Any Good Bass Magazines?

bassmasta05 · #1 08-25-2008, 12:01 PM

I get Bass Player and its a pretty good magazine... but it could be a lot better and have a lot more lessons.

I used to get Bass Guitar Magazine but they stopped my subscription, I think they went out of business? Not sure.

O yea Im looking for magazines with lessons/artist profiles, not like a magazine that sells basses

Anyways are there any good U.S bass guitar magazines worth subscribing to?

kraigo · #2 08-25-2008, 12:04 PM

I finally let my Bass Player sub run out six months or so ago. It always felt like I was reading the same issue over and over again. It just wasn't resonating with me any more.

These days all I get is Modern Drummer, but I wouldn't mind finding a good guitar mag to subscribe to - lots of educational material. Than again, when I was more seriously pursuing guitar I found plenty to keep me moving forward on the net.

That said, I'm interested in hearing what responses you get.

KO

mgriffith · #3 08-28-2008, 07:11 AM

I, too, let my sub to Bass Player expire, and I don't really miss the magazine. I look over copies at Borders and realize there is really nothing all that new (besides reviews of amps/basses/gear I don't need) in each issue. Some of the Woodshed stuff is interesting, but not really worth the cost of the magazine.

I have been trying to find issues of Bass Guitar magazine, but I does look like they stopped publishing. A shame, since they had some good lessons in each issue. I'm going to search E-Bay for back issues soon!

Other than that... There was one called Bassics. I only have one issue. (Number 28, with Geddy Lee on the cover). It was okay. Some lessons. Pretty low-key and less inspiring to me than Bass Player (www.bassics.com is/was their website.)

I saw some Guitar/Bass magazine imports from the UK in Borders yesterday, but for the money ($9 and $11) they were very light on material for a bassist, IMO.

mgriffith · #4 08-28-2008, 07:40 AM

Just Googled for "Bass Guitar Magazine" and found this:

http://www.bassguitarmagazine.com/backissues.htm

It is not the same "Bass Guitar" magazine as the one I bought here in the US. This one from the UK looks pretty good, but I have not seen an issue.

Maybe there was a copyright dispute over the title of the magazine?

The one I am talking about was called "Guitar World's Bass Guitar" and came out bi-monthly.

Off to search guitarworld.com....

mgriffith · #5 08-28-2008, 07:59 AM

Skip "guitarworld.com"

Found this here:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archiv.../t-340172.html

Nuts, now it's off to E-Bay for those back issues!

SelenaBassGirl · #6 09-02-2008, 12:03 AM

I had to cancel my subscription to Bass Player b.c I didn't have the money to pay for it..(keep buying basses-while not workin! lol)

rodl2005 · #7 09-02-2008, 12:23 AM

The UK's "BASS GUITAR magazine" is the BEST all round bass mag out atm AFAIK etc...IMO Ha Ha. NOT so full of adverts & has a fair bit of gear stuff & some good tabs/music lessons etc... There's also a UK "Guitar & Bass" mag- mainly 6 string tho.

mgriffith · #8 09-02-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

The UK's "BASS GUITAR magazine" is the BEST all round bass mag out atm AFAIK etc...IMO Ha Ha. NOT so full of adverts & has a fair bit of gear stuff & some good tabs/music lessons etc... There's also a UK "Guitar & Bass" mag- mainly 6 string tho.

I wish I could see an issue before ordering one on-line, but I can't find a store locally that sells it.

Here's a link to their site:

http://www.bassguitarmagazine.com

cosmicevan · #9 09-02-2008, 11:25 PM

i think bass player has gotten really good in recent years. the newer layout is more suited for my short attention span and i actually look forward to and enjoy reading it now.

not sure if you are a gear whore like a lot of the others here...but legendary TB'er Tombowlus started a mag called bassgear that looks pretty promising. the online version impressed me enough that i upgraded to print...eagerly awaiting issue #1!

Michael Campbel · #10 09-03-2008, 11:50 AM

If you want to try bass player for free (at least see some older ones), there's a few available at bookmooch.com, I've noticed.

oversoul · #11 09-03-2008, 12:03 PM

Bass Guitar UK is a very good magazine, cool gear reviews and lessons, they definity have a distinct vibe from Bass Player.

there's also a very cool mag called bass musician, I think they have something here inside TB. not sure if they are only a virtual magazne tough.

tombowlus · #12 09-04-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicevan

not sure if you are a gear whore like a lot of the others here...but legendary TB'er Tombowlus started a mag called bassgear that looks pretty promising. the online version impressed me enough that i upgraded to print...eagerly awaiting issue #1!

