“Our product is made with the highest quality stuff,” Jeff tells me in this 4OnTheFloor podcast episode. “We didn’t pull any punches. We didn’t cut any corners…I want to believe in what I’m doing. If you’re going to build something and you’re going to take shortcuts, and try cheapen it up, eventually people find out.”

We’re also enamored with Jeff and Dave’s generosity! In this interview we announce a new joint project between Re-Axe and GearPipe, to benefit our Pick Education program. Starting today, Re-Axe will be selling a GearPipe-branded Axe-Hander. Sold at $17.95 (the same price as a standard Axe-Handler), the GearPipe Axe-Handler will come packaged with three GearPipe picks, in your choice of thickness. PLUS, from each sale, $3.00 will go to fund Pick Education, and I will donate three picks to the current week’s music ed program partner.

GearPipe Axe-Hander portable guitar stands will be sold directly on the Re-Axe website.

In high school I worked in a music store selling guitars and, as my career in the industry rolled on, each new job I got was guitar-focused. And although I’ve developed into a mediocre (at best) guitarist, playing the drums has always been my passion. I always thought that some day, my career would focus on drumming.

Last year, GearPipe partnered with Michael Outlaw of Outlaw Drums on a snare drum giveaway. I was blown away by Michael’s passion (and his story…the dude builds drums from wood reclaimed from 19th century barns and houses), and when I received an Outlaw snare drum of my own, I couldn’t believe the quality.

Since then, Michael and I have continued talking, and recently came to an exciting agreement. Michael’s passions are finding amazing wood and building beautiful drums. I love talking to people (online and off) about musical instruments. So, I’m happy to announce that GearPipe is now the exclusive dealer of Outlaw Drums. And I (through my marketing agency, Drive Channel Creative) will be in charge of marketing for the brand.

Our first series of drums is the Outlaw Weathered Series. These drums are carefully crafted to retain the character of their former lives. As we like to say, this is American wood, reborn.

Please check out the brand new Outlaw Drums website and the amazing snare drums that are for sale in the GearPipe Shop. If you’re a drummer, I’d love to talk to you about these drums. If you’re not a drummer, I’m sure you know a bunch of them, so please spread the word!

That’s why members of the three man band (Tony Karlsson, Bobby Amaro, and Dave Mattera) volunteer at Washington Middle School, along with community centers and other schools in La Habra, California, teaching students to play music.

The band speaks at a school about the importance of music education programs

The issue in La Habra, like many other communities across the country, is a lack of funding for music education classes and supplies. The band teaches for free on their own instruments because, although the school has some acoustic guitars, most don’t have strings. There are virtually no extra picks or accessories for the kids to use.

Now, in addition to teaching, Tony, Bobby, and Dave have taken on the added challenge of raising funds for the gear these kids need to learn their instruments. For example, the band recently played a show at a bowling alley, and much of the money taken in at the door will be used to buy guitar strings. They are also working with a local music store to match their donation.

Drummer Bobby Amaro watches over a "drum-off"

They’re making such a difference that they’ve gotten the attention of the Chamber of Commerce for the city of La Habra and Orange County, plus a few local politicians. They are now working together to get more music education programs started up at other area schools.

This is an incredibly inspiring story, which is why we are excited to team up with Nude as this week’s Pick Education partner. Through midnight on May 20th, for each guitar pick sold in the GearPipe Shop, we will donate one pick to the kids of Washington Middle School and La Habra.

If you’re new to GearPipe, here are a few suggestions:

Singer Tony Karlsson works with a student on his chord changes

I took pretty much everything we sell in the GearPipe Shop (all three items) and threw them together in a box (actually, placed them nicely in a poster tube), and cut the price a bit.

Buy the new Pick & Poster Pleasure Pack, just $25, and you will receive:

The “Trustworthiness of Guitars” poster, one of our most popular items, was designed by renowned poster artist Chris Gregori. Chris has crafted concert posters for Freelance Whales and Leftover Salmon, among others, and has provided illustrations for Daytrotter. This 8.5″ x 39″ high quality poster is printed on 100 lb. matte finished poster stock using brilliantly colored inks.

Along with the poster, you’ll score 36 GearPipe Classic Guitar Picks. Manufactured in the USA out of the highest quality celluloid, GearPipe picks are available in your choice of thin, medium, or heavy, with the GearPipe.com logo stamped in gold.

