Clapton's Guitar: Watching Wayne Henderson Build the Perfect Instrument

by Allen St. John and John Allen Allen St. John

Book Overview

New York Times bestselling author Allen St. John started off looking for the world's greatest guitar, but what he found instead was the world's greatest guitar builder.

Living and working in Rugby, Virginia (population 7), retired rural mail carrier Wayne Henderson is a true American original, making America's finest instruments using little more than a pile of good wood and a sharp whittling knife. There's a 10-year waiting...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743266366
• ISBN13: 9780743266369
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A Perfect Guitar Story

This is an astonishingly good read. It is meticulously crafted and casually presented, which is a perfect match for Wayne Henderson and his approach to his craft. "Clapton's Guitar" is a delightful, first-person account of accompanying Wayne Henderson while he builds Clapton's guitar. For all who have met Wayne and played a Henderson Guitar - I met him a few years back in Nashville and played the Henderson dreadnought that he used in a spellbinding performance at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society annual gathering - St. John captures the man and his instruments beautifully. In addition, you not only get to be a fly on the wall, or, perhaps more appropriately, an apprentice at the bench, in Wayne's shop, but you get a lesson in the geography and culture of the Appalachian region, a history of old time and bluegrass music, and, best of all, a history of Wayne Henderson. In all, a delight to read. I really recommend this book highly.

Great Gift for The Aspiring Musician

This book helped me bridge the generation gap. My sons are aspiring musicians, and I wanted them to appreciate the art and labor which goes the instrument they love so much. After they read the book, they went out and listend to the music of Eric Clapton and other great guitarists of my era, which helped bring us together. Highly recommended.

"Clapton's Guitar" Entertaining, Interesting, & Well Written

I bought this book with a little skepticism as I thought it might be another techincal "how to" book about guitars. Boy was I ever wrong as I couldn't put it down once I started reading it! Allen St. John has written a very entertaining & interesting book about a master luthier/guitar virtuoso named Wayne Henderson of Rugby, Virginia, Population 7. It is a true story about Eric Clapton discovering one of Mr. Henderson's guitars at a studio and being so impressed he wants to get one, the only trouble being that it takes up to ten years to receive it. Mr. St. John tells us in a delightful & entertaining way the story behind Clapton's guitar & what it took to make it. You will learn about Wayne Henderson and the cast of characters that hang out at his guitar shop who not only want one of his guitars, but just want to see an "old world craftsman" perform his trade. Along the way you learn about Mr. Henderson, his family, friends, and the small town of Rugby, Virginia through the eyes of Mr. St. John as he aides Mr. Clapton's quest for a Henderson guitar as well as his own desire to own one. Mr. St. John's writing style is easy going with a blend of first hand accounts and little side stories along the way that keep your interest. He has a way of making you feel like you are there with him in rural Rugby, Virginia watching, assisting, and encouraging Mr. Henderson to make Clapton's guitar and becoming his friend along the way. This book has something for everyone from guitar afficianados to people who just like a good story. Buy it and you won't be sorry you did.

Like A Ring in A Bell

This book is delightful, a journey through the craft that precedes art. It reads like Chuck Berry said Johnny B. Goode's guitar sounded, "like a ring in a bell." I can't wait to hear Wayne Henderson play.

A guitar and it's story both crafted by masters.

Mr. St John puts you right over Wayne Henderson's shoulder as he takes a pile of wood and removes everything that's not a guitar. A wonderful read for anyone whether you have a passion for guitars or just good books.