Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

New Guitar Book: A Guitar and a Pen

PG columnist John Bohlinger is releasing a new book and giving away a Gibson in May

A Guitar and A Pen CoverNashville, TN (April 8, 2008) -- Premier Guitar''s monthly Sideman Survival writer, John Bohlinger, has a new book headed to Amazon and bookstores on May 14, 2008. A Guitar and a Pen is a collection of stories from Nashville''s finest songwriters who fully understand one saying: "It all starts with a song."

The book includes a foreword from Vince Gill and stories from Charlie Daniels, Tom T. Hall, Bob McDill, Tia Sellers, Gary Nicholson, Mark D. Sanders, Bob DiPiero, Kris Kristofferson, Hal Ketchum, Bobby Braddock and Janis Ian -- just to name a few. These wordsmiths have shaped some of the greatest stories into three and a half minutes that fit neatly on the radio. With this in mind, the editors set out to answer the question, "If they can put all that into a song, what could and would they do with a blank piece of paper and a pen?" The answer lies in this 272-page collection of fiction, non-fiction, creativity and insight.

One example of the writing featured in the book is Kris Kristofferson''s "A Rock," which tells the humorous story of how an explicit natural rock formation brings chaos to a small farming town out west. "He Always Knew Who He Was" reveals the true story of Bluegrass founder Bill Monroe meeting Frank Sinatra, as told by Hazel Smith.

With the release of A Guitar and a Pen, the co-editors -- Bohlinger, Robert Hicks (New York Times bestselling author of The Widow of the South) and Justin Stelter -- are giving away one Gibson Songwriter Series Deluxe acoustic guitar. Enter to win by clicking here.

For more information:
A Guitar and A Pen

This legendary vintage rack unit will inspire you to think about effects with a new perspective.

When guitarists think of effects, we usually jump straight to stompboxes—they’re part of the culture! And besides, footswitches have real benefits when your hands are otherwise occupied. But real-time toggling isn’t always important. In the recording studio, where we’re often crafting sounds for each section of a song individually, there’s little reason to avoid rack gear and its possibilities. Enter the iconic Eventide H3000 (and its massive creative potential).

Read MoreShow less

6V6 and EL84 power sections deliver a one-two punch in a super-versatile, top-quality, low-wattage combo.

Extremely dynamic. Sounds fantastic in both EL84 and 6V6 settings. Excellent build quality.

Heavy for a 9-to-15-watt combo. Expensive.

$3,549

Divided by 13 CCC 9/15

dividedby13.com

5
5
4.5
4

The announcement in January 2024 that Two-Rock had acquired Divided by 13 Amplifiers (D13) was big news in the amp world. It was also good news for anyone who’d enjoyed rocking D13’s original, hand-made creations and hoped to see the brand live on. From the start of D13’s operations in the early ’90s, founder and main-man Fred Taccone did things a little differently. He eschewed existing designs, made his amps simple and tone-centric, and kept the company itself simple and small. And if that approach didn’t necessarily make him rich, it did earn him a stellar reputation for top-flight tube amps and boatloads of star endorsements.

Read MoreShow less

The luthier’s stash.

There is more to a guitar than just the details.

A guitar is not simply a collection of wood, wire, and metal—it is an act of faith. Faith that a slab of lumber can be coaxed to sing, and that magnets and copper wire can capture something as expansive as human emotion. While it’s comforting to think that tone can be calculated like a tax return, the truth is far messier. A guitar is a living argument between its components—an uneasy alliance of materials and craftsmanship. When it works, it’s glorious.

Read MoreShow less

Two Iconic Titans of Rock & Metal Join Forces for a Can’t-Miss North American Trek

Tickets Available Starting Wednesday, April 16 with Artist Presales

General On Sale Begins Friday, April 18 at 10AM Local on LiveNation.com

Read MoreShow less