But that’s not all! We’ll also throw in four GearPipe Guitar Pick Refrigerator Magnets. These industrial strength magnets will not only hold years of report cards up on the ol’ Frigidaire, but will serve as emergency plectrums when all other picks have mysteriously disappeared under the couch cushions.

Order now and this collection of GearPipe swag, already sold at an insanely discounted price, will include a heavy-duty, GearPipe sticker. This is no cheapy. This sticker includes a hard core sticky icky backside, plus a laminated top coat for serious strength, whether affixed to your road case or Trapper Keeper.

Oh…and this order qualifies for our Pick Education program. With each Pick & Poster Pleasure Pack order, we’ll donate 40 GearPipe guitar picks to our current partner.

As a refresher, Pick Education program lets all musicians give back, just a little bit. It’s no secret music education funding has been cut drastically in schools across the country, and all of us are going to have to pull together to give today’s kids the opportunity to play music. At GearPipe, we take this challenge seriously. That’s why, for each GearPipe guitar pick sold, we will donate one pick to a music education program for kids in need of musical tools. It’s a small thing, but together we can keep music alive for the next generation.

I’m very excited to announce our first partner, Musical Directions, which is run by GearPipe reader Jeffrey Vastine.

Located in East Saint Louis, Musical Directions is part of the Love’s Peaceful Rain organization. Started shortly after 9/11, this program’s goal is to help the youth in East Saint Louis. As Jeffrey put it, many seem to be lost and without direction in life, a situation that was amplified by the fear and uncertainty of that period.

Musical Directions uses the natural gifts and talents of each individual to do everything from the design and creation of instruments, creating and recording music, to promotion and airplay. The organization works with both urban and suburban youth of all races, creeds, and religions. To participate in Musical Directions, kids are required to remain in school and if they have a GED or diploma, they must seek some form of secondary education. They provide tutoring services and use those who exhibit a higher academic propensity to tutor those who are struggling, which demonstrates how humanity will benefit from people working together in cooperation.

Currently working out of houses and using the shops of friends, the outreach is in the process of trying to find a building, which would include a woodworking shop, metalworking shop, electronics lab, computer lab, video lab, and a studio.

Through midnight, May 13, 2012, for each guitar pick sold we will donate one pick to Musical Directions. Thanks for your support!

That’s all well and good, but I like products that understand who we really are. “Sometimes you’re lazy and lean your $2,000 guitar up against your amp instead of cradling it in a stand.” Or “You tend to leave your guitar stand at home because you’ve got enough stuff to carry to a gig and the stand just doesn’t fit in your gig bag.”

Sound familiar?

The Axe-Handler portable guitar stand, the first product from Re-Axe Products, understands the real you. The designers took a real problem – delicate instruments in a dangerous world – and made things a bit safer for your guitar.

The product itself is very simple. Weighing in at about a pound, the metal plate at the core of the Axe-Handler is surrounded by rubber. At the end that holds the guitar, a long rubber edge hangs over the table or amp to keep the Axe-Handler in place, while more rubber extends from either side to keep the guitar neck sturdy.

The Axe-Handler is extremely compact – small enough to fit in the back of your amp, your guitar case, or even your pocket. And at $17.95, this product is cheap enough to have a few lying around in strategic spots. Think of it as a $18 insurance policy!

The guys at Re-Axe sent me an Axe-Handler for review, and overall it works like a charm! It’s certainly heavy enough to stay put, and the rubber grips the neck for extra security. I did feel a bit more secure when the Axe-Handler was higher off the ground. For example, it seemed sturdier placed on a high chair or low table vs my amp.

The one warning I would attach to this product is that it works much, much better on carpet than hardwood floors. When your amp or table is sitting on carpet, the guitar’s strap button is able to dig into the carpet, giving it extra grip to prevent sliding. On carpet I felt very confident that my guitar was safe. On a wood floor, the strap button didn’t have that grip and tended to slide out from beneath the guitar. This got worse the greater the angle of the guitar’s lean.

If I had a wish list for the next iteration of this product, I would make two suggestions. First, I think some sort of strap that fits around the neck would give me some extra piece of mind. Second – and this might be something that no one would actually use (see laziness above) – perhaps an extra rubber piece that fits over the strap button would keep the guitar from sliding on non-carpeted floors.

