Guitar sleuth and music-history detective Deke Dickerson tells the true tales of 50 thrilling rare guitar finds that will make guitarists green with envy.

A golden Fender Stratocaster hidden away in an attic for 30 years.

A sunburst Gibson Les Paul worth $100,000.

Jimi Hendrix’s Strat burned by the guitarist during a concert—and then mysteriously lost for decades.

The mint Fender Broadcaster forgotten under a bed in a neighbor’s house.

The 1960s Rickenbacker bought for $50 at a garage sale!

These days, classic vintage guitars can bring Ferrari and Porsche prices. Baby boomers who wish they’d been rock ’n’ roll stars have shot the market into the stratosphere for classic models.

As with automobiles, finding that classic guitar stashed away beneath a bed, in a closet, hidden away in an attic, or in the dusty corner of a guitar shop is the Holy Grail.

Dont Shoot Im The Guitar Man - Buzzy Martin

Looking for a new guitar book? Look no further, I found one for you!

It’s the story of lifelong musician Buzzy Martin, a music teacher who became the teacher to many hardened criminals inside the walls of San Quentin Prison.

Buzzy began teaching at-risk kids about music to help them through the trial of their daily lives. Through this experience he was given the opportunity to teach a music inside “The Q”.

Intimidated at first by the brutal surroundings, he soon found a common language between him and the inmates – the language of music.

He returned to his younger students with stories about the realities of prison life, desperate to teach them that prison was not a streetwise “badge of honor.”

The dangerous paths down which they were headed could be replaced by real dreams, hope and the redemptive muscle of liberating jailhouse rock! And it was Bussy Martin’s dream to make it work.

“An unusual tale and a very risky one…I was very moved by Buzzy’s book…It shows the human spirit does make a diference…check out this book!” – Steve Lukather

I read the entire 189 page book in 3 days. I am not a fast reader — I just couldn’t put it down once I got started.

The story is true, but more importantly, the story is real. It’s the story of how music changes lives. I highly recommend this book.

David Schiller has written a book that should be in the library of every guitar player.

Order GUITARS from Amazon.com

This is not the type of book you will read in one sitting — and it’s not the type of book you will read in sequential order from front to back.

After turning the first few pages you soon realize that “Guitars, A Celebration of Pure Mojo” is a virtual guitar encyclopedia that has been compressed into a 4″x6″ treasure chest.

There are over 500 guitar photographs included in amazing detail. The book includes guitars that made history, changed the course of music and inspired new generations of players.

Just a few of the famous guitars included: The amazing Gibson L-5, Rickenbacker’s “Frying Pan”, Les Paul’s “Log.”, B. B. King’s Lucille, Willie Nelson’s Trigger, Eric Clapton’s Brownie, The J-160E that John Lennon played during his 1968 “bed-in” with Yoko, Jimi Hendrix’s hand-painted Flying V in full psychedelic regalia…

CLICK ON THE IMAGE OF THE BOOK TO ORDER YOUR COPY!

Hal Leonard Publishes Music 3.0

A Survival Guide for Making Music in the Internet Age, by Bobby Owsinski

Hal Leonard - Music 3.0

Montclair, NJ (December 19, 2011) – Hal Leonard Books, the musician’s best source of books on the music business, audio technology, instrument history, and more, has published Music 3.0: A Survival Guide for Making Music in the Internet Age ($24.99) by veteran music and technology author Bobby Owsinski. This second edition takes a cutting-edge look at the music business as we know it today – and where it’s going tomorrow.

Music 3.0 is a completely updated edition of the original best seller, featuring the latest music business and social media concepts as well as brand-new interviews with a variety of the industry’s top movers and shakers.

Music 3.0 not only looks at the music industry’s evolution and how we got to Music 3.0, but also provides the information that today’s musician or music business executive needs to take advantage of the new music industry paradigm. What has changed? Who are the new players? Why are traditional record labels, television, and radio no longer factors in an artist’s success? How do you market and distribute your music in this new world? How do you make money in this new music world? How do you develop your brand? How do you use Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube as marketing tools? What are the new technologies that are being introduced that will influence how we sell or market?

All these questions are answered in the book. This second edition also contains new low-cost high- and low-tech tips for marketing and promotion.

About the Author:
Bobby Owsinski has become one of the best-selling authors in the music recording industry, with thirteen books that are now staples in audio recording, music, and music business programs in colleges around the world. Owsinski is also a producer of several music-oriented television shows and can frequently be seen as a moderator, panellist, or presenter at a variety of industry conferences.

Music 3.0
Hal Leonard Books
November 2011
240 pages, 8.5” x 11”
Paperback
$39.99, ISBN 978-1-4584-0289-9
www.halleonardbooks.com
www.onstageandbackstage.wordpress.com

This is an 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.

The long-awaited autobiography of the guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards.

LIFE - Keith Richards

Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life with The Rolling Stones.

Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane.

Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones.

The Rolling Stones’s first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in “Jumping Jack Flash” and “Honky Tonk Women.” His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever…and forever.

With his trademark disarming honesty, Keith Richard brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Keith Richards was born in London in 1943. He is a Rock and Roll guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and cofounder of the Rolling Stones, he has also released solo albums with his band, The X-Pensive Winos. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Patti Hansen.

The world is full of guitar instruction books.

Don’t believe me?

