Play It Loud: An Epic History of the Style, Sound, and Revolution of the Electric Guitar

"Play It Loud: An Epic History of the Style, Sound, & Revolution of the Electric Guitar" is one of the best – and best-written – books on music’s evolution over the last eighty years. Whether or not you play a guitar or even like guitars, all you have to do is like music or good writing to appreciate this book. It traces music’s growth – particularly blues, jazz, country western, and, of course, rock – through the development of the electric guitar and some of its accessories like amps, pickups, etc. Guitar innovators Leo Fender, Adolph Rickenbacker, Ted McCarty (Gibson), Fred Gretsch, Paul Reed Smith and others are brought to life, becoming more than just names affixed to a guitar’s head. And the place in music history of Kay, Harmony, Valco, and Teisco, makers of often overlooked and underappreciated less expensive instruments (so-called ‘catalog’ or ‘junk’ guitars), is solidly…and finally…made. Perhaps most important, the personalities who made the electric guitar indispensable to music...why they played the ‘ax’ they did, their styles, what type of music they played, how long they stuck with a particular brand, whom they played with, when and where they debuted their guitars…unfold in interesting vignettes and anecdotes. All of this is put in perspective by providing the cultural milieu during which these musicians and developments took place. "Play It Loud" also dispels some of the myths swirling about the electric guitar; for instance, that Les Paul was its inventor. Actually, had it not been for George Beauchamp in the 1920s and 30s, the electric guitar might never have made it to music’s mainstream. According to authors Brad Tolinski and Alan Di Perna: “He (Beauchamp) not only invented the first fully functional guitar pickup, he also put it to work in his pioneering design for the world’s first successful, commercially produced electric guitar.” Development of the solid-body electric guitar was Les Paul’s forte and claim to fame. Tolinski and Di Perna, know their stuff. They did their research and then with their writing skill and talent turned that work into what is generally reserved for the mystery/adventure/spy genres…a page-turner. Included in the book is a chronology of the electric guitar, its makers and musicians. Plus, there’s a foreword by guitar virtuoso, Carlos Santana. "Play It Loud" is a great pickup you won’t fret about…or regret.

If you grew up in the '50's and 60's, this volume will be like mother's milk to you. The history of the electric guitar is, in fact, the history of rock and roll and R&B, they are so closely intertwined. If you have the slightest knowledge of types and prices of guitars, you'll appreciate what it took Leo Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker, Beauchamp to take that creative step that has changed the world. Discover the world of amps, tubes, distortion, cannibalizing one guitar, or several to get just what is desired. If you're the least bit wonky about collecting and playing, I urge you to get this book. I got it on Kindle, but wanted that hardcopy to savor the pictures with likeminded friends, so I got it also. Reads easy with a nice, informative talky style that won't go over anyone's head, and the author obviously knows his stuff.

This is an excellent resource it is well-written and held my attention through even parts of the history I did not know about. This would be an excellent choice for new guitar enthusiasts , but even those well_versed in guitar history could use the compendium of reference material. I am somewhere in between the beginner and the well_versed. I enjoyed the book immensely. It left me wanting though in regard to contributions from Afri can American guitarists beyond the obvious blues roots. I am not taking anything away from the book. It would be interesting to address r and b plAyers and genre bending acts.

As a long-time reader of Alan di Perna articles and books, I was truly thrilled to get into this one. Authors Alan di Perna and Brad Tolinski did such a wonderful job telling the story of the electric guitar. I really loved the story about the Beatles escaping through a tunnel under Central Park! It was like something out of “A Hard Days Night.” I also learned alot about Leo Fender, Les Paul (plenty of personal anecdotes!) and other guitar "influencers." I now know so much more than I thought I would and enjoyed every step of the amazing journey through the history of the electric guitar.

I'm about 2/3 of the way through and I love it. It answers so many questions I had about the history of rock (generally speaking, without going into the various genres) and of the guitars that made history. If you love music the way I do this book is great and for you.

Bought it for my uncle, who's an amateur guitarist and loves the history of rock and/or roll. He reported back that he learned a bunch of new stuff from the book and promptly passed it off to my mom for her to read, too. So apparently it's good!

As interesting and entertaining (and factual) a history of electrics as I've found in 30 years in the industry. Tolinski knows his stuff, and knows how to write a story that never bogs down with minutiae, but keeps the reader engaged. Highly recommended.

I thought this might be a snooze but it actually was very interesting and full of interesting history. I learned a lot and filled in the cracks of what I had already known as a 50 year practicing and performing guitarist/singer/songwriter

A very interesting and informative book. I really liked the parts of the book that talked about the conversations between Les Paul and Leo Fender. Both great minds who restlessly searched for ways to move music fwd

Guitar player? Know someone who is? They should read this book. It's not just a book about guitars. It is the entire history of the electric guitar illustrated with great stories. From the first use of an electric guitar to today, Play It Loud reads much more like a novel than a history book. Recommended!

