Conference napalm::guitar

    I really don't like guitar player! It has really become an `ad'
    mag.
    
    I like Guitar World. They offer some good tips on playing while
    providing real indepth interviews and equipment lists of players.
    Guitar for the practicing musician used to contain bogus interviews
    and bogus sheet music, but they are getting better (hiring better
    transcriptionists, writers, etc.).
    
    I get a few overseas guitar mags also, and those two remain the
    best of the lot (my opinion).   
    
    wjb

    As far as other guitar magazines being better than Guitar Player,
    I think that's a lot of bull caca. Guitar for the practicing musician
    is no where near the quality of guitar player. Guitar world is close, 
    but no cigar. I find Guitar for the practicing musician is full
    of heavey medalist, new wavers, and punk rockers. In case you hadn't 
    noticed the teenage head bangers, and punk rockers out there make up 
    about 90% of all record, musical intrument, and magazine sales,
    period. Naturally, record companies, musical instrument manufacturers,
    music stores, and publishers cannot deny this simple fact of life. 
    They are gonna market products that will be sellable to the majority
    of customers out there, period.
    
    Guitar Player magazine is intended for the serious guitarists,
    regardless of age, or style, but often times does not appeal to
    the "Kids" out there. Unfortunately, those are the people you
    have to satisfy if you are in the music business today.               
    Go into most music stores these days. What do you see on display?
    Jackson Carvels, Randy Rhodes guitars, Kramers, Strat copies with
    the hockey stick headstock, Marshall amps, leopard skin guitar
    finishes and the like. The more radical, the easier it sells.
    When I was 15 years old, I bought an Ampeg Dan Armstrong clear
    plexiglass guitar because I thought it looked cool. To my untrained
    ear it sounded good. I also used to by the magazine hit parader
    which was not at all intended for musicians. I also used to buy
    an amp because it was big, thinking I would look cool with this
    huge amp behind me. What did I know ? I was just a dumb kid like
    everyone else back then.
    
    Not to dump on people who like heavey medal. It just so happens
    that what they see as non-conformance, to hell with society,
    lets party music, is the most commercially succesful (and pro-
    big business) music out there right now. Big bisiness sees this
    and loves it because they feel they can market all the Ossy Osbourne,
    Van Halen, Iron Moron, Leaf Leaper music they want, and they are
    gonna get rich off of it.     
                   
    	PLEASE, NO FLAMES, just my opinion again !!!!
    
    							Mark Jacques
    

    Well, my opinion is that Guitar player does not offer enough good
    advice for guitarists looking to improve their playing/technique.
    I think their questions collum along with the Tommy Tedesco thing
    are pretty lame. Who cares how much moolah TT made last month??
    I've found Guitar World to have some real useful suggestions for
    playing guitar. The Tony MacAlpine collum esp. 
    
    To each his own.
    
    wjb

I'm really undecided about the various mags out there.  I currently receive
Guitar Player and Guitar for the practicing musician.   They're both not
bad for what they are.  But neither of them provide me with exactly what I
want.  I probably don't know exactly what I want, but they're not it.

I like the idea behind Guitar FTPM in that they provide transcriptions for
lots of music - several songs per issue.  And they attempt to provide
multiple parts (guitar,bass,keyboards).  Unfortunately, as was mentioned
previously, the transcriptions are not generally of music I'm *real*
interested in. However, I've been able to learn something from every issue
- albeit some issues more than others. 

Guitar Player has some interesting stuff on it's soundpage from time to
time. And I really like the idea of a recording of the example scores.  It
helps tremendously when you can hear how its supposed to sound - Unless, of
course, you have incredible sight reading ability and you can just "hear"
it from looking at the score - not me!  It also has a couple of pretty good
columns.  But I agree with .3 when it comes to Tommy Tedesco's wages - I
just can't give squat about that. 

I just bought a copy of Guitar World yesterday, and haven't gone through it
in detail so I've no opinion, yet.  However, it appears to be pretty good
on the surface.


steve

    I have subscriptions to Guitar Player, Frets and Audio Mag. 
    Lately I haven't been spending much time reading Audio, so
    I think I'm gonna subscribe to something else next time.
    I have to admit, since I don't subscribe to Guitar World,
    or GFTPM, I don't see them every month, so I am not really
    in a good position to pass jugement on them. But one thing
    is for sure, I'll never give up my GP or Frets subscriptions
    unless they really go down hill. I have bought several issues
    of both Guitar world and GFTPM off the shelf. I ended up giving
    all the GFTPM's to my 12 year old nephew. Guitar world isn't
    bad, I just thought their magazine was not as polished as
    GP. Maybe I will subscribe to Guitar World next time as well
    as GP & Frets. I find every month I end up disappointed
    because I read both magazines in a week and wait all month
    for the next issues to arrive in the mail.
    
