From the readership
What readers said
55 questions put to the readers of Guitar Nine between 2012 and 2021, and 2,932 answers between them. Some of it is what you would
expect and some of it is not.
We stopped running these when the magazine finished, so what follows is the final count
on each one rather than something still open.
55 surveys
What are your plans for your music in 2021?
March 2021 · ran with April-May 2021
· 17 answers
Just writing and recording
41%
7
Release new single tracks
24%
4
Promote my latest album
18%
3
No definite plans
12%
2
Release a new album
6%
1
A small showing — 17 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
Which brand of guitar pedal is your favorite?
January 2021 · ran with February-March 2021
· 30 answers
Boss
27%
8
Other Not Listed
27%
8
Electro-Harmonix
10%
3
Line 6
7%
2
Behringer
3%
1
Catalinbread
3%
1
Dunlop
3%
1
Ernie Ball
3%
1
Eventide
3%
1
Fulltone
3%
1
Keeley
3%
1
MXR
3%
1
Wampler
3%
1
Analog Man
0%
0
Digitech
0%
0
EarthQuaker Devices
0%
0
JHS
0%
0
Pedaltrain
0%
0
Strymon
0%
0
TC Electronic
0%
0
TC-Helicon
0%
0
Walrus Audio
0%
0
Which store is your favorite for online gear purchases?
November 2020 · ran with December-January 2020
· 22 answers
Sweetwater
55%
12
Other Not Listed
23%
5
American Musical Supply
9%
2
Musician's Friend
9%
2
Chicago Music Exchange
5%
1
Guitar Center
0%
0
Rainbow Guitars
0%
0
Sam Ash
0%
0
Zzounds
0%
0
A small showing — 22 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
What is your favorite electric guitar body style?
October 2020 · ran with October-November 2020
· 45 answers
Stratocaster
51%
23
Telecaster
18%
8
Les Paul
13%
6
Other Not Listed
7%
3
Flying V
4%
2
Hollow Body / Archtop
4%
2
Semi-Hollow Body
2%
1
Explorer
0%
0
SG
0%
0
Have you been playing more guitar, or less guitar, since the COVID-19 pandemic began?
July 2020 · ran with August-September 2020
· 25 answers
I am playing more guitar
44%
11
I am playing about the same
24%
6
I am playing less guitar
24%
6
I do not play guitar
8%
2
A small showing — 25 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
What type of articles would you like to see more of on the Guitar Nine Web site?
May 2020 · ran with June-July 2020
· 24 answers
Guitar Technique
21%
5
Artist Interviews
17%
4
Inspiration and Motivation
17%
4
Recording
17%
4
Songwriting/Composition
13%
3
Music Theory
8%
2
Live Performance
4%
1
Music Business
4%
1
Bass Technique
0%
0
A small showing — 24 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
If you could spend a focused, virus-free week to jam and learn from one of these top guitar players, who would it be?
April 2020 · ran with April-May 2020
· 55 answers
Jeff Beck
18%
10
Ritchie Blackmore
18%
10
Jimi Hendrix
11%
6
Chet Atkins
9%
5
Mark Knopfler
9%
5
Randy Rhoads
9%
5
Rory Gallagher
9%
5
Frank Zappa
7%
4
Stevie Ray Vaughan
5%
3
Joe Walsh
4%
2
How many guitars would you use/own if money was not a problem?
February 2020 · ran with February-March 2020
· 55 answers
6-10
27%
15
Unlimited
25%
14
11-20
15%
8
20-30
15%
8
3-5
15%
8
I do not play guitar
4%
2
1
0%
0
2
0%
0
Which song from this list of Holiday guitar tunes is your favorite?
November 2019 · ran with December-January 2019
· 21 answers
Joe Satriani: Silent Night/Holy Night Jam
43%
9
Al DiMeola: Carol Of The Bells
24%
5
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
19%
4
Gary Hoey: God Rest
10%
2
Steve Vai: Christmas Time Is Here
5%
1
Gary Hoey: Ho Ho Hoey
0%
0
Gary Hoey: Joy To The World
0%
0
Jeff Scheetz: Good King Winceslas
0%
0
Joe Perry: Blue Christmas
0%
0
A small showing — 21 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
If you could spend a long, focused weekend to jam and learn from one of these guitar players, who would it be?