"Play It Loud: An Epic History of the Style, Sound, & Revolution of the Electric Guitar" is one of the best – and best-written – books on music’s evolution over the last eighty years. Whether or not you play a guitar or even like guitars, all you have to do is like music or good writing to appreciate this book. It traces music’s growth – particularly blues, jazz, country western, and, of course, rock – through the development of the electric guitar and some of its accessories like amps, pickups, etc. Guitar innovators Leo Fender, Adolph Rickenbacker, Ted McCarty (Gibson), Fred Gretsch, Paul Reed Smith and others are brought to life, becoming more than just names affixed to a guitar’s head. And the place in music history of Kay, Harmony, Valco, and Teisco, makers of often overlooked and underappreciated less expensive instruments (so-called ‘catalog’ or ‘junk’ guitars), is solidly…and finally…made. Perhaps most important, the personalities who made the electric guitar indispensable to music...why they played the ‘ax’ they did, their styles, what type of music they played, how long they stuck with a particular brand, whom they played with, when and where they debuted their guitars…unfold in interesting vignettes and anecdotes. All of this is put in perspective by providing the cultural milieu during which these musicians and developments took place. "Play It Loud" also dispels some of the myths swirling about the electric guitar; for instance, that Les Paul was its inventor. Actually, had it not been for George Beauchamp in the 1920s and 30s, the electric guitar might never have made it to music’s mainstream. According to authors Brad Tolinski and Alan Di Perna: “He (Beauchamp) not only invented the first fully functional guitar pickup, he also put it to work in his pioneering design for the world’s first successful, commercially produced electric guitar.” Development of the solid-body electric guitar was Les Paul’s forte and claim to fame. Tolinski and Di Perna, know their stuff. They did their research and then with their writing skill and talent turned that work into what is generally reserved for the mystery/adventure/spy genres…a page-turner. Included in the book is a chronology of the electric guitar, its makers and musicians. Plus, there’s a foreword by guitar virtuoso, Carlos Santana. "Play It Loud" is a great pickup you won’t fret about…or regret.

If you grew up in the '50's and 60's, this volume will be like mother's milk to you. The history of the electric guitar is, in fact, the history of rock and roll and R&B, they are so closely intertwined. If you have the slightest knowledge of types and prices of guitars, you'll appreciate what it took Leo Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker, Beauchamp to take that creative step that has changed the world. Discover the world of amps, tubes, distortion, cannibalizing one guitar, or several to get just what is desired. If you're the least bit wonky about collecting and playing, I urge you to get this book. I got it on Kindle, but wanted that hardcopy to savor the pictures with likeminded friends, so I got it also. Reads easy with a nice, informative talky style that won't go over anyone's head, and the author obviously knows his stuff.

This is an excellent resource it is well-written and held my attention through even parts of the history I did not know about. This would be an excellent choice for new guitar enthusiasts , but even those well_versed in guitar history could use the compendium of reference material. I am somewhere in between the beginner and the well_versed. I enjoyed the book immensely. It left me wanting though in regard to contributions from Afri can American guitarists beyond the obvious blues roots. I am not taking anything away from the book. It would be interesting to address r and b plAyers and genre bending acts.

As a long-time reader of Alan di Perna articles and books, I was truly thrilled to get into this one. Authors Alan di Perna and Brad Tolinski did such a wonderful job telling the story of the electric guitar. I really loved the story about the Beatles escaping through a tunnel under Central Park! It was like something out of “A Hard Days Night.” I also learned alot about Leo Fender, Les Paul (plenty of personal anecdotes!) and other guitar "influencers." I now know so much more than I thought I would and enjoyed every step of the amazing journey through the history of the electric guitar.

I'm about 2/3 of the way through and I love it. It answers so many questions I had about the history of rock (generally speaking, without going into the various genres) and of the guitars that made history. If you love music the way I do this book is great and for you.

Bought it for my uncle, who's an amateur guitarist and loves the history of rock and/or roll. He reported back that he learned a bunch of new stuff from the book and promptly passed it off to my mom for her to read, too. So apparently it's good!

As interesting and entertaining (and factual) a history of electrics as I've found in 30 years in the industry. Tolinski knows his stuff, and knows how to write a story that never bogs down with minutiae, but keeps the reader engaged. Highly recommended.

I thought this might be a snooze but it actually was very interesting and full of interesting history. I learned a lot and filled in the cracks of what I had already known as a 50 year practicing and performing guitarist/singer/songwriter

A very interesting and informative book. I really liked the parts of the book that talked about the conversations between Les Paul and Leo Fender. Both great minds who restlessly searched for ways to move music fwd

Guitar player? Know someone who is? They should read this book. It's not just a book about guitars. It is the entire history of the electric guitar illustrated with great stories. From the first use of an electric guitar to today, Play It Loud reads much more like a novel than a history book. Recommended!

I GAVE THIS TO MY GRANDSON SINCE I DO NOT WANT TO PART WITH MY OWN COPY. HE IS A WONDERFUL TEENAGE PLAYER AND IT IS THE PERFECT BOOK TO GIVE HIM SOME HISTORY AND SOME MEANING TO HIS GIFTED MUSICAL TALENT.