Thank you for the kind words! Issue #1 is now available in print (as well as free digital sub form). In fact, we have also recently added (or will add very, very soon) the ability to download the issue as a .pdf file.

You can find out more at our website, www.bassgearmag.com.

And with regard to Guitar World's Bass Guitar Magazine, I used to write for Bass Guitar, and it did get the axe. Bascially, GW decided to drop all of its ancillary publications and combine them all back into Guitar World (which still does bass gear reviews, many by Ed Friedland, who does a fantastic job).

Tom.

tombowlus · #13 09-04-2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oversoul

Bass Guitar UK is a very good magazine, cool gear reviews and lessons, they definity have a distinct vibe from Bass Player.

+1 I like this magazine very much, and I am a subscriber. That being said, I also subscribe to Bass Player, and I look forward to each issue.

Quote:

there's also a very cool mag called bass musician, I think they have something here inside TB. not sure if they are only a virtual magazne tough.

Jake Kote and his crew at Bass Musician Magazine do an outstanding job with regard to interviews, instructional content, and in-depth interaction with real players (and some of the top names in the business, I might add!). This is a great source, and I am highly impressed with what Jake, et al have done with this.

Tom.

cosmicevan · #14 09-05-2008, 09:15 PM

still waiting on issue number 1 for bass gear magazine. been almost a full month since i sent in my paypal...i'm beginning to wonder if i should be recommending this mag

- any news on my issue getting shipped? i'm on the edge of my seat!!!

cosmicevan · #15 09-06-2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicevan

still waiting on issue number 1 for bass gear magazine. been almost a full month since i sent in my paypal...i'm beginning to wonder if i should be recommending this mag

- any news on my issue getting shipped? i'm on the edge of my seat!!!

Got issue number 1 of bass gear in the mail today. WHOA! THIS IS THE REAL DEAL FOLKS!!!

exactly what i was hoping for! a bible for us bass/gear nerds. ok, enough time typing time to check this bad boy out!!!

thanks tom, really fantastic presentation!

Dangle · #16 09-07-2008, 12:05 AM

online bass mag

http://www.bass-musician-magazine.com/

pjwalsh · #17 09-07-2008, 12:50 AM

Bassplayer is a good magazine, has plenty of regular instruction columns and features several profiles and interviews in each issue. Their gear reviews are the typical pandering to the advertising base but still provide good basic info. Bassics is more oriented to musicians but they are very spotty on actually publishing a magazine on a regular basis. I subscribed in 2006 and have only received 3 issues so far. Still they are of good quality and I'll just take 'em as they come and enjoy.

**DeanT** · #18 09-11-2008, 03:25 PM

The US Bass Guitar Magazine has stopped publishing. I get the UK Bass Guitar Magazine and it's a great publication. Each issue features a wide range of bass players with different styles. The lessons are good too, easy to understand and follow.

I particularly like Dave Marks' column. He breaks down the style of one bass player and gives examples that you can follow. The new issue has Adam Clayton in it (the one with Jeff Berlin on the cover). It's a pricey subscription if you're in the US, but well worth it I think.

I also get Bass Player, but every issue features one of the same four players (Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Marcus Miller or Geddy Lee). It's annoying. It also seems they aren't aware that there are any female bass players out there.

I also have the first issue of Bass Gear and it looks very promising. Tom Bowlus is doing a great job and the mag has a lot of potential. Everyone on TB should help out fellow TBer Tom Bowlus and subscribe to his mag. It has the potential to be the #1 musical instrument gear mag in the US.

cosmicevan · #19 09-12-2008, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanT

Everyone on TB should help out fellow TBer Tom Bowlus and subscribe to his mag. It has the potential to be the #1 musical instrument gear mag in the US.

+1. this is a magazine that needs to continue. it is the only one of its kind and is perfect for anyone on TB.

Cernael · #20 09-13-2008, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraigo

These days all I get is Modern Drummer, but I wouldn't mind finding a good guitar mag to subscribe to - lots of educational material.
KO

I that case, I recommend the UK mag "Guitar Techniques"; 1-3 song transcriptions/issue, along with around 10 or so lessons, from a very wide spectrum of styles/techniques/whatever. Pretty light on the gear porn, which is a plus in my book.

And, if you're in the US or UK, you get a toy when you subscribe (ranging from stomp box to strings to similar, depending on what's on offer).