All-in-all, this is a great new product that fills a void! If you’re interested in buying an Axe-Handler, they can be purchased on the Re-Axe website.

I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t disappointed. We could have done a lot of good with the $2,500 prize, but it was not meant to be. Nevertheless, I think this program’s potential for good is too great to ignore, and I think now is the time in my life to start giving back.

Today is my 35th birthday, which demands reflection. I live a wonderful life. I have a loving partner. Her and I live in a nice house in a great neighborhood in a wonderful city. We have our health, great friends, and two odd, yet loving, dogs.

But I don’t perform many selfless acts, and I think this is my opportunity. Playing music is important to me, and I think it’s helped shape who I am today. I want to focus my life on giving kids the musical opportunities I had when I was growing up.

On that note, I am announcing that we will move forward with Pick Education. Expect an official launch in the next few weeks. We will be featuring the “get one, give one” model with guitar picks and, with luck, a surprise partner.

Stay tuned for more and thank for your support!

– Jeremy

1. If enough of you vote for Pick Education, we will have the seed money to start a sustainable musical instrument donation program. You will be helping hundreds or thousands of kids each year by giving them the chance to learn a musical instrument.

2. If we win this grant, this will trigger a “thank you” giveaway here on GearPipe. Not only do I have a Line 6 POD HD300 to give away, but a few GearPipe readers have generously offered to throw in some extra prizes. Randy Saunders is offering up a $50 Musicians Friend gift card plus the prize from the next giveaway he wins. Jeffrey Sawyer will give someone a John Lennon Educational Tour Bus guitar cable that he won. And Scott Fontenot will purchase three Snark Headstock tuners that will be given away.

I don’t ask much, but I’m asking you to help out on this, if not for me, for the kids who will lead more positives lives thanks to music.

How can you make this giveaway happen?

1. Visit the ‘Pick Education’ profile page at GOOD Magazine by clicking here.

2. Click the “Vote for This Idea” button. If you’re not already registered at GOOD, you’ll need to create a user name. But don’t worry about spam. Immediately after you register, you can click a link to opt out of all emails.

3. Your vote should be cast! If we win, you could win the POD HD300!

I know we have enough GearPipe readers to win this thing, so I’m sweetening the deal for you! I have a Line 6 POD HD300 multi-effects pedal that Line 6 sent me for review. If we win this grant, I will give the HD300 to one of you. If we don’t win, I’ll donate it to a music education program that needs it.

A few guys on Facebook who really believe in this program have offered to throw in some other prizes. Randy Saunders is offering up a $50 Musicians Friend gift card plus the prize from the next giveaway he wins. Jeffrey Sawyer will give someone a John Lennon Educational Tour Bus guitar cable that he won. If you have something you’d like to add to the prize pool, email me at jeremy@gearpipe.com.

How can you make this giveaway happen?

1. Visit the ‘Pick Education’ profile page at GOOD Magazine by clicking here.

2. Click the “Vote for This Idea” button. If you’re not already registered at GOOD, you’ll need to create a user name. But don’t worry about spam. Immediately after you register, you can click a link to opt out of all emails.

3. Your vote should be cast! If we win, you could win the POD HD300!

This program really does mean a lot to me, and I appreciate your help. You’re also doing something great for kids, so you’ll earn your karma points for the day.

If we win, I’ll then announce the POD HD300 giveaway right here on GearPipe. Thanks all!!!

After featuring dozens of pedalboards in his popular Pedal Line Friday feature, he noticed one thing: there were no products on the market to help guitarists keep track of their pedals’ knob positions. Enter Pedal Labels. Pedal Labels are sold as packs of removable stickers, in various knob configurations, that give guitarists the ability to keep track of their go-to settings. Now, no matter what happens between gigs or during set-up, your tone stays consistent.

I caught up with Hank to talk about his favorite effects, his ever-growing collection of gear tee shirts, and his new venture.

While helped by mainstream musicians such as Eddie Vedder, Jason Mraz, and Train, the uke has become the favored fretted instrument of virtuosos like James Hill and Jake Shimabukuro (see video below).

