“Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book” hits stores on Black Friday, and among the more than 500 images included are close-up looks at what may be her most important stage arsenal… or what might be at least in a tie with the famous wardrobe. That would be the superstar’s full complement of acoustic guitars, which have obsessed fans since the tour began in March 2023, and which now can finally, officially all be seen in one place. Variety has an exclusive first look at these book images.
Taylor Swift’s guitars, as seen in “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book”
TAS Rights Management
Exclusive photograph from ‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book’
Courtesy TAS Rights Management
The first-look images include two lineup shots the eight truly tailor-made guitars, along with a concert shot that also appears in the new book of Swift playing what may be the most recognizable of the instruments, a bejeweled guitar that was custom-adorned by her family and includes a familiar “13” logo. The pics will soon be available to all, as “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book” goes on sale exclusively in Target’s brick-and-mortar stores on Friday.
In the book’s text, previewed exclusively here, Swift describes herself as “frolicking across stages with my crystal covered guitar (which was bedazzled by my parents and my brother), fringe dress, and boots – alongside my band. This is the first moment in the show where we highlight the magnificent musicians in my live band, who are also the studio musicians who play on the Taylor’s Versions of my re-records.”
The spread that includes two separate images of her full phalanx of guitars lined up also includes a close-up of a pick holder on the back of her pink guitar, holding some “Lover” picks that occasionally land in the hands of tour-goers.
Detail from ‘Taylor Swift The Eras Tour’ book image
Courtesy TAS Rights Management
It’s not just “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book” that fans will be lining up for Friday. The book is going on sale alongside first-time CD and vinyl editions of the deluxe edition of Swift’s latest album — “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” — which was previously only available digitally.
Can these hot-ticket items be purchased without braving a Black Friday checkout line? Yes, if you can deal with a little more delayed gratification. On that first day of sale, the book, LPs and CDs will only be available in-store at Target. These same items will then go up for sale through the retailer’s webstore and app on Saturday.
The 256-page volume’s 500-plus images include photos of performances from every segment of the three-hour-plus show and its rehearsals, along with behind-the-scenes images of instruments, costumes, set pieces and designer sketches, plus Swift’s personal reflections and notes. It retails for $39.99.
The guitars might not get quite the widespread attention that Swift’s wardrobe has over the course of the tour. But everyday fans as well as guitar magazines have taken to detailing what there is to glean about the instruments, some of which were new for the Eras Tour but some of which go way back in her career.
Detail from ‘Taylor Swift The Eras Tour’ book image
Courtesy TAS Rights Management
The bejeweled guitar is a Gibson J-180, with thousands of lead crystals that Swift previously said in an Instagram Story had been applied by her and her family members in the days leading up to the tour opening. This new creation was an homage to a similarly rhinestone-encrusted guitar that she used on her “Fearless” tour, although the “13” was a new touch.
Detail from ‘Taylor Swift The Eras Tour’ book image
Courtesy TAS Rights Management
The “koi” guitar, which actually includes fish imagery, is something she first began using on the “Speak Now” tour, and it was also seen in the “Anti-Hero” video. From a “Living Jewels” series of guitars, of which only about 100 were made, It was on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame for many years until Swift broke it out of custody to take it out on the Eras Tour.
Detail from ‘Taylor Swift The Eras Tour’ book image
Courtesy TAS Rights Management
Possibly the oldest guitar in her arsenal, the wood-grainy one, is a custom-built Grand Auditorium that she is said to have used in shows as long ago as 2007.
Guitar.com published a rundown of the known information about most of Swift’s tour guitars earlier this year.
Fans will have much more to consider than Gibson customizations when the book comes out Friday, even as they take in the four acoustic tracks that are being added as bonuses upon bonuses to the already deluxe 31-song “Tortured Poets Department” lineup.
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