The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat

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(5 stars) - 50 years of the Stratocaster
I bought my first Stratocaster in 1977. It was my first electric guitar. I now own at least 30 of them. That is about one per year ever since. I always thought they were the most fun guitars to play. It took a while for me to afford a great amplifier or two, to really appreciate the sound. Then I learned how to take them apart and mix and match parts for the ultimate custom guitars. That is one of the great aspects of the Stratocaster. It is designed to be tinkered with and rebuilt over and again, or just leave it stock and pristine as a work of art unto itself. Mostly, they are made to be played! It wasn't until I read the Stratocaster Chronicles that I learned the history and development of one of the greatest instruments ever. I now can appreciate these guitars and their past, present, and future more thoroughly. It took Tom Wheeler to bring to light the story of Leo Fender and company, and the years of trials this guitar has been through. It makes me want to go back and buy some of the old models that I can't really afford. Thank God that Fender is still making quality guitars in this new century. I hope they will continue for the rest of my lifetime. This book is a must for any Fender/Stratocaster enthusiast. It Chronicles not only the guitar over the years, its high points and low points, but also many of the outstanding craftsmen and musicians who have helped bring this instrument to life with their talent and skills. Filled with more than enough photos and real interviews to keep you turning pages to see what is next. I never really knew this guitar until now. I have a renewed excitement for the guitar and am sure I will read this book from cover to cover again many times over the coming years. I truly recommend this as a coffee table book for even the casual guitar fan. It may inspire you to be part of the next generation guitar players to be written about in future guitar chronicles. So, pick up a copy of this book and get busy with a guitar, preferably a Stratocaster.

(5 stars) - Will make you a Strat fan for life
If you are a fan of just about any kind of music, you've heard a Fender Strat. This book covers all the details of one of the music world's most iconic images, the Fender Stratocaster. This is another book that I can't seem to put down. This book will make you want to run out and buy a Strat even if you can't play. I am just really learning the guitar after first picking one up over twenty-eight years ago. Buying this book really helped my decision to buy my first Strat, and it probably won't be my last.

This is a must-have book if you are a collector, musician, or a fan of Strat-playing musicians.

(5 stars) - Great book. Great fun!
This is a very well researched and well written book. All of Tom Wheeler's guitar and amp books are terrific. I also have the companion Fender Amp book which is a "must have" for enthusiasts and collectors.

(5 stars) - Nice Book for the strat fan
Incredible book. The whole story of the Fender Strat and Fender Musical Co., beautiful pictures and a deep analisys on different versions of who designed what!!! A lot of people have different versions of the story but at the end the picture is so much clearer. I tell you, this book is only for hardcore strat fans or collectors. 100% Recommended!!

(5 stars) - A good read and good reference
Sometimes I think the rarest book of all is any good book on musical instruments. The market is FULL of make-a-quick-buck enthusiast books with poor content, bad writing, and indifferent quality. This one is a refreshing exception. It's a sweeping survey of the strat's history, but it's a good one, is very readable, and the pictures are excellent. I have to agree with another reviewer, though, that the accompanying CD is forgettable. It doesn't detract from the book itself, however. Well worth your while.

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