The Devil Is in It

A History of the American Acoustic Guitar

John Stubbings

$80.99

Hardback

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English

University of Texas Press
30 September 2025

Music; Music reviews & criticism; Guitar; History: specific events & topics

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.

By: John Stubbings
Imprint: University of Texas Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781477332580
ISBN 10: 1477332588
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 30 September 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

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.

Reviews for The Devil Is in It: A History of the American Acoustic Guitar

""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