• A search on Amazon.com for “Guitar Instruction Book” returns 5,442 titles.
• “Guitar Chords” returns 3,771.
• “Guitar Scales” finds another 779!

So why do we need more study books? We don’t. What we need are new perspectives and creative ideas to learn from. Guy’s Publishing Group has delivered on both counts.

Last summer, I posted a review of a breakthrough guitar chord reference book titled: “Guys Grids”. If you missed that post, check it out: Guy’s Grids: A Master Class in Guitar Chords.

The much anticipated follow up to Guys Grids is now available!

Guy’s Scales, Modes, and Arpeggios is a comprehensive and integrated presentation of all of the most commonly used guitar scales, modes, and arpeggios in all regions of the fretboard.

Every guitarist knows that playing a solo is a skill that requires a strong working knowledge of scales and arpeggios. This book delivers that information in a very user-friendly format that guitarists of all levels will be able to follow with ease.

The book begins with a simple but well executed 5-page study on music theory and is followed by two-page spreads that show the fingering patterns and the corresponding standard notation. The fingering patterns are presented in a grid format, with each horizontal row showing scale patterns, arpeggios and chords all being played in one region of the fretboard. Then, each vertical column displays the same set of information in seven different regions of the fretboard. In the appendix, Guy presents a comprehensive set of triad studies which follow a similar grid format.

“I wrote this book because I needed a comprehensive resource on scales, modes, and arpeggios and I could not find one that I really liked… What really sets the book apart is its thoroughness and clarity. I believe that it will soon be recognized as the definitive resource book on scales, modes, and arpeggios.”
- Author Guy McRoskey (a guitarist)

Make no mistake, I am very impressed with this book. The print quality is superb.  The paper quality is thick and sturdy and yet the book is thin enough to fit inside your gig bag. One thing I really love is that Guy addressed a pet-peeve of mine with most other guitar instruction books by using a spiral binding so the book would lay flat while you are using it. Thank’s Guy!

The book is available directly from the company website for $14.95 and through select retailers. I’d suggest you order one before he realizes he under-priced this encyclopedic reference tool!

To learn more, visit www.GuysGrids.com.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the growing trend of guitar magazines that are converting to rich-format digital publications. If you missed that post, you can read it by CLICKING HERE.

Another publication has joined the ranks of the multimedia age… Guitar Player Magazine, which is known online as GP2.

The September issue features a great review of “10 Budget Solid Body Guitars”. You can read the entire issue by CLICKING HERE.

The August Issue is also online and you can read that one by CLICKING HERE.

While I love the use of technology and the benefits interactive media brings to the guitar reading public, there is something I enjoy about sitting back in my easy chair with my favorite beverage and a guitar magazine.  It’s similar I suppose to our nations love affair with the printed newspaper… even though the days of news print are clearly numbered.  I mean, where do you look for headlines?

So tell me which you prefer… Guitar Magazines or Online Guitar Magazines?

If you are like me, you just can’t get enough guitar.

(To be honest, my problem is not that I can’t get enough guitar… it’s that I can’t get enough time to read all of the guitar stuff I find.)

There seems to be a trend toward the release of “online guitar magazines”. Not guitar web sites (like this one)… but actual 200+ page guitar magazines that used to be available on the news stand and are now available as FREE interactive PDF publications complete with page turning animations, links to related web sites and embedded audio sounds. Pretty cool stuff if you ask me.

The two publications that I am aware of at this time are:

• PREMIER GUITAR
• GUITAR EDGE

Click on the name of the magazine to see the current issue. Be patient… some of the files are big, and they take a minute or two to download, depending on the speed of your computer.

You can sign up for a FREE subscription to each and you will receive an email when the next issue is available.

There is a new guitar magazine on the newsstand called Guitar Aficionado.

It is VERY different from all of the other guitar magazines. There is no tab or song translations.

There is no CD or DVD in a plastic bag.

This magazine is more like a “Robb Report” for guitar lovers. It’s all about the high life. The articles are about guitar collections worth millions and lifestyles that are typically only enjoyed by rock stars, CEO’s and celebrities.

Hey… there is nothing wrong with dreaming!

The publisher claims that every issue will include an inside look at the exotic instruments and wondrous collections of people who are passionate about guitars and life’s finer things — including expensive watches, delectable spirits, exotic cars and high fashion.

Like I said… there’s nothing wrong with dreaming!

The Premier issue featured:

• Tom Colicchio: The Top Chef rocks
• Five Blue-Chip Guitars
• At home with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry
• Superstar vintner Robert Foley
• Billy Gibbons’ new Fender Custom Shop Esquire

It also included articles on fine aged bourbons, The Harley V-Rod Muscle, The 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo and touring England like 007 .

Like I said… This is NOT your typical guitar mag!

So lest you think this is a bashing post on the new publication, let me say that I went to my local Barnes & Noble and bought one.  And I love it!

I found myself glued to the magazine for weeks — reading EVERY article. And I can’t wait for the next issue.

Here is a sneak peak at the cover of the 2nd issue… with articles about Jimmy Page, The first electric guitar, Eric Johnson and more…

Guitar Aficionado is not a clone of any other guitar magazine — it is a breath of fresh air. The cover price is $7.99 USD (remember… no cd included) and I recommend you skip the morning Starbucks and go get one.  Better yet, order a 1-year subscription (4 issues) for $24.95 or… put it on your Christmas wish list like I did!