Product Description

A complete history of the classical guitar. This new and updated paperback follows the tremendous success of the first edition. This is the definitive book about the most important and beautiful classical guitars ever made.It contains essays by the world's top experts highlighting significant classical guitars from the finest European, American and Japanese makers The Classical Guitar is based on the unrivalled Russell Cleveland collection of guitars from the world's most famous makers. It features lavish photography that reveals the smallest details of classical guitars made by Torres, Ramirez, Arias, Esteso, Hauser, Bouchet, Rubio, Pena Fernandez, Kohno, Fleta, Rodriguez, Ruck, Friederich, Contreras, Smallman, Humphrey, Gilbert and Romanillos among many others. The book deals with key issues affecting the market, including use of the classical guitar in pop music, different playing and teaching techniques, the collectors' market and the science of the guitar.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #299534 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 126 pages

From the Author
A beautiful and intelligent account of the classical guitar
The Classical Guitar: A Complete History is a comprehensive account of the instrument's history, based around a magnificent collection owned by the American enthusiast Russell Cleveland and illustrated with new photography, fascinating archive material and commissioned artwork. Our aim has been to tell the story of the classical instrument and its makers, from its simple beginnings to the hi-tech experimentation of recent times. But the book also includes accounts of the guitar's repertoire, its principal players and their recorded legacy. It has been written by many of the world's leading authors on the instrument and is beautifully produced in a limited edition.

About the Author
Tony Bacon, author of The Ultimate Guitar Book, profiles a number of guitar makers including Contreras, Smallman and Bernabe. Colin Cooper, editor of Classical Guitar magazine, writes on the future of the instrument, and provides a listener's guide to classical guitar on record. Paul Fowles, contributor to Classical Guitar magazine, profiles a number of guitar makers and looks at the classical guitar in pop music. Brian Jeffrey, founder and owner of a leading guitar music publisher and the biographer of Sor, investigates guitar methods and teaching as well as the repertoire of the classical guitarist. Richard Johnston, guitar repairer and contributor to Acoustic Guitar magazine, profiles guitar makers such as Velazquez, Humphrey and Ruck. Tim Miklaucic, proprietor of leading classical guitar dealer GSI, analyses the market for collectable instruments. Bernard Richardson, Lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Wales, Cardiff, clarifies the science of the guitar. Paul Sparks, a leading early music expert, writes about the early guitar before Torres. Graham Wade, leading author and recitalist and biographer of Segovia and Rodrigo, profiles Segovia, Julian Bream and John Williams, as well as guitar makers such as Hauser, Bouchet and Ramirez. Brook Zern, flamenco editor of Guitar Review, puts the flamenco guitar and its culture into the context of classical guitar. John Morrish is an experienced journalist and editor. He is a former editor of the London listings magazine Time Out, and edited Piano, Balafon's standard illustrated history of the instrument.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful photos and layout, a wonderful collection
Any lover of the classical guitar cannot help but appreciate this gorgeous collection of instruments, as well as the way in which they are displayed on the pages. Filled with information about the guitars and their construction, the luthiers, and which players'CDs you can hear them on, I highly recommend this fine edition. I take issue only with the subtitle "A Complete History", as the guitars are based on a single collection of instruments, owned by Russell Cleveland, and not necessarily what any other person would consider "Complete". That fact does not diminish my enjoyment of this exquisite book one bit.

A great book with superb pictures.
This is an amazing book. It has a lot of information of todays luthiers and past luthiers. The photographs are beautiful and I would recomend this book to anyone who loves the classical guitar. It is however on the expensive side.

Nice, detailed book
Bought this item as a gift and i don't regret it. really in depth reading about lots of different classical guitars. a great book for anyone into the Classical Guitar