The iconic magazine dedicated to guitars, Guitar Player, is set to end its publication run after nearly 58 years, releasing one final issue on October 15. This last edition will feature an interview with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page as its cover story.
While the print magazine will cease, the website guitarplayer.com will remain active, with Christopher Scapelliti, the current editor of the magazine, stepping into the role of digital editor-in-chief for the site.
Subscribers to the print version will automatically have their subscriptions transferred to Guitar World, a sister publication, unless they choose to request a refund.
The closure of Guitar Player had been speculated for some time, especially after observers noted in September that new subscriptions were no longer available. The magazine’s parent company, Future, owning two guitar-related publications, made it seem unlikely that both could endure in the current challenging landscape for print media and advertising.
In his final editorial letter featured in the December 2024 issue, Scapelliti reflected on the magazine’s legacy: “You have witnessed a revolution. When Guitar Player made its debut 58 years ago in 1967, it marked a new era for guitar. For the first time, the instrument was celebrated in a regularly published magazine devoted to furthering guitarists, guitar gear, its makers, and guitar virtuosity. What founder Bud Eastman began laid the first stone of an empire that would go on to launch many other magazines—including Bass Player, Frets, and Keyboard—publish books, release records and videos, and much more. Guitar Player’s success also opened the door for numerous other titles, including our sister magazine Guitar World, further enriching the lives of guitarists everywhere.”
Scapelliti went on to explain the challenges faced in recent years: “The ‘why’ will be obvious even if you don’t keep each issue tucked away chronologically on shelves. These increasingly slim volumes demonstrate our almost heroic efforts to persist in an era where advertisers find greater opportunities online. Throughout the ups and downs of these years, we’ve appreciated the support of those readers and advertisers who have kept Guitar Player’s print edition a going concern.” He expressed his excitement for the future, stating, “I look forward to seeing you at GuitarPlayer.com, where we’ll continue to bring you the best in guitar stories, interviews, gear reviews, and lessons.”
Guitar World has changed ownership multiple times since its founding by L.V. “Bud” Eastman in the Bay Area. In 2007, it was acquired by NewBay Media in New York, joining a portfolio that included Bass Player, Electronic Musician, Keyboard, Mix, and Guitar World.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Guitar World had a monthly circulation of 130,000 as recently as 2018.
In related news for gear enthusiasts, Sound & Vision, a magazine focused on audio-video products and the successor to Stereo Review, announced in late September that its current issue would be its last. “I know you’ve heard this one before: All good things must come to an end. To quote the Doors, ‘This is the end.’ The final print issue of Sound & Vision magazine has left the printer,” stated the magazine’s editor’s note. “We are now a purely digital property…. Many other magazines didn’t make it this far, which makes this moment both a significant milestone and a bittersweet farewell. … The print edition may be ending, but Sound & Vision lives on.”
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