And with the popularity comes demand for instruments that are a step above the souvenir your grandparents stuff in their suitcase after a Hawaiian vacation. Now filling that void is Moku Ukuleles. We caught up with Moku Ukes founder Mike Mulqueen to get some answers about the uke’s sudden popularity.

Mike tells us “If you listen to a lot of popular music now, you’ll hear ukulele…It’s no longer a traditional instrument. It’s not a novelty anymore. It’s taken more seriously, and people are really starting to see that. It’s these virtuosos taking the instrument and playing it like no one’s every played it before.”

Instead, I had a conversation Lou Remondelli, who is a regular on the Musical Instrument Giveaways Facebook page. Lucky Lou, as he’s known, has an uncanny knack for winning giveaways and a habit of posting less than tasteful comments.

Lou and I spoke about everything from his contest strategy, to his unique hairstyle, to Snooki.

The book certainly got my mind working, and I’m not the only one. Daniel Magnolia, who owns Magnolia Guitar, a guitar lesson and repair shop in Arlington, VA, recently launched his Give+Take: Six for Six program, an idea he says was “unabashedly inspired by the positive effects of TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie’s One for One model.”

Simply, for every six guitar lessons a student takes with Daniel, he will donate a new guitar (with six strings) to an underserved child.

“I get to do what I love. I play music and sing songs for a living. And I know that I’m very fortunate that, even in the current economy, my students put the value of music high on their priorities list,” says Magnolia. “Because of that gratitude, I feel a strong commitment to my community to pay it forward and seize this opportunity… for myself, my students and for the kids who might not otherwise know the joy of performing music.”

To kick things off, Daniel is working with his local chapter of Guitars not Guns, but plans to expand.

To learn more about Six for Six, and for a chance to win a copy of Start Something That Matters (through 1/15/12), please visit the Magnolia Guitar website.

Through the end of January 2012, Rich and Chris Rice are taking $200 off any of the built instruments on their “For Sale” page, $100 off any in-progress instrument or new build, and 10% off any set of pickups.

The great thing is that Rice guitars and basses are already an excellent value. Looking at their in stock instruments, each is under $2,000. Less than two grand for an American-made, top-quality, hand-crafted instrument is a steal. Take $200 extra off? Get on it, people! Or, if you just need to give your tone a kick in the backside, most of their pickups will run under $100 per pup.

Here’s a quick look at their in stock guitars and basses:

More about Rice Custom Guitars:
With over 50 years of combined experience, the father and son duo of Rich and Chris Rice are talented luthiers who craft the finest quality custom made guitars. Specializing in unique wiring schemes and hand applied finishes, both are lifelong players and teachers who understand what pro and hobbyist musicians need to create their art.

Being a true custom shop, their designs are in no way limited to copies of classic guitars. You will be hard pressed to find more engaged, communicative, and creative luthiers anywhere.

To learn more about Rice Custom Guitars, check out the GearPipe podcast interview with Rich and Chris.

Rice Custom Guitars MR-T Tele-Style Pickups

Along the way I’ve had the opportunity to get to know the Rice family a bit better, and I’m incredibly impressed by the quality of the products, both their pickups and complete custom guitars.

Rich just announced on the Rice Facebook Page that he’d like to do another pickup giveaway in early 2012, this time with a set of MR-T Tele-style pickups up for grabs. The catch? He wants to see 2,000 Facebook fans by the time the clock strikes 2012. They are currently sitting at just over 1,750, so this is totally within reach.

So, do me a favor and give them a “like.” I’m going to make this really easy for you. You don’t even have to leave this page to do it! Then, look forward for a chance to win an amazing set of Tele pickups in 2012.

Rocky Mountain Slides

This is a site I launched in mid-December. In addition to helping non musicians pick out the best gifts for guitar players, I want the site to be a monthly guide for the coolest new guitar gadgets and accessories. You know, like the SkyMall of guitar!

So bookmark the site, and check it out each month. I’m also planning on a monthly guitar gift giveaway. To kick things off, we’re giving away a custom hardwood guitar amp stand from Atlas Stands, an Orange Micro Crush guitar amp, a McNally Strumstick, a ‘Trustworthiness of Guitars’ poster, and one more secret item (the photo in this post might give it away). If you enter once, you’re eligible to win all of the prizes. This giveaway is open worldwide and will run through Jan 8th, 2012.

Thanks for your support with this new GearPipe venture!

