Pete Academy Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Over the last few months I've virtually given up on the US Bassplayer mag. I usually just pick it up from Smith's and that's that. However, over the last few months, as it's been getting thinner and thinner, I found myself having a quick browse and putting it back on the shelf. Amost a fiver saved. I received an e-mag from them yesterday. This is the 'online' version'. It looked quite good - a feature on Jamerson by his son and Anthony jackson. A 'funk' lesson from Bootsy. So I bought the issue. On the weblink it turns out that the Bootsy clip is from an 80's episode of Rockschool. It was fine back in the day, but is now just totally embarrassing. There's a clip of 'Pino with John Mayer'...the very same one that's already been posted on here. Editor Jonathan Herrera writes like he's desperate for a Pulitzer...Just say what you mean, for God's sake! Pretentious bollocks!!! The Jamerson feature has Anthony Jackson's usual patronising tone. The rest of the mag is the usual blend of obscure bands and players. Never again. Thank God for BGM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I agree - it always looks overpriced for such a flimsy effort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I agree, I have old copies twice as thick. Once in a while I'll buy a copy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Ohhhhh. I didn't know the new issue was out yet. It's still my fave Bass Mag....even though it's a bit thin lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 [quote name='Doddy' post='681895' date='Dec 12 2009, 02:30 AM']Ohhhhh. I didn't know the new issue was out yet. It's still my fave Bass Mag....even though it's a bit thin lately.[/quote] I'd say it was anorexic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 As it 'appens, I picked it up in the shop yesterday - I haven't seen it for a couple of months - and I couldn't believe it. It felt like a pamphlet. I put it back on the shelf... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I always thought it was crap,bring back bassist magazine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 [quote name='wateroftyne' post='681927' date='Dec 12 2009, 08:59 AM']As it 'appens, I picked it up in the shop yesterday - I haven't seen it for a couple of months - and I couldn't believe it. It felt like a pamphlet. I put it back on the shelf...[/quote] Me too, I think if you held it up to the light you could see through it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I bought last month's magazine. There was only one substantive article - a biog and analysis of Scott LaFaro - which looked to have been almost entirely derived from the recent book out on him (that Bilbo pointed out in another thread). Slim pickings indeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Despite the fact I used to buy it regularly I never liked the tone of the magazine much in the first place; it always felt like Bass Playing for Civil Servants. Having recently picked up a couple of issues in Smiths I did what others in this thread have done and put them straight down again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Bass player has always been rubbish in my opinion. Once you've got all the adverts out of the way, there's very little content of any interest. BGM is head and shoulders above BP in every respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbassist Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Ive always loved BP and really hope they get back on track. IMO its far better than any of the uk efforts.....Bassist was very good though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I've just bought the new issue and think that it's pretty good this month. There's a couple of good features on Jamerson and Wimbish,and a decent Oscar Pettiford lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Gave up on Bass Player a good few years back, (once in a while I may purchase). The british equivalent,BGM is getting worse and , if I see it (not very often) I give it browse and decide whether to purchase there and then. The old Bassist magazine was good. I wouldn't be surprised if a Bass mag ceases to exist eventually.Or returns to a small column in a guitar mag like Guitar for the practcing musician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 There's nothing in it. It's like they've given up, or something. And it's a fiver. Disgraceful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 [quote name='4000' post='682012' date='Dec 12 2009, 10:41 AM']Despite the fact I used to buy it regularly I never liked the tone of the magazine much in the first place; it always felt like Bass Playing for Civil Servants. Having recently picked up a couple of issues in Smiths I did what others in this thread have done and put them straight down again.[/quote] You can read it in WH Smiths in about 4 minutes. There's nothing there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 [quote name='YouMa' post='681932' date='Dec 12 2009, 09:08 AM']I always thought it was crap,bring back bassist magazine.[/quote] Seconded! The Glory Years! I used to love that magazine and had it from issue 1 to the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 [quote name='Rayman' post='682090' date='Dec 12 2009, 12:23 PM']Once you've got all the adverts out of the way, there's very little content of any interest.[/quote] That's always been my issue with it, and the fact that we're paying a premium for it on this side of the pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 [quote name='Doddy' post='682245' date='Dec 12 2009, 03:40 PM']I've just bought the new issue and think that it's pretty good this month. There's a couple of good features on Jamerson and Wimbish,and a decent Oscar Pettiford lesson.[/quote] I found the Wimbish interview a bit baffling, especially when he was attempting to describe his technique. Can anyone shed any light as to what he was on about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Actually, I take it back, it [i]is[/i] quite a good magazine, for lining the hamsters cage with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 Herrera's opening page is vomit-inducing. Plain english, please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E sharp Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 I too had a browse in 'Smiths a month or two ago (Chris Wolstenholme on the cover) Skinny is not the word . I remember a few years back , them slating BGM in a real underhand way - like they're in a position to talk . I too have some old copies , right back to the days when it was quarterly . And although a monthly mag is going to take a hit , content wise when compared to every 2 or 3 month editions , it really is piss poor now . Tend to buy Guitar and Bass sometimes , and that's quite interesting . As for Guitarist Magazine , I still remember the first edition , when Bassist went back to the fold , and they promised a vibrant bass section , and it wouldn't drop . Well now , when I can be bothered , I scan through the latest editions at the shop , and you'll be lucky to get one revue . Roger Newell must have the cushiest job in the world . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 Years ago, when I used to buy BP, my mates would take the piss and say, 'Ha, a mag for bass players...must the thinnest mag in the world!' Nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foal30 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 surely Bass Player's decline is relative to both our advancing years and the scarcity of quality subject matter? FWIW BP Mag was one of the best tutors I ever had... got to learn heaps from it over the years. 195 issues I have bought, and whilst the best for me was probably the mid-90's! if it was as helpful to some young cat stratign out now as it was too me then , well fair suck of the sav. Roberts and Jisi could return though eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urb Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 [quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' post='682362' date='Dec 12 2009, 05:48 PM']Gave up on Bass Player a good few years back, (once in a while I may purchase). The british equivalent,BGM is getting worse and , if I see it (not very often) I give it browse and decide whether to purchase there and then. The old Bassist magazine was good. I wouldn't be surprised if a Bass mag ceases to exist eventually.Or returns to a small column in a guitar mag like Guitar for the practcing musician.[/quote] Now there's optimism for you... I may be biased but having gone through a load of old bass mags from a few years ago BGM's current state is a VAST improvement on what it used to look and read like, it was shocking, now it's looking and reading loads better, and all credit is due also to the music lessons in the back of the mag, there's stuff of real substance there now, I think it's actually got, er, all bases covered now and obviously Nick wants t keep on improving it. I was speaking with a US bassist recently and he said he'd just discovered BGM and thought it was loads better than the US one, which I also used to buy with some regularity but haven't done so for at least a couple of years, their website is actually pretty good if you dig into it, and bassplayer.tv has tons of original/exclusive video lesson and performances on, not sure why the mag version is getting thin, I know the advertising downturn has hit hundreds of mags worldwide and many have closed... maybe they are next? M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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