The revised and expanded hardback version of Phil Taylor's wonderful book "Pink Floyd: The Black Strat: A History Of David Gilmour's Black Fender Stratocaster" is now available in the US, and in most other countries around the world, courtesy of publishers Hal Leonard. Perfect for the guitar aficionado and the non-guitar-playing, Gilmour fan alike, it's a book that should be in any Floyd fan's collection.

And, with the book given an overhaul with technical and factual information uncovered since the first edition, and a nice selection of additional, newly unearthed and previously unseen pictures, it is also a very tempting proposition for those who already own the first edition paperback...

As we noted in our review of the first edition paperback, the book takes a careful and detailed look at one of rock's most iconic instruments. Rather than a dry, technical manual, suited only to those who already know guitars inside and out, it is a rewarding and accessible book that Pink Floyd fans the world over will thoroughly enjoy.

Phil told us: "The second edition has been expanded and amended with an additional 36 new pages slotted in throughout the book.

"Other interesting information and previously unseen photographs had come to light since the first edition was printed, which I wanted to include. Many of the original pages have been re-jigged and updated with some photographs changed to facilitate this. Now the book has 160 pages in total.

"Finally, the second edition has a hardback cover which has a slightly different layout to the first, at the request of Storm".

We won't describe the book in detail here - for that, you can check out our previous review. What we'll do is concentrate on how this edition differs, and why we feel it is such an important upgrade to the first edition.

The first major change is a nice picture of David Gilmour in Capitol Studios in May 1970, shown with the original black Strat, prior to the theft of that and their other equipment in the US during that month, which resulted in a swift purchase of the replacement which endures to this day.

From this stage on, there are additional text passages and many new pictures, some very nice and unusual.

One of the most striking, yet simple, is of David recording Shine On You Crazy Diamond's intro. In a barren Abbey Road studio, David forms an almost solitary figure, picking out those iconic notes simply accompanied by his guitar amps, and Phil Taylor himself.

The book concludes with an expanded section on the Fender replica editions of the guitar, as the hardback has appeared since these rather desirable instruments were done and dusted. You get an interesting glimpse into the hard work and time involved in bringing these replicas to fruition, and it is a fitting end to the book.

As we've said earlier, this is an essential book for the Floyd fan. Whether or not you own the first edition, there is so much here which will absorb, amuse, or intrigue you, and we wholeheartedly recommend it. A great job has been done pulling together the story of a guitar which has played such a vital role in Pink Floyd's music.

ORDERING INFORMATION
The hardback edition can be ordered through the following special links, which will enable you to save up to 37% off the recommended selling price: Amazon UK, Amazon US/International, Amazon Canada, Amazon Germany, or Amazon France.