With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars

This book is a treat and the author's love for guitars of all types is evident. For the buyer, let me say that within this book are the most iconic and amazing guitars as well as mandolins, which any enthusiast or serious player will have heard about. This is the author's private collection, and, as such, it is a privilege to be able to see these instruments.The author provides a short description and commentary on every guitar, from Torres, to D'Angelico and D'Aquistos, Loar F5 mandolins, Martins and Gibsons, acoustics and electrics.Simply stated, if you love guitars and are interested in seeing a collection worthy of the Smithsonian, you should have this book. The commentaries are concise and well written, the collection has great breadth, and it is the rare chance to see guitars that are and shall be the guitar world's equivalents of Stradivarius. It will likely broaden your horizons and understanding of the instrument, its history, and its direction.The book is large and a coffee table type format, with excellent photographs. Aesthetically, it is the best i have come across, and i own many books about guitars.Don't wait until this is gone, as it offers a great inspiration as well as reference for anyone interested in guitars of the past as well as the cutting edge of the present.

I love the book and had bought it for a gift. The only problem is that it was not in “very good” condition as stated. The book was fine, but the cover tattered and not great for a gift.My God-son liked it anyway in spite of the used appearance.

I stumbled across this book while browsing Mr. Kellerman's website, I have been a fan of his Alex Delaware books for years. I was surprised to see he had a coffee table book on guitars. I needed a nice birthday gift for my husband, who is into guitars, so I bought it and surprised my husband with it. My husband really likes this book - the quality is excellent!! My husband reads about one guitar every night and often shares an interesting tidbit or shows me the photos as he is reading through it. He has thanked me many times for this great gift and has even brought it out when we have company over! I don't know how I will ever be able to top this birthday gift!! The only thing that could top it - Mr. Kellerman, please buy more vintage guitars and publish a second book! Thanks to you and all involved in producing such a quality product.

Great book for any guitar player

I have been after this book for years and finally it showed up on my birthday! I played for many years and have an appreciation for anyone who will take the time to amass such a collection of fine instruments as Mr. Kellerman. There are other collections of course but this is even more meaningful since Mrs. Kellerman also custom crafts instruments such as these. This has been a revelation to me since I have only dreamed of some of these guitars. I will only part with this book when I die, otherwise it's not far away from me! A great companion piece is the recently-reviewed "Guitar Heroes" which centers around several craftsmen.

I bought this as a gift for a friend since I had been given a copy a year ago. For anyone who truly appreciates guitar music and the legendary instruments played by the artists who create great music, this book is a treasure. I've read Kellerman's mystery novels and his love of the guitar is suggested in those books, but this collection is truly amazing. The photographic and written documentary of each instrument in this book is unique. Each guitar is described in detail, along with it's pedigree and a wealth of information about the craftsmen who created them. If you're looking for a gift to give to a musician friend, look no further.

This is really a fun book for musicians (especially guitarists) and non-musicians alike. This over-sized cocktail-table book is filled with dozens of color photos of vintage guitars printed on glossy paper. The text provides fascinating facts and insights about each pictured guitar. The photos are superb--richly colored and incredibly lighted to highlight each guitar's unique features and character. For anyone who loves the guitar as a work of art as well as a musical instrument, this book will satisfy and delight you for weeks as you relax and carefully peruse each page.

I would have liked to mhave been told the dust jacket had worn edges as this was a gift. I would have thought the condition would have been better and packaged more carefully for the cost

I was a little worried at buying this book in second hand condition, but it looks almost new. I bought this as a gift for a guitar enthusiast friend, and I think he'll absolutely love it. It's bigger than I expected and the photos are really beautiful. I haven't had a chance to go through it properly, but from what I have seen, it's a lovely coffee table book with great stories and descriptions of a world-renowned guitar collection.

Excellent book to illustrate how aesthetically pleasing the guitar really is

This is a fantastic book if you are in to vintage and rare guitars, electric or acoustic.Full of great color photo's great for a guitar collector.

With Strings Attached, Dr. Kellerman's pictorial essay on the guitar (from his own collection)is an astounding contribution to the already fabled history of the guitar. As a passionate jazz guitarist of nearly fifty years, this book is a 'must have'. And that goes for anyone with even a passing interest or curiosity about the artistry, craftsmanship and creativity that combine to produce these magnificent musical instruments. This book is remarkable in every way. An extraordinary achievement by Johnathan Kellerman. Too bad a copy won't fit in one of my guitar cases!Brian BullockEdmonton, AlbertaCanada

Jonathan Kellerman has collected an astonishing assembly of the some of finest guitars ever made. Where else would one find a complete collection of 45 style Martin guitars for example. The photography is first rate; the descriptions of how each guitar came to be in his collection are interesting to read.Five stars for sure!