Official Luthiers Forum!

I just finished reading The Illustrated History of the Guitar by Alexander Bellow which was published in 1970. It was a good and interesting read. It starts with the earliest known (at the time of publishing, anyway) stringed instrument from 2500 BC Sumeria and goes through the concurrent evolution of guitar-like instruments in ancient Babylon and Egypt, their fusion in Egypt around 1400 BC, the separate development of a guitar-like instrument in northern Europe by the ninth century AD, the importation of the Egyptian guitar-like instrument to Europe around the sixth century AD, the eventual fusion of the Egyptian and European instruments after the twelfth century leading to something resembling modern classical guitars by the 1600s. One thing I liked about the book is that it’s not just a description of the technical evolution of the guitar as an instrument. It also demonstrates how essential the musicians, composers, and (in more recent centuries) the publishers of music were to the development and widespread adoption of the guitar. I had no idea how important Italy was to the development of the guitar in the 1600s and later, nor did I know that Stradivarius built guitars. It was also interesting to see how as the musicianship and quality of guitar music increased, there was a gradual shift from ridiculously elaborate ornamentation of guitars to an emphasis on sound quality and cleaner aesthetics instead. The book has quite a few photos including some great color plates of some pretty amazing instruments,

The one deficiency of the book is that the author basically gave up trying to continue with his history at the start of the explosion of guitar design that happened in the hundred years leading up to when he wrote his book. It’s as if anything outside the classical guitar world didn’t happen. No mention at all of things like archtops, resonator guitars, dreadnoughts, or electric guitars. The only allusion to any of it is a passing mention of factory scale guitar production established by an immigrant named Christian Freidrich Martin. This may be in part to the fact the author was a classical guitar player, composer, and teacher and that was what he had the most affinity for. To be fair though, describing the continued evolution and diversification of the guitar from the mid 1800s would require another book.

Anyway, it was worth reading, IMO. I recommend it if you are history inclined.

Here's a copy of a photo from the book showing the oldest evidence of a guitar-like instrument in a Babylonian terra cotta relief from 1800 BC.

_________________
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Who would have guessed that dreadlocks would make a comeback 3800 years later!

_________________
wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Where did you buy this book?

Mike

_________________
Mike Collins

I got my copy on ebay. I think it's out of print, but there are some used copies available from bookstores through Amazon.

_________________
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

I have the book. It's a good read.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Better be good! I just ordered one from Abe Books. Used one in good condition.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Here's a preview of coming attractions. This guitar belonged to Mary Queen of Scotts. It was made for her when she was Queen of France. She gave it to David Rizzio, a musician who it is named for. He met a bad end.

_________________
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

It's a little much for my taste, but I'm sure it was a lot of work!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Dreadlocks and the Strat!

_________________
Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

You nailed it, Mr. Lloyd!
Well done!

_________________
wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah