Most guitarists will never have the opportunity to play high-end or vintage gear, but that’s what guitar pornography like this book is for. If you’ve never been fortunate enough to play or own a 1967 Guild Starfire V, EccoSonic amp, or Musitronics Mu-Tron III, author and VG contributor Dave Hunter offers you the next best thing: great photos and Gear Acquisition Syndrome-inducing information about the greatest gear in the world.

This book is also a history lesson for guitarists. It’s a 320-page collection of the most iconic tools of the trade, with easy-to-digest information. With more than 680 photographs of the most precious guitars, amps, and effects, it’s a guitar wonderland that takes you from the rare to the bizarre to the essential. The Boss Super Overdrive SD-1, Fulltone Drive 2, and Line 6 POD, are all here alongside a ’66 Burns Bison, ’63 Vibroverb, and ’47 Fender Dual Professional.

This is a great resource for both the novice and the veteran guitarist. And it should be required reading for the serious guitarist who wants to improve their gear knowledge.

This article originally appeared in VG‘s February ’13 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.