A Treasure Trove Of Rock ’n’ Roll Souvenirs. All Exclusively Premiered In This Two-Volume Box Set

An exclusive insight into a private collection that features a host of extremely rare vintage guitars, as well as many celebrity-owned instruments that have been rediscovered and are shown here for the first time. The myriad of sought-after and unique treasure date from the birth of the solid-body guitar in 1950 all the way to 2014.

This focused rock ’n’ roll collection includes instruments and amplifiers played by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Pete Townshend, Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, John Entwistle, Martin Barre, Robin Trower, Steve Marriott, Steve Jones, Mick Ralphs, Ginger Baker and many more.

Detailed information on each instrument’s history and discovery is provided alongside close-up, high-quality photographs. Feature guitars and ample include Fender Stratocasters from 1954 to 1974, black-guard Telecasters, Gibson Korinas, Bursts and other 1950s Les Pauls, SGs, twin necks, early Charvels, Jackson and Hamers, 1960s Marshalls and Hiwatts, and much more.

Intermission pages include unpublished concert photos and memorabilia relating to classic rock bands and guitar heroes, forming a unique collection that has been devotedly assembled over 40 years.

A Word FromZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons

Here’s an intense look at what Mr. Serra has collected through his years of following his own fascination of these many interesting examples of some of the rarest and valuable items of sonic memorabilia ever to be put together in one righteous piece.

There’s a lot of ground covered here. A lot of ground. So take a deep breath and hold on. These pages gonna rock you…!

A Word FromCheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen

Just when one might become blasé and assume you have seen it all before on print or in the flesh, here is a book that will prove you completely wrong.

There are still treasures yet to be discovered and that’s certainly the case here, “a while big impressive collection bunch” in Armand’s book GUITAR EXP. A true guitar experience…

Guitar EXP Vol 1

Forward by ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons

Covering the years between 1950 and 1963, part one of this collection starts with the Fender Broadcaster, then moves on to a selection of black-guard Telecasters and early Stratocasters, including custom colours.

The Gibson range includes 1950s Les Pauls and Korinas, followed by early SGs, and the collection also features rare Marshall amplifiers dating from 1962 onwards. Celebrity-owned instruments include Jimi Hendrix’s very first Fender Stratocaster, the Gretsch used by Pete Townsend on Who’s Next, 1958 Flying V Korinas owned by Keith Richards and Mick Ralphs of Bad Company, 1959 Les Paul Sunbursts one by Mick Taylor, Martin Barre of Jethro Tull and Robin Trower of Procol Harum, the Les Paul used by Steve Jones on Never Mind The Bollocks, John Enthwistle’s 1958 Gibson Explorer and Discoverer bass, the Gibson J200 used by Ry Cooder in the movie ‘Buena Vista Social Club’, and guitars played by Scotty Moore, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath and Steve Marriott of Humble Pie.

Featured alongside these rare instruments are dozens of previously unseen photos and a lifetime’s worth of fascinating rock memorabilia.

Guitar EXP Vol 2

Forward by Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen

Part two of the collection showcases vintage and rare guitars dating from 1964 to 2014, including pre-1974 custom-colour Fender Stratocasters, Gibson SGs, Les Pauls, twin necks, Charvels, Jackson ‘Superstrats’ and Hamers, as well as early Marshall and Hiwatt amplifiers.

Celebrity-owned instruments and amplified include Jimi Hendrix’s complete Marshall stack, the double Ludwig drum kit played by Ginger Baker of Cream, Ritchie Blackmore’s Stratocaster, Jackson Soloists owned by Jeff Beck and Steve Vai, a Les Paul smashed by John Lennon, Ampegs owned by Keith Richards and Mick Taylor of The Rolling Stones, and guitars played by Alvin Lee of Ten Years After and John Entwistle of The Who, as well as many more classic instruments.

Intervening pages are packed with rare rock and roll memorabilia alongside previously unpublished photos of live performances but the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jaco Pastorius and Jeff Beck.

VIDEO

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Guitar EXP Vol 1 & 2 – Deluxe Edition

£95.00

Limited edition of 2000 copies
Slipcase + 2 hardback books: Volume 1: 228 pages & Volume 2: 252 pages
Over 1000 previously unpublished photographs
Luxurious, heavyweight art papers used throughout
Book sizes: 275 mm x 320 mm – Weight: 5 kg

Guitar EXP Vol 1 & 2 – Super Deluxe Edition

£495.00

Limited run of 250 numbered copies worldwide
Volume 1: Hand signed by ZZ TOP’S BILLY F GIBBONS
Volume 2: Hand signed by CHEAP TRICKS RICK NIELSEN
Embossed book covers and handmade slipcase
Gold & silver edging and ribbons
Super deluxe book trim and packaging

VIPs

Owner	Make	Year	Item	Info	Band
Jimi Hendrix	Marshall	1969	100 Watt Super Lead		EXP
Jimi Hendrix	Marshall	1969	4x12 Cab		EXP
Jimi Hendrix	Marshall	1969	4x12 Cab		EXP
Jimi Hendrix	Fender	1963	Stratocaster	White	EXP
Jeff Beck	Jackson	1984	Soloist	Orange	Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck	Marshall	1968	100 Watt Super Lead		Jeff Beck Group
John Lennon	Gibson	1972	Les Paul Deluxe	Gold	Hudson Bros/Lennon
Eric Clapton	Marshall	1967	100 Watt Amp		Cream
Keith Richards	Gibson	1958	Flying V	Korina	Rolling Stones
Keith Richards	Jackson	1986	Budweiser Guitar	Wheels	Rolling Stones
Mick Taylor	Gibson	1959	Les Paul	Sunburst	Bluesbreakers
Keith Richards/Mick Taylor	Ampeg	1969	4x12 Cab Pair	Black	Rolling Stones
Keith Richards	Ampeg	1972	4x12 Cab x Four	White	Rolling Stones
Robin Trower	Gibson	1959	Les Paul	Sunburst	Procol Harum
Robin Trower	Fender	1967	Stratocaster	Gold	Robin Trower
Pete Townshend	Gretsch	1956	6120	Orange	The Who
Pete Townshend	Hiwatt	1970	100 Watt Head		The Who
David Gilmour	Hiwatt	1970	100 Watt Head		Pink Floyd
Mick Ralphs	Gibson	1958	Flying V	Korina	Bad Company
Mick Ralphs	Gibson	1963	Firebird 1	Nat	Mott The Hoople
Alvin Lee	Gibson	1967	345	Sunburst	Ten Years After
Alvin Lee	Gibson	1967	335	Cherry	Ten Years After
Martin Barre	Gibson	1959	Les Paul	Sunburst	Jethro Tull
Martin Barre	Marshall	1976	50 Watt Head		Jethro Tull
Martin Barre	Marshall	1976	100 Super Lead		Jethro Tull
Martin Barre	Marshall	1976	4x12 Cab		Jethro Tull
Steve Marriott & Keith Richards	Gibson	1957	Les Paul Custom	Black	Humble Pie, Rolling Stones

