Acoustic Guitar

Acoustic Guitar is a monthly magazine published in the United States since July/August 1990 by String Letter Publishing.^[1] The magazine offers information related to acoustic guitars for players of all levels from beginners to teachers. Each issue includes a half dozen or so songs with notation and tablature, lessons, product reviews and interviews of prominent acoustic musicians. The magazine boasts a readership of approximately 64,000 and is widely available throughout North America.^[2]

History

Acoustic Guitar was founded in the summer of 1990 under the editorial direction of Jeffery Pepper Rodgers as a publication of String Letter Publishing of San Rafael, California.^[3] String Letter had previously been established in 1985 as the publisher of Strings, a magazine oriented towards players of bowed string instruments.^[4]

The first issue featured the first in a series of columns written by Sharon Isbin, a biography on Robert Johnson, a profile of Bruce Cockburn's song craft, and commentary on the "new" MTV Unplugged series. The issue also included musical works for guitar in various styles including folk, classical, and jazz.^[5] In its first year of publication, Acoustic Guitar won the Western Publishing Association's "Maggie Award" for Best New Consumer Magazine of the year.^[6]

The magazine has seen a number of staff changes over the years. Rodgers remained with the magazine through its tenth anniversary collector's edition in 2000.^[7] In the summer of 2005, Dan Gabel was named associate publisher of the magazine.^[8] And in 2006, Phil Catalfo became the editor of the magazine.

Event sponsorship

The magazine is sponsor or co-sponsor of a number of music festivals, workshops and trade related events.^[9] Since 1995, its annual Acoustic Cafe Concert at NAMM has featured a diverse field of notable musicians.^[10]

References

1. ^ String Letter Publishing web site
2. ^ Acoustic Guitar advertising information (includes estimated readership)
3. ^ Jeffery Pepper Rodgers bio from his web site
4. ^ Strings magazine web site
5. ^ Contents (first issue), Acoustic Guitar, 1, July/August, 1990.
6. ^ "About us", Acoustic Guitar web site
7. ^ Contents (tenth anniversary collectors edition), Acoustic Guitar, 91, July 2000 (see also this excerpt from Rodgers web site)
8. ^ "Dan Gabel named associate publisher (Acoustic Guitar Magazine), Music Trades, July 1, 2005
9. ^ "A Guide to events where you'll find Acoustic Guitar magazine, Acoustic Guitar web site
10. ^ "2006 Acoustic Cafe lineup announced (NAMM Show Preview)", Music Trades, February 1, 2006

External links

• Acoustic Guitar Central, official website