Best Bass Magazine?

Loudpipe · #1 04-10-2008, 07:57 PM

I've never subscribed to any bass magazines and figured some of my fellow TB'ers do. Anyone got a preference as to which one's best? Think it's worth the $20 odd dollars a year?

RedemptionBass · #2 04-10-2008, 08:20 PM

I have a feeling it's going to be Bass Gear magazine but I have yet to receive the first issue.

Paging Mr. Bowlus.

tombowlus · #3 04-14-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedemptionBass

I have a feeling it's going to be Bass Gear magazine but I have yet to receive the first issue.

Paging Mr. Bowlus.

Thank you for the kind words! Our first issue is running a bit behind schedule, but dare I say, for all the right reasons.

We are doing detailed bench testing of all gear (well, amps/cabs/combos; instruments get a 'technical analysis', as well, but it's not necessarily 'bench testing'), and we very much want to get this 'right' in the first issue (which will set our template for going forward). I am really happy with the results we are getting so far, and I hope that this technical information will be not only useful to the reader, but fair, accurate, and unbiased.

I am hopeful that we will have issue #1 out by the first part of May. Shane and his crew have been working serious overtime on this effort, btw, as has Phil.

Tom.

Loudpipe · #4 04-14-2008, 10:12 AM

Sounds good. Do you plan to have discussions and articles about music and bass players, as opposed to being purely hardware focused?

tombowlus · #5 04-14-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loudpipe

Sounds good. Do you plan to have discussions and articles about music and bass players, as opposed to being purely hardware focused?

Our whole focus is mostly gear-related. That said, we have a regular column from pro drummer Robert 'Jake' Jacobs on how drummers and bass players interact (and yes, how gear helps us do that), Contributing Editor Terry Buddingh has a series on 'Made Where?' focusing on what it really means to have products Made in China (and other places). Terry (and I) will also be doing 'factory tours.'

As you can see, this is all still basically 'hardware related', but hopefully with some different spins and perspectives. If you are interested in player interviews, music reviews, lessons, etc., there are already a lot of excellent resources out there, and we are not really trying to compete in those arenas at this point in time.

Tom.

baalroo · #6 04-14-2008, 12:05 PM

I would like to see interviews in a "gear-centric" magazine, but from the perspective of "what's your favorite effect? why Ampeg? what mods are essential to you? etc etc"

tombowlus · #7 04-14-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baalroo

I would like to see interviews in a "gear-centric" magazine, but from the perspective of "what's your favorite effect? why Ampeg? what mods are essential to you? etc etc"

Gear-related interviews with top players are a distinct possibility, if not a likely eventuality, with Bass Gear Magazine.

Tom.

jmcgliss · #8 04-14-2008, 01:33 PM

Thanks for the update. Thought maybe the ship had sailed without me.

tombowlus · #9 04-14-2008, 01:40 PM

I should add that in all fairness, I am a happy subscriber of both Bass Player and the UK mag, Bass Guitar. They are fine publications, and I'd encourage anyone to subscribe to them.

Tom.

KJung · #10 04-15-2008, 08:00 AM

I'm totally looking forward to this magazing. I totally like the concept and with the people that are involved, it should be a first rate publication. The bench testing, etc., and also the focus on both vetting new gear and also comparing it to 'classic' or older gear (which is, of course, what many players own currently as they are considering a new purchase) is unique as far as I know.

I'm signed up and I would recommend that the TB community come out in force. These new publications are costly and very difficult to 'get off the ground', and I really want to make sure this one has a chance.

How cool to actually have REAL specs from the bench published in a gear review, versus a regurgitation of the manufacturers specs, that many times are 'creatively presented'

I still will keep my subsription to Bass Player... another fine publication that has a broader range of articles, etc.

Lady Kayri · #11 04-17-2008, 03:45 PM

I've sent in the $$ for Bass Gear. I've got a sub to Bass Player, too, and get Bass Magazine from Borders when it shows. Saw an ad for "Bassics", anyone know if that one is decent or not? Thanks...