September 2019 · ran with October-November 2019
· 41 answers
Joe Walsh
24%
10
Rory Gallagher
24%
10
Peter Green
20%
8
Albert Collins
12%
5
John Lennon
12%
5
Clarence White
2%
1
Otis Rush
2%
1
Robbie Robertson
2%
1
Johnny Marr
0%
0
Ron Asheton
0%
0
If you could spend three months to jam and learn from one of these guitar players, who would it be (2019)?
July 2019 · ran with August-September 2019
· 47 answers
Ritchie Blackmore
34%
16
Mark Knopfler
28%
13
Mike Bloomfield
15%
7
Muddy Waters
9%
4
Jerry Garcia
4%
2
Stephen Stills
4%
2
Jonny Greenwood
2%
1
Link Wray
2%
1
Mick Ronson
2%
1
Hubert Sumlin
0%
0
If you could spend eight weeks to jam and pick the brain of one of these guitar players, who would it be (2019)?
May 2019 · ran with June-July 2019
· 62 answers
Randy Rhoads
39%
24
Billy Gibbons
16%
10
Prince
10%
6
Ry Cooder
10%
6
Steve Cropper
8%
5
Tom Morello
8%
5
The Edge
5%
3
Mick Taylor
3%
2
John Lee Hooker
2%
1
Curtis Mayfield
0%
0
If you could take six weeks, jam, and pick the brain of one of these guitarists, who would it be (2019)?
March 2019 · ran with April-May 2019
· 52 answers
Chet Atkins
33%
17
Frank Zappa
25%
13
Brian May
23%
12
Buddy Guy
12%
6
Angus Young
4%
2
Scotty Moore
2%
1
Tony Iommi
2%
1
Bo Diddley
0%
0
Elmore James
0%
0
Johnny Ramone
0%
0
If you could take an entire month, jam, and pick the brain of one of these guitarists, who would it be (2019)?
January 2019 · ran with February-March 2019
· 64 answers
Stevie Ray Vaughan
34%
22
David Gilmour
16%
10
Derek Trucks
9%
6
George Harrison
9%
6
Carlos Santana
8%
5
Neil Young
8%
5
James Burton
5%
3
Les Paul
5%
3
Albert King
3%
2
Feddy King
3%
2
If you could take a weekend, jam, and pick the brain of one of these guitarists, who would it be (2018)?
November 2018 · ran with December-January 2018
· 73 answers
Jimi Hendrix
26%
19
Jeff Beck
21%
15
Eddie Van Halen
16%
12
Jimmy Page
14%
10
Eric Clapton
8%
6
Duane Allman
5%
4
Keith Richards
4%
3
B.B. King
3%
2
Pete Townshend
3%
2
Chuck Berry
0%
0
If you could only play one of these guitars, which would you choose (2018)?
October 2018 · ran with October-November 2018
· 66 answers
6-string electric guitar
65%
43
6-string acoustic guitar (steel)
14%
9
7-string electric guitar
6%
4
12-string acoustic guitar
5%
3
5-string electric bass
5%
3
4-string electric bass
2%
1
6-string acoustic guitar (classical)
2%
1
8-string electric guitar
2%
1
Do not play guitar
2%
1
12-string electric guitar
0%
0
6-string electric bass
0%
0
Other guitar or bass
0%
0
From what continent do you regularly access the Guitar Nine web site (2018)?
July 2018 · ran with August-September 2018
· 48 answers
North America
71%
34
Europe
15%
7
Australia
8%
4
Africa
2%
1
Asia
2%
1
South America
2%
1
Antarctica
0%
0
If money were no barrier, how many guitars would you use/own (2018)?
