In both instances, Andy’s commitment to the craft of acoustic guitar was an immeasurable benefit to a new (or new-ish) magazine seeking to seduce, educate, and excite readers. His knowledge of technique, music theory, luthiery, songwriting, technology, and creative angst and ecstasy ran deep, and he stamped Frets with a thrilling combo plate of stories that always helped guitarists play better, sound better, and gain more understanding of the acoustic world. I’m biased, of course, but I believe that, with Andy’s vision and assistance, we molded Frets into the most modern, most forward-thinking, and most comprehensive acoustic-guitar publication in America.
But transcendent talents typically don’t stay put, as there are other dragons to slay, more mountains to climb, and, well, you get the idea. In Andy’s case, he has left GP and Frets to pursue an exhilarating career as one of the movers and shakers of Gibson Guitar’s online content. We’re happy for him, but we—and you—will definitely miss his contributions to our community, as well as his ruminations on guitar craft and guitar culture. Andy was truly one-in-a-million, and, as I stated in GP, his influence on this publication will be felt for a long, long time. Good luck, old friend!
—Michael Molenda, Editor in Chief, Guitar Player