The long-awaited English edition of this historic Japanese book is finally here! "The Beauty of the Burst" pays tribute to the magnificent Sunburst Les Pauls by Gibson, produced between 1958 and 1960 – the most sought-after solid-body electric guitars ever. The value of these guitars is directly tied to their appearance, characterized by striking wood grains or "figured" wood, as even non-players pay high prices for them. The book features stunning, full-color photographs of these beautiful instruments, guitars of famous players, a foreword by Ted McCarty, a biography of the author, the world-renowned collector Yasuhiko Iwanade, and the section "Science of the Burst" with over 30 pages of detailed reference information on all aspects of the guitar, including colors, wood grain, pickups, hardware, and tonal qualities. This could be the next opportunity for guitarists to get up close to these incredibly collectible beauties! 216 pages, 8-1/2 inches x 11 inches, paperback.