Boutique Acoustics tells the story of how America’s crop of talented luthiers created guitars that rival the legendary instruments of the ‘30s and ‘40s from builders like Martin, Gibson and the Larson brothers. Covered are the birth of the steel-string, rise of small factories, advent of “one-man shops” and origins of various trends in guitar construction, including the design of cutaways, aesthetic detailing and the use of high-tech materials such as carbon fiber and Nomex. Copiously illustrated.
Boutique Acoustics: 180 Years of Handbuilt American Guitars
By Michael John Simmons (paperback) $29.99
