The Art Of Lutherie offers a glimpse into the mind and craft of luthier Tom Bills, whom many consider to be one of the most talented luthiers today. In this beautifully written and enjoyable read, Tom elegantly and clearly shares his best-kept secrets and methods of custom guitar making - those which make his guitars favorites among top collectors and players. Tom's unique approach to The Art Of Lutherie will empower and inspire you to create more than just a guitar, but a truly unique work of art. The information that is generously shared within this insightful and timeless work is both practical and applicable. It contains the same hard-won wisdom that only comes from years of experience and experimentation that Tom uses in creating his inspiring instruments. Over the years, he has produced instruments considered to be some of the best sounding guitars ever made.

Learning the steps of how to build a guitar is important, but understanding why master luthiers take those steps and make those decisions can empower you to make your own educated choices. This will allow you to create unique guitars, and the world needs your art, your guitars - your important contribution. The Art Of Lutherie, a truly unique and inspiring guide, can prepare you to reach new heights when designing and creating unique guitars." It is not often I heap such lavish praise on people; however, Tom is in this case more than deserving: I know of no other luthier whose work I respect more. Tom knows his craft inside and out; he pours his soul into every guitar he makes; he uses cutting-edge science to guide his work, and it shows...as head of Artist Relations and Product Development at Mel Bay, it gives me great pleasure to publish Tom's work, which will no doubt take the art of lutherie to a new level. I hope you'll spend some time soaking in this book - it will certainly augment your musicality - Collin Bay. Includes access to online video.

Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Benefits For The Guitar Player
Benefits For The Guitar Builder
Section One – Designing For Sound 
Chapter 1: Concepts Of Guitar Design
What Is A Guitar?
The Guitar As A System
Scale Length
The Tonal Effects Of Scale Length
Fanned Frets - Multi-Scale
Chapter 2: Defining The Rules Of The Game
Effects Of Thickness
Tempo
Frequency
Enharmonicity And Compensation
Tension
Anatomy Of The String
String Theory & The Blueprint For Sound
Creating A Full Scale Drawing
Section Two – Application Of Principles 
Chapter 3: Set Up & Geometry
Action: String-Fingerboard Interaction
The Fingerboard
Forward Bow Of The Fingerboard
Fretwork
Fingerboard Radius
Choosing Fret Wire
Fret Size
Fret Material
The Crown
Fret Ends
Neck Angle
Elevated Fingerboard
Break Over Angle
Chapter 4: Main Components
Steel String Bridge
Archtop Bridge
The Sound Board
Linings and Recurve
Recurve
Linings
Chapter 5: Bracing
Bridge Position
Coupling vs Non-Coupling
Steel String Guitar Bracing
Nylon String Guitar Bracing
Archtop Guitar Bracing
Bracing Profile  
Bracing Contour & Ends
Top Architecture
Chapter 6: Tap Tuning
Air Cavity
1 The Body Depth
2 The Sound Hole
Side Sound-Holes & Forward Projection
The Back Plate
Chapter 7: Tone woods
Mass and Stiffness
Chapter 8: Visual Harmony
Begin With The Tradition
Dimensional Harmony = Visual Harmon
Great Art Tells A Story
Chapter 9: Finishing
My Story
Chapter 10: Final Thoughts
A Reminder
Goals
Don’t put the cart before the horse
Guitar Photos
About The Author