The Bonehead's Guide to Guitars

The author wrote an excellent guide for music lovers interested in picking up the electric guitar and learning how to play. The choices in electric guitars and their features can be daunting to a beginner looking at an intimidating wall full of of "axes" and dealing with a salesperson that may only be interested in moving merchandise. The author manages to present the shopping/learning experience in a simple yet thorough manner. Having read the book and being introduced to the lingo, I feel much more comfortable immersing myself in the world of electric guitars. I also recommend Hilton's guide to amps -- the equipment that will bring your guitar to life.

This book is excellent for people who are looking to buy thier first guitar or purchase an upgrade from a "starter" guitar. It covers the basics of guitar body composition, the hardware (ie. types of pickups) and the effects these have on sound. It explains in wonderful detail what to check on a guitar before purchase to be sure it is in good condition for both new and used guitars. There is also a section on maintenance. I believe that this guide helped me know what I was looking for before purchase. I didn't walk into the store "blindly" left to only what info was given to me by the guitar tag or sales rep.