The Fretboard Journal

[John Bertotti]

So what's in this mag. I am interested but don't want to subscribe till I know what it covers. I don't need one just would like to hear some thoughts on the subject matter.

[warren]

Its a great mag with very insightful articles on many aspects of fretted instruments and their builders/players, written by some of the most qualified people around. If you hang out at the cafe classifieds you already qualify as a fretboard journal junkie you just dont know it yet. I read the first edition covr to cover. Check out their website and you will pretty much get the idea of what its all about.
Also the quality of the mag is increadible.
If you have a Borders/tower/barnes and Nobles near you they wil carry it.

[Tom C]

In the first issue there was an article on the luthiers and the inlaying of the 1 millionth martin guitar. An article on the Tone Poets CD and some performers and their stories. An article about a person who met and took some lessons from Rev Gary Davis and his experience. An article about the history of Santa Cruiz Guitars.
Great first edition. It is more than a magazine. It has a heavy cover (not hard) and all pages are thick.

[John Bertotti]

Thanks all that is what I was hoping for. I haven't seen a copy at B&N or Waldens. Maybe it is my area. Can I order the back issues somewhere? I'll go check the website now. Thanks John

[warren]

its a quarterly mag so there is no back issue yet just the current issue which is still available. B&N should be able to order it.

[JEStanek]

It is an archive quality journal about the fretted instruments. My favorites in issue 1 were theGrisman interview, the Frank Ford (of Gryphon Strings and Frets.com fame and frequent cafe poster), and the article on the correspondence course to become a master Uke instructor.

The photography is excellent, the articles easily readable by lay people. All around a good read. I hope I win!

Jamie

[John Bertotti]

So is the current issue #1? And lastly how much advertising is in it? I can't stand a mag that had 70 percent adverts and 30 percent substance. John

[JEStanek]

Yes, this is the first issue to print.

I Counted pages with ads out of the total... First 82 pages no ads. p83 1 page for Elderly, 6 pages of reviews, 1 page ad for microphone, 1 page for Gypsy Jazz.net 2 pages of various luthier ads 2 more pages of text and thats it. 5 of 96 pages (5.2% ads)!!! #That's practically like Public Television! Most articles in the 4-8 page range.

Jamie

[jasonv]

Hi everyone,

This is Jason Verlinde, the publisher of the Fretboard Journal. I've been reading your comments and figure'd it was time to chime in. It's nice to see so many positive comments about what we're up to! Perhaps I can answer a few questions about it, as well...

We launched the magazine back in November. #We gave ourselves an extra month to work out some kinks, but from now on, we'll be quarterly, with a new issue every three months. Our next issue is due in early April, then July, then October, then January... and so on. There are still copies of the first FJ available--the David Grisman issue--and they can be ordered directly from us or through many stores (including Elderly, Gryphon, Borders, Barnes & Nobles, Towers, etc.). In fact, unless they sell out, you should be able to find this issue on the newsstands for a couple more months.

Our goal continues to be to make a nice looking, informative and fun magazine for the serious player. It won't be for everyone, but we think there's an audience for a mag like this. We have a small staff, and everyone here is a musician. We're going to make sure that each issue has not only some guitar coverage but banjo and mandolin coverage in it, as well. It's a magazine for folks who like to read.

Our advertising IS really minimal...on purpose. Jamie's public television analogy is pretty much spot on. Just like PBS and NPR, we're thinking there are enough people willing to pay a little more for a magazine like this that we won't ever need a huge amount of ads (don't worry, we won't do any telethons... I promise). We treat the limited ads we get more like "sponsors" than regular advertisers. And, if we get more advertisers than expected, we'll throw an extra story in the magazine so the issue's ratio of ads to editorial is a sane one. Simply put, we're "reader supported." There are many magazines/journals that currently do this and have had great success with it -- it just hasn't been done in the musical instrument world until now.

Anyhow, if anyone has any questions for us, let us know. And, being a journal, we're always on the lookout for new contributions from our readership. So pitch away if you have story ideas or a good tale to tell. We continue to view this as a work in progress, too, so feedback is always welcomed. We're all ears.

I do most of the business stuff and Michael Simmons does most of the editorial assignments. He'll actually be down at Loar Fest if anyone wants to say hello to him. But feel free to email us anytime you like (our emails are on the website).

I'm rambling so I'll shut up now but I'm glad to hear a few of you are liking the magazine!

Jason
The Fretboard Journal

[John Bertotti]

Sounds brilliant so I'm in. Thanks all John

[manjitsu]

Jason-

I for one think a hearty congratulations is in order- Fretboard Journal is a real treat. Well conceived, beautifully written, and the design is nothing short of stunning. I hope you'll be entering it in the Communciation Arts annual design competition.

I'm already eagerly awaiting the next issue!

Chris Rorrer