Until the launch of the Flying V and Explorer in 1958, electric guitars were supposed to look like...guitars. Suddenly, Gibson turned conventional design upside down, changing the way electrics could look. This book tells the story of those first peculiar instruments and describes Gibson's second attempt at nonstandard designs with the Firebird of the early '60s, and how these designs influenced guitar-makers such as Hamer, Jackson, Dean, Ibanez, and BC Rich. Interviews with players and makers illuminate the story of these electric guitar innovations, alongside full-color images of every key model and brand, an enviable collection of guitar memorabilia, and a detailed collector's guide to every Explorer, V, and Firebird, including serial numbers. Softcover. 142 pp.