The Complete Handbook of String Instruments
The professional's guide to selecting, maintaining, and working with acoustic and electric string instruments
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The practical, no-nonsense handbook for anyone who works with, buys, repairs, or teaches string instruments. Grounded in real-world application, not marketing.
About this book
String instruments have been refined over centuries, but the information available to buyers and technicians often remains fragmented, manufacturer-biased, or oversimplified. This handbook brings together the knowledge professionals actually need: how string vibration and wood properties determine sound; which specifications genuinely predict playability and durability; how to diagnose what's wrong with an instrument; and where the real opportunities lie in servicing, reselling, or teaching.
Written for music teachers managing classroom instruments, studio owners buying recording equipment, repair technicians solving problems, musicians making serious instrument purchases, and hobbyists who want to understand what they own. Every chapter prioritizes usable knowledge over marketing language—concrete examples, real specifications, and practical decision frameworks you can apply immediately.
This is the reference you'll return to when you need to know whether a crack is serious, what finish actually affects tone, which brands hold value, or how to build a business in this space.
Reader Reviews
Matthew Lopez
★★★★★Finally, a handbook that treats string instruments as serious equipment instead of marketing fodder. I'm a luthier and a teacher, and I found myself nodding through Chapter 1—the explanation of how wood resonance actually works cleared up misconceptions I've heard from students for years. The specifics matter here: actual frequencies, real bridge behavior, concrete examples of acoustic versus electric design tradeoffs. This is the book I'll recommend to anyone buying their first professional instrument or trying to understand why their setup matters.
Betty Carter
★★★★★Exactly what I needed. I run a small music shop and have been stuck answering the same questions repeatedly about finish, action, and which brands actually hold resale value. This handbook gives me real answers backed by actual specifications instead of forum hunches. Chapter 1 alone makes the physics clear enough that I can explain it to customers without sounding like I'm reciting marketing copy. Worth it for the business chapter alone, but the whole thing is solid reference material.