"A joy to the eyes and a must-have reference guide" --Geddy Lee

Electric guitars are not simply musical instruments. At their best they are iconic works of art, a marriage of form and function that has come to symbolize the very essence of 20th century pop culture.

While Fender and Gibson maintain their positions as brand leaders in an industry that has helped shape popular music, Rickenbacker, a small family-run business with roots stretching back to the very invention of the electric guitar, remains one of the most important makers almost 100 years from inception. This book charts the company's history from its founding in 1931 to the present day.

The authors traveled the world to bring together more than 350 original instruments -- including all 7 Beatles-owned Rickenbackers -- photographing them beautifully for this all-encompassing study of a unique brand.

New interviews with legendary Rickenbacker players, including Roger McGuinn, Peter Buck, Susanna Hoffs, Johnny Marr, Geddy Lee and Paul Weller, make this book the most comprehensive history of the brand to date and a must for all guitar enthusiasts.