Rating: 
Summary: I'm a beginner but bought this anyway
Review: I'm only a beginning guitar player but my teacher encouraged me to get this book anyway, for all the interesting/useful information it contains...even though I don't plan to be actively working on my dinky accoustic guitar anytime soon, I recently aquired a new Fender Telecaster, so i am even more grateful to have this book now. It's fascinating just to flip through and read at random...nice to get to know the physical mechanics of the guitar better even if I never plan to do any home repair work.
Rating: 
Summary: Gave me the confidence to dig in.
Review: I've been playing for years, but never did much more than change my strings. I decided it was time to learn how to start adjusting my own guitars so I bought a few books on the subject; this is the one that I keep turning to. Very thorough instructions with helpful illustrations and photos; recommendations for a basic journeyman toolkit all the way up to what you need to start your own repair shop. Separate sections are included for Fenders and Gibsons, recommended setup tolerances etc; The interviews with the master guitar players are interesting, if a little superfluous, but their techs are also interviewed, and provide useful tips and tricks. I have only 2 nits to pick: some of the illustrations- such as the one on how to wind strings properly-could be more clear. Perhaps with arrow directions (I know this probably makes me sound like a ..., but this book is so close to a 10 that I figure I'll just mention it .) Finally, it's getting a little bit dated, having been written in the early 90's right after SRV's untimely death. Certainly the principles and methods of guitar repair and setup haven't changed since then, but a new millenium edition would be great. Overall, an excellent, book and if you're like 99% of guitarists out there who need a guide that will show you how to set up your collection with confidence, but don't need to become a luthier, this might be the only book you need to get.
Rating:
Summary: Gave me the confidence to dig in.
Review: I've been playing for years, but never did much more than change my strings. I decided it was time to learn how to start adjusting my own guitars so I bought a few books on the subject; this is the one that I keep turning to. Very thorough instructions with helpful illustrations and photos; recommendations for a basic journeyman toolkit all the way up to what you need to start your own repair shop. Separate sections are included for Fenders and Gibsons, recommended setup tolerances etc; The interviews with the master guitar players are interesting, if a little superfluous, but their techs are also interviewed, and provide useful tips and tricks. I have only 2 nits to pick: some of the illustrations- such as the one on how to wind strings properly-could be more clear. Perhaps with arrow directions (I know this probably makes me sound like a ..., but this book is so close to a 10 that I figure I'll just mention it .) Finally, it's getting a little bit dated, having been written in the early 90's right after SRV's untimely death. Certainly the principles and methods of guitar repair and setup haven't changed since then, but a new millenium edition would be great. Overall, an excellent, book and if you're like 99% of guitarists out there who need a guide that will show you how to set up your collection with confidence, but don't need to become a luthier, this might be the only book you need to get.
Rating:
Summary: Every guitarist should have this book!
Review: If you own and play a guitar, you should own this book. It will pay for itself in repairs alone. It clearly describes all sorts of basic repair and maintenance. In particular, it describes how to set the action for a wide variety of electric and acoustic guitars. Armed with this book, you can make your own guitar play MUCH better. It can also get you through installing new pickups, repairing the finish, and a host of other little issues that plague every guitar.
Rating:
Summary: You need this book!
Review: Quite simply, this book has already paid for itself many times over in the money it has saved me in teaching me to do my own professional quality set-ups. Should be on the bookshelf of any serious guitarist or bassist.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference for repairing and tuning up your guitar
Review: The first time I looked through this book I found it to be very informative. I was sorry the next time I looked for it and could not find it on the store shelf. Found it again and this time I bought it. I had a Les Paul copy with a headstock that was cracked down into the neck (really wierd break) and I had glued it up the best I could without this book. Came out good but the problems that followed were buzzing notes and intonation. I learned alot about the problems I was having using this book and was able to get the guitar sounding better than it ever had. A must have reference.
Rating:
Summary: the devil is in the details
Review: This book is a good reference for someone that already has an idea of what they are doing. I was hoping to gain some skills with this book and perhaps I will, but the detail is lacking. It's not that I am an inattentive student, I did well in hs and college. It is simply not enough information, not enough detail...in the end not "enough". Still, Dan's writing style is relaxed and enjoyable. Great for guitar geeks or wannabes!
Rating:
Summary: Essential tool for DIY guitarists
Review: This book is essential. If you touch your guitar with anythingother than a polishing cloth or your fingers, Read This Book First!
Comprehensive in scope, exhaustive in detail, and informed by experience, Erlewine's book is written colorfully and has the answer to any problem a player or repairman is likely to face, whether it be finish damage, structural cracks, or fine tuning the action and setup. About the only place where the book is less than encyclopedic is in its treatment of pickups and electronics, but even here, Erlewine covers the basics and the most common problems.
I have used the information in this book to help me build a guitar from scratch; it saved my butt a few times.
-j
Rating:
Summary: A comprehensive introduction to guitar repair/maintenance
Review: This is a good book that provides a lot of information -- far more than most non-luthiers will ever need... but it is there just in case. I found that it helped me talk with my local luthier about getting my guitars set up, and it gave me the confidence to make a small repair myself (glue down a loose fret end). There is some uncommon advice that could only be given by somebody who had done this work for years e.g. don't use lemon oil, which although popular tends to discolor plastic trim. The book also took the time to consider the stratocaster style guitar and Les Paul style guitars separately -- a good idea since Fenders particularly can have a range of issues (e.g. related to the neck attachment and tremolo) that are not relevant to the Les Paul. Dan also includes set-up information from some top guitarists (such as BB King). So if it is that darn good (and it is) why only 4 stars? Well, the book is looking dated now -- it could with a good overhaul, not from the author but from the publisher, to make the text more readable and the images clearer (like the excellent DK range of books).
Rating:
Summary: A best all-around general reference available
Review: This is the most comprehensive book I've ever found on guitar adjustments, repairs and refinishing. If you're going to do anything more than install strings on your guitar, it's a "must-buy". The author is specific and detailed in every process described, and he covers just about every aspect of guitar care. he has information specific to Fender and Gibson, among other brands. He covers general maintenance issues such as installing strings, adjusting intonation, etc. that every player ought to be able to do. He also gets deep into details on major repairs, refinishing, the tools involved - you name it. The author is very specific about materials and finishes, down to showing how to repair individual chips and cracks and what to use on nitro vs. poly finishes. While there is more detail here than the casual user needs, I've always felt that it's better to have MORE detail then needed rather than too little information. This book guided me through a complete 12-coat refinish of a bass, plus defretting the fingerboard. The result was excellent.
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