jt Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Hello, all. I've received a few inquiries about when my book will be out. It's a few weeks away from a pressing. The designer has promised the complete book to me by week's end. Then I approve the layout, proof the photo captions, and off it goes. Our target is to have it by the NAMM show on January 24 and all looks good for that. Here's the cover art (featuring a previously unpublished snapshot that one of the Gals gave me): The back cover will feature testimonials by George Gruhn, HP Newquist (founder of the National Guitar Museum), and Allen St. John (author of Clapton's Guitar). I'm very happy with the book and hope that others are, too. I did make one potentially controversial decision. To keep the price down ($20) I decided to present all photos in the book in black and white (color would have more than doubled the price). But, I'll offer all photos for free in high-res color on the website. Hopefully that's the best of all possibilities. I'm a bit farther off in getting the companion CD out. It's mixed and will soon be mastered but I still need to complete the art work for the jewel case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Can't wait, JT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 Thanks for keeping us in the loop JT. I actually went and checked at the publisher's website this morning. I am really dying to get this book. And I love the cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted December 25, 2012 Author Share Posted December 25, 2012 Thanks! It's been a long, wonderful journey. I'm in the proces of organizing a modest book tour. I'll keep all posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telemaster03 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Thanks for the update. Can't wait to see and hear it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Too bad about the lack of colour images, John -- I would gladly have shelled the extra bucks to have it include colour! But hey! -- that's just me; as you note, the price may be easier to swallow for wider distribution...? Either way, all the best with the book! Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 once it is a success, maybe we can see a full color hardback edition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Just my opinion, but I'd rather pay a few more bucks for the color version since I imagine there will be quite a few guitars in the book. Black and white of a burst may loose something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 JT will the book be available in canada? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonne Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Just my opinion, but I'd rather pay a few more bucks for the color version since I imagine there will be quite a few guitars in the book. Black and white of a burst may loose something. +1 on Banner pics in color! JB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 MoP, yes it will be available to Canada. To others, I'll rethink the color photos question. If the book is black and white, I'll put all of those color photos on the website and they'll have greater resolution (I've got huge, studio pics of each model) than they would in the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 MoP, yes it will be available to Canada. To others, I'll rethink the color photos question. If the book is black and white, I'll put all of those color photos on the website and they'll have greater resolution (I've got huge, studio pics of each model) than they would in the book. I have to admit I first had mixed feelings about the B&W book photos, but I see the value of having high-resolution photos online. For those of us who tend to go over photographs with a magnifying glass looking at details, the online photos will be invaluable, as you get past the limitations of the printing process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 If this book is going to have the same impact on me the Sears catalogs did in the early 1960s, waterproofing might be nice to protect it from all of the drooling which will be forthcoming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 If this book is going to have the same impact on me the Sears catalogs did in the early 1960s, waterproofing might be nice to protect it from all of the drooling which will be forthcoming. Ah, yes, those Sears catalogs........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParlourMan Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Good luck with the book JT, have you considered a mobile app, for iPad and/or Android, would be a fairly easy way to capture a wider audience and you wouldn't have the hassles regarding color/B&W cost considerations, also a great way to be able to update the book for suture editions. If you have access to iPads I'd urge you to take a look at stuff like Beatles guitars apps for ideas on just what could be done. Like some others have said, I'd be more inclined to opt for a colour hardbacked edition should one become available. Good luck, it's been quite an undertaking and very obviously a labour of love. Fingers crossed it gets the success it deserves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 jt, With such a specialized subject matter, I would imagine that the audience for your book is limited but highly enthusiastic, so you're most likely to sell the same number of copies of the more expensive color book as the lower-priced black and white. Can't wait for whatever version is made available. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 Thanks, all! I'l be sure to keep you posted. Good luck with the book JT, have you considered a mobile app, for iPad and/or Android, would be a fairly easy way to capture a wider audience and you wouldn't have the hassles regarding color/B&W cost considerations, also a great way to be able to update the book for suture editions. If you have access to iPads I'd urge you to take a look at stuff like Beatles guitars apps for ideas on just what could be done. Like some others have said, I'd be more inclined to opt for a colour hardbacked edition should one become available. Good luck, it's been quite an undertaking and very obviously a labour of love. Fingers crossed it gets the success it deserves. There will be an Amazon ebook. As for the app, probably not with this book. This is more history than guitar book. It does have all the detail about the guitars, including specs, x-rays, first shipments, images of the ledger pages for each, details about specific tracked guitars, and never before published info about Woody Guthrie's and Buddy Holly's Banner Gibsons. But, it's really not a coffee table book. The manuscript, without any images, is about 350 pages. I do have in the works, about half done, a coffee table book of my x-rays: Vintage Steel: the Art and History of the Steel String Guitar. As soon as I get the Kalamazoo Gals book out and get some of the book tour dates under my belt, I'll get the Vintage Steel book out. I do plan on a multimedia, interactive component to it, so your ideas are really helpful. Well, I've also got a film to shoot in April in New Mexico (not to mention a day job), so the x-ray book may still be a few months away. Thanks so much for your support. As soon as the book is off the press, I'll be offering signed copies to all forum members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 Well, I've also got a film to shoot in April in New Mexico (not to mention a day job), so the x-ray book may still be a few months away. Can't wait for the "Buddy Holly is alive..." film either. That project looks like a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 Can't wait for the "Buddy Holly is alive..." film either. That project looks like a lot of fun. Thanks, Nick! Filmmaking makes book writing look easy! It's a classic catch-22: to get the money, you need the talent; to get the talent, you need the money. Getting everything to line up is a real challenge. In addition to Jon Heder, we've got some very famous names attached to the film but can't announce that until everything is absolutely nailed down (likely just before filming actually starts). April is still looking good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 John, I'll have to admit that I would be more than willing to pay extra for a hardback color version of the book. Come to think of it, I have already paid, haven't I? :-) Either way, I'm sure you and your publisher know this best. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 John, I'll have to admit that I would be more than willing to pay extra for a hardback color version of the book. Come to think of it, I have already paid, haven't I? :-) Either way, I'm sure you and your publisher know this best. Lars Lars, Oh, I'm preparing a very special color supplement for Kickstarter supporters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 John, sounds great! Oh, and my last post was not the best choice of words. What I wanted to say was that I believe so much in this project that I would be willing to pay for the book more than once ;) Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 John, sounds great! Oh, and my last post was not the best choice of words. What I wanted to say was that I believe so much in this project that I would be willing to pay for the book more than once ;) Lars My sentiments, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted December 27, 2012 Author Share Posted December 27, 2012 Thanks, Lars and Nick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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