Bass Player magazine

[synaesthesia]

I think my writing for BP and other publications has remained consistent in the last twenty years. I have not dumbed down any of my writing recently, and the word count for my columns in Bass Player has remained about the same as it was in the early '90s.

I enjoy your articles as I do your book, and it is one of the few things l enjoy in BP consistenly so no argument there.

If I have an observation to add: there was a time in GP (and perhaps BP) when the electronics was in the hands of Craig Anderton, Studio articles by Tommy Tedesco, Jazz Lessons by Howard Roberts, reviews of instruments by John Carruthers, rock interviews by Jas Obrect etc etc etc. There was a specific role for each specialist columnist and journo. Then there was a time when the journos were the same people who wrote transcriptions, some music theory lessons, 'technical' reviews on amps & speakers, efx, and instruments, editorials, interviews, luthierie, record reviews, etc... It is certainly not that no one can do these multiple things, but many people can at a generic level ....including me but I am no expert at any particular aspect; but it is to me at that point where the expert in publishing became the average joe writing for both GP and BP on multiple subjects which were once the province of a specialist, and for me this is where the watering down occurs.

Nice if you enjoy reading that, but not if you are looking for insights beyond the stretch of your own arm.

 

[John Goldsby]

but it is to me at that point where the expert in publishing became the average joe writing for both GP and BP on multiple subjects which were once the province of a specialist, and for me this is where the watering down occurs.

I think you make good points. Since I'm a freelancer, and not on the editorial staff, I'll let Jonathan comment on that if and when he pops back in here.