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CORRESPONDENCE
FRETBUZZ
Your letters and observations on the world of guitar Join the conversation Email us at editors@guitar.com
You raise an interesting point, Brian, and it’s
something we’ve thought about a lot. We look
at it similarly to the way music listening has
evolved in recent years: these days, most of us
are streaming the vast majority of the music
we listen to, but the vinyl boom demonstrates
that even in a world where every song ever
recorded is available in our pockets, there’s
still a place for physical products that enable
us to escape the glow of a screen.
While you can read some of our articles for
free on Guitar.com (and much more besides),
we think that the physical act of sitting as you
are, right now, reading a print magazine –
one that showcases our features and reviews
using beautiful design alongside stunning
photography – offers a tactile, immersive and
rewarding experience that’s worth waiting for,
or even worth returning to for a second read.
We hope you agree.
SECRET AGENT
Dear TGM, I am a new reader, and
probably one of your older ones at 72, but
I absolutely love receiving the magazine.
I first took up the guitar while at school
in New Zealand, as it seemed cool. Then,
at university, I played in a covers band,
The Secrets, which was an interesting
experience. The Secrets were quite popular
in New Zealand at the time but remained
quite anonymous. Our ‘manager’ had six
STANDBY, ME? I own a guitar shop these days and, bands going out and playing under that
Dear Guitar Magazine, your letter in the believe me, stories such as that present name, booked as if they were the real band!
February issue about amp standby switches themselves every week. Nobody ever caught on because nobody
reminded me of an incident some years ago, TONY BOWLER, VIA EMAIL knew what they looked like.
when I was a guitar teacher. I went to the Many years later and now living in the
home of a teenager for his lesson. He was PHYSICAL GRAFFITI UK, I’ve got back into guitar playing. I
late coming home, so his mum showed me First of all, let me say how much I enjoy recently hired a teacher to learn jazz but
into the room where his amp and guitars Guitar Magazine, especially the DIY that was too hard, so now I’m learning blues
were so I could wait for him. He’d bought projects and set-up guides. As an inveterate variations. I find the technical aspects of
a 100-watt Laney all-valve head and cab tinkerer, amateur woodworker and very some articles in the mag beyond me but
several months before, and I noticed that amateur luthier, they’re right up my street. I still enjoy reading them. After all these
even though he hadn’t been home all day, it However, something that’s been years, I find only now that I want to learn
was on standby. “Oh, he leaves it on standby bothering me lately is that I pick up my more about things like pickups, bridge
all the time – our electricity bills are magazine soon after it drops through the positions and what makes one guitar
horrendous,” said his mum. “What, 24/7?” I letterbox, looking forward to a great read, more expensive than the other.
replied. She responded in the affirmative. and find that it features several articles that In recent years, I have been fortunate
Baffled, when said student got home, I I’ve either already read or could have read enough to sit in the pit of two London
asked him why he was leaving his amp on via your numerous email messages or by musicals, which were brilliant experiences.
all the time. “When I bought it, the lad in going directly to Guitar.com. C’mon, guys, I always try to meet the guitarists of shows
the shop told me to leave it on standby subscribers and buyers of the mag pay good I attend, and find it interesting to learn
when I wasn’t using it,” he said. “So that’s money for it, so it sticks in the craw to see of their paths, the instruments they play,
what I do.” Clearly, the student either things you’ve already read or could have and so on. Many of these conversations
misunderstood or wasn’t told that this only read for free. It would be better if you at have been fascinating – I think features
applies when you’re playing a gig. I soon set least waited until a while after publication on these unknown pro players would be
him straight and, with any luck, his parents before the articles appear on the website. really interesting and illuminating. Keep
found their son’s new hobby to be a bit less Other than that, keep up the good work. up the good work.
demanding on their utilities. BRIAN WALKER, SCOTLAND PETE (CHET) GOODMAN, VIA EMAIL
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