This great American icon is the subject of Gibson's Fabulous Flat Tops, a comprehensive book that chronicles the history of the Gibson company and the growth and development of their flat top guitars. The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument similar to an electric guitar but larger in size and with a deeper tone. It is also closely related to the double bass and shares things in common with a range of bass instruments. Key guitarists such as George Harrison, Duane Eddy and Chet Atkins. These three most famous of Gretsch players have their guitars pictured among over 70 sensational color photographs of rare and unusual instruments that help make The Gretsch Book illuminate the history of this idiosyncratic guitar maker. Marshall is the company that originated the amp 'stack' - tracing the impressive lineage of its valve guitar amps. Buy Acoustic Guitar. For the Gibson lovers, I'd consider a '54 to '56 Les Paul Gold Top (I think you might be lucky to pick up a '57) or a Custom. If you have $5,000 or $6,000 left, then a good Fender Tweed Bassman or Twin would fit the bill nicely. A catholic choice, I know, but these guitars have consistently been in demand, and I see no change to this in the near or far-off future. So how would the new Fender company accommodate changing styles and tastes, and adapt its venerable Stratocaster guitar to the needs of the present? During the CBS era, clear answers had often eluded the suits who ran the company. One exec opined in private, “What are we supposed to do — build in the same old mistakes, just to keep the purists happy?” This 2-Color Sunburst, maple beauty comes complete with a Vintage Tweed case and a beautifully etched neck plate for this once in a lifetime event. This allowed bassists to move further up front in the band mix, both visually and audibly. This work has been continued and many companies and individual luthiers have joined the quest to take Leo Fender's original dream and idea to new levels. Buy Acoustic Guitar.