I've been purchasing this high-quality magazine for the past 3 1/2 years and have been mostly thrilled with the quality of its content for the entire duration.
The gear reviews are probably the best in its publication class: the gear they choose to review covers a wide range of user profiles, from boutique to beginner-oriented gear. The lessons and transcriptions cover a good balance of the musical landscape in guitar music and are very well produced. The columns on guitar and amp maintenance are so-so, and unfortunately don't go much beyond the very basics, but the occasional recording and songwriting columns are much more sophisticated.
The artist features are probably the weakest part of the magazine, and take up a solid chunk of the magazine, but it's probably a necessary evil of marketing the publication. Finally, the CD/DVD reviews are idiosyncratically British and overly indulge in glowing reviews for too many mediocre modern Britpop acts and the... Read more
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Full of information for the player, the teacher, the student and the listener. Contains quality writing and photographs. Features interviews; international news; coverage of worldwide guitar events; reviews; guitar history and more.
This is for the Classical guitar purist. If you are not totally obsessed with classical guitar then you might not get that much out of it. Lots of news in the classical guitar world - who's doing what and playing where, guitar competitions being held around the world and entrance requirements, some technique tips and music, and stuff like that. I've been subscribing to it for over 2 years and although it's sort of pricey, I like reading it. I teach Classical guitar so of course I like it.
If you are expecting color pictures on the inside there won't be any. The only pictures in color are on the front and back, and some ads on the inside. All pictures of the guitar gods/goddesses are in black and white, and are not very clear (fuzzy). For what a subscription costs it seems they could afford at least one or two color pictures. But, the interviews and articles are interesting.
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The Fretboard Journal is a publication like no other: a coffee-table style magazine written specifically for players, collectors, and builders of guitars, banjos, mandolins, and ukuleles. In each quarterly issue, The Fretboard Journal celebrates the innovators of the music world and the tools they use, acoustic and electric, weird and collectible. You'll find famous musicians interviewing other famous musicians about the equipment they use; profiles of some of the world's finest luthiers; and great essays covering the historical context of legendary recordings. With original photography, archival quality paper, and minimal advertising, each issue will be a keepsake you'll cherish. Unlike most guitar magazines, The Fretboard Journal doesn't review gear or feature instructional pieces; it simply covers the great stories behind musical instruments and musicians. Whether your interest is old-time music or indie rock (or somewhere in between), you'll find something in each eclectic issue specifically for you.
This review is from: The Fretboard Journal (Magazine)
Finally, a killer looking instrument magazine with interesting articles about players and collectors. This mag covers a pretty wide range of topics--interviews with players, builder interviews, some historical/esoteric stuff, etc. Even has some artsy photo spreads of instruments themselves. But I loved every page of the first issue. This is mag is stunning! No tab or instruction but plenty of entertaining, smart articles.
I love it. Even my wife read it!
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This review is from: The Fretboard Journal (Magazine)
Most magazines, and guitar magazines included, are primarily mediums to distribute advertising. This is NOT one of those. While it does have ads, they are aimed at the knowledgeable, not the impetuous. FBJ has well written, insightful articles about the music, and the people and instruments which make it. FBJ, as its name implies, explores not just guitars, but all fretted instruments, which allows a great expansion of many readers' perception of the art. The articles are long enough to wonderfully cover the subject, a refreshing change from most periodicals where article size cuts down on ad space and articles are often designed to sell advertiser's product. It explores the artists and instruments of the past and the present. It's one-on-one interviews are exceptional. Pictures are high quality, relevant, and large. Most of all, FBJ carries the reader into the very personal world of instrument making and playing like no other source will, and it delivers four times a year... Read more
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This review is from: The Fretboard Journal (Magazine)
An amazing magazine. The quality is superb. I highly recommend this to any music lover. I will be anxiously waiting for the next issue. My collection has begun.
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High Quality Content But Lackluster Fulfillment Department, 