It was a really great read, and it gives an excellent history on the evolution of the guitar. The best parts talk about the "golden era" of guitar--Fender, Les Paul, the vintage market, etc.--everything from the 50's through the 80's. Toward the end, I was ready for it to end. A little too much attention given to Jack White, who I certainly have respect for, but I just don't view his contributions to the instrument as being on par with The Greats. Instead of Jack White and St. Vincent, how about more details (virtually none) on the John Petrucci & Steve Lukather Music Man models? 2 of the most important guitarists and instruments of our time!

The highest praise I can give is “definitive.” There are a lot of confident-sounding guitar pundits out there who “know” about the first this or first that. But do they? Get this book. It is totally enjoyable and totally well-researched from cover to cover. Lots of pics, too!

I got this at the end of summer, and I ran out of summer before I could finish, but I really enjoyed what I read. I love learning about the history of guitar, and this book does a superb job covering the advent of the electric guitar. I learned so much from the portions I read, but I also really enjoyed the reading: it is easy and immersive. I would recommend this book to anyone regardless of if they are a guitarist or just a music lover.

This was a great book that not only detailed the history of the development of the modern electric guitar but also the many stories that went along with getting to today. It was really well researched. I am a relatively new guitar player so I was unaware of a lot of this so very educational but even if you have been playing for years you will find the stories behind the stories to be fascinating.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening journey through the history of the electric guitar. It's not just about the rise and fall of the famous - and not so famous - brands, but also about the great players, from the early bluesmen to the Beatles and recent guitar heroes such as Steve Vai. I loved the stories, such as Jimi Hendrix's performance of the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock being completely unrehearsed, Eddie Van Halen building his own guitars, and Paul Reed Smith's determination to break into the big time with quality. I was disappointed when I came to the end and am now looking out for similar books.

Loved reading about so much of the history of the electric guitar. Some very cool stories about the development through the decades and how the players of the time used and shaped them. This book is not for everyone, but if you love guitar music or play guitar you'll almost certainly get something from the stories within these pages.

I'm not even a guitar player but I sure do admire those who do, I loved this book, well written, very informative, it's lead me on to other books about the guitar players that it mentions throughout the 50s and up to the 80s

Excellent oral history of the many key developers, makers, players, promoters, and cultural settings of the electric guitar as well as their inter-relationships. Not bogged down by technical electronic or acoustical detail (you'll have to go elsewhere if that's what you want).

Good gift for the guitar lover

I enjoyed this book. I don't really know much about music history but as I read through the book, I took the time to look up the musicians and guitars. Really exposed me to a new world. Went into the book a "metal head" came out loving the blues. I might read it again some day.

If you are interested in electric guitars, this book is a must read.

A great history of the electric guitar. It covers many generations. There is something for all generations.

Good history of the guitar itself, much I didn't know about the guitar itself. Came a bit undone when getting into the societal forces and sociology of the instrument - who was playing, what social forces were at work. Would have appreciated more on those who played and how they influenced the evolution of the electric guitar

This was a pretty good book. There were a few things that were not exactly right, but for the most part it was pretty good...

Purchased as a gift for a musician friend who played the guitar (very well, though preferred playing other instruments for some reason). They highly enjoyed it! It's got something for everyone - history, music, personal biographies, cultural change, all in a informative but accessible manner.

Quite an interesting read...well written and concise. Perfect for the guitar nut in your life!

I know a lot about electric guitars but there’s loads of stuff in this book I didn’t know. Recommended!

Exceedingly well written, and very informative! I really enjoyed this book. I've already recommended it to at least 4 people!

used as a book mark for a larger book i was reading

Great book if you're a musician and grew up in the 60's. I did and loved every page of this book. Highly recommended!

Fascinating, extremely well-written book about the history of the electric guitar and some major moments in the history of contemporary music. Can't recommend it highly enough. Superb.

I just finished reading this book. I like histories of things and this brought me information about electric guitars that I have played for over 50 years.

Terrific history and not a cookie-cutter of so many other repetitive books out there. A joy to read

👍

I cant say anything that hasn't already been said, this book should appeal to the amateur player all the way to a seasoned player. I'm positive there are stories even they wouldn't know. This isn't a knock against the book, but I wish there were more pictures. As they talked about different models I was reading the hardcover edition while having my iPad open so I could look up on Google images.

A must read for any guitar fan. Great job done on early history and the facts around the development of the electric guitar and the music that came from its development and adoption as the lead instrument in rock n roll

Loved it! This book is a true lesson on music history through the evolution of electric guitars. A mão of influences and references on some of music most influential figures throughout the century. And having ready access to YouTube and streaming music made it more remarkable.

Very interesting aspects concerning guitar history & development. And how it has shaped the evolution of music . I enjoyed the audio book version very much !

Not a bad book just along one. Would have more interesting if it had some guitar design with it. Some picture's of the guitars and explained .

This was a pretty fast read. I enjoyed it more than I thought!

Very interesting history of electric guitars and the development of Rock and Roll and the impact of one on the other.

A bit heavy on one particular brand

Succinctly written history with excellent pen portaits of influential players in their proper context.

All musicians at any level should read this book

Gave copies to both my son and son-in-law, who are both guitar guys. They both enjoyed the book immensely.

