What's up with Bass Gear Magazine??

LedBelli Bass · #1 09-02-2009, 03:00 PM

Does anybody know what's up with BGM? It's been quite a while since I got Issue #3 with no issue #4 showing up yet.

Tried calling the administrative # today: 305-674-9420 and got a "this number has been disconnected" recording . . .

Tried PM'ing Tom Bowlus to ask what's up. No answer back (as yet, anyway, but he's been continually & actively online since I PM'd him and no answer so far.).

I'm a charter subscriber, and I understood that there would be 6 issues annually, but we're coming up on 9 months of subscribership and I'm only seeing 3 issues on my shelf . . .

. . . and only 2 issues since the beginning of 2009!!.

(Issue #1 was way back in August of 2008)

Anybody know what's up?!

(Apologies to the mods . . . no other category looked right either! And you know, since bass guitars and amps ARE bass gear, this seemed the appropriate place to post. Please leave it here so the TB Community can get at it. Or please move it, but don't yank it down. Thanks!)

UncleBalsamic · #2 09-02-2009, 03:05 PM

I think the next issue's out this month.

I think there's a mini-head shootout as well!

LedBelli Bass · #3 09-02-2009, 03:10 PM

Yes, but even then that will only be 3 issues released for 2009, or 4 issues released for the last 12 months.

I was pretty sure that we ought to be seeing an issue every other month: 6 per year. It's been about 3 months since I got Issue 3 . . .

And what about that disconnected number?

me customer confidence is waning . . . lol

LedBelli Bass · #4 09-02-2009, 04:01 PM

I received the following email from BGM that will help us all understand the delays!

Hey Cleve,
Sorry for any delays or confusion. Please feel free to call me anytime at the new office number, ***-***-*880 (we moved the publishing office 3 months back and kept the old number till about 30 days ago, but missed that website update – we’ll have that updated shortly).
We WANT to get out 6 issues in a year, but we have fallen short of that goal due to complexities in testing digital (micro) heads and certain speaker cabinets. We just spent $20K upgrading our lab and have partnered with a university acoustics department to further our testing.

All this means is that we don’t release issues that aren’t up to our standards just because we have a date to hit. Of course, that’s not proper either – we need to get it right and get it out! Up till now, we couldn’t do both.
We DO feel we are over the techno hump and can get to 6 issues a year starting with issue 4. Issue 4 will be out in about 30 days.
Your subscription is for 6 issues, and you will get them.
If you need anything, you can get me at my e-mail or phone. Thank you for your patience.
MR
Martin Roseman, Publisher

Well done, thank you Martin!

Ezbass · #5 09-03-2009, 03:21 AM

I was just rereading issue 3 and was wondering when the next one would be out, thanks for the info.

KJung · #6 09-03-2009, 05:42 AM

Those guys (Tom, Martin, and whoever their tech guy is now) are in the midst of a monumental task. Besides being a very tough time to even start a magazine (magazine readership numbers are dropping like flies), they are trying to do something that seems very complex with their 'quantitative testing' of amps and cabs, etc.

My guess is, if they make it that far, it will take another year or so to really get the machine running smoothly. I'm personally fine giving them a bit of breathing room, and as posted above, everyone will get what they paid for (and my guess is, even more... the quality and size of the paper publication continues to amaze me given the subscription price), it might just take a touch longer than anticipated.

I have a feeling they are not having as much fun at the moment as they expected, but it seems like they are really trying to do it right.

I'm hanging in there and re-upping my subscription next year

macmrkt · #7 09-03-2009, 07:32 AM

Thanks all - and to you Ken, as always, for being print subscriber #1! Our subscribers are TROOPERS! We've lost a total of one (1!) due to our delays. And we increase our subscriber ranks every single day. I can tell you this, we continue to upgrade every aspect of the Mag - from the paper, to the updated 'flipbook' system, to the technology in our labs, and to the content (Issue 4 will be the best yet.) We are keeping at 116 pages, and have even added 'top talent' to the editorial staff. The one nagging problem is that "Tom guy" will only release an issue if it tells the truth as we know it to the best of our ability. When we learn more about how amps and cabs work, we chase the testing truth to the corners of the globe. I believe we now have all the test gear we need in place, so our goal now is to crank on production so we can get issues out faster.

BIGREDSIX · #8 09-03-2009, 07:49 AM

I was just wondering myself. Like Ken, I'll wait for a quality mag sans hype.

tombowlus · #9 09-03-2009, 07:53 AM

I just replied to your e-mail from yesterday evening, Cleve. Sorry for the delay. It had actually been sent to my "junk" e-mail folder.

Well, Marty has already responded, but I'll throw in a few more nuggets.

