So long Wood & Steel

[beachbum205]

Sorry for the double post. I have no idea how that happened.

And yes, I agree that "progress" certainly can be just the opposite for some people. 

[donlyn]

I have been tuning my 12 strings down for nearly 60 years.

I have been drinking the same brand of tea for over 65 years.

I have a kindle, but I don't use it much. I like to read real books and I willingly pay for the privilege of doing so. I would never ever think of using a kindle for serious research.

I still have a library card and use it to get hard-to-find books.

I was the victim of a classical education and I am immensely grateful for it.

I never let school interfere with my education.

I taught myself to play guitar in large part through books.

I taught myself to program a computer through books.

I had to get a later-in-life graduate degree in computer programming to work in the field, but I am a Luddite at heart. No cell phone.

I guess what I'm saying is that old habits die hard. Especially the enjoyable ones.

And I would pay for a printed subscription to "Wood & Steel". And I do appreciate all the "free" issues I received. Gee, all I had to do was buy a new Taylor guitar. Or two . . .
 
Hey Taylor management, would that help grease the wheels?

Don

[Edward]

...And I would pay for a printed subscription to "Wood & Steel". And I do appreciate all the "free" issues I received. Gee, all I had to do was buy a new Taylor guitar. Or two . . .
Don

Nice list, Don! 

While no luddite myself, I am still very "analog" in many of my choices.  And I think for some things, print really is the best medium.  Sign me up for a paid subscription to W&S ...that's an easy decision to make, and I'd order in a heartbeat (and I'd pay digitally ).

Edward

[Toucan256]

I too would be more than happy to pay to keep receiving a print version. The digital version of most everything looses it on me.

[mgap]

...And I would pay for a printed subscription to "Wood & Steel". And I do appreciate all the "free" issues I received. Gee, all I had to do was buy a new Taylor guitar. Or two . . .
Don

Nice list, Don! 

While no luddite myself, I am still very "analog" in many of my choices.  And I think for some things, print really is the best medium.  Sign me up for a paid subscription to W&S ...that's an easy decision to make, and I'd order in a heartbeat (and I'd pay digitally ).

Edward

Agreed, I would be almost happy to receive the W&S in subscription form.  On the upside, GAS will subside without the W&S by my night stand. 

[SDTaylorman]

...And I would pay for a printed subscription to "Wood & Steel". And I do appreciate all the "free" issues I received. Gee, all I had to do was buy a new Taylor guitar. Or two . . .
Don

Nice list, Don! 

While no luddite myself, I am still very "analog" in many of my choices.  And I think for some things, print really is the best medium.  Sign me up for a paid subscription to W&S ...that's an easy decision to make, and I'd order in a heartbeat (and I'd pay digitally ).

Edward

Agreed, I would be almost happy to receive the W&S in subscription form.  On the upside, GAS will subside without the W&S by my night stand.

Exactly! This is penny wise and pound foolish for Taylor AFAIC. All they had to do was sell, what...3 to 5 (maybe 10) guitars and they'd clear enough to keep W&S in print each year. The fact that it's no longer in print (and in the hands of potential buyers) potentially means LESS guitars sold and that's a bottom line LOSS to Taylor. A foolish, short sighted move.

[donlyn]

...And I would pay for a printed subscription to "Wood & Steel". And I do appreciate all the "free" issues I received. Gee, all I had to do was buy a new Taylor guitar. Or two . . .
Don

Nice list, Don! 

While no luddite myself, I am still very "analog" in many of my choices.  And I think for some things, print really is the best medium.  Sign me up for a paid subscription to W&S ...that's an easy decision to make, and I'd order in a heartbeat (and I'd pay digitally ).

Edward

Agreed, I would be almost happy to receive the W&S in subscription form.  On the upside, GAS will subside without the W&S by my night stand.

Exactly! This is penny wise and pound foolish for Taylor AFAIC. All they had to do was sell, what...3 to 5 (maybe 10) guitars and they'd clear enough to keep W&S in print each year. The fact that it's no longer in print (and in the hands of potential buyers) potentially means LESS guitars sold and that's a bottom line LOSS to Taylor. A foolish, short sighted move.

I initially thought it 'wood' be cost saving by not needing workers to do the magazine, but then I realized they would still be needed to do the digital issues too. In fact they probably have been doing print versions on software editors for quite some time. But I would still like a print version delivered. And the photos are so 'inspiring'.

Unfortunately there are a great many people who use their electronic devices as sole sources of most everything, which can devolve into a lot of 'film at 11' type of articles with all the associated lack of details.

So I will still 'swipe left' on this idea.

Don

[Earl]

I too "swipe left" on the idea of a paid subscription.  I like the idea of paper copies showing all those wonderful photos, and I have most of them stored away.  If you look at my list of guitars in my signature, several of them were LTD's and I would only have become aware of them through W&S.  But for several years now more than 50% of the content is self-congratulatory praise and what can only be described as corporate green washing.  When the magazine comes to me free (either paper or digital) I can skip that content -- no harm, no foul.  But paying for it would become quite annoying.