Gives me a new appreciation to music I've loved but took for granted.

Enjoying the history of development of creative inventions!

Made me think a lot about searching for your sound, style. Wonder why Steve Morse,,my best guitar player of all time....wasn't mentioned or even consulted. Morse is a genius and also early on built his Frankenstat !!

Nice history of the evolution of the electric guitar.

This book shared a ton of information about guitar evolution. I really learned a lot, and the stories are legendary!

Damn good

Well-written account, covers the topic entertainingly. A pretty quick read.

As described good book

Great gift for our musically gifted son.

I don't know much about guitars, but my b-I-l does and he really liked it.

best guitar bookever

Would have liked to see photos of the guitars. None in the book.

If you play guitar, this is a very interesting book on the development of the electric guitar.

this was a gift, my son loved it

Well written and researched, interesting and fun.

Positive experience. Product was as expected and delivered on time.

Bought this a gift for my dad who plays the guitar. He was very excited about reading this.

Perfect!

Well written, recommend!

My music loving son is really enjoying g reading this one!

Given as a gift - very appreciated! Well packed

Great read! Will probably reread

If you love rack and roll you'll love this book.

A great read.

I bought this for my son-in-law who is a guitarist. I am not and I can tell you that you don't need to be a guitar fanatic to love this book. Other reviews can give you more informed analysis of the content but I can say I gave this 4 star rather than 5 because of the dearth of photos of the guitars mentioned in the book. I did find myself searching for images of the many guitars but it sure would have been nice to have the images handy in the book.

I will revise this review later but first looks make me think it will be a very interesting read. The format and font make this book a pleasure to read.

This book starts out strong when it covers the birth of the electric guitar, but it quickly loses focus and becomes a disjointed history of popular music in which the electric guitar is secondary. There's almost nothing here about how the flood of cheap Asian imports in the 80's led to Fender launching the Squier brand and Gibson reviving Epiphone as a company-controlled import label and how the quality of entry-level instruments has never been better as a result. The book also ignores the rebirth of post-CBS Fender under Bill Schultz and Dan Smith and the company's current Second Golden Age. There's also no discussion about the current wave of players like Gary Clark Jr, Derek Trucks, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and teenaged ace Quinn Sullivan who are keeping the flame lit. This one looks good, but is ultimately unsatisfying.

Gift for my son. He likes it. We got a discount on the price after we had already committed to a higher one

Still waiting to read, but does sound very interesting!

This was like reading your grandfathers memoirs. You suddenly gain a new appreciation for where he had been and how he became the man he was. It won't make me a better guitar player but it will make me a wiser, more appreciative one.

Information I never knew. If you are a player it is a must read. The California roots of electric guitar don't get enough credit like this book explains.

If you're a big time fan of guitars and players then you probably already know most of the information discussed in this book.

This will be a Christmas gift for my son, so he didn't receive it yet. I'm sure he'll love it though. He plays electric guitar, bass, and acoustic

With PLAY IT LOUD, Brad Tolinski and Alan di Perna have written a marvelous history of the electric guitar, and its social, political and cultural effects. The two write beautifully: "In the hands of blues guitarist B. B. King, the instrument became an expressive solo voice that could sing, cry and moan like a man in the pit of despair, or a woman in the throes of ecstasy. For the Beatles, it became a jangling orchestra that provided color, harmony, and heft to their timeless pop songs. Funk rhythm guitarist Jimmy Nolen used his axe almost like an amplified washboard, playing a Morse code of chicken scratches to power countless James Brown hits, such as 'Pap's Got a Brand New Bag.'" Such descriptions made me want to listen to these great songs again. The book contains interviews with such legends as Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana and Eddie Van Halen. Not that they only cover household names- many "forgotten heroes" of music history are covered. The second chapter of the book is dedicated to Charlie Christian, a jazz musician who played with Benny Goodman and became the Jimi Hendrix of his day (the authors argue convincingly that Christian was the first "guitar hero.") Although their focus is rock and roll, jazz, blues and country are also given royal treatment. The two authors obviously love the music they write about, and their enthusiasm is infectious. Their descriptions are also engagingly colorful. Here, for example, is their description of Les Paul's "Lover": "A tipsy waltz-time intro gives way to a frenetic up-tempo reading of the old Rodgers and Hart standard that might have beamed in from another galaxy. The arrangement's giddy, high-pitched arpeggios and crazy chromatic runs sound as if Les's guitar had inhaled a massive breath of helium." PLAY IT LOUD is an ideal book for electric guitar players and music aficionados. Come to think of it, it should interest anyone who cares about 20th Century history culture. The electric guitar is the defining instrument of our times, and we finally have a history worthy of it.