Yes, we could have cranked out more issues by now. But once I realized that we were going to be changing some of our bench tests, and once I realized that we really needed an Audio Precision test rig (APx521 system, FWIW), I made the executive decision to focus on getting this unit (which is not cheap, so it took a while to round up the funds) and revising our bench test methods. I did not want to have to redo any more tests than I had to (and yes, we plan on re-testing all of the amps we have previously reviewed with the new system and new methodology, so that all of our reviews, past and present, are on equal footing). I should also point out that accurate, thorough testing of class-D amps presents some unique filtering challenges. There are a variety of ways that different folks have chosen to address this issue when testing class-D amps, but we felt that the Audio Precision route was the most appropriate option for us.

I need to take a moment here to praise Tom Lees, our Technical Editor for amps, for all of his hard work. Tom is an obsessive workaholic, and he has really thrown himself into this task. I just feel so lucky to be able to work with guys like Tom!

Speaking of lucky, I am amazed at the level of support we have received from the industry and our readers. Thank you! Our advertiser and subscription count has gone up with each issue. We have more gear sent in for review than you can imagine. We have access to some of the top minds in the industry when it comes to peer-reviewing our test methologies, etc.

So fear not! We are alive and doing well. I just like to get all my ducks in a row, instead of plowing forward, knowing that I am going to change something just a short ways down the road.

Oh, and we recently picked up a new staff reviewer. You may have heard of him. He goes by "Ed," though some call him "The Bass Whisperer."

I thank all of you for your patience, and I ask that you just hang with us a tad longer. Issue #4 has been very exciting to work on, and we have a few more surprises in store. I anticipate that once the AP system is up and cranking, and I have a regular speaker testing schedule worked out with Terra State Community College, we should be able to crank out issues pretty quickly.

Thanks again, Tom.

Voss451 · #10 09-03-2009, 07:55 AM

I'm just glad that there's a Bass Gear PERIOD.

Years ago, Guitar player started up a Guitar Gear magazine that only lasted a dozen or so issues. I think it's a good idea to span out the issues mainly because there's only so many new products coming out that are worth spending time doing an in-depth review of (do we REALLY need a bench spec review of a Line 6 Low Down 15w combo ?) and to do rapid succession issues would leave nothing to review down the road.

"Quality over quantity" as the saying goes....

Granted, the op was a bit mystified because of not being able to get in touch, etc... but hey, things happen..

tombowlus · #11 09-03-2009, 07:56 AM

Cleve, could you please edit your post so as to remove Martin's cell phone number? I'm sure Marty doesn't mind any of our TalkBass friends having his number, but the "interwebs" is full of folks whom you might not want to have your number...

Thanks.

bassplayer7770 · #12 09-03-2009, 07:57 AM

Thanks for the updates, Tom. I hope to officially subscribe very soon...

tombowlus · #13 09-03-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voss451

I think it's a good idea to span out the issues mainly because there's only so many new products coming out that are worth spending time doing an in-depth review of

To be honest, you'd be amazed at the amount of gear for which I think it would be very much worth doing a full bench-test review. One of my goals is to start working in some previously established industry "standards." We will see some test results from a tried and true classic in issue #4.

Quote:

(do we REALLY need a bench spec review of a Line 6 Low Down 15w combo ?)

That is a good point, and in part, this is why we created the "Quick Look" category. The other reason is to help get the word out more quickly with regard to a new product (it can take a while to work something through our complete, two-tier, review process).

bassplayer7770 · #14 09-03-2009, 08:03 AM

Pssst. Tom, if you can't meet the deadline for 6 issues per year, it would be easier to just blame it on Phil...

tombowlus · #15 09-03-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer7770

Pssst. Tom, if you can't meet the deadline for 6 issues per year, it would be easier to just blame it on Phil...

Man, I'd like to, but I can honestly say that Phil has not held anything up one iota. That bastage is a machine!

bassplayer7770 · #16 09-03-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

Man, I'd like to, but I can honestly say that Phil has not held anything up one iota. That bastage is a machine!

LOL. Yeah, he's great. Actually, I took my Yamaha BB3000MA to him last week. The pickup selector switch was frequently cutting out on the J pickup. It's my only bass at the moment, and I had two gigs last weekend. I took it into his shop on my lunch break. The shop called me on my way home that same day letting me know my bass was done.

macmrkt · #17 09-03-2009, 08:19 AM

No prob on keeping 305-396-2880 as the Publishing office number - that's the new one.
I'm also macmrkt on Skype for international calls.

tombowlus · #18 09-03-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmrkt

No prob on keeping 305-396-2880 as the Publishing office number - that's the new one.
I'm also macmrkt on Skype for international calls.

Okay, Marty, but if you decide to make a donation to the Patrolman's Benevolent Association, remember, that's on your dime!

tombowlus · #19 09-03-2009, 08:32 AM

Oh, I should also mention that we are also "wasting" our time working on a vastly upgraded digital format for the free subs, as well as working in some video reviews.

LedBelli Bass · #20 09-03-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombowlus

Cleve, could you please edit your post so as to remove Martin's cell phone number? I'm sure Marty doesn't mind any of our TalkBass friends having his number, but the "interwebs" is full of folks whom you might not want to have your number...

Thanks.

Done! Thanks again!