January
15, 2001
As
we head into this new year,
I wanted to take a moment and just look back over what has happened at Global
Bass in its relatively short life. This issue is our sixth, and by November it
was quickly becoming apparent to us that we were going to have to become a
monthly e-magazine if we were going to reflect the changing face of music
accurately. I can even see in the not too distant future a day where we may have
to become a bi-monthly magazine. That of course will give Marty Straub, my ever
patient webmaster, fits, but anything is possible. To me though, it seems that
even with a monthly version we can do updates and maintain an ever evolving news
section. This of course would give us relevance throughout the month.
I never cease to find it astounding how many people are coming to this site. In
our first issues, I was flabbergasted with 20,000 to 30,000 readers. This has
greatly changed in a very short period of time. Novembers issue with Jeff Berlin
as our Cover Story saw over 100,000 readers and Decembers great visit with Geddy
Lee brought us an astounding 247,250 readers! Already, as this is being written
on January 15th, we have been visited by over 100,000 people and we are only
half way through the month!
This months Cover Story, with one of the founding fathers of electric
bassplaying in the Pop, Soul and R & B fields, the incredible CHUCK RAINEY;
will put the viewership right through the roof again. I never cease to find it
amazing when I interview people such as CHUCK. How can a man who has done so
much, seen so much and has so many accolades under his belt, be so darned nice?
Not a self-absorbed bone in his body. Even after all he has done, his eyes are
trained on the future as opposed to the past.
Many of you ask us when we can expect to have a print version of the
magazine...Believe me when I say, this means a lot to us too. The answer to that
question is honestly very simple. It really just comes down to bucks. Simple as
that...it costs a serious whack of money to print a glossy paged full-colored
mag and ship it all over the world. When I look at magazines like Bass Player,
I realize that I cannot see us putting out anything until we can at least match
the look and polish of those folks or Bassics Magazine. We would be
shooting ourselves in the foot.
So the answer to the hardcopy version lies within either building sufficient ad
revenue, acquiring a venture capitalist, finding an investor or 1000+ people
willing to subcribe to the hardcopy ahead of time.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not whining. This monthly internet magazine is our
pride and joy and from a creative point of view this thing is so much fun and
keeps us so busy, that if this was all we ever did, in many ways it would
fulfill almost every dream we ever had for Global Bass. So the long and short of
it is, we will continue to bring you the very best e-magazine possible,
improving it on a monthly basis. I think you will be amazed as to what will be
accomplished on the Internet in the next few months and years. However, when the
day comes where one or more of the above mentioned resources kick in, then rest
assured, Global Bass Magazine will become hardcopy as well.
On a creative note, I wanted to particularly thank all those who have
contributed articles, reviews and interviews for us this past year. People like
Mark Peterson, Orin Isaacs, Brent Anthony Johnson, Lucas Pickford, Andy Long,
Sabastián Caffini and his wonderful Spanish versions of our interviews on his
website, and all of the Italian
translations from our friend Alessandro Arcuri, and of course Dann
Glenn.
Dann has been with us since Day One, but sadly, at least from my point of view,
his journey with us is now over. After the release of his 10th solo album,
SUBHARMONIA, he let us know that he is moving into an intensively creative
period in his life, including the scoring of his Symphony #3, and no longer has
the time available. We will miss his wonderfully ascerbic writing. He got people
reacting like no one else did. His Global 'Swan Song', in this issue, will be
sure to flip a lot of people out. Talk about leaving on a high note!
The coming issues will see some incredible Cover Stories, including artists like
John Entwistle, Billy Sheehan, Mick Karns, Tim Bogert, just to mention a few. It
is going to be one wild year full of memorable interviews and great new
products, starting with this issue.
Venture into the article with Wayne Jones Amplification, builders of audiophile
bass cabinets. Wayne addresses the fact that often the most important link in
finding the Perfect Sound is the most neglected: the speaker and the cabinet
itself. You wouldn't spend $5000 on a home stereo only to buy $99 speakers,
would you? Well, that precise thing happens all the time with bassplayers. Wayne
has a higher road for you.
For the sheer fun of it, take a look at the article on Martin Sim's LED
enhancements for your bass neck and body. Taking the art of showmanship and good
looks to a whole new level while simultaneously addressing an age old on-stage
problem..."I can't see my fingers!" Martin will light the way
for you in this entertaining and informative article.
Also,
I'm sure many of you noticed our new logo on our virtual cover. We have
Sean McMillin of Z-Vertical Design Services to thank for that. He also did
the banner ad you see throughout this issue for The Players School of
Music. Next month his personal site, PlayTheBass.Com, will be featured in
a new section of Global Bass where we will bring you Internet sites that
will help you with your bass playing. The column will be called BassCraft.
One more thing before I go...I would like to point you to the BassStuff Online
(BSO) section in the magazine. One of the goals I have set for myself this year
is to really make it clear to all our readers what a great place the BSO is for
people who want to buy or sell equipment, CD's, tour t-shirts, the list goes on
and on. Visit our BSO page, take a look at what we are doing and if you have
something you want to sell or buy that is related to bassists, take a look at
our viewership numbers, and you decide if BSO isn't the very best place to
move your bass creations.
Well, now I get to lie down for about 15 minutes before I start all over again.
But I will say this, even if I won a lottery, I would still do this. This has
been the most worthwhile job I have ever done and I love it.
Warren
Editor~ GB
January 15, 2001
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