I am really not the best person to assess this book as I am not a guitar player. I'm gifting it to someone who is, so of course I read it first. But many of the names don't mean much or anything to me, and I tend not to see the electric guitar as having changed the world. If you want to know all about Charles Beauchamp inventing an electric and amplified guitar during 1920s and the various persons - just about all men - featured such as BB King, Jimi Hendrix or Chet Atkins, you will find the facts in this deeply researched book. The author tells us he was editor in chief of Guitar World for 25 years. Certainly this is much more a history book than a musical book. Various persons are introduced, along with the times, such as WW2 slowing development of instruments as war equipment had to be prioritised. Most of the stories are about the USA and a few are about Britain, but Japanese instruments get a look-in. I saw an excellent display of guitars from the 'Frying Pan' to the latest models in Collins Barracks Museum, Dublin, over a decade ago, not discussed. If you are not into the full history of the instrument I suggest flicking through the index, finding a name you recognise and reading about them. James Thurber is interestingly juxtaposed with Justin Timberlake. However, many references are just squeezing in the name with no content, like the two namechecks of U2. I thought many more photos could have been included. Index P. 353 - 378. I found 30 names which I could be sure were female. This is an unbiased review.

PLAY IT LOUD is a history of the electric guitar written by the editor in chief of Guitar World magazine, along with DiPerna, a longtime contributor to various music magazines connected to rock. This book concerns itself with the men involved in the evolution of the electric guitar, electric guitar amps, and the musicians who made various brands house hold names. Beginning in 1932 with the Ro-Pat-In by Rickenbacker, the book shows how each iconic model was introduced, like the Gibson Les Paul, the Telecaster by Fender, then the Strat, the Gretsch, right up to the Japanese models like Ibanez, or the PRS guitars in the 90s. The history of these brands, is actually the history of the luthiers who developed each brand, like Fender, Les Paul, Paul Smithand the mostly unknown men working on new pickup designs, or new shapes and materials. The brand histories are covered, as when CBS bought out Fender in 1965, and the subsequent dive in guitar quality. We also learn about the musicians connected to various guitars as well, with copious words devoted to people like Jimi Hendrix and his Strat, Muddy Waters and his Gretsch, Clapton, Santana, and Bloomfield on their Gibson SGs, The Beatles and their Rickenbackers, etc. (One of the coolest parts of the book, was a story about how the Beatles got their 12 string Ricks when they came over to play Ed Sullivan for the first time. Its an mostly unknown story in the Beatle Canon.) The editors talk a bit about the development of the Marshal Amp, and Vox amps, but that's about it. As for the history of the Electric bass, other than mentioning the Fender Precision Bass came out in 1951, the book is oddly silent on this topic. And if you want to know about acoustic guitars, or the development of the guitar itself, well, look elsewhere. I really enjoyed reading the book, for the most part. I've had various lead guitar players show me their newest guitar. (Check out my Byrd! Check out my hot Pink Ibanez! Check out my new Strat!) If you don't have much knowledge of what you're looking at, it's not going to make much of an impression (at least to a keyboard player like myself). Being a fan of various rock acts, of course I already knew Hendrix played a Strat, or the Telecaster was a country guitar, who played Gibsons, and about the Beatles and their Rickenbackers. Getting a historical context for everything, lets it all fall into perfect dialectal perspective. However, the book has a few flaws, at least in my eyes, which slightly limited my enjoyment. First, the back promised interviews with various guitar legends, like Keith Richards, Santana, Les Paul, and dozens more players. I'm sorry, but maybe a few quotes, often sourced second hand, but interviews? For this book? That's a stretch. I have a strong feeling that this book was pulled together out of various articles that the writers have already published in Guitar Player, or elsewhere. Why do I think this? In many places, you'll see the same information repeated, like the various illnesses that forced Fender to retire in '65 and sell the company to CBS. Also, the book seems to jump around at times, talking about one developer, jumping to a musician, then a few pages later, jump back. Thank God there's a massive timeline in the Appendix, so you can keep the historical dates straight. A small section showing the differences between various guitar models in the index, might have been helpful, though the book does have plenty of guitar photos throughout. So what did I NOT like? Well, I hate to say it, but there's no accounting for taste. Or could it be pandering to whatever music is Top 10? When a book talks more about the Jetsons cartoon than it does about Fripp, or never even mentions Adrian Belew --the guitar god of late 70s early 80s progressive New Wave scene, then you need to wonder what's going on. The most perfect example of this, was when the writers said that Steve Vai joined "the big leagues" when he joined David Lee Roth's band in 1985. (pg. 260) Remember, this was after Vai played with Zappa for three years. Zappa, classical composer, Grammy winner, iconoclast, who released 60 plus albums in his lifetime, honored with statues all over Europe, that wasn't the big leagues? Playing with David Lee Roth was Vai's sell out to slick top 10 MTV crap. I mean, the book has extended quotes by Ted Nugent, but ignores Belew? Just mentions in passing people like McLaughlin, Fripp, and Al DiMeola, even ignores Coryell? All I can say, is if you like Top 10 rock, it panders to that scene. Even still, Clapton himself said that Prince was one of the great guitarists. Prince is ignored, but for his name being mentioned once. Of course, the sections on Bloomfield, Clapton, Harrison and Lennon, and Muddy Waters sort of compensated. A bit. If you're hoping for some kind of objective overview on the real innovators of the electric guitar, the book is hit and miss. Many of the sins of omission were expunged by the last chapter. This chapter talked a lot about the neo-garage rock movement, the DIY thrift store esthetic, and various Japanese guitars, or cheap models. (I inherited my brother's Harmony guitar, my first electric, so I loved learning about a guitar I cared about, and a music scene I experienced firsthand.) The focus is on Jack Black as the example of this movement, though that garage rock post punk scene was around for quite a while, before the White Stripes. Honestly, even with the faults I found, mostly in who was focused, and who was ignored, I have to admit I learned a lot from the book. Since its an overview, some sections might be less interesting for some, especially how the jazz scene learned to incorporate the electric guitar in the 30s and 40s, or how early rockers picked their brands. For me, the book started to pick up interest, when the famous musicians I know about, were being discussed. The downside to that, is that the book had to explain the importance of the Monterey Pop Festival of 1967, or Woodstock, or why Pete Townsend smashed guitars, or why Hendrix burnt his Strat at Monterey. (He was tripping? No kidding.) So if you already know about the stories of the rock legends, or know your guitar brands, large chunks of the book will seem repetitive. New pieces of information are found throughout the book, but lots will seem like a rehash, especially if you're a long term reader of Guitar World magazine, or for that matter, any famous rock magazine. However, I realize that so much of the music scene explained about in the book, happened 25-50 years ago. For millennials playing electric guitar, the book could very well be a revelation on every page. For most people then, its a five star book. Since so much in here I already knew, and the pandering towards hair metal bands over the real electric guitar innovators, I had to give it four stars.

