Back when I was in college I worked for Pro Co Sound in Kalamazoo, MI, makers of the RAT pedal. Pro Co currently shares factory space with Heritage Guitars in the old Gibson building, but I worked in the original factory, and spent plenty of time in the basement that served as the birthplace to the RAT.

The RAT has always been a very mod-able pedal, and there are many pedal builders who have based new pedal designs off the original RAT, taking its tone to the extreme. One such company is Fuzzrocious, who builds the Rat Tail and Rat King (see below for more details). Fuzzrocious has teamed up with BassEFX and EffectsBay on a new Rat King giveaway! This pedal sells for $210, so if you’re a fan of the vintage RAT tone, and want a chance at this updated and upgraded version, make sure to enter!

Call me Nostradamus, but I think this is going to be one of the most popular giveaways in the history of GearPipe!

If you’re familiar with the Santa Cruz Guitar Company, you know they build some of the most beautiful acoustic guitars on earth. For this guitar giveaway, Santa Cruz has teamed up with The Fretboard Journal to give away one of their guitars. Here’s how it works: The winner will choose any standard model in their line (which includes a ton of acoustic guitars and basses!), worth up to $5,500 MSRP. Then SCGC’s acoustic expert and award-winning founding luthier, Richard Hoover, will give them a one-on-one consultation to customize that bad boy, with up to $1,200 in customizations. The winner will end up with a guitar worth nearly $7,000. Get on this one, people!

Fresh Pedal Board Company is teaming up with PaulRick Pedals for their latest pedalboard giveaway. The winner of this giveaway will receive several pedals from the PaulRick line up and a Fresh Pedal Board! To enter you must “like” both companies on Facebook and share Fresh Pedal Boards’ giveaway post on your personal wall! The winner will be chosen when PaulRick hits 1500 likes and Fresh PBC hits 3500!

Juan Alderete was a founding member of Racer X and has played with bands such as The Mars Volta, Big Sir, and Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group. And Juan is a series pedal and effects geek! If you doubt this, check out his website, Pedals and Effects.

To celebrate the site’s successful first year, Juan has just launched “The 12 Days of PedalsAndEffects” giveaway.

Foo Fighters might be taking a break, but their members are still rocking the giveaway circuit (did you know there’s a giveaway circuit?). The Foos have teamed up with Guitar Center and Fender for this guitar and bass giveaway.

Enter to win a Fender Chris Shiflett Signature Telecaster Deluxe electric guitar and Fender Nate Mendel Signature Precision bass guitar, each signed by their respective namesakes.

If you’re one who likes to look cool onstage, a homemade ply-wood pedal board just ain’t gonna cut it. If you’re looking for a new board with style, check out Fresh Pedal Boards out of Toledo, OH (go Mud Hens!).

There’s been some buzz about these guys, and to say thanks, they are giving away a new pedal board on their Facebook page. Once they reach 1,000 likes, they will pick one of their fans as the winner.

The day I started GearPipe, I also launched a double secret contest, searching for the longest combined pedal manufacturer and pedal model names. Ladies and gents, I proudly give you the winner! Introducing the Team Awesome! Fuzzmachine pedal from Small Sound Big Sound. That’s a total of 41 characters, without spaces. If anyone from Small Sound Big Sound’s team (perhaps they are called Team Awesome?) is reading this, contact me and I’ll send out a GearPipe goodies bag.

For the rest of you, here’s a chance to win one of these boutique bass fuzz pedals! Pay a visit to EffectsBay to enter!