    	I have one problem with subscribing to these mags though. 
    By the time I get them in the mail, the soundpage is not
    playable because the magazine has been folded. I even installed
    a new mailbox so the mailman would have no excuse for folding
    them. We have a different mailman every other day and they
    insist on folding magazines. It almost tempts me to let my
    subscriptions run out and then buy them off the rack monthly.
    I beleive I would get them earlier that way as well. By the
    time I get them in the mail, they have been on the shelf a
    week already.

    I still like GP. I haven't real Guitar World in a long time. I bought
    a few when they first started (maybe early '81) and they were kind
    of the National Enquirer of Guitar magazines back then. Maybe they've
    cleaned up their act since then. 
    
    I don't like what I see as a general trend in these magazines -
    the drift from 'feeling' to 'technique'. I used to be able to
    read articles in GP that were almost mystical in describing the
    relationship between the performer and his/her instrument. Now
    I read 'yeah, I run my Charvel through blah blah signal chain
    chorus delay blah blah'. All the technical end of the music and
    none of the spiritual end. I guess that's the eighties for ya, though.
    
    -Dave

    There doesn't seem to be anything published in the U.S. for those
    of us who are also interested in the classical guitar.  Two
    competing publications from the U.K., however, are right on target.
    One is GUITAR and the other is CLASSICAL GUITAR.  I subscribe to
    both.
    
    Contact me directly for details.
    
    Bob

    re: for those with "wider" interests
    
    Wider?
    
>    There doesn't seem to be anything published in the U.S. for those
>    of us who are also interested in the classical guitar.
    
    If you're looking for a magazine that is entirely devoted to classical
    guitar, you're right. However, every issue of Guitar Player has
    a number of things of interest to classical guitar players (including
    a monthly column).
    
    I think Guitar Player covers a very wide mix of styles.

    	db

    	I have been receiving Guitar Player for a number of years and
    feel they do a good job in covering most styles and genre. I have
    not been able to find Guitar World or Guitar FTPM in the Colorado
    Springs area, only GPI publications. (Guitar Player and Frets)
    Could someone out there let me know who publishes Guitar World
    and Guitar FTPM. 
    	I do agree with the replys that pointed out some of the short
    comings of Guitar Player, i.e. Tommy T. and the Pro's reply but
    they have carried a number of very helpful articles on both playing
    technique and guitar repair. 
    
    Don 

    GPI also offers a mutitude of high quality books as well as their
    magazines Guitar Player, and Frets. Don't they also have something
    to do with contemporary keyboards and modern drummer. At any rate
    they have published the Guitar Player book, American Guitars,
    and a multitude of other reference books. 
    
    

    I quit subsciribing to GP about 8 years ago and Haven't looked at
    one since...they had lost so much quality that it was a waste of
    money. At that time most interview articles contained primarily
    what amps/effects joe rock star used and where he set the knobs.
    Yucch! As if I wanted to sound like eveyone else. They also had
    a habit at that time of starting an interesting column and then
    it would just sort of die on the vine with month after month of
    beating around the bush.
    
    AS for the rest...heavy metal seems to rule a number of them...so
    I got a subscription to muscian and gave up on trying to find a
    good guitar mag.
    
    dave

    It seems to me that GP mag has gone in the direction of "Golly
    gee kids look at this swell new whizmo" or "Watch the looks
    you get when you pull off this scale".

    I personally don't mind seeing a lot of advertisements in Guitar
    Player since I like to keep up with new products out there. What
    I do mind is seeing the same advertisers and the same ads month
    after month. The It's new is interesting too, especially after
    the NAMM show each year. I always enjoy specials on vintage guitars
    and reviews of guitar shows from around the country, since I don't
    have the ways and means to fly around and see these shows. I do
    notice that some months are especially boring compared to other
    months. For example, a couple of months ago they devoted almost
    an entire issue to strings. Really now, who is interested in reading
    100 pages on strings. Especially when it is common knowledge among
    guitarists that there are only a couple of companies out there that
    actually make guitar strings. Everyone else simply puts their name
    on them.
    
    	If you really want to keep up with the changing world of guitars
    you cannot simply sit back in your easy chair and read a magazine.
    You have to go out to the clubs, concerts, music stores, seminars,
    and interact with other musicians to get exposure to it all. I
    generally try to nail down a product completely before I go out
    and make an investment. Otherwise, I end not dissatisfied with my
    purchases. At this point in time I find out more useful and interesting
    information from reading this notes file than all the magazines
    and books I buy. When you think about it, we are all pretty lucky
    to have this notes file at our disposal.
                                            
    							Mark Jacques
    
    

	re: -.1


>    When you think about it, we are all pretty lucky
>    to have this notes file at our disposal.
                                            
        
 	amen!   

    	The other day I was in a Music store and spotted an issue of
    Guitar For The Practicing Musician labeled Special Collector's
    Issue. Being interested in anything collectable, I picked up a
    copy and began leafing through it. 80% of the magazine was sheet
    music. There was not one article on collectable instruments. I
    ended up putting it back on the rack.
    
