Sign-In
Cart
The Devil Is in It: A History of the American Acoustic Guitar
Hardcover
Music Instruction: GuitarMusic Reference
Publisher Price: $34.95
ISBN13: 9781477332580
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Published: Sep 16 2025
Pages: 424
Weight: 1.77
Height: 1.49 Width: 6.57 Depth: 9.45
Language: English
The rich history of the acoustic guitar and its impact on the music world.
In 2020, guitar expert John Stubbings released a limited-edition book on the American acoustic guitar that sold out in days. Now, The Devil Is in It returns with additional research and subject matter for a new generation of readers. Stubbings traveled the country and met with guitar makers, players, collectors, and historians to unravel the long and rich history of the acoustic guitar, its evolution, and the music it has made over the last hundred years.
Starting with the eighteenth-century European classical guitar, luthiers altered the instrument, changing the way musicians played them, and in turn the music they made. This slow but steady transformation created the iconic American flat-top that became influential across genres and rooted itself in cultural significance. The guitar developed from an obscure instrument into a superstar of the musical world, rivaling then overshadowing its competition. Tied to artists from Gillian Welch and Tracy Chapman to Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, the acoustic guitar maintains its eminence in American music and culture. The story of an alluring instrument that shaped the music of the twentieth century, The Devil Is in It is a must-read for lovers of the acoustic guitar and the music it has made.
Also in
Music Instruction: Guitar
Pumping Nylon -- Complete: The Classical Guitarist's Technique Handbook, Book & Online Video/Audio
Tennant, Scott
Paperback
Ultimate Beginner -- Acoustic Guitar Complete: Book & DVD (Sleeve)
Alfred Publishing
Hanson, Mark
Wyatt, Keith
Paperback
Alfred's Teach Yourself to Play Banjo: Everything You Need to Know to Start Playing the 5-String Banjo, Book & Online Video/Audio/Software
Manus, Ron
Manus, Morty
Paperback
The Birth of Loud: Leo Fender, Les Paul, and the Guitar-Pioneering Rivalry That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll
Port, Ian S.
Paperback
Made on Earth for Rising Stars: The Electro-Harmonix Story
Danger, Daniel
Epstein, Dan
Scott, Josh
Paperback
The Everything Guitar Scales Book, 2nd Edition: Over 700 Scale Patterns for Every Style of Music
Schonbrun, Marc
Paperback
The Guitar Amp Handbook: Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds
Hunter, Dave
Paperback
Fast Guitar Chord Transitions: A Beginner's Guide to Moving Quickly Between Guitar Chords Like a Professional
Brooks, Micah
Paperback
String Theories: Tips, Challenges, and Reflections for the Lifelong Guitarist
Sherman, Ethan
Levy, Adam
Paperback
Guitar All-In-One for Dummies: Book + Online Video and Audio Instruction
Chappell, Jon
Phillips, Mark
Hal Leonard Corporation
Paperback
Guitar Chord Bible: Over 500 Illustrated Chords for Rock, Blues, Soul, Country, Jazz, and Classical
Capone, Phil
Paperback
Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio, the Ultimate Edition
Babiuk, Andy
Hardcover
The Everything Guitar Chords Book, 2nd Edition: Over 2,000 Chords for Every Style of Music
Schonbrun, Marc
Paperback
No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists: Master the Essential Knowledge all Guitarists Need to Know
Shipway, James
Paperback
Guitar Reading Workbook: A Basic Course in Music Notation for Players of All Levels
Tagliarino, Barrett
Paperback
Justinguitar Beginner's Songbook: 100 Classic Songs Specially Arranged for Beginner Guitarists with Performance Tips
Sandercoe, Justin
Paperback
Guitar Chords for Beginners: Beginners Guitar Chord Book with Open Chords and More
Evans, Gareth
Paperback
The Guitar Repair Book: A Practical Guide to Repairing and Maintaining Acoustic and Classical Guitars
Lister, James
Hardcover
Bruce Springsteen: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track
Guesdon, Jean-Michel
Margotin, Philippe
Hardcover
Curso completo de guitarra acústica: Método moderno de técnica y teoría aplicada
Martinez Cuellar, Miguel Antonio
Paperback
Play It! Children's Songs for Guitar: A Superfast Way to Learn Awesome Songs on Your Guitar
Marrone, Antimo
Kemmeter, Jennifer
Hardcover
Advanced Jazz-Fusion Guitar Techniques: Discover the Art of Modern Jazz-Fusion Soloing using Lines, Phrasing and Harmonic Concepts
Pettingale, Tim
Alexander, Joseph
Meader, Josh
Paperback
Curso completo de guitarra eléctrica: Método moderno de técnica y teoría aplicada
Martinez Cuellar, Miguel Antonio
Paperback
Kalamazoo Gals - A Story of Extraordinary Women & Gibson's "Banner" Guitars of WWII
Thomas, John
Paperback
The Gretsch Electric Guitar Book: 60 Years of White Falcons, 6120s, Jets, Gents and More
Bacon, Tony
Paperback
The Caged System for Guitar: A Fretboard Mastery Method for Lead and Solo Guitarists
Shipway, James
Paperback
Visual Guitar Theory: An Easy Guide to Recognizing and Understanding Essential Fretboard Patterns
Johnson, Chad
Paperback
Flying V, Explorer, Firebird: An Odd-Shaped History of Gibson's Weird Electric Guitars
Bacon, Tony
Paperback
101 Blues Riffs &Solos in Open D Guitar Tuning: Essential Lessons for Open D (DADF#AD) Guitar Tuning
Robitaille, Brent
Paperback
Martin Guitars: A History - Updated and Re-Designed Guitar History Book - Guitar Music Book with Hundreds of Photos and Documents
Johnston, Richard
Boak, Dick
Longworth, Mike
Hardcover
Creative Arpeggio Phrasing for Guitar: Master Arpeggio Substitutions, Scale Sequences, & Chromatic Techniques With Greg Howe
Pettingale, Tim
Howe, Greg
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
The Blues Guitar Looper Pedal Book: How to Use Your Looper Pedal and Play the Blues
Robitaille, Brent C.
