Amplified: A Design History of the Electric Guitar

Praise for Amplified: A Design History of the Electric Guitar

“In this thoroughly researched and illustrated history, Atkinson traces the design and development of the electric guitar from invention to international mass production. . . . The book is packed with color photos and contemporary adverts—Atkinson has tracked down some rare images. . . . The book offers an exhaustive and attractive discussion of a classic of modern design.” 
— Wire

"There are plenty of books on electric guitars, but very few consider them as industrial design products. Yet models such as the Fender Stratocaster or Gibson's Flying V have become part of the visual language of contemporary culture, bizarrely enduring designs that seem somehow not to have dated."
— Edwin Heathcote

"There are many, many competing claims and myths about original electric guitar designs. Atkinson set himself the task of picking carefully through the evidence. OK, this is not a book you’ll be buying your aunty for Christmas, but the stories behind your favourite axes and why some never became favourites is why this is an interesting read!"
— Mixdown Magazine

“The chapters are both informative and gripping and feature countless quotes from expert luthiers, guitar gods, collectors, customization authorities, collectors, music journalists, designers, and fans. Furthermore, dozens of vintage ads from the 1940s–1990s give some impressions on how a guitar, its upgraded design or features, changed over the decades. . . . A well-researched, hardcover coffee-table book with excellent pictures.”
 
— popculturehelf.com

"Atkinson strives to separate fact from myth in this well-researched, accessible exploration of the electric guitar. . . . Readers learn how the basic instrument is created, with fascinating highlights such as the integration of automobile engineering techniques and evocative new body shapes. Beautiful color photographs, contemporary advertisements, and examples of musicians displaying their own favorites add interest. . . . Decidedly welcome. Atkinson's rigorous scholarship and clear affection for the subject shine."
— Library Journal

"Atkinson seeks to explain the complicated history of the electric guitar—complicated because of the burden of mythology, legend, contradictory statements, and inaccurate dating attached to the instrument. To make sense of the mess, Atkinson did extensive research, conducted interviews, and delved into oral histories. . . . The book includes numerous diagrams/patents, and photographs of various electric guitar models help the reader understand which model is under discussion. Recommended."
— Choice

"Over the course of 243 pages, Paul Atkinson, Professor of Design and Design History at Sheffield Hallam University, traces the history of the development of the design of the electric guitar. Amplified: A Design History of the Electric Guitar discusses the many myths and legends surrounding the development of the electric guitar, from the late 19th-century tinkering of amateur enthusiasts to oddities like the synth guitars of the ‘80s."
— Music Reference Services Quarterly

“One would be hard-pressed to name a more culturally iconic piece of technology produced over the past seventy years than the electric guitar. Perhaps only sports cars, like the Corvette or Camaro, resonate as strongly in relation to youth-centered culture in the late twentieth century. Atkinson’s fine overview of how the electric guitar evolved from its humble origins (discovered in an 1890 patent application) to the present certainly bolsters that impression. The book is full of photographs, drawings, and advertisements with richly detailed descriptions of virtually every significant model developed over that span. . . . Atkinson draws on a variety of published sources and interviews to augment his commentary, and he tells the story in a clear, accessible fashion. . . . A useful and visually striking addition to the literature on the electric guitar.”
— Technology and Culture

“A great resource for all guitar players, tinkerers, and enthusiasts. Atkinson’s well-researched book provides essential and fascinating facts of this unique instrument’s development over the course of more than a century.”
— Paul Brett, rock guitarist, journalist, guitar designer

“Atkinson has dug deep into the history of the electric guitar to create a detailed view of the ways in which makers and musicians have tried—and in many cases succeeded—to move its design forward. This engaging new book will be required reading for anyone interested in the development of one of the most popular and revolutionary instruments ever created.”
— Tony Bacon, guitar historian and author

"For me, a truly compelling, fact-packed read all about how guitars are made, look, sound, and play. Atkinson admirably recounts a century of history, invention, and experimentation by experts and amateurs of a revolutionary instrument. Highly recommended for anyone who has a guitar, and for anyone who wants one."
— KT Tunstall, singer-songwriter and guitarist

"Atkinson has put a fantastically exhaustive amount of work into this book for all of us global guitar nerds to enjoy. It’s so much fun to dive into it full immersion, and glean everything from details on iconic artist guitars to strange inventions from creatives on the fringe!"
— Jennifer Batten, guitarist (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck)