First published in 2010, expanded in 2017, and now available in a sleek paper-over-board format,
Ultimate Star Guitars
is the first illustrated history of iconic guitars and their owners—featuring more than 140 guitars and 120 guitarists in all!
Where other best-selling guitar histories look at the rank-and-file models,
is unique in
profiling the specific favorites of famous players
—oftentimes million-dollar babies, such as the 1968 Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix burned at Woodstock and which sold at Sotheby's in 1993 for $1.3 million. Among the stars and their guitars:
Kurt Cobain: 1969 Competition Series Fender Mustang
B. B. King: Gibson "Lucille"
Prince: Hohner HG490
Edward Van Halen: "Frankenstrat"
Neil Young: 1953 Gibson Les Paul "Old Black"
Guitar journalist Dave Hunter
explains the stories behind each
: the important sessions on which they were used, landmark tours and gigs on which they were played, modifications made by their owners, and more. From twangy
country
to scorching
metal
, from full-throttle
punk
to sophisticated
jazz
, and from gut-punch
blues
to lo-fi
indie rock
,
is illustrated with performance and candid photography of the artists with their star guitars, relevant memorabilia, and more often than not, studio shots of the guitars or signature models based on them. It's an information-packed visual feast for guitar enthusiasts!