In 1974 Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug bought the American Dream, a small San Diego guitar building company where they were both working at the time. Like many young men in that period, Taylor and Listug had dreams of making their marks as luthiers. But unlike all of those other aspiring builders, Taylor and Listug were able to take a tiny workshop and turn it into one of the most successful guitar companies in American musical history. Taylor Guitars: 30 Years of a New American Classic tells the story of how Taylor and Listug took the American Dream and transformed it into a company that produces more than 70,000 high-quality guitars a year. This book features dozens of full-color photographs of many rare guitars including instruments Bob Taylor built before the company's founding, standard production models (including the acoustic bass and the new nylon string series), custom-built instruments, and special celebrity models.

The inside story of the founding and growth of Taylor Guitars, one of the world's most successful guitar manufacturers Bob Taylor mixes the details of his experience as a tradesman and cofounder of Taylor Guitars, a world-famous acoustic and electric guitar manufacturer, with philosophical life lessons that have practical application for building a business. From the “a-ha” moment in junior high school that inspired his very first guitar, Taylor has been living the American dream, crafting quality products with his own hands and building a successful, sustainable business. In Guitar Lessons, he shares the values that he lives by and that have provided the foundation for the company’s success. Be inspired by a story of guts and gumption, an unwavering commitment to quality, and the hard lessons that made Taylor Guitars the company it is today.

THE TAYLOR GUITAR BOOK: 40 YEARS OF GREAT AMERICAN FLATTOPS

Growing from a small custom shop in the early 1970s to the only new brand to have challenged the traditional Big Three of American acoustic guitars (Gibson, Guild, and Martin), Taylor has effectively changed the marketplace for acoustic steel-string guitars and influenced every other maker of acoustic stringed instruments. But Taylor's influence in the guitar market goes far beyond the guitars themselves. Having pioneered the use of modern building techniques – such as utilizing CNC machines, UV-finishing, etc. – the company has been an undisputed leader when it comes to innovation. Taylor's latest efforts are concentrated on wood conservation, and again, the company is setting the example that the industry is following. The Taylor Guitar Book combines a historical story line with useful hands-on information about model changes over the years – to help readers learn how to identify and date a Taylor – and features shop and factory photos (both historical and current) as well as full-color images of guitars.

The Art Of Lutherie offers a glimpse into the mind and craft of luthier Tom Bills, whom many consider to be one of the most talented luthiers today. In this beautifully written and enjoyable read, Tom elegantly and clearly shares his best- kept secrets and methods of custom guitar making - those which make his guitars favorites among top collectors and players. Tom's unique approach to The Art Of Lutherie will empower and inspire you to create more than just a guitar, but a truly unique work of art. The information that is generously shared within this insightful and timeless work is both practical and applicable. It contains the same hard-won wisdom that only comes from years of experience and experimentation that Tom uses in creating his inspiring instruments. Over the years, he has producedinstruments considered to be some of the bestsounding guitars ever made. Learning the steps of how to build a guitar is important, but understanding whymaster luthiers take those steps and make those decisions can empower you to make your own educated choices. This will allow you to create unique guitars, and the world needs your art, your guitars - your important contribution. The Art Of Lutherie, a truly unique and inspiring guide, can prepare you to reach new heights when designing and creating unique guitars. It is not often I heap such lavish praise on people; however, Tom is in this case more than deserving: I know of no other luthier whose work I respect more. Tom knows his craft inside and out; he pours his soul into every guitar he makes; heuses cutting-edge science to guide his work, and it shows...as head of Artist Relations and Product Development at Mel Bay, it gives me great pleasure topublish Tom's work, which will no doubt take the art of lutherie to a new level. I hope you'll spend some time soaking in this book - it will certainly augmentyour musicality - Collin Bay. Includes access to online video

(Strum It (Guitar)). This e-songbook features authentic chords, strum patterns, melody and lyrics for 17 complete songs, all in their original keys! Includes these Taylor Swift favorites: Back to December * Eyes Open * Fearless * Fifteen * Love Story * Mean * Should've Said No * Speak Now * The Story of Us * Teardrops on My Guitar * White Horse * You Belong with Me * and more.

(Guitar Play-Along). The Guitar Play-Along series will help you play your favorite songs quickly and easily! Just follow the tab, listen to the audio to hear how the guitar should sound, and then play along using the separate backing tracks. The melody and lyrics are also included in case you want to sing, too, or to simply help you follow along. 8 songs: Better Than Revenge * Fifteen * Love Story * Mine * Our Song * Teardrops on My Guitar * White Horse * You Belong with Me. NOTE: This special edition Guitar Play-Along volume includes vocals on the audio as well.

Jazz Guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor teaches his secret walking bassline techniques

Providing the "What," "How," and "Why," master guitarist and teacher Shawn Persinger shows you how to get the most out of the best guitar books. You'll find insightful commentaries and more than 100 individually tailored guitar lessons - in all styles - that will provide beginner, intermediate, and advanced players with a lifetime of knowledge, insight, and inspiration.Unlike any other guitar method, The 50 Greatest Guitar Books is part guitar instruction, part music appreciation, and part literary criticism. Persinger delivers as much practical musical content as he does analysis and educated insight.Includes contribution from legendary educators and players: Rik Emmett, Henry Kaiser, Steve Kaufman, Wolf Marshall, Tim Sparks, and many more.More than 100 stylized guitar lessons: Chord Voicings, Arpeggios, Two-Handed Tapping, Fingerpicking, Slide Guitar, Walking Bass Lines, Improvisation, and much more.Featuring all styles: Blues, Classical, Funk, Metal, Rock, Jazz, World, Ragtime, Flamenco, Bluegrass, Gypsy Jazz, Pop, Latin, Fingerpicking, Country, Fusion, and more.

Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive guide of its type ever produced, covering decades of great instruments and the people who played them. You will find here the highest quality photos of acoustic guitars produced by every significant maker, from Alvarez to Zemaitis, plus detailed information, and a host of action pictures of important players from pop, rock, jazz, country classical, blues, and folk. An acoustic guitar need not be a simple brown box with a neck attached. Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia celebrates the unusual, the different and the purely bizarre in addition to the assured roots-based craft of the finest unadorned instruments, underlining the sheer diversity and variety of the acoustic stringed instruments that have been built and sold and played through three centuries. Here are resonator guitars made since the 1920s by Dobro, National, and others, often with highly decorated metal bodies; revered flat-tops from Martin, Taylor, Gibson, and more; peculiarly shaped and oddly featured creations from many of the custom builders; early 20th-century harp guitars with extra strings and extended bodies; creative archtops from D’Angelico, Epiphone, Benedetto, and more; and plastic-equipped constructions from Ovation. The comprehensive and informative text is in a clear A-to-Z format organized by brand name, written and researched by a unique team of the world’s leading authorities on the subject. Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia shows in words and pictures just why and how the acoustic guitar continues to be the most popular musical instrument in the world.