May 2018 · ran with June-July 2018
· 53 answers
6-10
28%
15
Unlimited
23%
12
11-20
17%
9
20-30
13%
7
3-5
11%
6
I do not play guitar
8%
4
1
0%
0
2
0%
0
What instrument other than guitar or bass is your favorite to play (2018)?
April 2018 · ran with April-May 2018
· 36 answers
Piano/Keyboards
36%
13
Drums
25%
9
I do not play any other instrument
17%
6
Brass
6%
2
Other
6%
2
String
6%
2
Other Percussion
3%
1
Woodwinds
3%
1
Are you planning to buy a new guitar in 2018 (2018)?
January 2018 · ran with February-March 2018
· 29 answers
Yes, a stock model
45%
13
No, I do not plan to buy a new guitar
21%
6
Yes, a custom-built model
21%
6
No, I do not play guitar
7%
2
Yes, a stock model which will be modified
7%
2
A small showing — 29 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
How will you most often access the Guitar Nine site (2017)?
December 2017 · ran with December-January 2017
· 29 answers
Computer with a large monitor
38%
11
Laptop
34%
10
Smartphone
17%
5
Tablet
10%
3
A small showing — 29 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
Which of these Halloween related songs is your favorite (2017)?
October 2017 · ran with October-November 2017
· 48 answers
Edgar Winter Group: Frankenstein
40%
19
Michael Jackson: Thriller
21%
10
Warren Zevon: Werewolves Of London
13%
6
Johnny Cash: (Ghost) Riders In The Sky
8%
4
John Carpenter: Halloween Theme
4%
2
Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells
4%
2
Oingo Boingo: Dead Man’s Party
4%
2
Rob Zombie: Dragula
4%
2
Bauhaus: Bela Lugosi's Dead
2%
1
How would you rate your current abilities on guitar (2017)?
August 2017 · ran with August-September 2017
· 63 answers
Advanced
33%
21
Intermediate
29%
18
Professional
24%
15
Do not play
10%
6
Beginner
5%
3
Which of these 10 effect pedal brands is your favorite (2017)?
April 2017 · ran with April-May 2017
· 69 answers
Boss
26%
18
Electro Harmonix
25%
17
TC Electronic
22%
15
MXR
9%
6
Digitech
4%
3
Eventide
4%
3
Zoom
4%
3
Ibanez
3%
2
Line 6
3%
2
Old Blood Noise
0%
0
Which of these 10 guitar brands is your favorite (2017)?
February 2017 · ran with February-March 2017
· 153 answers
Fender
35%
54
Ibanez
24%
36
Gibson
18%
27
Paul Reed Smith
8%
12
Jackson
6%
9
ESP
4%
6
Yamaha
4%
6
B.C. Rich
2%
3
Epiphone
0%
0
Mosrite of California
0%
0
Which Winter Holiday song from this list is your favorite (2016)?
December 2016 · ran with December-January 2016
· 33 answers
Al DiMeola: Carol Of The Bells
36%
12
Steve Vai: Christmas Time Is Here
18%
6
Gary Hoey: Ho Ho Hoey
9%
3
Gary Hoey: Joy To The World
9%
3
Joe Perry: Blue Christmas
9%
3
Joe Satriani: Silent Night/Holy Night Jam
9%
3
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
9%
3
Gary Hoey: God Rest
0%
0
Jeff Scheetz: Good King Winceslas
0%
0
Which Halloween song rocks hardest for you (2016)?
October 2016 · ran with October-November 2016
· 39 answers
Edgar Winter Group: Frankenstein
31%
12
Rob Zombie: Dragula
31%
12
Bauhaus: Bela Lugosi’s Dead
15%
6
Michael Jackson: Thriller
15%
6
Oingo Boingo: Dead Man's Party
8%
3
Dead Kennedys: Halloween
0%
0
Johnny Cash: (Ghost) Riders In The Sky
0%
0
Warren Zevon: Werewolves Of London
0%
0
Which guitar effect do you like the best (2016)?