    	I guess it all boils down to what you want from a guitar magazine.
    I for one, have no use for a magazine full of sheet music. Most
    modern songs can be picked up by ear for people who want to play
    them. I prefer a magazine like Guitar Player. I just wish they
    wouldn't do so much redundant stuff. Like carrying the same exact
    ad for 6 months straight. 

    
                                            	Mark Jacques

    I was talking with a custom acoustic guitar craftsman this morning.
    He mentioned that he has been interviewed by "FRETS" magazine in
    the past.  I asked about that magazine since it is so difficult
    to find.  It seems that they are folding and that their last issue
    is this month.
    
    Mike

If Frets is folding, that's news 'cause I just got one in the mail along
with the "please renew your subscrition as it runs out in 3 months and it
takes a while to get through our computers" reminder...

    Yeah, I think Frets and GP are quite closely related...
    
    jc

    
    I just called GPI publications hoping to subcribe to GP and FRETS.
    The guy who took the call said that FRETS was indeed folding and
    that July would be the last month the magazine was sent out. 

    He said that another publication called Bass Player would be coming
    out. 
    
    Phil 

    
RE:  > I just called GPI publications hoping to subcribe to GP and FRETS.
     > The guy who took the call said that FRETS was indeed folding and
     >that July would be the last month the magazine was sent out. 


	That's funny, I just got my July issue of FRETS in the mail yesterday.  
	Reading	the Editorial intro there was no mention of no more FRETS.  
	There were still subscription postcards and advertisements in it.
	I find it had to believe that they would just go away without warning
	to the regular readers!..:-(

	_gary

    Could someone post the number for GPI?  I'm interested in getting 
    "Frets" and "Guitar Player".  
    
    Also, isn't there a mag called "Guitar for the Practicing Musician"?
    If so, who publishes it?
    
    Thanks,
    Mike

    Subscriptions for Guitar Player call (408)-446-1088.  This might
    be GPI's number, I'm not sure (so you might be able to ask about
    the future of Frets as well).  $23.95 per year for GP.
    
    Guitar For the practicing musician is published by Cherry Lane
    Music Company, Inc.  110 Midland Avenue, Port Chester, NY 10573-
    1490.  Couldn't find a phone number.  $24.90 per year.  Or,
    Guitar For The Practicing Musician , P.O. Box 889, Farmingdale,
    NY 11737-9989.
    
    joe.

    Kind of an interesting side note, I saw an ad in "The String Instrument
    Craftsman" (a luthiers mag, also published by GPI) which said that
    Frets would be putting out a special North American Luthier/Repair
    Guide.

    The ad included a really interesting demographic (referring to readers
    of FRET), "Our surveys show that the average reader's collection
    consists of five instruments, at least two of them worth over $2000".  

    Wild, huh?

    Greg

    FRETS - goes the way of the dodo.
    
    FRETS, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, sent me mail last
    week that if I wish, my subscription would be transferred to Guitar
    Player (both magazines were published by GPI).  Sad that acoustic
    music finds another victim.
    
    As a flatpicker I've enjoyed Dan Crary's column for years, (sometimes
    it was the only article that I read, and by itself worth the
    subscription price).  Anyone know of other periodicals that publish
    tablature etc... for flatpickers?  Maybe we could convince Crary to
    start a quarterly (ala Mandolin World News).
    
    		FRETS - RIP
    

    I also received my "dear John" letter this weekend.  Bummer.  I
    have received GUITAR PLAYER as a gift since 1975 and transfered
    the subscription to FRETS when it came out (Still have all issues!)
    since it was more in line with my musical tastes. The letter said
    that the AUGUST issue, which will come out this month, will be the
    last.  I'm not sure if I keep going with GUITAR PLAYER after my
    subscription runs out...At least JAZZIZ magazine I can get free
    cd's!
    
    _stew-

    I wonder if FRETS would still accept orders on back issues.  Anyone
    know?
    
    Mike    

    re .-1
    probably. GPI owns both GP and Frets, and every month you see 
    ads in GP for back issues.
    
    -DAve

re - .2 back issues of Frets.

The July issue (which is the current and next to last ever) is still 
advertising back issues, although not all issues are still available.

_gary

    The July issue has an add (at least I think) where you can order
    *all* back issues for just over $100.00.
    
    _stew-

I have a subscription to Strings, the Magazine for Players and Makers of Bowed 
Instruments, and in the current issue they have an announcement for a new 
magazine called Acoustic Guitar.  You can get the first issue free in a trial 
subscription.  I forgot to remember to bring in the address, but I do happen 
to have the phone number for Strings.  It's the same publisher, so I assume 
they can provide the details.  (415)485-6946

I plan to give it a try.  I've found Strings to be short on hype and long on 
information, and I'm hoping for the same from Acoustic Guitar.

Bob

    anybody besides me feel that Fripp's GP column is the most 
    pretentious, pseudo-intellectual cr*p they've come across
    in the past 20 years?

