In his new book, “The Birth of the Loud,” former SF Weekly music critic Ian S. Port traces the history of the the foremost iconic solid-body electric guitars, the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul. Port also explores the rivalry between guitarmakers Les Paul and Leo Fender, who competed to get their instruments into the hands of rockstars and at the forefront of a music revolution. We will discuss the sounds of the 50s and 60s that changed American popular music and the surprising story of the guitars that produced them. And tell us — do you prefer a Fender or a Gibson? Why?
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