The electric guitar is undoubtably the most significant musical instrument of the 20th Century. Without it, there'd be no electric blues, no rock and roll, no twangy country lead guitar, no Wes Mongomery or Johnny Smith. For those of us who grew up in the 60s, the electric guitar was the soundtrack to our adolescence. It was the sound of rebellion, of the Summer of Eternal Love, of Woodstock, the Stones, the Beatles, Hair, and more. Every significant event of that era from Vietnam to Chicago 1968 seemed to have an electric guitar soundtrack. Most guitarists with a sense of history can recite all the important historical episodes in the development of the electric guitar: The Rickenbacker Frying Pan. Charlie Christian's ES-150 that allowed him to step out of the rhythm section and become a soloist like the wind and brass player of his era. Les Paul and his "log" that led to the creation of his namesake guitar. Leo Fender and the Telecaster. Eric Clapton. Jimi Hendrix, who forever changed the sound of rock guitar. Jim Marshall. And so on. "Play Loud" is a well written, fast paced narrative that covers the players and the instruments, starting with the Frying Pan and covering just about every significant guitar maker and guitar player who influenced the development of the of the instrument and the music it made. Much of the story here will be well known to long-time guitarists, but even they will probably find a number of details and side stories that are new to them. Newcomers to the instrument will find any number of surprising stories and facts. The authors' explanation of technical matters like vacuum tubes and guitar pickups doesn't quite rise to the level of their historical narrative, but then there are plenty of other good books on the nuts and bolts of electric guitars and amps. I've been playing for over four decades, and I've read a lot of books about the electric guitar, and I still found myself saying "I didn't know that.." more than once. A good read, and a useful introduction for those curious about the history of the instrument that created the modern pop sound.

Most books about luthiers, guitar gods, and others responsible for the look and sound of modern electric guitars focus on either the players or the makers. Play it Loud shows that there have been a lot of people who straddled both worlds. Eddie van Halen is as much a guitar craftsman as a shredder, and Les Paul wasn't the only hit-playing musician who had to become an inventor to get the sound he wanted. (Apparently however, with a couple of exceptions like Annie Clark—St. Vincent—no women contributed to the development of the electric guitar. Considering how many people Fender and Gibson employed, I wonder.) Beginning with George Beauchamp and the Hawaiin music craze of the nineteen twenties, Brad Tolinski and Alan di Perna narrate the history of the electric guitar by focusing on individual guitar-makers and players through the decades. Tolinkski and di Perna tell familiar stories (the Beatles promote Rickenbacker, Dylan goes electric; Jimi burns his Strat at Monterey), but they also tell the stories of little-known designers like Paul Reed Smith, who forced Carlos Santana to admit his guitars were the result of imagination and hard work, not “an accident of God.” From Charlie Christian, playing with Benny Goodman in the thirties, to the hair bands on MTV in the eighties, there was one requirement: PLAY IT LOUD.

This book is an amazing blend of a scholarly presentation of the great guitar makers and an homage to the great guitar players. Basically, who built what when (and why) followed by who did what on those guitars. The book makes it very clear that there was no one inventor or driving force, but a zeitgeist that built and grew over time. But the way the music is described just makes you want to listen to songs, but that guitar is right there hanging off its hook. -joy- Just reading through, this book can probably be completed in 6 or 7 hours. It's well written, flows well, and pulls you along. Any other book would be read in a couple sessions and done, but this one is inspiring and evocative too. For example, I couldn't help but say "Alexa, play Muddy Waters." And then I couldn't read because Muddy Waters played nice and raw yet tight just like the book describes. It's almost like listening to those songs with someone else's ears. Holy crap "Play Les Paul" brought up "Brazil" by Les Paul and Mary Ford, but it's "Lover" that the book gushes about and ... Wow. New to me, thank you Mr. Book. The process repeats. Sometimes music requests need a few tries. "Play Eddie Van Halen" wasn't productive but "Play Van Halen" brought Eddie's opening licks to "Finish what you started" streaming in. OK, it's van hagar and not "Ice Cream Man" but it did satisfy. This book just messes with your priorities. Read? Listen to the greats? Plug in and stink up the fret board? Good read.