    I've tried to read Fripp's column a couple of times.  He's 
    either:
    
    	1.	Really intelligent (I mean it took him like the first
    		few columns just to introduce his concept o "craft");
    
    	2.	Being very sacastic;
    
    	3.	Done way too much acid;
    
    	4.	All of the above.
    
    I mean it's cool to get in touch with yourself and all that kind
    of crap and his approach is very "eastern" (it seems to me), but
    all you have to do is read "Sidhartha" (sp?) and "The Way of Zen"
    to realize what he's talking about.  Maybe I'm off base.  I can't
    get into his column at all.
    
    joe.

    re .-1
    
    yes, it's me. 
    
    I really have made an effort to read one of his columns all the way
    through (in several mental states) and have yet to succeed. It's like
    reading a VAX hardware manual.
    
    -Dave

    re: -.1 At least there is content in a VAX hardware manual if you get
    past the prose.  I found that recent publications on Object Oriented
    Databases were perfect prep for Fripp's material. :-)
    
    - Evan
    

A trial subscription is available.  If you don't like the first issue, you can 
cancel and owe nothing.

			ACOUSTIC GUITAR
			PO Box 767
			San Anselmo, CA  94960

$18.00 for one year (six issues).

Bob

    Object orientation:
    	I read about this in AAAI mag when I got it,
    	83-84.
    
    	Old Tech?
    	Or Mathematical foundation?

	I'm enjoying the Fripp column. It seems to me like he's telling us
	a shaggy dog story and when he drops in the punch line it'll be
	something like "Hey all you guitar weenies, will you please stop
	taking yourselves so f*cking seriously!"

	chasb

    
    
    
    	Could you be more clear??
    
    

    There's a new guitar magazine out (yet another!).  This is a bimonthly
    publication called "Acoustic Guitar" from some publisher in California.
    Subscription runs about $17/year.  
    
    I looked thru the latest in the store the other day.  Since I have a
    place in my heart for acoustics, I kinda liked it.
    
    Mike

    
    
    	    re: Acoustic Guitar mag...yawn.  Just kidding Mikey, whatever
    	    floats your boat.  Can anyone recommend a guitar mag oriented
    	    towards cynical, old, blues farts like myself?  You know,
    	    one with Jimi or EC on the front every issue and a Strat of
    	    the Month fold-out?  Seriously, my GP subscription ran out
    	    and to be honest, I'm glad it did.  I'd appreciate any ideas
    	    as I've really only read GP and GW.
    
    	    Thanks 
    	   -pat
    
    	    P.S.  I really was teasin' Mike!

    Hey Pat, try "Tiger Beat" for the blues stuff ;-)

    There's a mag called "Metal Edge" that features Eric Clapton
    doin' a fashion column...
    
    Wagagagagagagaaaa... 
    
    Sorry.  I don't think there is a mag directed towards only Blues
    but it seems like GW tends to feature more than metal_shred_masters
    in their articles and TAB stuff...
    
    Of course, I don't think they are gonna cover anything "vintage"
    either...  According to Mike, their latest issue has the TAB to Thin
    Lizzy's "Boy Are Back In Town", which is a rather vintage_metal tune.
    
    jc
    

    I wrote a letter to GFTPM and complained about the lack of coverage for
    non-metal guitarists.  It seems that GFTPM and GW believe that the
    world revolves around metal.  
    
    How's GP (Guitar Player)?  does it have a better balance?  I've never
    subscribed and have only read a couple issues.  I like some metal, but 
    don't need to see it on every page.  Sounds like it'll take me at least 2
    magazines to get my acoustic (only Guitar Extra and Acoustic Guitar to
    choose from) and electric fixes.
    
    BTW - It is the new GFTPM that has "The Boys are Back in Town".
    
    Mike

    
    	RE: .44 [Mike]
    
    	Well, you're not going to learn anything about guitar play-
    	ing if they start posting Eric Clapton tabs!!
    
    							GTI
    

    let's just say Eric Clapton served his time and generation well.  He's
    has a few songs that I really like, but most of his stuff just isn't my
    "Cup o Tea".
    
    Mike

    RE: Mike
    >    world revolves around metal.  
    
    Well, doesn't it ?
    
    Seriously though gang, check the back issues for the older stuff.
    It's been printed once, if it had any popularity.
    
    jc ("metal in yer butt!!")
    
    PS - I know I saw "Layla" AND "Bad Face (?)" transcribed recently in 
    one rag or another...

    since I'm such a musical slut, I'd prefer more balance.  I don't see
    anything wrong with Hedges tab on one page and Satriani on the next.
    
    Mike

    
    >    This is just my personal opinion, but I think Guitar Player is no
    >    better than any of the other mags on the market.  It's got just as
    >    much metal nonsense and as many ads as the rest.
    
    Wow!
    
    I have to say that I disagree.  I can't remember the time GFTPM or GW had
    anything other than a metal musician or a VERY mainstream or
    exceedingly well-known guitarist on the cover.
    
    In the last year, Guitar Player has had all kinds of players on their
    cover.  In fact, I would say for every non-metal example of a GFTPM
    or GW cover that doesn't fit that mold, I could find easily a dozen
    GP covers of people I had barely even "heard of" before!
    