I feel the same way about other magazines too.  I started subscribing to Acoustic Guitar magazine at issue #2 back in 1990.  But a few years ago, I counted up the content in the latest issue.  There were 40 pages with some editorial "content" and 45 pages of advertising.  At one time when they started, the articles were quite in-depth and contained considerable information.  Later the content seemed considerably dumbed down, and a feature article from the cover was maybe 3-6 column-inches.  That is when I quit subscribing.  I guess this old guy aged out of the target demographic and current shorter attention spans.   Now get off my lawn!  [shaking cane]  Back to my cave now.......

[DennisG]

I too "swipe left" on the idea of a paid subscription.  I like the idea of paper copies showing all those wonderful photos, and I have most of them stored away.  If you look at my list of guitars in my signature, several of them were LTD's and I would only have become aware of them through W&S.  But for several years now more than 50% of the content is self-congratulatory praise and what can only be described as corporate green washing.  When the magazine comes to me free (either paper or digital) I can skip that content -- no harm, no foul.  But paying for it would become quite annoying.

I feel the same way about other magazines too.  I started subscribing to Acoustic Guitar magazine at issue #2 back in 1990.  But a few years ago, I counted up the content in the latest issue.  There were 40 pages with some editorial "content" and 45 pages of advertising.  At one time when they started, the articles were quite in-depth and contained considerable information.  Later the content seemed considerably dumbed down, and a feature article from the cover was maybe 3-6 column-inches.  That is when I quit subscribing.  I guess this old guy aged out of the target demographic and current shorter attention spans.   Now get off my lawn!  [shaking cane]  Back to my cave now.......

Earl, Acoustic Guitar changed management about four years ago, and since then the articles seem to have gotten more robust.

I used to be a writer for them, so terms like "dumbing down" don't particularly appeal to me.

[jjrpilot-admin]

My favorite part of W&S was the "Ask Bob" section. For reason that seemed to be the part I gravitated towards. The questions were always pretty interesting as were the answers.

[SDTaylorman]

I too "swipe left" on the idea of a paid subscription.  I like the idea of paper copies showing all those wonderful photos, and I have most of them stored away.  If you look at my list of guitars in my signature, several of them were LTD's and I would only have become aware of them through W&S.  But for several years now more than 50% of the content is self-congratulatory praise and what can only be described as corporate green washing.  When the magazine comes to me free (either paper or digital) I can skip that content -- no harm, no foul.  But paying for it would become quite annoying.

I feel the same way about other magazines too.  I started subscribing to Acoustic Guitar magazine at issue #2 back in 1990.  But a few years ago, I counted up the content in the latest issue.  There were 40 pages with some editorial "content" and 45 pages of advertising.  At one time when they started, the articles were quite in-depth and contained considerable information.  Later the content seemed considerably dumbed down, and a feature article from the cover was maybe 3-6 column-inches.  That is when I quit subscribing.  I guess this old guy aged out of the target demographic and current shorter attention spans.   Now get off my lawn!  [shaking cane]  Back to my cave now.......

Earl, Acoustic Guitar changed management about four years ago, and since then the articles seem to have gotten more robust.

I used to be a writer for them, so terms like "dumbing down" don't particularly appeal to me.

I think that was around the time I de-subscribed to Acoustic Guitar as well. The quadrupling of the price and fewer issues released in a year was the breaker for me.

[Earl]

Earl, Acoustic Guitar changed management about four years ago, and since then the articles seem to have gotten more robust.  I used to be a writer for them, so terms like "dumbing down" don't particularly appeal to me.

Dennis, no offense intended, and my apologies.  I always liked your articles.  Since dropping AG magazine about six years ago I have not seen a single issue, so have no idea if / whether they have improved as you say.  They are just off my radar.  My comment was targeted at the "140 character tweet" nature of the last few things that I recall reading.  Not many column-inches, and not much actual content in those few inches, even for things referenced with blurbs on the cover as major feature articles.

I get that magazine publishing is a really tough -- and possibly dying -- business.  I've written for several magazines myself, including professional trade journals and some hobbyist titles (aviation, radio control aircraft, kayaking, shooting).  I took Fretboard Journal for a while, and it IS great - everything that an enthusiast's magazine should be.  But I've drifted away from printed media as my eyesight deteriorates with age.  I simply don't like reading glasses for extended periods.

[Earl]

I think that was around the time I de-subscribed to Acoustic Guitar as well. The quadrupling of the price and fewer issues released in a year was the breaker for me.

I can live with fewer issues if it means higher quality content overall.  Even the price is negotiable if there is perceived value.  Example:  Fretboard Journal.  There was a time when you could download two month old issues of AG for free as PDF's if you knew the right codes.  It was an effort to have subscribers get both hard copy and digital versions.  But after a while, even the content obtained for free was not worth the effort and time spent.  At least MY time and effort.  IMHO, YMMV.

[donlyn]

So long Wood & Steel

Not sure if this was clear or not, and not sure it even matters, but it does matter to me.

When I said I would still "swipe left on this idea", I was indicating a negative, and that negative meant I was still not in favor of a "digital only" subscription.

But will I get one? Probably.
But remember, we already get that in on-line back issues.
And I would still be willing to get a paid sub for paper issues of W&S.

Don

[Earl]

We got that "swipe left" meant not for you, Don.  I will still pass.  The free PDF version is worth the price, IMHO.  No matter how pretty the photos are, I would not pay for something where only half of the content was interesting / worth reading, which was the point of my earlier post.