The descriptions below are from Josh. Make sure you click on the thumbnails for full-sized photos. Awesome stuff!!!

#1Black Cherry double rack space with baffled ported backrest…This is my favorite Atlas Stand of all time because of the way it made my amp sound. Bottom line is if it doesn’t sound good it won’t make the list, but this one sounded the absolute best. It has a thin back panel that redirects the sound out of the back of the amp downward and then the sound bounces out from under the stand in all directions. It added the best full punch and warmest natural tones to my amp that I’ve ever heard.

#2 Black Walnut studio with spiderweb graphics and illuminated red and blue 3D logo. This stand takes second. The spider web graphics were applied by spraying a real spider web with paint and draping the wood through it to transfer the web directly to the wood, then a clear coat was immediately applied to get the web to soak into the pores of the wood. The logo was melted into plexiglass and is illuminated by blue and red LEDs that work off button cell batteries. It was a super cool stand.

#3 Curly Maple Low Rider with Guitar Stand and Table Top. Due to the AAAA grade wood used for this stand, and the fact that it was built to match a Fender cab made of the same wood, not to mention it has a killer guitar stand and table top that match as well, this is #3.

#4 Black Walnut Studio…This was the first “featherweight” studio I built. It weighed less than 7 pounds when it was done and was so easy to carry, yet it still easily held 300+ pounds of weight. I fell in love with this stand, it was the first stand to have a two panel seat to cut down on weight. Now we regularly use two book matched panels for the seats of the stands.

#5 Butternut and Walnut Studio. This was the first stand that had a mic attachment. It may look heavy but it is actually super light weight due to the type of wood used. I think it looks like a battle tank. I can’t wait to build another one. This is the first studio with a double T’ed Backrest as well.

#6 Cherry, Butternut, and Mahogany Low Rider…this stand is in the top ten because of its awesome assembly. I just love the way it looks, and it reminds me of a ’50s cafe or diner, or a classic car.

#7Butternut Low Rider with Table Top…this stand weighed practically nothing, and it had some of the most beautiful lines and I accented it with Walnut. If I had a Low Rider to gig with this would be it.

#8 Butternut Low Rider to fit multiple amps. This is a workhorse amp stand. The backrest actually slides off and turns around so that smaller amps can be used with it as well. The guy who had it built plays 250 shows a year! It is the first and only stand made this way so far. A great stand!

#9 Ambrosia Maple Single Rack Unit with fold out pedal board – This is just a sweet stand all around. It was the first pedal board design I built, it protects the pedals when closed and fits a specific power conditioner as well. The finish on it was like a mirror when I finished it.

#10 Pecan Studio – This stand was amazing. It had such a solid feel and sound to it, it was the first studio that received curved panels. This is in the top ten because I just love the way it looked and sounded after it was complete. Pecan and Hickory are amazing hardwoods.

Josh has done just that. In less that a year since announcing his first products to the public, custom designed hardwood amplifier stands, Josh and partner John Schramlin have created excitement in what was a stale and static product category.

When I asked Josh why he started Atlas, he described more of a calling than solely a means to pay his mortgage. “I bought myself a really, really nice tube amp two years ago and realized I didn’t have anything nice to put it on. When you’re searching for your tone for 20 years, and you finally find it, you don’t want to put your Ferrari on steel wheels.”

Fuzz Box Girl is recovering, but as one of the many Americans without health insurance, her medical bills are piling up. In a nice twist to this unfortunate story, she’d written on her Facebook page about a band called The Broken Places, whose Christmas album she’s been enjoying during her recovery. The band saw the post, and offered to donate all of their December album sales to help her pay for medical bills. Fuzz Box Girl said it’s “sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me,” and I agree it’s a very generous gesture.

I will be purchasing a copy of the album, called Spirited. If you’re interested, check it out on iTunes.

Chris & Rich Rice

In this 4OnTheFloor podcast interview, we discussed their philosophies on guitar making, the challenges that come along the way, and what it means to them to be a true custom shop.

Chris Rice told me “when they’re finished, they feel and sound so different. It doesn’t feel like a parts guitar. It’s a crap shoot when you’re building a guitar from aftermarket parts, but when you’re building a guitar from the ground up, you have an end goal in your sight, and you do everything to get there.”