    
    

    
    I've been thinking about this a lot lately and decided to
    post here for discussion.
    
    I think most of us agree that the magazines are geared primarily
    to a metal market.  I assume that audience is comprised *primarily*
    (but not exclusively) of young white males from 14 to 25 or so.
    
    HOWEVER, the equipment advertised within must exceed the pocketbook
    of the audience the magazine serves, right?  I mean, how many 17
    year old guys are ordering up brand new Marshall setups, and complete
    rack systems?
    
    I am assuming people like us, with jobs, etc., are the top buyers of
    expensive, brand new equipment.  If that is the case, why aren't the
    magazines featuring (on a more regular basis) the guitarists that
    appeal to those of us who are a little older, and have more cash to
    spend?
    
    Am I making a fundamental judgement error here?  Are there lots of
    rich kids out there, or do George Lynch/Randy Covern/Warren DeMartini/
    Alex Skolnick/Nuno Bettencourt/Reb Beach have a much, much larger,
    cash-ready demographic than I am giving them credit for?
    
    Any thoughts?
    
    Brian

	Could it be that they're trying to cash in on the 
"don't-want-to-grow-up" syndrome?

    To me it sounds like GP is the best balanced of the lot.  Anyone that
    puts Michael Hedges, Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, and Leo Kottke 
    on their covers has to be balanced!
    
    Re: markets with money
    
    I know some teens that flip burgers at McDonald's and spend every penny
    they earn on guitars, amps, effects, etc.  Some of the 16 year olds
    spend more than I.  Then there are the ones with the silver spoons in
    their mouths.  I wouldn't underestimate them.  GIT is full of teenage
    high school dropouts that sleep, eat, and breathe guitar.
    
    Mike

    
    	Some do indeed flip burgers, but I've noticed that many of these
    	15-24 year olds (more like 13-17) have mommies and daddies that 
    	drive mercedes benzies.  Often, I'll be sitting in the git shop
    	waiting for my lesson to begin, and most kids come escorted by
    	said m/d's.  The sales are remarkable fast with no dickering.
    	I just look at the owner and smile.  I gotta believe that the
    	git rags are extremely effective for this market.

    Here's the address:
    
    Acoustic Guitar
    PO Box 767
    San Anselmo, CA 94960
    
    The subscription price of $17.95 is $5.75 off the newsstand price.
    Canada is $7.50 more, other countries are $15 more.
    
    Mike

    Re: GP subscriptions
    
    I just received my last issue of GFTPM (someone else is going to have
    to update the tab directory now ;-)) and don't plan on renewing it.  GP
    seems to address the most variety of possible readers and I'll probably
    switch to that one.  A musical slut like me can't get by on headbanging
    alone and GFTPM's tunnel vision has annoyed me.  During the year that 
    I've received it, I'm lucky if there is more than 1 song I'm interested
    in and a lot of the metal stuff I've never heard.
    
    However, I did enjoy working out Metallica's "Enter Sandman" (kings of
    the heavy Em licks ;-)) in this months issue.  
    
    On a related note, they had EJ's "Trademark" in their this month too. 
    I already own the EJ songbook and I was comparing the tab for each
    version of "Trademark" last night.  It was amazing how different and
    how similar they were throughout the song!
    
    Mike

    I never had a subscription to GFTPM and probably never will.  I just
    don't really get off on learning songs from tab and, like Mike, most of
    the time there would be only a song or so in any given issue that I had
    any interest in whatsoever.  I used to be more interested in the songs
    that they charted out several years ago and bought them pretty
    regularly, but I never really learned any of them from it.  
    
    Now I only buy an issue if I'm really interesting in something that's
    in it.  Hmm... Haven't bought one in over a year, I wonder what that
    means?
    
    gh

    I just _started_ my subscription to GP; I found myself picking up that
    one on the racks as opposed to mags that had a lot of tab (some people
    want it, some people don't).
    
    I like the way they cover many styles of music, and the writing's not
    bad.  With any hobby, the adverts are also useful to see what's new on
    the market.
    
    As far as subscription management, it seems everyone uses some outfit
    in Boulder CO who are probably running on Army surplus GE mainframes as
    quick as it takes them to update their records!
    
    I have one question from the recent issue, though:  What was it that
    "the amp manufaturers don't want you to know" that was revealed in that
    article on tube amps?
    \Gary

	I stopped subscribing to GP (and most other music magazines -
I now only subscribe to Electronic Musician), because so little seemed to
relate to anything that I was interested in. The magazines were either
too focused or way to scattered in context. I now tend to look at them
on the newstand and buy only those that appeal to me (which is about 1 per
year). Most of these magazines were better in the late 1970's and early 1980's
than more recently (GP used to dedicate sections for all types of music,
then branched off to the ill-fated FRETS magazine, basically killing that
aspect of Guitar Player). I guess that they shoot for market share and
I'm a little to much on the outside of the big selling issues (I don't care
about a lot of subjects that relate to metal guitar in particular). There 
are still lots of good issues published, but I'm more selective on what I
want to read about.

							Jens

    Yeah, I must be getting old too. There has to be something really good
    in one of those magazines (like how to fix a...) for me to buy it. I
    can't bring myself to walk up to the cashier with a magazine with many
    of todays chart-topping guitar heroes on the cover. JUST CAN'T DO IT.
    That's all. SLASH is the best example I can think of. MUSICIAN as well
    as Guitar Player and Guitar World all lost sales from me because these
    guys LEAVE ME COLD. Don't know how else to put it. I hope they're
    selling copies to lots of other players because they're not selling them
    to me. Of course if the issue also included a piece on a real guitar
    player and one that I'm interested in reading about (like say Jeff Beck
    or Buddy Guy), I would then have a real dilemma.

    Hope this stirs something up, this conference is way too quiet lately.

    --rjb

    
    I used to think that if I didn't read every article in a magazine I was
    somehow "wasting" it.  But then I took a business class, where the
    instructor put forth the proposition that if just one idea in a
    magazine improved your bottom line, then that subscription was more
    than paid for.  I'm not going to attempt to put my music commix (very
    appropriate term, Karl) subscriptions on any type of economic scale
    (and I get most of 'em), but I feel like I'm picking up useful data
    from just about all of them.
    

    the thing that gets me about the recent GP is that it's trying to
    be the most 'politically correct' guitar magazine in the world.
    Last month they had an interview with someone named Phrank who
    is a lesbian folk-singer. In the intro they went out of their 
    way to point out that Phrank never plays leads and that her
    guitar technique consists of strumming first position chords
    and occasionally picking the notes of the chords. So why is
    she in GP? I have nothing against her lifestyle, but this constant
    emphasis on 'pan-cultural-guitar-music' turns me off!
    
    p.s. they also had Sonic Youth on the cover. Blech. 

    ditto!

    Give this politically correct, multi-cultural, euro-centric sh!t a
    freekin BREAK! Turns me right-the-f__k off, too. I agree with the
    point, I don't care who she sleeps with or what her orientation to the
    rest of the universe is, she should get print if she merits it as a
    guitarist - PERIOD! Right? Thank you.

    Anybody out there tried Guitar Extra yet?  It's an offshoot of GFTPM
    with transcriptions, etc. but aims for boomers into blues, acoustic,
    etc.  Like this month, a Richard Thompson cover story and transcription.
    No bass lines (bumming).
    
    						Brian

    
    I must be getting old too - and I'm only 25!
    
    This year was the first time I bought a subscription to GP, and 
    they usually end up on "the magazine pile", which has currently
    taken up residence in a plastic bag in the basement.  I spend
    maybe....45 minutes looking it over, but I rarely find much that
    merits much more than a cursory skimming.
    
    If I don't win that big prize, I'm not renewing....;-)
    
    
    guy

    
    
    A disturbing trend in guitar magazines:  Duplicate transcriptions!
    
    When I "came up," tab guitar transcriptions were unheard of.
    And the existing sheet music for most rock songs was funny,
    indeed!  Most of the time the chords weren't even in the
    same key as the original song, never mind *being* the right
    chords.
    
    If there was a guitar solo, the music would say "TACET" or "ADD LIB"
    or there would be just a page of rests.
    
    So, the development of tab has been great for me.
    
    Now, here's the bitch:  GFTPM and Guitar School, even Guitar Player
    are putting out duplicate versions of the same song.  There's like
    40 versions of Red House available now, but for the most part,
    it's usually two versions of the same song.
    
    I realize the two publications compete against each other, but
    in the interest of the music world and practicing public, you
    think they could agree not to duplicate songs.
    
    It's not like there aren't other good songs to transcribe.
    
    Of course, the marketing departments have probably got the demographics
    down to such a "tee" that they can determine exactly how many
    copies a magazine is going to sell if they put so-and-so on the
    cover and put these certain songs inside.
    
    Oh, well.  I suppose it's better than the old days where Guitar Player
    used to ask every interviewee to describe his strings and picks....
    as though that was all it would take to sound like that player:
    
    "A Herco nylon?  A pignose in the studio and a stack live?
     Ernie Ball lights, and I'm there?"  
    
    Like it would be that easy ! :)
    
    Brian (who_doesn't_buy_as_many_mags_as_he_used_to)

    I mostly agree about the strings and picks part. But on the other hand,
    if they didn't tell us about Stevie Ray Vaughn's strings, we wouldn't
    realize (most of us) that it is possible to play LIKE THAT on rather
    heavy strings. So once in a while (lately a great while) we get
    something enlightening and useful from them. But, yes, I do believe many
    readers think these are the keys to making the music. No, these are just
    the tools of the trade. People get too hung up on the hardware, the
    gardgetry.

    Yesterday I was reading through a reprint (obviously) of a Duane Allman
    interview in a "GTS rag" that I had picked up recently... he had some
    comments on slide that I had never heard explained that way before, so
    for me it was worth the price.
    