Show

Steve Marriott	Dwight	1962		Cherry	Humble Pie
Eddie Van Halen	Charvel	2007	Cleveland 10/10/07	RD/WH/BLK	Van Halen
Ritchie Blackmore	Fender	1972	Stratocaster	Sunburst	Deep Purple/Rainbow
Ritchie Blackmore	Marshall	1975	200 Watt Head	White	Deep Purple
John McLaughlin	Gibson	1967	Twin Neck	Walnut	Mahavishnu
Neil Young/Stephen Stills	Marshall	1966	100 Super Tremolo	Black	Buffalo Springfield
Ry Cooder	Gibson	1960	J200	Nat	Buena Vista Social Club
Lonnie Mack	Gibson	1958	Flying V	Korina	Lonnie Mack
Scotty Moore	Gibson	1952	ES 295	Gold	Memphis Music H of F
Tony Iommi	Gibson	1959	Les Paul Junior	Sunburst	Black Sabbath/Leslie West
Les Harvey	Fender	1962	Stratocaster	Daphne B.	Stone The Crows
Laurie Wisefield	Gibson	1957	Les Paul	Gold Top	Wishbone Ash
Steve Jones	Gibson	1957	Les Paul Custom	Black	Sex Pistols/New York Dolls
Manny Charlton	Gibson	1953	Les Paul	Gold Top	Nazareth/Ernest Tucker
Steve Vai	Jackson	1984	Soloist	Pink	Dave Lee Roth
John Entwistle	Gibson	1957	Discoverer Bass	White	The Who
John Entwistle	Status	1998	Buzzard Bass	Graph	The Who
John Entwistle	Gretsch	1967	Monkess Bass	Red	The Who
John Entwistle	Gibson	1958	Explorer	Korina	The Who
Brian Ferry	Gibson	1958	Flying V	Korina	Roxy Music
Ginger Baker	Ludwig	1969	Double Kit	Silver	Cream
Johnny Cash/Bob Wooton	Fender	1966	Jazz Master	Lake P B	Sam Quentin 1969
Allen Collins	Gibson	1964	Firebird 1	Sunburst	Lynyrd Skynyrd
Martin Turner	Hamer	1975	Explorer Bass	Black SPK	Wishbone Ask
John Wetton	Fender	1969	Stratocaster	Black	King Crimson/UK/Asia
Jim McCarthy	Marshall	1969	200 Watt Head	Black	Cactus
Mo Foster	Gibson	1964	Twin Neck 6/4	Sunburst	Jeff Beck
Noddy Holder	Hiwatt	1974	Hiwatt 200+ Cab	Black	Slade
The Sweet	Hiwatt	1974	Hiwatt 200	Black	Steve Pierce/Andy Scott
Rockpile	Hamer	1978	8 String Bass	Yellow	Bruce Thomas/Nick Lowe

In The Press

Buyer’s Feedback

“Armand Serra’s “The Ultimate Collection” two book set is a wonderland of fabulous guitars and amplifiers. Custom colours, historically significant and celebrity owned guitars abound. Great write-ups and pictures chronicling the determined, life-long passion of the author accompany all the pieces. If you’re going to own one “Guitar Collection Book” this is it!”
Billy Stapleton, USA

“The most wonderful guitar book ever!”
Roger Nelissen, Belgium

“I think this is the ultimate vintage guitar book, and I got all of them!! Thanks a lot!”
René Pop Photography, The Netherlands

“I just have to congratulate you on a set of fantastic books. Simply stunning. Love the anecdotes and the guitars are wonderful. Truly a package for any guitar lover out there”
John Lovstad, Norway

“One of the best and coolest collections of vintage electric guitars in one of the best (if not the best) presented books I’ve ever seen.”
Paul Waller, England

“For my Guitar loving fiends: Those 2 books are fantastic. Best I’ve seen regarding vintage guitars. Get yourself a copy as long as they are still available, you will not be disappointed. Trust me.”
René Asch

“GUITAR EXP is an incredible piece of work, the most soulful vintage guitar book I’ve seen. Full of great stories – congratulations!”
Little Barrie, London

“I have received the books safely, they are “exceptional!”, what a great Jon! Congratulations and hope it will be a great success. One thousand thank you for the autograph, you made my day.”
Mauro Bozi, Switzerland

“Book is super ace. I knew it’d be good but it’s far better. Top!”
Andy Neal, England

“Incredible book, showing the collection on one of Armand Serra! Incredible breath-taking and drool-inducing photography.”
Antonio Malfaldino, Italy

“Armand. A great author of two super books.”
Tom Van Hoose, USA

“ Guitar EXP is a twin-hardback boxset documenting one of the most remarkable guitar collections on earth.”
Guitar & Bass UK