August 2016 · ran with August-September 2016
· 84 answers
Delay/Echo
39%
33
Distortion
25%
21
Chorus
11%
9
Compression
11%
9
Overdrive
7%
6
Wah-wah
7%
6
Flanging
0%
0
Phasing
0%
0
Pitch-shift
0%
0
When did you first visit the Guitar Nine site (2016)?
June 2016 · ran with June-July 2016
· 75 answers
1996-2000
43%
32
2001-2005
37%
28
2006-2010
11%
8
2011-2016
9%
7
What are your plans for your music in 2016 (2016)?
April 2016 · ran with April-May 2016
· 30 answers
Just writing and recording
67%
20
Promote my latest album
17%
5
Release a new album
17%
5
No definite plans
0%
0
Release new single tracks
0%
0
Which Guitar Nine content do you find to more useful (2016)?
February 2016 · ran with February-March 2016
· 100 answers
Guest columns
51%
51
Interviews
49%
49
Have you been to a live show or concert in the past three months (2015)?
December 2015 · ran with December-January 2015
· 60 answers
Yes
85%
51
No
15%
9
If you have ever taken online guitar lessons, how much did you spend in total (2015)?
October 2015 · ran with October-November 2015
· 44 answers
Free
45%
20
$1 to $100
18%
8
$501 to $1000
18%
8
$101 to $200
9%
4
More than $1000
9%
4
What most influences your choice to buy a particular album or recording (2015)?
August 2015 · ran with August-September 2015
· 72 answers
Reputation of artist
39%
28
Hearing on a streaming service
22%
16
Seeing the artist live
17%
12
Reading an article about the artist
11%
8
Reading review(s)
6%
4
Word of mouth or recommendation
6%
4
Advertising
0%
0
Hearing on the radio
0%
0
What is the one thing that virtually guarantees you will like an instrumental album (2015)?
June 2015 · ran with June-July 2015
· 126 answers
Compositionally creative
40%
51
Incredible solos
26%
33
Dynamic mix of styles
10%
12
Talented musicians on every instrument
10%
12
Absolutely no vocal tracks
7%
9
Unique arrangements
5%
6
Stellar production/mix
2%
3
How would you best spend a $50,000 grant (2015)?
April 2015 · ran with April-May 2015
· 51 answers
Hire Professional Promoters For My Music
24%
12
Buy Studio Gear
12%
6
Go To The Best Music School
12%
6
Take Private Lessons From The Best
12%
6
Buy Instruments
8%
4
Buy Every Guitar Album On My List
6%
3
Go To The Best Recording School
6%
3
Other (Music Related)
6%
3
Other (Non-Music Related)
6%
3
Record/Release An Album
6%
3
Start A Record Label Or Music Business
4%
2
Buy Concert/Live Gear
0%
0
What would you do with 20 extra hours of time a week (2015)?
February 2015 · ran with February-March 2015
· 62 answers
Master your instrument
58%
36
Other (non-music related)
16%
10
Other (music-related)
10%
6
Spend it recording
10%
6
Jam with others
3%
2
Learn a new instrument
3%
2
Handle music business
0%
0
Play live/tour
0%
0
Publicity/promotion
0%
0
Spend it songwriting
0%
0
When was the last time you saw a guitarist live that really blew you away (2014)?
October 2014 · ran with October-November 2014
· 50 answers
More than 2 years ago
32%
16
6 months ago
30%
15
12 months ago
20%
10
3 months ago
10%
5
2 years ago
8%
4
Never
0%
0
Have you ever played the video game "Guitar Hero" (2014)?
October 2014 · ran with December-January 2014
· 40 answers
No, and I never will
63%
25
No, but I want to
13%
5
Yes, I hate it
13%
5
Yes, I love it
13%
5
Yes, decent game
0%
0
Do you currently purchase digital music downloads (2014)?
August 2014 · ran with August-September 2014
· 65 answers
No
69%
45
Yes
31%
20
Which guitar magazine do you read the most (2014)?
