A Good Bass Magazine

Bass_Bear · #1 03-02-2009, 06:21 PM

Before I begin, yes I did search, and other than that 'Don't get BP magazine because of X' thread, I didn't really see anything which answered my question. If there is a thread out there which compares current bass magazines, I would be extremely grateful if someone could point me in the right direction.

So now that we have established this, I'm asking you guys what you think is a worthwhile bass magazine to subscribe to. I am definitely more partial to using the interwebs for information, but sometimes I just don't have a computer readily available and would still like to get my read on. So which do you think are good and/or bad. If you think it sucks particularly, mention it anyways, I'd be curious. Looking forward to hearing this.

Cheers,
J

PS - Right forum topic? I never know...

JTE · #2 03-02-2009, 06:59 PM

I don't know any more. I still like Bass Player for it's wide range of artists, use of real music, generally good editorial and presentation. I also liked Bassics, but I think they're gone as I haven't seen anything in a LONG time. I despise those "More tabs than that other magazine" stuff. I certainly don't find a plethora of transcriptions to be a good thing, especially those without thoughtful analysis or the ones with sloppy fingerings. And I don't need to read fan magazine pieces on bands instead of the bassist.

I'd much rather READ Flea and Charlie Haden discussing what being a musician means than read about Feildy's Converse collection...

jte

Bass_Bear · #3 03-02-2009, 07:03 PM

Cool digs, anyone else have any ideas?

J

Disappear · #4 03-02-2009, 07:07 PM

I don't know any other bass magazines and I'll +1 on JTE. I like reading the theory and drives behind bassists.

kevinmoore73 · #5 03-02-2009, 07:16 PM

In a recent issue they claimed that an AC power cable can impact one's tone. They even said it on the cover!

That's reason enough not to subscribe for me. (Or in my case, not renew.)

Bass_Bear · #6 03-02-2009, 09:51 PM

*Sigh* This sounds like its rapidly turning into a "BP SUCKS!" thread. Oh well, I tried?

J

Disappear · #7 03-03-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

In a recent issue they claimed that an AC power cable can impact one's tone. They even said it on the cover!

That's reason enough not to subscribe for me. (Or in my case, not renew.)

That's why you don't read product reviews. They're all biased because they're paid to be.

cantstopwinning · #8 03-03-2009, 07:40 AM

There have been a lot of magazine that have come and gone and they either focused too heavily on fusion bass shredder elitism or nonstop gear reviews. I really wanted to like Bassics but I was always hard pressed to find a picture of someone with less than 9 strings on his bass and I just lost interest in reading about players I couldn't relate to.

I think BP has an even mix of sophistication and sensationalism and, regardless of whatever stupid decision they might make from issue to issue, it's still the standard by which we compare every other magazine that emerges.

Bombadil · #9 03-03-2009, 08:45 AM

Bass Player does the job for me and you can subscribe online for like $19.99 a year. I find that when I get an issue, I breeze through it reading what is "familiar" to me....then by the end of the month I've read it cover to cover and learned a bit about theory and what inspires other bassists that I normally would not think to investigate on my own. Product (and music) reviews are only a starting point when checking out new gear or music. It's all subjective and really boils down to hands on experience and what it means to YOU.

fretlesssurfer · #10 03-03-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

In a recent issue they claimed that an AC power cable can impact one's tone. They even said it on the cover!

)

IT has a dramatic effect on your tone. Try playing without one and you will see what I mean.

SB

JAUQO III-X · #11 03-03-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantstopwinning

I really wanted to like Bassics but I was always hard pressed to find a picture of someone with less than 9 strings on his bass and I just lost interest in reading about players I couldn't relate to.

I never noticed that about Bassics mag. Bassics mag is really a meat and potatoes magazine.

TimmyBoomBoom · #12 03-03-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlesssurfer

IT has a dramatic effect on your tone. Try playing without one and you will see what I mean.

SB

LOL!!!!!!!!! good one.

kraigo · #13 03-03-2009, 09:34 AM

I got to the point with BP where I felt like every month it was the same exact magazine with a different cover. I haven't really missed it since my subscription lapsed. At the same time, I'm letting most subscriptions lapse and trying to play more or write (journaling) or read books that aren't biographical in nature - fiction, books on becoming a better writer, books on music theory. Or more active listening to music. What do I like about it, what do I dislike.

I still subscribe to Modern Drummer, but I might try to find a good acoustic guitar magazine to subscribe to as well or instead. My future growth as a bassist has everything to do with my overall growth as a musician, so I'm trying to feed the whole beast.