Had no idea there were so many coincidences like Dick Dale and Leo Fender making amps, Hendrix getting Keith Richard's stolen guitar from Keith's girlfriend along with a Hey Joe demo, etc. Couldn't put it down.

While I'm not a big fan of the electric guitar (esp. the style use in a lot of rock music) I find this a very interesting read. The book talks about the invention of the electric guitar & it's evolution over the past century as well as the men & companies which made them & the musicians who played it. There's an interesting chapter on jazz guitarist Charlie Christian- who helped make the guitar a soloist instrument- & his infleunce went beyond jazz. Later chapters talk about the British wave of the 1960s, the rise of Jimi Hendrix & the impact the instrument has on modern day pop culture. That said, if you're interested in the history behind the electric guitar or you play it, this is a must read.

This 365 page book by Tolinski and DiPerna, both influential guitar magazine contributors or editors, is an interesting read highlighting the history and influence the guitar has held in our lives. Many of the stories that you may have heard over the years, wondering whether they were true, are debunked. Definitely a must for the lovers of guitars and the famous people that made the music we all love today. Highly recommended, five stars!

I loved this book. It walks the reader through the entire timeline of electric guitars, from the development of the first instruments by folks like Beauchamp and Rickenbacker to present day. And it was so interesting to read about the characters and geniuses during the 1950s golden age of these instruments, like Les Paul and Paul Bigsby and Leo Fender and Ted McCarty. And how they all knew each other, and how their ideas cross-pollinated. If you like electrics, and have ever wondered why someone didn’t write a book that tells the story of these guitars, then this one might be for you.

Enjoyed the book. Knew and lived a lot of the stuff already, which made for my having a good point of reference. However as publishers are apt to do, they cheaped out on the graphic supports. When you describe models and technology of the guitar, you need color photography as vital support. You can only paint so much of a picture using words.

I don't know how to play the guitar, or any musical instrument for that matter, but I love music, and history – and I enjoyed this book very much. I can only imagine how much more a knowledgeable, guitar-playing reader will get out of this book than I did. It's fascinating to read about the early pioneers of both the technical and performance aspects of the electric guitar, and interesting to learn how often the two overlapped. Some of the best performers in the history of the electric guitar also made important contributions to the technical side of its development as they strove to get just that exact sound they were craving. From the often obscure early users of the instrument to the current-day big name performers, they are all here – Beauchamp, Paul, Atkins, Harrison, Knopfler, Clapton, Townsend, Vaughn – the list goes on and on. Fascinating history for anyone who enjoys guitar music.

As someone with a love for electric guitars this is an interesting history of the instrument, which is the focus rather than a history of music and musicians. The artists and different music styles are used to illustrate the refinement of the instrument but they are not the primary subject. The book is not a comprehensive accounting of all playing styles, musical genres and brilliant guitarists. The book is about the electric guitar. Organized in chronological order, there is a brief biography of each of the major people involved in the creation and development from beginning to current day. The project represents a tremendous amount of research interviewing artists, experts, journalists, historians and guitar makers. It is written in a narrative style detailing the parties involved, science, financing and manufacturing techniques. The early creation utilized parts from unexpected sources. For example the first pick-ups were adapted from a phonograph pick-up (the part that has needle on one side and wires on the other). The book documents the evolution of the instrument and what fueled the transformation. When the original desire to create greater volume was achieved, musicians sought a customized sound that involved systematic changes to the basic electric guitar design. The Appendix contains a quick-read six page condensed timeline of the history of electric power, amplification, speaker technology and the electric guitar. The advanced reader copy I received has a place for an index which should make searching for particular guitars and brands an easy task. The book also has a bibliography and footnotes. Photographs in the book are limited to one per chapter used to illustrate the most significant guitar in the chapter’s timeline, This is not a pictorial history, but If interested in the subject matter, this is a great read packed with details and obscure information.

Absolutely the BEST book on music and the electric guitar out there. I was sad to finish it, and may have to read again just for enjoyment soon. Mr. Tolinski is a master story teller and has a great way with tying in what was going on musically and sociologically during the development of the instrument. I bet he could do the same with the electric bass. His style reminds me of a book I read about popular music in the 70s called Burning Down the House (forget the author). Awesome read!

I loved this book. The words are as expressive as the instrument for which the book is written. Play It Loud is an exhilarating read of the impactful electric guitar, from the simple, novelty, A-25 to a plethora of the iconic instruments, along with the legends who made them such, the electric guitar has come a long way. I found the writing quite compelling. This is the next best thing to having been there to witness it all unfold.