    Someone said recently in here that they heard that if you get ONE data
    point out of a magazine that improves your life, it's worth it.  I
    think that's true.
    
    With any "hobby" or interest that people move through, there's a whole
    life cycle:  some people ramp up and then ramp down and go on to
    something else, but some people just keep the same level of interest
    forever.  
    
    Magazines fit in there somewhere, but sometimes people get tired of the
    magazines, and sometimes they become less interested in the subject. 
    Think of all the possible hobbies; it's got to be tough to come up with
    fresh ideas month after month, and then compete with other special
    interest mags doing the same thing.
    
    There is value in the advertisements and test reports, though, and the
    reviews of artists and new material.
    \Gary

    
    The magazines transcribe lots of the same songs for the same reasons we
    sell Unix boxes - that's what some of the market wants/needs.  Magazine
    X isn't going to make a reader buy one of its competitors if that
    reader wants "Red House".  Besides, it's a lot easier to transcribe a
    song after someone else has done it first....
    
    
    
    Disclaimer:  No intentions of starting OS wars, OK
    

     Is it possible to get a subscription to Guitar Player EXTRA
    only?
    
    chuck

>Date      Cover Artist		       Articles		     Cond Code
>-------   ---------------------------  --------------------  ------------
>May '81 - Albert Lee		       Molly Hatchet	     M, NGP
>				       Phil Keaggy
    
    Does anyone out there have this issue of Guitar Player?  Could you
    possibly send me a photocopy of the Keaggy article?
    
    Thanks,
    Mike

	I look at the musical bit and almost never read the stuff that
	about players. I agree with Laurie Anderson's quip that writing
	about music is like dancing about architecture. I don't wanna
	read about the musical attitude about some old blues fart and
	I'm only mildly interested in what flavor strings Thurston's
	using this week.

	I am interested in some of the obscure stuff that they run just
	so that I can see what's out there and who's pushing the envelope.
	It's unfortunate that there's prople that bum because their 
	fave didn't get space.

	Pick of the bunch? I like the Reeves Gabrels column in GFTPM.
	He does what I think Robt Fripp should have done in his GP
	column. Of course there's no accounting for taste.

    Greetings,  I was wondering if anyone who gets GFTPM or GW or GS or GP
    tell me what issues might have some Jane's Addiction transcriptions
    in them?  I can't tell what transcriptions are offered in Guitar World
    and I know that some where in a notes conference I read where December
    91 had an interview with Dave N.
    ADthanksVANCE,
    Pat
    

    Re: -1
    
    Pat, look in 2143.last
    
    Mike

    To save you the trouble, the only JA song that's in the list is "Stop". 
    It was in the Jan. '91 issue.
    
    Greg (also a big JA fan!)

    
    
    The latest Guitar Player has a letter to equipment manufacturers that
    basically says "The gloves are off" when it comes to reviews.  GP has
    reversed its earlier policy of reviewing only equipment that it liked
    and will now list the good and the bad.
    
    The tube amp comparison looks to be along these lines.  There are
    winners and losers, and amps with problems are called out.
    
    Maybe it won't be a guitar version of Consumer Reports, but it's a
    start.
    
    Kevin   

    
       Alright! I was starting to wonder how much of a kickback David Hicks
    was getting for his reviews. He never blasted a product in all the
    years I'd read it. I read the recent tube amp review and thought it was very
    objective. 
       I'm sure they realize that they don't want to p.o. a long time
    advertiser, but be honest!!!!! It will be interesting to read some of
    the newly printable reviews!
    
    							-B()()M-

    Yeah, the amp review (combos under 50 watts) gave the top spot to the
    Matchless D/C-30...hey if you've got $2400 to spend, no problem you can
    have great tone...
    
    The Carvin XT-112 has always seemed like a good bang for the $$ at
    $499.
    
    Great article at any rate.  Did anyone notice that Bedrock has moved
    to Southboro, MA (me and Coop's old hometown).
    
    joe.

    re .-1
    
    did anyone notice that the Bedrocks both had infant mortality problems?
    
    - Dave (principal reliability engineer geek)

Their MTBF is 90000 (but only at 20% confidence :)

    I understand GP's desire to keep the list down to a reasonable
    number, but thought it would have been nice to not limit the
    number of entries to just one per company.  Some other amps that
    I wish had been reviewed include:
    
    	Fender Bassman re-issue
    	Fender '65 Blackface Twin re-issue
    	Fender The Twin
        Peavey Classic (both 4X10 and 2x12 versions)
    
    I found it interesting that the THD and Kendrick Bassman clones
    received 5's in clean / low gain distortion tones, when the
    Fender Vibroverb re-issue received 3's.  In GP's Bassman "shoot-out"
    comparison (a few months back), many of the reviewers seem to like 
    the tone of the Fender Bassman re-issue better than that of the THD 
    and Kendrick clones.  Does the Bassman reissue sound that much better 
    than the Vibroverb?
    
