Tone: it's the concept that gear-obsessed guitarists discuss more than any other, and the Tone Manual is the first book to take this hallowed concept seriously. In the course of breaking down the individual components of the electric guitar rig, the book both examines the ingredients in any given piece of equipment that contribute to superior or inferior sound, and offers tips on improving and making the most of the gear you've already got - all with reference to interviews with name artists and manufacturers.

In addition, the Tone Manual discusses the evolution of the guitarist's concept of "good tone." It provides an extensive guide to recorded examples of playing generally considered "tonally superior " citing examples from the early days of electric jazz, blues, country, and rock and roll; from the classic rock, blues rock, and heavy rock heyday of the late 1960s and early '70s; and from myriad contemporary artists.

Throughout the Tone Manual, a series of more than 30 Tone Tips will offer quick, digestible, practical info bites to help readers improve their sound and better understand their equipment. The Tone Manual also includes a cover-mounted CD.