Get a comprehensive look at Frank Zappa's guitars, amps, effects and more in a new book, Zappa Gear

(Image credit: courtesy of Zappa Family Trust)

A new comprehensive book chronicling Frank Zappa’s guitars and other equipment will be released on November 29.

Titled Zappa Gear: The Unique Guitars, Amplifiers, Effects Units, Keyboards and Studio Equipment, the tome was written by Mick Ekers, with a foreword from Dweezil Zappa.

In addition to covering guitars, amps and more – everything from Zappa’s Marshalls and Gibson SGs to his wah-wah pedals and Synclavier – in incredible detail, Zappa Gear discusses some of the inventors, engineers and entrepreneurs without whom the musician’s particular, often modified equipment wouldn’t have existed. 

The book also includes over 180 photographs of Frank’s guitars and gear taken by the author at Zappa's UMRK studio in Los Angeles. 

(Image credit: courtesy of Zappa Family Trust)

Zappa Gear will also be joined by a second tome, The Hot Rats Book, by Bill Gubbins and Ahmet Zappa, due December 15.

The deluxe, commemorative offering celebrates the 50th anniversary of Zappa’s Hot Rats albums and boasts never before-seen photos from Gubbins, the only photographer to document the album sessions, as well as an interview between Gubbins and Ahmet Zappa. 

Both Zappa Gear and The Hot Rats Books were produced and written with the full cooperation of the Zappa Family Trust. 

Said Ahmet, "These books provide another way for fans to connect with Frank Zappa. They give a fascinating window into Frank's mind and the ideas he came up with throughout his career."

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

Richard Bienstock

Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.