee table book at 608 pages in length and is a good sized book!!! I have added five photos that I took of this book, so checkout my photos that I have shared above. If you buy this book, you will NOT be disappointed whatsoever as it is WELL worth the money!! Get it, you know you want it!!!
Customer image
William Curry
5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Guitar - The name of this book says it all!!
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2012
This book is impeccably well illustrated to say the least!! Whether you own and play a guitar, own guitars for art or collect them, this book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who appreciates guitars!! This book covers ALL guitar manufacturers and everything that you could ever want to know about guitars!! Totally Guitar makes a GREAT coffee table book at 608 pages in length and is a good sized book!!! I have added five photos that I took of this book, so checkout my photos that I have shared above. If you buy this book, you will NOT be disappointed whatsoever as it is WELL worth the money!! Get it, you know you want it!!!
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4 people found this helpful
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Flash
5.0 out of 5 stars Totally a big Book
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2013
Verified Purchase
Literally this book is huge in size. Great pictures and a concise history of guitars history. It covers how guitars are built the style of guitar music and how the guitar has influence the music genres for example Latin music who comes into mind first,Carlos Santana of course. However, there are many more artist and their style of music displayed in this book. A great book for the totally guitar type person who appreciates the sound and history of the guitar. " Rock on Amigo's"
2 people found this helpful
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Jennifer Goldsmith
5.0 out of 5 stars totally guitar: Totally heaven
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2007
Verified Purchase
I love guitars and this is the perfect book for me. I can sit and see the beautiful pictures of guitars (on beautiful paper by the way)and read the in depth information on so many topics to do with guitars. I was reading about the different sounds made by the different woods last night. It has the history of the guitar presented in such a way that for once I didn't have to fight off sleep. I'm just into it, and already I am so pleased. Not a wasted cent.
3 people found this helpful
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Danger Kallisti
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book today! The pictures make it worthwhile ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
Buy this book today! The pictures make it worthwhile, if the history, chords, and playing techniques weren't enough. There is something for everyone here, and enough to read it will take everyone months to even see the full contents.
One person found this helpful
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LG
5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Guitar Review...Veloette
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2010
Verified Purchase
Lots of usefull information...I've just been jumping to the sections that peaks my interest and get my attention. But, when I have the time for it, I'm going to go through this book in details...I can use it.
Thanks Dave, and Tony for such a well put together book.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Tobias Seyb
5.0 out of 5 stars Großartiges Buch
Reviewed in Germany on June 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
Danke für die schnelle Lieferung. Das Buch ist dazu noch neuwertig.
Allerdings wurde nicht das gebundene Buch geliefert wie angegeben, sondern die Taschenbuchausgabe.
Die kommt mir aber recht, weil die gebundene Ausgabe (die ich schon besitze) sehr groß und unhandlich ist.
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veddavex
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I wanted.
Reviewed in Canada on July 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
*** To start with, I just wish to state to other people that this book incorporates the exact same content as one or more of the authors' previous books, so perhaps some investigation would be in order before purchasing.***
But I highly recommend purchasing this book!
This is the book you want if you want to own a big book on guitars.
Immensely informative. If you know nothing about guitars or how to play them - this book will instruct and explain practically everything in the chapters of the first-half section. The remainder of this massive text contains a thorough (if not entirely complete) cataloging of manufacturer's models and background history.
I would have loved to see more info on some neglected modern day guitar builders (such as Reverend, Hanson or Custom 77 ), but being a British-authored book - I believe they simply wrote about what they mostly knew about. And they researched it all exceedingly well.
There are many examples of rare and esoteric models and builders in these pages. Stunning photos. Interesting side-notes.
This IS, more-or-less, "the definitive guide" for everything related to the guitar - primarily the electrical variety.
You should get this book.
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D
5.0 out of 5 stars Totallt guitar
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2014
Verified Purchase
Bought this as a second hand book and apart from a few pages being folded in which could have been noticed and straightened out before shipping maybe, and a few dents to the outer boards it is fine. And at such a cheap price for the multitude of such interesting information that it contains. From any angle it is stuffed with information about guitars, playing them and maintaining them and illustrated with a profusion of great photos that should keep any guitar afficionado happy for days if not weeks!! Highly recommended!
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Joe Okamoto
5.0 out of 5 stars これは発見!!
Reviewed in Japan on February 11, 2010
Verified Purchase
600頁以上にも及ぶこの本がこの値段で良いのでしょうか？ｷﾞﾀｰの構造,種類からｴﾌｪｸﾀ,ｼﾞｬﾝﾙ別音楽理論までｷﾞﾀｰに関する様々な情報が満載されています。またそのｷﾞﾀｰの音色を聴くための音源が紹介されていて、単なるｷﾞﾀｰ読本にはとどまらない深みがあります。内容は雑誌掲載記事の集大成だそうですが、ｷﾞﾀｰﾏｶﾞｼﾞﾝさんも同様な企画をして頂けないでしょうか？（70年代に「楽器の本」というのがありましたが）
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Nicolas Métivier
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2014
Verified Purchase
Excellent!
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