The modern guitar sound - that drenched, mid-range distortion you hear on a lot of heavier records - is typically the result of combining a plethora of amps, cabs, effects and various other devices. Gone are the days of simply plugging a guitar straight into an amplifier - though you will never find a greater sound than those created by some of the classic players like Eric Clapton, Paul Kossoff and Robin Trower. You now need special gear, and unless you're an incredibly technically-minded musician, you're probably going to feel lost when it comes to hooking stuff up and dealing with all the minutiae involved.

Modern Guitar Rigs helps you wend your way through the jungle. You still need a technical background to understand what's written here (this is not for the beginner), but at least the information is available. The book deals with

• Rack gear
• Amp setups
• Guitar variables (pickups; amp choice)
• Effect loops
• Rig infrastructure (power conditioners; noise suppressors; power attenuators; wireless systems; custom cabling; and equipment racks)

Truthfully, any dedicated guitarist will tell you that most of the sound comes from the fingertips. If you're not a good player to begin with, surrounding yourself with banks of delays and reverbs isn't going to solve the problem. But if you've got your techniques down and want to learn how to assemble a modern guitar rig, this book is helpful.