The Strat in the Attic 2: More Thrilling Stories of Guitar Archaeology

by Deke Dickerson

Don’t fret! The music historian and guitar sleuth brings you more astounding stories of rare guitar finds and the legends who owned them.Do you dream of finding a 1954 Stratocaster or 1952 Gibson Les Paul online, at a garage sale, or in the local penny saver? How about virtually rubbing elbows with one of your favorite rock legends? Following up his first-of-its-kind The Strat in the Attic, musician, journalist, and “guitarchaeologist” Deke Dickerson shares the stories behind dozens of more astounding finds rarer-than-hens-teeth 1966 Hallmark Swept-Wing that originally belonged to Robbie Krieger of the Doors, stashed away in an attic in Alaska for forty years!A crazy-valuable 1958 Gibson Flying V belonging to a Chicago bluesman—who, it turns out, also happens to have an equally rare 1958 Gibson Explorer!An out-of-the-blue, a “to whom it may concern” email leads the author to a trailer park in Salem, Oregon, where one of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys’ original 1940s Epiphone Emperor archtops is waiting to be purchased for a song!Luthier R.C. Allen relates the tales of buying Nat “King” Cole Trio guitarist Oscar Moore’s Stromberg Master 400 archtop and of being gifted a 1953 Standel amp from Merle Travis!Buddy Merrill, the amazingly talented guitarist from the Lawrence Welk show, gives his 1970 Micro-Frets Huntington to the author, but only if he “promises to PRACTICE.”Photos of the guitars and other exciting memorabilia round out a package that no vintage-guitar aficionado will want to be without!“The man knows how to tell a great story.” —Jonathan Kellerman, #1 New York Times–bestselling author

Genres: Music

259 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2014

Reviews

[Monty Ashley]

The first book had a couple stories that felt a little like someone telling me how they scammed someone out of a treasure they didn’t know they had. Just a little; I’m sure everyone involved felt like they were taken care of. In this book, that happens to a Guitar Center, which: good! Feel free to lowball those guys every chance you get, in my opinion.

Anyway, they’re fun books that are really mostly about weird guitar history.

[Karen Lovett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad there is a second volume - more stories of finding legendary guitars. I hope there will be a third volume in the future!

[Steven Herod · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Deke Dickerson's second venture into Guitar Archaeology, the book leads fans back into the world of interesting, novel, and collectable guitar finds. In this second volume Dickerson attempts to mesh some more of his own stories with additional stories that have been shared with him by others. It is notable that his own stories seem to have more flare in their retelling than those that were shared b others. This is more of a testament to his ability to transmit his natural excitement of the subject onto the pages than a commentary on the vivid of these other stories. In any case, the entire book is an easy read, particularly for an audience that has interest in the subject. The result of this book was very similar to the first; i find my self wanting to seek out that next great guitar find! For this reason alone, I rate this book highly - any book that impact my excitement in a subject is excellent in my view. One thine that Deke does differently in this volume is that he solidifies himself as an every-day guitar addict, a poor-man's collector if you will. This prospect seems relatable (to me at least!) and drives home the fact that there is great heritage behind guitars that aren't necessarily 50's & 60's Les Pauls or the like.

[Jason Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the sequel as much as the original! Deke Dickerson has a charming, down-to-earth, but still a cool guy in a band style and he really knows his stuff when it comes to vintage guitars, amps, and memorabilia. The last chapter on Deke's experiences cleaning out RC Allen's hoarded workshop is more like a meditation on the mysterious nature of stuff, why we keep it, and what it means. The book is like a conversation with somebody that has a really cool job - only Deke has two! He's a great guitar player and guitarcheologist!

[Sarah]

I just won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways. When it's arrived on my doorstep and I've had a chance to read it and formulate my opinions, I'll post a review. Stay tuned!