Although in the past 10-20 years we’ve seen a onslaught of great bass-centric effects pedals, Chad’s advice is to throw the rules out the window and experiment.

“My whole thing is I just recommend trying whatever you want…whatever works, and there will probably be some guitar effects you want to use on your bass. But really they’re just stompboxes, they’re effects pedals, and they’re pretty much up for grabs to anybody who wants to incorporate them into their playing, developing their tone.”

When our conversation turned to design philosophy, it was obvious that, although he certainly has the technical chops to invent radical new sounds, Spencer has a soft spot — and passion — for perfecting more traditional effects.

“People tend to like things that are more on the familiar side. So the effects that tend to be the most popular are the ones that are pretty heavily based on older stuff. But it can be a lot of fun to try new things!”

Buy a ‘Trustworthiness of Guitars’ poster, get a second poster (a great gift for a friend!) or a dozen GearPipe picks for free. This is my way of saying thanks for hanging with me!

Click Here for More Info

I recently spoke with Michael for our new 4OnTheFloor podcast series, and he told me about his affinity for this wood.

“I came across heart pine and fell in love with that old wood. Because it has a story…some of it was from old mills that were torn down, and some of the wood actually had a machine on top of it and the oil would spill down into the wood and stain the wood. And then you would start cutting the wood; the aroma would come up and you could smell it and you can’t help but wonder…”

But Michael Outlaw, founder of Sylvester, Georgia’s Outlaw Drums, thinks the perfect wood is all around him, he just had to figure out where to look. Outlaw scours the countryside for historic structures, falling down and scheduled for demolition, and turns the reclaimed wood into custom snare drums.

As with any great product, there’s a great story behind it. Michael, a custom furniture builder and avid drummer, was riding through Albany, Georgia one day and stumbled upon an 1880’s plantation home being torn down, and asked the contractor if he could have some of the wood. The contractor said yes, since it was going to be hauled off to a landfill anyway. Michael loaded his truck up with as much wood as he could before the dump truck got back to take it away. When he returned to his shop, the beauty and the aroma of the rare wood inspired him. He wanted to build a snare drum that was different, and this heart pinewood was the perfect fit.

The beauty of the wood lies in its age. When these houses and barns were erected over 100 years ago, they were built with old growth trees. So, today, this heartpine could be 300-500 years old. Because of this, the aged wood has 40-60 rings per inch, vs 3-5 rings per inch on “new wood.” And what does this mean? More sustain and better tone! In addition, Outlaw Drums are built with stave construction and precise 45 degree bearing edges.

Before you crack open the piggy bank, right now you have a chance to win a premium Outlaw “Weathered” snare drum, priced at $950. This drum’s unique finish was created by over 150 years of sun, wind and rain.

“It is my pleasure to present a 13”x5” weathered snare drum. If one were to ask me to describe the sound? This drum has a crisp clear pop at the high tuning and low warmth sound when tuned lower. It produces great dynamic range that I believe is linked to the tightness of the wood’s grain pattern. In addition, there is no bending or stress imposed on the drum shell that multi-ply and one ply shells offer. Less glue is a big factor. Stave shells use less glue and are therefore more resonant. The drum stays in tune longer, resulting in a more stable, even sound because lack of vibration. The thickness of the drum is about ¾” thick, giving it a more solid fast attack.”

You can enter here.

Well, it got around the internet.

Now I’m happy to announce that ‘The Trustworthiness of Guitars’ posters are now available for sale, right here on GearPipe.

The image was designed by renowned poster artist Chris Gregori for GearPipe. Chris has crafted concert posters for Freelance Whales and Leftover Salmon, among others, and has provided illustrations for Daytrotter.

This 8.5″ x 39″ high quality poster is printed on 100 lb. matte finished poster stock using brilliantly colored inks.

I think this would be the perfect holiday gift for the guitarists on your list

$10.00 $8.00 Add to cart

Please note: For your protection, your purchase will be processed by PayPal, but you do not need a PayPal account to complete your transaction. Simply choose to use PayPal as a guest, and pay with your credit card.

Cory from Prymaxe carries just about every quality pedal known to man, and he wants you to have some extra incentive to give him a call or click to his site, an extra 10% off your next pedal purchase, excluding Fulltone and Tech 21 products.