Paperback
Ultimate Ukulele Technique & Warm-up Book: Finger Workouts, Graded Pieces & Chord Exercises
Robitaille, Brent
Paperback
The Prs Electric Guitar Book: A Complete History of Paul Reed Smith Electrics
Burrluck, Dave
Paperback
Grateful Dead Gear: The Band's Instruments, Sound Systems and Recording Sessions From 1965 to 1995
Jackson, Blair
Paperback
Play It! Children's Songs for Guitar: A Superfast Way to Learn Awesome Songs on Your Guitar
Kemmeter, Jennifer
Marrone, Antimo
Paperback
The Holistic Guitarist: A Complete Guide to Musical Well-Being with Online Video
McGowan, Sean
Paperback
The First 100 Picking Patterns for Guitar: The Beginner's Guide to Perfect Fingerpicking on Guitar
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
Guitar: Guitar Music Book For Beginners, Guide How To Play Guitar Within 24 Hours
Mahalo, Tom
Paperback
Triad Soloing For Modern Guitar: Master Triad Shapes, Creative Patterns & Triad Pairs for Articulate, Melodic Guitar Soloing
Noy, Oz
Pettingale, Tim
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
Bass Guitar Scales 365: 52 Weeks of Daily Bass Exercises-Major, Minor, Pentatonic & Modes. Plus, Real-World Applications for All Scales!
Nelson, Troy
Tatnall, Kirk
Paperback
How To Play Guitar: A Beginner's Guide to Learn How To Play The Guitar, Read Music, and Much More
Randall, Jason
Paperback
Tommy Emmanuel's Fingerstyle Guitar Milestones
Alexander, Joseph
Pettingale, Tim
Emmanuel, Tommy
Paperback
Charlie Parker for Guitar: Note-For-Note Transcriptions and Detailed Performance Notes for 18 Bebop Classics
Voelpel, Mark
Paperback
The Only Guitar Book You'll Ever Need: From Tuning Your Instrument and Learning Chords to Reading Music and Writing Songs, Everything You Need to Play
Jackson, Ernie
Schonbrun, Marc
Paperback
The First 100 Strumming Patterns for Guitar: The Beginner's Guide to Strumming on Guitar and Playing in Time
Alexander, Joseph
Pettingale, Tim
Paperback
Modern Metal Guitar Technique: Craft Powerful, Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs & Melodic Lines With Trivium's Matt Heafy
Heafy, Matt
Pettingale, Tim
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
Beginner Gypsy Jazz Guitar: Master the Essential Skills of Gypsy Jazz Guitar Rhythm & Soloing
Nolan, Robin
Alexander, Joseph
Paperback
Hal Leonard Gypsy Jazz Guitar Method by Jeff Magidson & Dave Rubin: Includes Video Instruction and Audio Play-Alongs!
Rubin, Dave
Jeff Magidson
Paperback
Kurt Rosenwinkel: Creative Exercises for Modern Guitar
Alexander, Joseph
Rosenwinkel, Kurt
Pettingale, Tim
Paperback
Rickenbacker Electric 12-String: The Story of the Guitars, the Music, and the Great Players
Bacon, Tony
Paperback
The Gibson 335 Guitar Book: Electric Semi-Solid Thinlines and the Players Who Made Them Famous
Bacon, Tony
Paperback
101 Blues Riffs and Solos in Open G Guitar Tuning DGDGBD: Essential Blues Guitar Lessons in Open G Tuning (DGDGBD)
Robitaille, Brent C.
Paperback
The Complete 4-String Cigar Box Guitar Chord Book: 4-String Cigar Box Guitar Chords in GDGB Tuning
Robitaille, Brent C.
Paperback
First Pieces for Classical Guitar: Master twenty beautiful classical guitar studies
Thorpe, Rob
Paperback