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Rating: 
Summary: A thorough and thoughtful book about Gibson flat-tops
Review: Anyone with an interest in acoustic guitars can benefit from "Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars". Like a number of people, I had thought for years that "acoustic flat top steel-string guitar" was a synonym for "C.F. Martin & Co." Thinking about a possible purchase of a new Gibson flat top after hearing a new Gibson Montana Hummingbird guitar, I realized that for Martins there were and are multiple sources for information, model and serial number research, and company history, but this was not quite the case with Gibson and their flat tops. The book's authors give a very comprehensive and readable account of Gibson's history in producing steel string flat top acoustic guitars, all the way from their first model in 1926 through current production in Bozeman, Montana. Along the way, they do a quite good job of explaining Gibson's approach to guitar making, marketing and sales. The picture that emerges is one of a company quite open to exploring different ways of giving the customer what they want, with a less formal and systematic approach than their grand arch-rival Martin. Whereas Martin had a longstanding image of extraordinary high quality, combined with reluctance to change or offer new features simply because they might appeal to some customers, Gibson was much more willing to experiment and take risks. The results have been some extraordinary guitars, ranging from the J-200 that Emmylou Harris plays on stage today to the Everly Brothers J-185, the Hummingbird, the Dove, and the J-160E played on a number of Beatles records. The authors also candidly address what they refer to as a dark time in Gibson's history, from 1969 through 1986, when corporate ownership of the company made the guitars much heavier and "overbuilt", all in the name of reducing lifetime warranty repair costs. This also severely impacted the tonal qualities of the guitars, and caused the label's reputation for quality to suffer. The book gives possible reasons for the lack of existing information on Gibson flat-tops, mostly having to do with Gibson's less than perfect recordkeeping - it seems that till this day, there is not a 100% accurate listing and cataloging of serial numbers, because of factory capriciousness in this regard. The book ends on a positive note, taking the reader through the new Gibson acoustics manufacturing plant in Bozeman, Montana, and introducing some of the current day players, both luthiers and professional musicians who contribute to the marque currently. This book contains two separate sections of high-quality color phots of both old and new classic Gibson flat-tops. There are also numerous black-and-white photos throughout the text. Finally, I have given the book four stars rather that five because I would wish to have had more color photographs of current Gibson flat-tops included. That aside, this book is a very enjoyable read and a true keeper for anyone who appreciates the magnificent sound of a steel-string flat-top guitar up close and personal.
Rating:
Summary: A thorough and thoughtful book about Gibson flat-tops
Review: Anyone with an interest in acoustic guitars can benefit from "Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars". Like a number of people, I had thought for years that "acoustic flat top steel-string guitar" was a synonym for "C.F. Martin & Co." Thinking about a possible purchase of a new Gibson flat top after hearing a new Gibson Montana Hummingbird guitar, I realized that for Martins there were and are multiple sources for information, model and serial number research, and company history, but this was not quite the case with Gibson and their flat tops. The book's authors give a very comprehensive and readable account of Gibson's history in producing steel string flat top acoustic guitars, all the way from their first model in 1926 through current production in Bozeman, Montana. Along the way, they do a quite good job of explaining Gibson's approach to guitar making, marketing and sales. The picture that emerges is one of a company quite open to exploring different ways of giving the customer what they want, with a less formal and systematic approach than their grand arch-rival Martin. Whereas Martin had a longstanding image of extraordinary high quality, combined with reluctance to change or offer new features simply because they might appeal to some customers, Gibson was much more willing to experiment and take risks. The results have been some extraordinary guitars, ranging from the J-200 that Emmylou Harris plays on stage today to the Everly Brothers J-185, the Hummingbird, the Dove, and the J-160E played on a number of Beatles records. The authors also candidly address what they refer to as a dark time in Gibson's history, from 1969 through 1986, when corporate ownership of the company made the guitars much heavier and "overbuilt", all in the name of reducing lifetime warranty repair costs. This also severely impacted the tonal qualities of the guitars, and caused the label's reputation for quality to suffer. The book gives possible reasons for the lack of existing information on Gibson flat-tops, mostly having to do with Gibson's less than perfect recordkeeping - it seems that till this day, there is not a 100% accurate listing and cataloging of serial numbers, because of factory capriciousness in this regard. The book ends on a positive note, taking the reader through the new Gibson acoustics manufacturing plant in Bozeman, Montana, and introducing some of the current day players, both luthiers and professional musicians who contribute to the marque currently. This book contains two separate sections of high-quality color phots of both old and new classic Gibson flat-tops. There are also numerous black-and-white photos throughout the text. Finally, I have given the book four stars rather that five because I would wish to have had more color photographs of current Gibson flat-tops included. That aside, this book is a very enjoyable read and a true keeper for anyone who appreciates the magnificent sound of a steel-string flat-top guitar up close and personal.
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