This is only good on one purchase, so make it count! To take advantage of this generous offer, just use the coupon code GiveME10Off when checking out.

Guitarists are especially spoiled, as there are a handful of excellent multi-effect and modeling guitar apps available. New to this arena is Positive Grid, makers of the JamUp family of apps and iOS interfaces. For the next 30 days, Positive Grid is offering free downloads of their JamUp Lite app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

I’ve been playing with the JamUp Lite app for a few weeks and the tones hold up to any other guitar app out there, and JamUp features some extra features, including the very first sound-on-sound phrase sampler an iOS devices. This app gives you access to 5 hybrid amps/effects, 16 user presets, the aforementioned sound-on-sound phrase sampler, an iTunes player with time stretching feature, a chromatic tuner, and will feature continual upgraded features. Oh…and it’s free!

“JamUp is the must-have guitar app on iPad or iPhone for guitar players” remarked Calvin Abel, Product Manager at Positive Grid. “It channels the traditional multi-effect pedal into one single mobile app with a good number of jamming and practice features, plus the stunning user interface and convenient form-factor, giving you the ability to completely transform your rig with this one app.”

Also available are the JamUp Pro app ($19.99) which gives you 24 hybrid amps/effects, and the JamUp Plug ($39.95), an ultra-portable guitar interface for iOS devices. With the JamUp Plug, attach it to your device, then plug in your guitar and headphones, and you’re good to go! For anyone (like me) who jumped on the ultra-cheap (quality, not price) GuitarBud cable when that came out, you’ll appreciate the ability to use your own guitar cable.

Check out the Positive Grid website for more info and a link to download JamUp Lite for free.

My question to you: Is this kid…

1. So immune to his mother’s promiscuity that he doesn’t even hear the moans anymore?
2. Just trying to drown out the sound of the pool boy giving it to the woman who tucks him in at night?
3. Cleverly sending out a plea for help, hoping that some caring individual will call Child Protective Services instead of making fun of it on his blog?

Thoughts???

NoiseKICK FX Pedal 'Colorsound One-Knob Fuzz Clone'

Michael Stettes, one of the page’s regulars, emailed me a few weeks ago to tell me he’s starting a guitar pedal company called NoiseKICK FX. NoiseKICK builds hand-made, hand-painted, reasonably priced, interesting, useful, and “sometimes purposely junked-up” pedals.

To kick off the company, Michael, along with his business partner Matt, are giving away a pedal! Just like their Facebook page to be entered to win a Colorsound One-Knob Fuzz clone. Once the page hits 333 fans, a winner will be picked.

Good luck to all of you, and congrats Michael!

Watch this video to check out another NoiseKICK FX creation.

The Grand Prairie, TX company has just announced a year’s worth of giveaways; one per month, each a home studio recording bundle valued at over $1,000 MSRP.

To kick things off, their first recording bundle includes:

• Lexicon I·O|22 Recording Interface
• dbx db12 Active Direct Box
• Shure PG27-LC Condenser Microphone
• Shure SRH240 Studio Headphones
• Ultimate Support PRO-T-T Mic Stand/Boom
• Two RapcoHorizon Stage Series 20ft Mic Cables
• RapcoHorizon Concert Series 20ft Instrument Cable
• Dickies Stage Shirt with ProAudio.com Logo
• ProAudio.com Baseball Cap
• ProAudio.com USB Thumb Drive

You’re definitley going to want to bookmark their giveaway page and stop by each month!

Click Here to Enter

This list includes no-brainer classics like the Ibanez Tube Screamer, Dunlop Cry Baby, and ProCo Rat; somewhat obscure classics like the Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer, Foxx Tone Machine and A/DA Flanger; and modern boutique pedals, such as the Z.Vex Seek Wah, Fullton OCD, and the Lovetone Meatball.

Guitar World has been kind enough to let us embed their article here. In the comments, let us know how many of these you’ve owned, and which you may have let go and would like to get back!

In a previous post, The Cellist of Sarajevo, I described how one Bosnian man became a symbol of peace and hope in a country devastated by war. He defied the violence, tragedy, and hopelessness surrounding him and transcended his reality with the use of a single instrument, his cello. He also has emphasized a profound, grander concept. Music is powerful.