June 2014 · ran with June-July 2014
· 30 answers
Guitar World
40%
12
Guitar Techniques
30%
9
None of the above
20%
6
Total Guitar
10%
3
20th Century Guitar
0%
0
Fingerstyle Guitar
0%
0
Guitar
0%
0
Guitar Player
0%
0
Maximum Guitar
0%
0
How do you currently record your own guitar playing (2014)?
April 2014 · ran with April-May 2014
· 40 answers
Never record
40%
16
16+ track digital
30%
12
12/16 track digital
8%
3
2/4 track digital
8%
3
6/8 track digital
8%
3
Using software (DAW, etc)
8%
3
Multitrack tape
0%
0
How many guitars do you currently own (2014)?
February 2014 · ran with February-March 2014
· 101 answers
More than 10
24%
24
6-10
23%
23
5
21%
21
3
12%
12
4
12%
12
1
6%
6
2
3%
3
None
0%
0
What is your favorite, guitar-friendly streaming music service (2013)?
December 2013 · ran with December-January 2013
· 27 answers
Do not use a streaming service
44%
12
Another service
33%
9
Grooveshark
22%
6
Jango
0%
0
Last.Fm
0%
0
Pandora Radio
0%
0
Slacker Radio
0%
0
Songza
0%
0
Sony Music Unlimited
0%
0
Spotify
0%
0
Turntable
0%
0
A small showing — 27 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
How often do you jam along with prerecorded backing tracks (2013)?
October 2013 · ran with October-November 2013
· 36 answers
Occasionally
36%
13
Sometimes
33%
12
Never
19%
7
Very Often
11%
4
Are you currently taking paid guitar lessons (2013)?
August 2013 · ran with August-September 2013
· 49 answers
No
82%
40
Yes
18%
9
How much have you spent on downloadable music in the past 12 months (2013)?
June 2013 · ran with June-July 2013
· 69 answers
Between $10-$50
29%
20
Nothing
23%
16
Less than $10
20%
14
Between $50-$100
14%
10
Between $200-$500
7%
5
More than $500
6%
4
Between $100-$200
0%
0
Have you ever written articles of an instructional nature for web publication (2013)?
April 2013 · ran with April-May 2013
· 21 answers
Yes
71%
15
No
29%
6
A small showing — 21 answers — so the
percentages are worth reading loosely.
Have you ever distributed any of your own music on the Internet for free (2013)?
February 2013 · ran with February-March 2013
· 61 answers
Yes
59%
36
No
41%
25
Have you been to a live show or concert in the past three months (2012)?
December 2012 · ran with December-January 2012
· 52 answers
Yes
56%
29
1
44%
23
Do you currently purchase digital music downloads (2012)?
October 2012 · ran with October-November 2012
· 76 answers
Yes
51%
39
No
49%
37
Do you expect to ever purchase another album in the CD format (2012)?
August 2012 · ran with August-September 2012
· 61 answers
Yes
93%
57
No
7%
4
When was your first visit to the Guitar Nine web site (2012)?
June 2012 · ran with June-July 2012
· 47 answers
2002-03
21%
10
1996-97
17%
8
2008-09
17%
8
2012
17%
8
2004-05
13%
6
2000-01
4%
2
2006-07
4%
2
2010-11
4%
2
1998-99
2%
1
What would you do with 20 extra hours of time a week (2012)?
April 2012 · ran with April-May 2012
· 30 answers
Master my instrument
70%
21
Other (non-music related)
13%
4
Learn a new instrument
10%
3
Jam with others
7%
2
Handle music business
0%
0
Other (music-related)
0%
0
Play live/tour
0%
0
Publicity and promotion
0%
0
Spend it recording
0%
0
Spend it songwriting
0%
0
On which activity do you estimate you spend the most time (2012)?
February 2012 · ran with February-March 2012
· 74 answers
Playing guitar
43%
32
Listening to guitar music
32%
24
Practicing/learning guitar
23%
17
Writing music
1%
1
Gigging
0%
0