60 Years of Fender: Reference Books: Instrumental Reference

Most musicians are familiar with the famous Bigsby Vibrato but not as many know about the wonderful Guitars that Paul Bigsby built in the 1940s.Bigsby who was responsible for developing and refining the pedal steel Guitar also built the first modern solid body electic Guitar for Merle Travis in 1948 predating Leo Fender and Gibson's Les Paul by a number of years.The Story of Paul Bigsby tells how Bigsby influenced Fender and Gibson as well as a number of other Guitar manufacturers in building techniques and design. This deluxe illustrated coffee table book contains over 300 colour and black & white photos.

Flathead 5 String Banjos Of The 1930s And 1940s-While Gibson produced literally thousands of banjos prior to WWII only a handful were made in the now most desirable configuration: the Original Flathead Five-String Mastertone. Since Earl Scruggs helped to make them the most sought-after banjos in the world over 60 years ago these instruments have amassed a cult-like following.These particular banjos featured a completely innovative design when the Gibson Company introduced them around 1930. They have since become the benchmark in design sound quality and just sheer power among banjo players. They have therefore also become the inspiration for nearly every successful 5-string banjo that has been manufactured for the pastfive decades.Like Martin Dreadnaught and Fender Stratocaster guitars the Gibson Mastertone Banjo has achieved an exalted status: It is appreciated far beyond its utilitarian purpose as a musical instrument and considered a truly original American art form. The Mastertone design and style are instantly recognizable by musicians and music lovers around the world even if imitated by other manufacturers.Of the 130 or so Original Flathead Five-String Mastertones known to exist 19 of the absolute best are featured here. The Scruggs Reno Jenkins Crowe Osborne Huber and Mills banjos are shown in all of their glory with details of their known histories and provenances as well as never-before-seen photos bills of sale factory shipping ledgers and other ephemera relating to these rare and highly desirable instruments.