Sandberg writes that it shouldn’t be read cover-to-cover, but it’s still an exhausting reference covering the history of guitars (a little too lengthy, IMO), guitar construction, materials, strings and manufacturers. He’s clearly a fan of Martin.

There is plenty of advice and common sense. For example, he’s correct in noting that the thesaurus of marketing adjectives is irrelevant in evaluating a guitar’s sound, feel or aesthetics. Thus, one doesn’t buy a guitar because its top is made of hand-carved petrified Brazilian balsa or Koa from Don Ho’s ukelele. Rather, one actually tries several out, live. (And if you don’t play, bring a friend who does.)

Towards the end, he offers sample [circa 2000] price ranges, what to expect, and which manufacturers one should look at as the baseline. Even eight years later, these still seem to hold true. (Well, within $50)