Play it Loud, is a popular history of a uniquely American invention, which impacted society on a global scale. A detailed work of non-fiction that reads as smooth as fiction.

Brad Tolinski and Alan Di Perna give us PAY IT LOUD, An Epic History of the Style, Sound, and Revolution of the Electric Guitar. The book is a history, address it that way. Sure there are little stories and lots of name dropping but it is a history of the electric guitar. AND A GOOD ONE. Read it

I don't often give 5 star book reviews but this book was awesome. As an electric guitar player, I loved learning about the history of the instrument and how it influenced modern popular music, but you don't have to be a guitar player to enjoy this book. Anyone who loves music history and 20th century popular music would enjoy it. Highly recommended.

As a lover of both history and rock and roll, this is a perfect book for me. The research is massive and the writing brisk and very entertaining. I loved it and for anyone like myself, this is a great acquisition for your library.

I got this book for my dad who knows A LOT about guitars. He was shocked by how much he learned from this book and he was really excited to finish reading the book!

The authors devote more ink to Jack White than Link Wray. No credibility. These clowns know nothing.

Great book! Even if you don't play guitar the stories tied in with history makes this a fantastic book. Well written and tons of facts to keep everyone interested.

Good quick read for a guitar enthusiast. I learned a few things that I didn't already know. Overall I enjoyed it.

Great book with lots of information.

This book reads like a biography of the electric guitar. It's birth and evolution are documented as well as the people that were involved in the process. You'll read about people like the obvious characters- Leo Fender and Les Paul. Also mentioned in the book are a plethora of brand names beyond Fender and Gibson. The innovations that worked well and those that didn't are all discussed. The innovators in the book aren't just designers, Eddie Van Halen is mentioned with his modifications and experiments with electric guitars. Newer builders like Paul Reed Smith and even the older imports are all looked at. This is a 5 star book for the history of the electric guitar. Very educational! Of the books on the subject that I have read I think this is the best history book.

Really thorough history of the development of the electric guitar within the larger context of societal change that the guitar instigated or was a response to. Great insights from great guitar makers and players. Loved it!

This is a meticulously researched and engagingly well written history of the electric guitar by Alan diPerna and Brad Tolinski, two longtime music journalism professionals who really know their stuff. They take you back through the history of the instrument, which changed rock and roll and cultural history, with expert accounts of all-but-forgotten pioneers like George Beauchamp,the Texas transplant who moved to Hollywood and invented the first electric guitar. There are finely tuned portraits along the way of the genesis of household brands like the Fender, Les Paul (a great guitarist whose role as a pioneer in the field was embellished by Paul, an inveterate tale-spinner), the Rickenbacker and the Gibson. And there are gripping tales of how legendary producer John Hammond, who worked with Count Basie and Billie Holiday before going on to discover Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, convinced an initially dubious Benny Goodman to hire guitar virtuoso Charlie Christian, setting the scene for decades to come. The blues infatuations of the '60s are dealt with here, from Chicago axman Michael Bloomfield to Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck on the other side of the pond, along with the rise of Jimi Hendrix and later, less notorious music legends like Eddie Van Halen. This is an invaluable addition to any music lover's library. The authors forego hype and celebrity gossip in favor of an approach that builds to a crescendo, note by note. No comments have been added yet. Notify me when people comment comment add book/author (some html is ok) (preview) Add to my Update Feed * Notify me when people reply * Bom/review/show/1797813304">5 of 5 stars This is a meticulously researched and engagingly well written history of the electric guitar by Alan diPerna and Brad Tolinski, two longtime music journalism professionals who really know their stuff. They take you back through the history of the instrument, which changed rock and roll and cultural history, with expert accounts of all-but-forgotten pioneers like George Beauchamp,the Texas transplant who moved to Hollywood and invented the first electric guitar. There are finely tuned portraits along the way of the genesis of household brands like the Fender, Les Paul (a great guitarist whose role as a pioneer in the field was embellished by Paul, an inveterate tale-spinner), the Rickenbacker and the Gibson. And there are gripping tales of how legendary producer John Hammond, who worked with Count Basie and Billie Holiday before going on to discover Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, convinced an initially dubious Benny Goodman to hire guitar virtuoso Charlie Christian, setting the scene for decades to come. The blues infatuations of the '60s are dealt with here, from Chicago axman Michael Bloomfield to Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck on the other side of the pond, along with the rise of Jimi Hendrix and later, less notorious music legends like Eddie Van Halen. This is an invaluable addition to any music lover's library. The authors forego hype and celebrity gossip in favor of an approach that builds to a crescendo, note by note.

The first half of this book is excellent, being informative and absorbing. It loses its focus when it reaches post Beatles rock, when it gives way to a fanzine hyperbole style. At one point Hendrix (at Monterey) is described as "the tantric shaman ushering in the new Age of Aquarius". Opinions are presented as facts too often. It picks up again (no pun intended) when it returns to the subject of guitar design, builders and artists (instead of merely artist reverence). Not a bad book. Could have been much better though.

i found this a bit "dry". no illustrations and poor quality paper .this was supposed to be a present but returned it and bought a lovely illustrated book on guitars easier reading ad browsing