KO

JTE · #14 03-03-2009, 10:13 AM

Have you TRIED the stupid expensive AC power cord they touted? I do know that going from the ubiquitioius 18 gauge power cord most amps come with to the 16 gauge one I found in the junk room at work did help my amp in some older clubs with crappy electrical systems. So the quality of the AC cord can make an audible difference. I do question whether the perceived difference between any well made and robust cord and the $125 Super Duper Cable is worth the cost. But I don't hear an audible difference in Monster Cables either that makes them worth the stupidly high cost and the chronic unreliablility. But some people who I respect DO hear a difference.

The gear reveiws have to be read carefully. Anyone foolish enough to base a purchase ona a magazine gear reveiw speaks for themselves. But the reveiws in BP do give you some idea what to expect, and have piqued my interest enough to TRY some things.

One thing I really like with BP is the diversity. They have articles on people I've never heard of, and frankly don't much care for (at least based on the superficial things like the tatoo to unkempt hair ratio, the "I gotta look more pissed off than Lemmy" poses, etc.). But, I'll still read them because that's how I learn more stuff. Sometimes it's a tidpbit about being in a band, about thinking of music, etc. And some artists are just very inspirational. I've never found anything on line that inspired me to be more focused and diligent in my practicing and to treat the music with attention and reverence than a Darryl Jones interveiw years ago. Victor Wooten's comments are more inspiring to me than what he actually plays. Rading Will Lee's interview with Chuck Rainey opened up more about both of them than all the stuff I've seen on-line in decaeds.

jte

kraigo · #15 03-03-2009, 12:55 PM

I'd love to read the Will Lee interviews Chuck Rainey article. It might have been worth the subscription right there. What I got tired of was that except for the guy on the cover, most of the interviews were three questions in length (the guys before the cover story). There'd be a lot of very superficial interviews. Pages of wasted space, IMO - perhaps someone gets something out of them, but I didn't.

I guess Modern Drummer does the same sort of thing, but I prefer that for those small "blurb" artists (not a criticism of anyone's value, I'm just describing the placement of their feature), MD abandons the interview format and really distill the information a lot better. It's probably the same amount of words and area, but it feels like there's more content.

After 15 years of subscribing I felt like I had read it all. Well, obviously except Will Lee interviews Chuck Rainey, which I would love to read. For everything else, I have Talk Bass, which is a very nice resource.

KO

waynobass · #16 03-03-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Bear

This sounds like its rapidly turning into a "BP SUCKS!" thread.

It is a fact. It now takes me about three minutes to skim Bass Player at the newsstand. It used to be twice as thick, with more text and fewer pictures and ads. Now it's more like a brochure.

There's a British magazine, glossy, expensive, that is much better. Can't think of the title.

tombowlus · #17 03-03-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynobass

There's a British magazine, glossy, expensive, that is much better. Can't think of the title.

That would be Bass Guitar, not to be confused with the now defunct Guitar World's Bass Guitar (for whom I used to write reviews). Bass Guitar is an excellent magazine, and I am a subscriber (I have also been and continue to be a Bass Player subscriber).

For player interviews, instructions, tips, etc. Bass Musician Magazine is great.

And I seem to have heard of a certain other bass gear magazine...

Tom.

funkymonk77 · #18 03-03-2009, 01:20 PM

if bass player could deliver the kind of volume and diversity of guitar player magazine id probably put down guitar for good, but till then a single issue of guitar player keeps me going all month while BP becomes a bathroom mag, for about a week

great magazine, just really thin.

Bass_Bear · #19 03-03-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

That would be Bass Guitar, not to be confused with the now defunct Guitar World's Bass Guitar (for whom I used to write reviews). Bass Guitar is an excellent magazine, and I am a subscriber (I have also been and continue to be a Bass Player subscriber).

For player interviews, instructions, tips, etc. Bass Musician Magazine is great.

And I seem to have heard of a certain other bass gear magazine...

Tom.

Already subscribed to your online version of Bassgear, which I read pretty religiously. With regards to the British Bass Guitar magazine, I'm either confused about how their subscription works, or I'm blown away at the cost. I've looked into the magazine, I've heard excellent things about it, but I just cannot wrap my head around the price. Being a resident of Canada, a subscription for me is about 100.00$ CAN. And what's worst is I can't figure out for the life of me whether this is for 1 issue or for the 6. Perhaps you could clarify this for me?

J

tombowlus · #20 03-03-2009, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Bear

Already subscribed to your online version of Bassgear, which I read pretty religiously. With regards to the British Bass Guitar magazine, I'm either confused about how their subscription works, or I'm blown away at the cost. I've looked into the magazine, I've heard excellent things about it, but I just cannot wrap my head around the price. Being a resident of Canada, a subscription for me is about 100.00$ CAN. And what's worst is I can't figure out for the life of me whether this is for 1 issue or for the 6. Perhaps you could clarify this for me?

J

It's not an inexpensive mag, but I would have to think that the 100.00$ CAN would get you a year's subscription.

Tom.