Copper Magazine · Issue 86 · A free PS Audio publication
Issue 86 Opening Salvo

Issue 86

Issue 86

Welcome to Copper #86!

A week or so ago, here in Boulder we said, "it's May, so winter's over---right?" Then we had snow.

I won't second-guess any more, but I am hopeful. Temps in the 80s would tend to indicate that we're done. REALLY done.

We'll see. ;->

In our regular columns, Dan Schwartz fills us in on bassists he loves (other than Jack Casady!); Richard Murison asks a fundamental, troubling question: "Does Science Have to Make Sense?"; Jay Jay French continues his walk-around at Munich; Roy Hall runs into yet another beautiful young woman with problems; Anne E. Johnson’s Off the Charts brings us back-catalog works of Howard Jones; Woody Woodward writes about one of the most influential guitarists ever---Django Reinhardt; Anne’s Something Old/Something New reviews recent recordings of works by Corelli; and I overthink things in The Audio Cynic, and continue with part 2 of the history of Empire in Vintage Whine.

I'm happy to present an unusual article about unusual variants of the guitar, written by our friend Don Kaplan. I think you'll learn a lot from it---I certainly did.

We continue with excerpts from Michael Stuart Baskin's memoir, 363 Days in Vietnam: A Memoir of Howitzers, Hook-Ups, & Screw-Ups From My Tour of Duty 1968 to 1969; I continue with part 2 of my look at this year's Munich show. Industry News continues (and perhaps concludes) the sad story of Thiel Audio. 

Copper #86 wraps up with Charles Rodrigues in a discount mood, and a Parting Shot from down under by PSer Travis Townes.

I'm happy that our friend Christian James Hand is doing well and is busy doing live sessions all over the country---but sad that he's no longer going to be able to contribute to Copper. Best of luck to you, MC Skullcap!

Cheers, Leebs.

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#236 Magic Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Live and Rediscovered by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Great Rhythmic Divide: Composer David Chesky Asks, Why Doesn't the Symphony Orchestra Groove? by David Chesky Nov 02, 2026 #236 More Record Reviews: Roni Eytan’s Microtonal Harmonica, Jane Ira Bloom, and a Frank Zappa Freak Out by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 An Album of Inviting Beauty: Goodnight Moon from Acoustic Eidolon, And an Interview With the Artists Who Created it by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 Never Ignore Your Inner Voice by B. Jan Montana Nov 02, 2026 #236 Composer Joseph Bertolozzi Uses Bridges, Structures and the World as Musical Instruments, Part One by Joe Caplan Nov 02, 2026 #236 Transmission: A Powerful Horn-Loaded Album from the Huntertones by Ray Chelstowski Nov 02, 2026 #236 Les Quatre Saisons du Québec: a New “Four Seasons” on Tour and on ATMA Classique by Robert Schryer Nov 02, 2026 #236 From The Audiophile's Guide: A Glossary of Terms for Today's Audio Systems, A – M by Paul McGowan Nov 02, 2026 #236 From The Listening Chair: An Introduction to Audiophile Tweaks by Howard Kneller Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Vinyl Beat Grew Two Inches Since October! by Rudy Radelic Nov 02, 2026 #236 How to Play in a Rock Band, Part 29: Figuring Out How to Play the Songs by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Return of the Residents: Eskimo is On the Road by Wayne Robins Nov 02, 2026 #236 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Nov 02, 2026 #236 The People Who Make Audio Happen – Fun In Las Vegas at…CES 2026? by Harris Fogel Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Forms of Things Unknown by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 Prophetic by Peter Xeni Nov 02, 2026 #236 Here's Looking at You, Kid by Rich Isaacs Nov 02, 2026 Favorites From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Cam Martin Oct 05, 2026 #235 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create, Part Two by Joe Caplan Oct 05, 2026 #235 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part Two by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Grammy-Winning Producer, Songwriter, and Guitarist John Leventhal Goes Instrumental With National Drift by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room—to Founding an Accidental Audio Company by Gilles Laferrière Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Vinyl Beat’s Size Matters Edition by Rudy Radelic Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Sublime Complexities of Nature by B. Jan Montana Oct 05, 2026 #235 How to Play In a Rock Band, 28: Growing Older and Dealing With It by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Young Rascals: From Bar Band to Stardom by Wayne Robins Oct 05, 2026 #235 Duncan Sheik: In Memoriam by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Listening Chair: The Meze Audio 105 Silva Headphones by Howard Kneller Oct 05, 2026 #235 Checking Out Some NOLA Loudspeakers – and Some Thoughts About Audio Writing by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Kanazawa Phonograph Museum: Music from a Time Capsule by Sebastian Polcyn Oct 05, 2026 #235 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Making the Most Critical Choice by Paul McGowan Oct 05, 2026 #235 Evolutionary Growth by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Speed Racer by Peter Xeni Oct 05, 2026 #235 Happy Halloween! by James Schrimpf Oct 05, 2026 #234 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Transcendent Phoenix: Lucina Yue Brings the Ancient Konghou Into Modern Times by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 We Must All Follow Our Bliss by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #234 How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above by Ray Chelstowski Sep 07, 2026 #234 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create by Joe Caplan Sep 07, 2026 #234 The People Who Make Audio Happen: More From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Harris Fogel Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Vinyl Beat Digs Into the Gadget Box by Rudy Radelic Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues Spoken Loud by Wayne Robins Sep 07, 2026 #234 Musical Moments by Rich Isaacs Sep 07, 2026

Issue 86

Issue 86

Welcome to Copper #86!

A week or so ago, here in Boulder we said, "it's May, so winter's over---right?" Then we had snow.

I won't second-guess any more, but I am hopeful. Temps in the 80s would tend to indicate that we're done. REALLY done.

We'll see. ;->

In our regular columns, Dan Schwartz fills us in on bassists he loves (other than Jack Casady!); Richard Murison asks a fundamental, troubling question: "Does Science Have to Make Sense?"; Jay Jay French continues his walk-around at Munich; Roy Hall runs into yet another beautiful young woman with problems; Anne E. Johnson’s Off the Charts brings us back-catalog works of Howard Jones; Woody Woodward writes about one of the most influential guitarists ever---Django Reinhardt; Anne’s Something Old/Something New reviews recent recordings of works by Corelli; and I overthink things in The Audio Cynic, and continue with part 2 of the history of Empire in Vintage Whine.

I'm happy to present an unusual article about unusual variants of the guitar, written by our friend Don Kaplan. I think you'll learn a lot from it---I certainly did.

We continue with excerpts from Michael Stuart Baskin's memoir, 363 Days in Vietnam: A Memoir of Howitzers, Hook-Ups, & Screw-Ups From My Tour of Duty 1968 to 1969; I continue with part 2 of my look at this year's Munich show. Industry News continues (and perhaps concludes) the sad story of Thiel Audio. 

Copper #86 wraps up with Charles Rodrigues in a discount mood, and a Parting Shot from down under by PSer Travis Townes.

I'm happy that our friend Christian James Hand is doing well and is busy doing live sessions all over the country---but sad that he's no longer going to be able to contribute to Copper. Best of luck to you, MC Skullcap!

Cheers, Leebs.

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