 String Letter had previously been established in 1985 as the publisher of "Strings", a magazine oriented towards players of bowed string instruments.The first issue featured the first in a series of columns written by Sharon Isbin, a biography on Robert Johnson, a profile of Bruce Cockburn's song craft, and commentary on the "new" MTV Unplugged series.The issue also included musical works for guitar in various styles including folk, classical, and jazz.