    FWIW, I've tried out the '65 Twin and the '59 Bassman re-issies at
    music stores (when demoing guitars, however, not amps), and preferred
    the sound of the Twin over the Bassman.
    
    Jim 

    Perhaps it was a case of "if you don't have anything good to say about
    something..."
    
    Who knows?
    
    Greg

	Was the Twin not included?  Perhaps the test was limited to wattage?

	Also, on the Bedrock, they cited bad circuit traces - not a burn in
	issue, but certainly a QC issue.  Probably a bad pwb vendor.

    re. 83 
    
    Nope, guitar player did a Review of "The Twin" in their January '88
    issue. I have a photocopy if anyone's interested. Post yer mail stop
    and I'll shoot a copy to ya.
    
    "sakman"

    Are they 50wt tube amps?  That's what the test was based on.
    
    Mike

Yo Sakman - How much does the review weigh ??

Oppsss - sorry. 
:)

re: .-1

Damn, and I was gonna say that!  :-)

-- Sam

    Oh, two men and a boy should be the most that it'd take.
    
    "sakman" ;^) 

Article 29753 of alt.guitar:
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From: danamrich@aol.com (DanAmrich)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Subject: Greetings from Guitar World Magazine
Date: 25 May 1994 13:31:02 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
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NNTP-Posting-Host: search01.news.aol.com

Some folks 'round here have expressed some dissatisfaction with the
way GW presents its material.  As Editorial Assistant for the mag,
feel free to post your comments here about GW and what you like and
don't like about the way we do things.  We're working on getting our
own little area online somewhere with one of the commercial services,
but until then, consider me your electronic mouthpiece.

Why am I now expected a mountain of 100 List comments?

Dan Amrich
DanAmrich@aol.com

   It's not online, but there's another "new" mag out.  Called "Guitar Shop"
   it's primarily a gear-head rag.  Equipment, that is.  Apparently it's only
   in it's 2nd issue, though the issues come out quarterly.  Published by
   Cherry Lane, the pubs of GFTPM.  I picked up the current issue (marked
   July, 1994) as it has a "40th anniversary of the Strat" spread.  It's
   pretty good, but it is _all_ equipment, right down to block diagrams of
   certain individuals stage setups.  There's even a Dream Theater article,
   with writups on both Petrucci and Myung.

   -- Sam

    Yeah, saw this one too.  Some of it's pretty funny.  Like, they have a
    Varney/Spotlight type column, but instead of sending in tapes of
    yourself playing you send in descriptions of your cool gear.
    Hey, I might even have a chance of making this one :-)
    
    It's hard not to like a mag that has Buck Dharma doing product reviews
    
    /gyro

        RE:-1

    Didn't Buck Dharma play lead guitar for Blue Oyster Cult?  If so, there
    is a guy with chops!  GFTPM reviewed "Unsung Guitar Hero's" in the Feb.
    & March '94 issues and he was passed over for other greats like Randy
    Bachman!! 8^|

    BTW- my subscription to GFTPM runs out in Aug. and I'm not
    renewing after 3 years.  The transcription trend is moving from all
    metal to 70% metal and 30% alternative bands (Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic
    Youth, Stone Temple Pilots...); a good trend...but the writing is
    becoming more redundant than usual....I can only read Steve Morris's
    "a good musician's attitude or how to land a gig" so many times!
                                              
    Bill 

	Re -1
>    Didn't Buck Dharma play lead guitar for Blue Oyster Cult?

Yes!

		Ian G.

        There seems to be a distinctive retreat in quality
    articles relating to the classical guitar.  The few 
    guitar mags available don't even include a outing in
    classical guitar anymore?  The classics resolving into
    relative obscurity?  Perhaps I should enlighten myself
    in "Da Blooz" topic once more to cheer me up.
    
    Kev --
    

    Re: .96
    
    Have you tried "Acoustic Guitar" magazine?  Being a bassist I haven't
    done more than notice it's on the stands.  
    
    Hey if someone can make money selling "Bass Player", maybe "Classical
    Guitar" magazine will arrive soon 8^)
    
    							Brian

         Forgive me, I almost neglected to mention that one!
    Yes "Acoustic Guitar" does have a column on classical guitar.
    The writer is the famed Sharon Isbin, one of the finest
    classical guitarists on the scene today.  I read one
    of her columns a while back which made for some interesting
    reading.  The column was devoted to practice routines and
    what classical guitarists actually do in their final
    preparations before a concert.  Must be a nerve-twinging
    vibe, huh?
         
    BTW, I would love to see a magazine devoted to the art of
    the classical guitar considering the repotoire is an ever
    increasing body of music that dates back many centuries.
    
    Kev --
         
    

    There is a magazine for classical guitarists - can't remember the name,
    but saw an ad in some other guitar mag - Acoustic Guitar, I think. I'll
    try and remember to check tonight.
    
    Rodney

    
    Check out the lastest issue of GFTPM.  On the very last page
    they've got a photo/points comparison of Yngwie and Richie
    Blackmore that's kinda funny.
    
    Kev --