Bass Player Mag. Worth it?

[Commreman]

I like it. The transcriptions and lesson pages are worth the price of admission. I tend not to pay attention to the gear reviews. I don't have all of them form over the years, but I do find myself using the back issues as a resource.

I hope that the magazine survives this recession. It's good to know that Ed Friedland will be back. That is a great positive step.

 

[edfriedland]

Yes, I'm back at BP. I'm following my buddy/editor Elton Bradman around it seems. It was he that first lured me away to GW's Bass Guitar with promises of riches and fame, it's only fitting that I follow him back - and this time... for sure!

<<Joking folks, this is "ironic" humor>>

I'm really enjoying the work, writing for bass players is something I'm supposed to do. I will be doing a mix of gear reviews, instructional stuff (Blues column on the way), Tech Bench pieces, instructional featurettes, and compiling items for New Gear.

I'm not sure if there will be much video at this point, certainly not the steady stream there was with GW. I will however continue to do privately contracted demos - got a few coming up.

 

[jerry]

Very cool!!

 

[JimK]

I have every issue so it's hard for me to give up my subscription

Me, too. I also agree with some of your other reasons.

I almost threw up when I saw Victor Wooten on the cover, yet again this month.

Actually, I was a little surprised. I has been awhile since Wooten's last cover (there was a time when he was on the cover, in some fashion, every other month?).
My question: GARY WILLIS has never been a cover boy. No need here to list some of the other yahoos that got a cover (some with multiple covers).
Why?

I tend not to pay attention to the gear reviews.

...and I thought I was all alone on this.
Nice to know someone else is out there!

It's good to know that Ed Friedland will be back. That is a great positive step.

This is very good.

 

[renobassman]

I've been getting it for several years, and I think it's worth it for the price. As others have said, the reviews are kinda worthless. The main things for me are the lessons and transcriptions. These have a nice range of style and difficulty, so I can always take something away from each issue.

The articles and cover stories can get repetitive as many of the same players will get featured over and over again (Victor Wooten yet again this month). My favorite interviews are the ones towards the front of each issue with lesser known players. Many of them I have never heard of and I've gotten turned on to several good players and bands from these interviews.

 

[stingray56funk]

Used to be good (mid-late 90's and before Talkbass) but now, not worth the paper it is printed on.

 

[ez-rhino]

I like Bass Guitar Magazine (UK) better. It's pricey at the news stand/bookstore so I usually thumb thru it first before I decide if I want to buy it.

Now this mag has some meat to it. I don't see it at the newsstands very often, but I grab them when I do.

Pricey, but is far superior to BPM (literally twice the content). Those silly Brits take their mag seriously.

 

[madmatt]

Well it is nice to get reviews of new items even if it is a biased view.
The only thing worth buying it for in my opinion are the lessons in the back.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I'm a bass player so I like to read Bass Player magazine. I think they're doing a great job given the current state of the US economy, the state of the print industry, and the state of music (and bass playing) in general. They have a hard job to do...you cannot please everybody. Seems kind of silly for 'bass players' to complain about a magazine made specifically for them.

 

[edfriedland]

Well, people have been complaining about BP for as long as it's been in print! It comes with the territory, and I think those of us that have been part of the mag accept that.

I agree that over the years BP has suffered due to the economic realities of the print media world, but the intention has always been to do the best work possible with the resources they have.

For those who are quick to dismiss the mag, I say - stick around. There is new blood being pumped in (some of it is OLD blood, but back and refreshed!). I personally am very excited about the potential for the magazine now that Elton is there to help Brian out. You can't even imagine how much work it is to put it together, and Brian has been largely on his own since Jon Herrera left. Yeah, there are freelancers, and the production staff, but now he's got a top notch Senior Editor with energy and enthusiasm, and a well-cultivated stable of freelancers. Things are going to start to pop at BP. So, don't rule it out, it's not down for the count yet! I can say for myself that I personally intend to kick some ass in that mag, so watch out.

 

[jerry]

Now this mag has some meat to it. I don't see it at the newsstands very often, but I grab them when I do.

Pricey, but is far superior to BPM (literally twice the content). Those silly Brits take their mag seriously.

I subscribe to the British Bass Guitar Magazine and while it is thicker than Bassplayer, the ratio of reviews and ads to interviews seems about the same to me.