OT: Any guitar players or enthusiasts

[GfxGuy]

My oldest son, now 14, has turned into a guitar playing maniac. I'd like to get him a subscription to a guitar magazine for Christmas, but don't know if there are any worth reading. It can't be too conservative or he won't bother reading it, but it can't be filled with scantily clad women or i won't let him read it

He plays acoustic, electric and bass (once in a while)

Any suggestions?

[chriskleeman]

Hey GfxGuy,

I moved your topic over to our Community Forum, where we post what used to be all the "OT" topics!

I think "Acoustic Guitar" magazine is a great start, no scantily-clad women, just great acoustic players, some who cross-over to the dark side, some who are cutting edge, all kinds of stuff, great gear reviews (that might cost you some $$$!!!)
 
I'll look around and see what's there from the electric side.

Best,

Chris K

[GfxGuy]

QUOTE(chriskleeman @ Nov 26 2007, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think "Acoustic Guitar" magazine is a great start, no scantily-clad women, just great acoustic players, some who cross-over to the dark side, some who are cutting edge, all kinds of stuff, great gear reviews (that might cost you some $$$!!!)

 Chris, is this a magazine you get yourself, or just something you know about? I'd rather rely on an outsiders opinion than the hype a magazine gives itself if you know what I mean.

and thanks for moving the post to the right place.

[beacher]

Hey, GFX, rest easy; Acoustic Guitar is a pretty good magazine that a couple of students of mine loan me, once in awhile.  But if your kid is into other kinds of music (blues, rock, jazz. . .), you really can't beat Guitar Player Magazine that covers all kinds of music, from classical to rock, both electric and acoustic, and has been around since about '67 or so.  Acoustic Guitar does have online articles and lessons, and I suspect that Guitar Player also does, although I'm not sure about them. . .

[GfxGuy]

Thanks Guys. I think I'll go with Guitar Player Mag. Looks sort of edgy which i think he'll like!

The Kid is amazing. He picked up an acoustic we had laying around the house this spring and now he's playing in the praise band as a freshman in high school.

[chriskleeman]

Either one, enjoy! Haven't read Guitar Player in a while, but it definitely will cover more bases than Acoustic Guitar for your budding genius!

Chris K

[Shades of Gray]

Good age to start. I was 12 when I began playing - my father's guitar which he bought in 1934, Montgomery Ward $4.95 special. By the time I was playing, the strings were more than a quarter inch off the fingerboard. My fingers bled for many months as I learned - never could develop callouses. But my father said that if I would stick it out, he would buy me a newer guitar (hand made flat top, by one of the neighborhood guys that taught me to play).

Now 46 years later, I still play, but I have a hand made guitar that is about $2000, comparable to any Martin (which I have played many). It was made by the brother of the other man, but he perfected it so that he has made ~200 guitars and ~250 mandolins. Even Segovia had played one of his and said it was one of the best he ever played.

I hope that your son will continue to have as enjoyable and fruitful experiences as I have had.

[GfxGuy]

Like i mentioned, he has several guitars. None of them great, but all of them OK. He plays about (I'm guessing here) 4 hours a day. After school He goes straight down to the studio i made for him in the basement and plays until bedtime stopping only to eat and do the occasional homework he didn't finish in study hall. Talk about hyper focus! He's progressing well and loves it!