Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   John Stubbings
Publisher:   University of Texas Press
Imprint:   University of Texas Press
ISBN:  

9781477332580

ISBN 10:   1477332588
Pages:   368
Publication Date:   16 September 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
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Table of Contents

Preface Introduction 1. The Origins of the Acoustic Guitar 2. The Birth of Martin Guitars 3. Popular Music in the Civil War and Beyond 4. Minstrelsy and the Blues 5. Ukuleles and Hawaiian Guitars 6. The Jazz Age and Country Music’s Big Bang 7. The Depression and the Emergence of the Modern Flat-top 8. The Most Popular Fretted Instrument 9. Skiffle and a Guitar Craze in Britain 10. British Blues, American Guitars 11. Gone Electric 12. The Singer-Songwriter and the D-28 13. Beyond Martin and Gibson 14. Unplugged 15. Americana and an Acoustic Revival 16. New Old Guitars 17. The Acoustic Guitar, Taylor’s Version Gratitude and Acknowledgments Bibliographic Essay and Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

""The Devil Is in It is the culmination of years of experience, research, extensive travels, sheer sweat and determination, love and obsession. It has expanded my knowledge, and I know other readers will find it as informative and entertaining as I have."" - George Gruhn

The Devil Is in It is the culmination of years of experience, research, extensive travels, sheer sweat and determination, love and obsession. It has expanded my knowledge, and I know other readers will find it as informative and entertaining as I have.--George Gruhn

Author Information

After a career in advertising, John Stubbings dedicated his time to writing and playing the acoustic guitar. A self-described ""accidental guitar collector,"" he began researching the commissioning and building of hand-made acoustic guitars in 2017. Alongside his musical pursuits he is an avid book collector with a passion for history.

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