Lavishly illustrated, comprehensive, authoritative—this definitive guide to the most important and groundbreaking guitars is the perfect book for aspiring musicians and serious fans alike. This latest volume in the hugely popular 1001 series surveys the world’s most popular musical instrument. Popular culture has enjoyed an intense love affair with the guitar in both its acoustic and electric forms. Although quite ancient, the guitar only achieved recognition as a serious instrument in the late nineteenth century. Since then, it has become the world’s most consequential instrument, and contemporary music is unimaginable without it. Never before have so many guitars been profiled within a single illustrated volume, from the earliest Spanish baroque models to the latest Gibson Robot series with computer-controlled self-tuning capabilities and onboard sound-processing features. From the classic and obscure to the simple and high-tech, the most notable guitars from Fender, Ibanez, Epiphone, Les Paul, Martin, and numerous other brands are featured in this one-of-a-kind book. Illustrated with striking color photographs, the book reveals what makes each model special, which well-known musicians use it, and the hit songs in which it can be heard. Details about technical and design specifications are included, and lively texts highlight some of the greatest guitar performances of all time.