Author Topic: Best Mag (Read 3553 times)

noodleplugerine · « **on:** December 17, 2007, 05:44:02 PM »

I've been a subscriber to Guitar Techniques for years - And will continue to be one, however, I want to pickup a Subscription to a Review/interview etc, magazine.

Anyone got a particular fave?

I've allways heard Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar and Bass, etc were pretty good - But which is best? Never bought a copy of any of them as far as I remember...

WezV · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2007, 05:51:28 PM »

i find total guitar a bit juvenile now - but guitarist is usually a good read. TBH i always struggle with guitar magazines now because i have become an opinionated guitar snob

Philly Q · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2007, 06:23:18 PM »

Guitarist or Guitar & Bass - I can't really pick one over the other. Guitar Player is great too, but very "American" in style and a bit light on in-depth interviews nowadays (IMO).

I still buy Guitar World too, but it's aimed more at a younger audience, lots of metal (nothing wrong with that) and pop-punk (everything wrong with that).

hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** December 17, 2007, 06:27:57 PM »

Guitarist all the way - great editorial quality, except this simon bradley guy who just doesn't know how to make gear sound good.

horsehead · « **Reply #4 on:** December 17, 2007, 06:29:11 PM »

I get guitarist for the reviews & also the amounts of stuff that they cover now..love it!

Mr Ed · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2007, 06:32:32 PM »

Guitarist >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TG.

Oli · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2007, 06:43:09 PM »

Personally, i don't read reviews in magazines- i find the area to be a little too biased.

If a company sends magazine X a grands worth of guitar to review, and they say that it's pretty average, but not worth a grand, then the company isn't going to send more guitars and the magazine will have to find another company who is willing to donate a guitar. Most magazine articles i read give rave reviews about everything- even if it is complimenting the metallic sparkle in the paint, rather than saying that the construction wasn't great, or the electronics were cheap.

It is useful to find out about some bits of gear though, there is quite a lot that they review these days!

I do like to read the in depth stuff with artists- especially when they go deep into the workings of their rig, but i don't by the mags, just have a read of my mates when i'm there ;)

Brow · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2007, 06:50:59 PM »

I like Guitar and Bass Magazine myself :)

Elliot · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2007, 06:57:14 PM »

I have whittled my mag buying down to the only one that matters - Guitar Techniques. I would save your money and carry on just getting this gem.

Simon D · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2007, 08:17:20 PM »

In terms of what the various magazines actually give you, I'd say Guitarist comes out on top. It's editorial style is pitched right - authorative but friendly, it's well written by journalists who have a good deal of knowledge of and passion for their subject. It's also well designed, and covers a wide variety of different styles.

Personally, I think the reviews are well done too, and they are prepared to shoot something down if it doesn't come up to standard. For example, they certainly weren't backward in pointing out some of the construction issues with the Les Paul BFG a few months back.

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2007, 08:27:35 PM »

Guitarist is now at its best, Guitar Buyers old editor Mick Taylor is now the editor for Guitarist, and he's done an amazing job. The quality is brilliant, and it has more than any other guitar mag.

Guitar buyer is also ok, but because of Mick leaving, it has gone a little downhill, but still good read, and more gear than any other mag, just reviews if thathat you're looking for. And only £3.20

Total guitar is absolutley shite. Its written soley for 13 year old metal gods who are all going to be uber famous and c00l, with pretty much each issue either like "ZOMG teh fcucking god Slash/ Avenged Sevenfold/ some new emo band". However, sometimes they do specials, -Classic Rock, Shred etc- which are brilliant, and usually very well written. A lot of the shred special was done by Paul Gilbert, and was really sophisticated.
Total Guitars contribution was this-

"When he wasn't plummeting to his death in an out of control light aircraft, Ozzys sideman could be found tearing neo classical legato from the flying V variant he designed with Jackson"

I found it inappropriate,and really really disrepectful, they suck.

/rant/

MrBump · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2007, 08:50:16 PM »

... another vote for Guitarist I'm afraid. I've read it since I was 13 or so (23 years now... damn!). First issue I bought had Tony Iommi on the cover, and a full page colour ad on the inside sleeve for a black Gibson LP Custom, gold hardware all glittery next to a red Ferrari... I fell in love with that guitar right then and there.

Hmmm... good memories!

Mark.

ilÿti · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2007, 08:52:58 PM »

I don't have a subsciption to any magazine. My guitar teacher subcribed on guitarworld and TG and I used to read them before my lessons. I was usually done flipping through TG in about 3 minutes. Sometimes they had an interesting special on a guitarist I liked, and there's be some tasty licks tabbed out, that I did benefit from. I buy an issue of GW or Guitarist sometimes if there's articles in I'd like to read, based on the players featured. IE, the GW with Satch and Vai on the cover I couldn't go without. :)

38thBeatle · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2007, 08:53:50 PM »

I go for Guitarist too.Occasionally get one of the other mags if I see something that catches my eye.

Twinfan · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2007, 09:09:08 PM »

Quote from: hunter

Guitarist all the way - great editorial quality, except this simon bradley guy who just doesn't know how to make gear sound good.

Completely agree. Everything he plays sounds like a fizzy bottle of acid :( He also seems to be overly positive with his reviews too. I like people to be a bit more objective.