Jim Reilly Announces New Book on Rob Turner and EMG Pickups
After publishing a book on Ned Steinberger in 2020, author Jim Reilly has announced another biography of a music industry titan. Chasing Tone: How Rob Turner and EMG Revolutionized the Guitar’s Sound examines the life and work of the pickup designer, whose work has been used by Prince, Pink Floyd, Metallica, and more.
“Chasing Tone tells Rob Turner’s story from humble beginnings rewiring his father’s transistor radio components to founding EMG and, finally, to the world’s largest concert stages,” a press release explains. “Jim Reilly provides a wealth of fascinating insights by weaving together many exclusive interviews with top artists and colleagues, including James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo of Metallica; legendary session musician Leland Sklar; Vernon Reid of Living Colour; Victor Wooten; Béla Fleck; Nili Brosh; Jim Root of Slipknot; and guitar builders Mike McGuire and John Carruthers. Along the way, Reilly not only sheds light on the history of the electric guitar and bass and how EMG pickups forever altered their course but also explores the elusive relationship between builder and creator, showing how these artists found their sound.”
Chasing Tone will be out on August 15th in hardback and Kindle editions. While you’re waiting for the book to arrive, you can check out Reilly’s new Words and Music podcast. Episode two features bass luthier Devon Smullen:
