You may need a bigger pocket for this ex-panded second edition of Gruhn’s Guide, but you’ll want to have one. The larger-format softcover edition adds over 200 pages with new sections on post-war Dobros, Epi banjos, Gibson amps, Gibson banjos, all Guild instruments, Mosrite, Ovation, National Reso-Phonic, Monteleone, and many other makers. With listings complete through early ’99, this new edition is completely up to date and includes many new and expanded listings.

Stratocasters and Les Pauls cover many pages, the Dobro section sorts the mysteries of odd model numbering systems, Guild and Ovation offerings are completely described, and the guitars of independent makers like Bob Benedetto and Jimmy D’Aquisto are described and serialized. One happy by-product of the new size is the print is a little larger. Nearly twice as much information in a larger size for only a little more money adds up to good value. Available from Miller Freeman.

Second Edition, San Francisco: Miller Freeman 1999, Softbound 581 pages, ISBN 0-87930-422-7 $27.95