Too many gear reviews, not enough content

I've subscribed to this magazine since the 1970's. For a lot of that time, it was the only guitar magazine widely available. It provided a great deal of instructional content, especially the columns which ran for years, and which were like taking monthly lessons from top players.
Unfortunately, the instructional content is an afterthought these days, relegated to a few quick one page riff ideas by random people each month. The magazine is almost totally consumed by "gear reviews", of which they seem quite proud. It's obviously an attempt to stay on the good side of all the equipment manufacturers who buy advertising. I'm profoundly bored with all the equipment content. The articles and interviews with players are getting shorter and shorter. The unspoken message seems to be "Don't worry about learning how to play what you have, just get out there and buy more stuff."

Their choices of cover artists are also getting more and more "flavor of the month"-oriented (when they aren't showing equipment on the cover). They'll run very short articles on great players, then give the cover and longest article to someone more known for their sense of fashion or appearances in celebrity gossip columns than for their guitar playing.

And don't get me started on their editor's monthly sermon on how we should all be out there creating "great art". Zzz...

There must be some mistake....

I would like to comment on Brandon's review of GUITAR PLAYER. I believe that he is reviewing the wrong publication, because GUITAR PLAYER does not have any song transcriptions in it. In addition, there isn't a column called "Riff Box", which he mentioned in his review. He is thinking of a different guitar publication. (Not to mention that the editor of GUITAR PLAYER looks more like someone who would lend his lunch money to someone else, rather than have his lunch money stolen.)

GUITAR PLAYER is loaded with great articles and interviews, in addition to the most reliable gear reviews for those who are interested in purchasing guitars, amps, effects, etc.

Please look on the cover of your magazine, Brandon. It's not GUITAR PLAYER. (It's something else.)

Isis

So-So

This is a good magazine not the best. I like transcriptions but doesnt have them. The gear reviews are good it helped me buy an effect station. Overall I give it a three.

P.S. I think Brandon was talking about guitar one. I know that has a riff box.