Guitar Collector Forum

Hi, can anyone recommend any good guitar magazines of interest to collectors?

I'm bored with the usual Guitar Player type publications, which are great when you're starting out but seem to be the same old thing month after month. When you've been buying them for decades they don't hold too much interest, apart from the odd article.

Are there any magazines that focus on vintage guitars in the wider sense and that appeal to "the more mature reader" ? I.e. not just top-end Fender & Gibsons, but including 50s to 90s guitars of all types, including european and Japanese guitars?

Thanks
BB

Good question BB, I've never seen one, certainly nothing that I know of in Australia---

I guess Vintage Guitar magazine is the most well-known in the states. It's pretty popular but tends to focus on high-end Fenders and Gibsons (especially 50s/60s) rather than later or foreign guitars. Although I think I did once see an Ibanez featured.

Not sure if you folks in UK and Australia can get it?

http://www.vguitar.com/current/

I've never seen it in shops here, but it is possible to get a direct-mailed subscription direct from Vintage Guitar. Several times I've filled in the subscription form online, only to change my mind at the last minute! I guess what puts me off is its American bias, and I don't want to spent an entire year reading about Strats, Teles and Les Pauls! Maybe I've got the wrong impression about the magazine, but every cover I've seen online has given me that impression.

There used to be another US publication called 20th Century magazines, but I believe they've now closed.

Also, does anyone take Premier Guitar Magazine? I just visited their website http://www.premierguitar.com/ and signed up for their 'digital subscription' for free - the whole magazine viewable online. Not the same as a 'proper' magazine, but might be interesting. (It's not a vintage/collectors' magazine, but looks like it has good reviews etc and is more aimed at experienced players rather than beginners and teens)

I know exactly where you are coming from, and these are the magazines I think you will enjoy the best-Premier Guitar- a mag that has some really good journalist work, besides they are not afraid of telling it like it is , Guitar and Bass magazine, which each month shows of someones collection, Vintage Guitar- I know very Fender Gibson but some good articles each month and Guitarist- though modern is full of gear. I buy all 4 each month and get my fill with no complaints.

Maybe we need to start a new magazine? A magazine for vintage guitar lovers and collectors whose pockets don't generally allow them to buy $10K or more expensive axes from names like Martin, Gibson and Fender...for those who appreciate the Teiscos, Kawais, Arais, and others from Japan, the Hagstroms, Ekos, Hofners and others from Europe...or those wonderful old American axes from Kay, Supro, Airline, Alamo and others? Maybe we need a magazine that also covers the unusual, well-built and interesting more modern Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese and other foreign and domestic brands, or all those fantastic 'small-business' luthiers who have worked so hard to create 'affordable' instruments...stuff that might become collectible in the future?

Well? How about it? Anybody interested in this project? Maybe we could call it 'Affordable Vintage Guitars' Magazine?

Cheers,
Alex