It can elicit latent emotion, enhance an already present emotion, describe feelings you may not know how to articulate, and draw you out of a current time and space into an alternate reality. Just look closely at any musicians’ faces as they play their instruments. It doesn’t matter what instrument, it is obvious they are passionate about and moved deeply by what they are playing. They are raw, unguarded, and connected with their core. Consequently, we can connect with them on a personal level. This association is so potent and commanding, people spend valuable time and money chasing it for months, or even years, at a time. Watch this short video and examine the musicians as they play, but more importantly, actually feel the emotions this raises. Connect with yourself.

Music also requires and coerces collaboration. I find the best collaborations to be unexpected and unusual because, if executed in a careful manner, these are what can result in the most beautiful, harmonious, creative outcomes. Think of two artists you were surprised to see work together, but ended up producing music that was reminiscent of them both, yet created a novel, unique sound and vision. Personally, one of the best examples of this Alison Krause and Robert Plant’s Grammy-winning collaboration Raising Sand. These artists both have roots in blues and folk, but took alternate routes when it came to their distinct musical sounds. However, this album exemplifies what can emerge from attempting something different, from not taking the obvious route, and working together with someone you never thought you could or would. Listen to this one song off of this inspiring and interesting album.

Ask people what they can’t live without and, besides the obvious, I bet most of them will say music. Although we all have personal tastes and opinions about our choices in music, it is still one of the world’s ultimate unifiers. It has the ability to take individual, completely different units and transform them into a cohesive, beautiful whole. This statement is true for both individual instruments in a band or autonomous members of society.

Like music, building lasting peace requires being raw and unguarded with your emotions and unexpected collaborations. See what happens when you let your guard down and reach out to someone unanticipated, it could fail miserably, but it could be one of the best choices you have ever made.

There are 30 guitars below. I want you to tell me how trustworthy the person who plays it is. 10 is very trustworthy, 1 is not trustworthy at all.

Thanks for you help!

I hope everyone had a good 4th! I tried to find a very “American” giveaway, like a stars & stripes guitar, but no luck. So I found a beer-related giveaway, instead. That’s very 4th of July, yes?

Enter to win a guitar & amp package from Heineken. I don’t see specs, but the prize is worth $1,000. Other prizes include a luxury sound system, high-end turntable, and a large-format framed photo.

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I own a Gretsch drum kit that I love, but I would not kick this prize out of bed!

Enter to win a 5-piece Gretsch Renown 57 kit in black and white, 6-piece set of Sabian Hand Hammered cymbals, Gibraltar Turning Point hardware, gear from Latin Percussion and Toca, and a 7-piece set of Protection Racket cases. Total value? $8,300!

Yesterday I posted a guitar video contest. Today, here’s a chance for the drummers to hit record, rock out, and win.

Play a drum cover of a SEPTICFLESH song for a chance to win a Mapex Black Panther snare drum, a free lifetime subscription to Sick Drummer Magazine, and more.

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If any of you are Fender G-DEC owners, check this out!

Submit a short vid of yourself playing with your G-DEC, and you could win huge prize packages including a $10,000 Guitar Center shopping spree, $5,000 and $2,500 Fender gear packages, Hal Leonard G-DEC songbooks, Blue Microphones and more.

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I don’t really know how to play this thing, but I absolutely want it! D’Addario is giving away an NS NXT4 electric double bass guitar, worth $1,695, along with a bunch of strings and accessories.

This is a great instrument, and the contest winner is going to be one very happy person!

We’ve done many promos lately with Godlyke Distributing, so many of you already like their FB page. The good news? You’re entered to win 1 of 3 Real Tube pedals (Overdrive, Compressor, or OD/Distortion). If not, just head over to the Godlyke page, like them, and you’re entered!

Just reading about this pedal makes me want to do a bunch of drugs, lock myself in my bedroom, and play guitar all night.

The Bit Commander is a monophonic analog guitar synthesizer with four octaves of vintage square wave synth tones. Its no-nonsense interface makes it easy to add or subtract octaves to create a wide variety of sounds without having to dial in envelopes or oscillators. I want it.

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Chances are you didn’t win the GearPipe Maxon Super Metal pedal giveaway. But, unlike other giveaways, I’m giving you the chance to buy one of these amazing sounding pedals at a killer price: just $150.

That’s over 45% off the retail price, and more that $50 less than you’ll find anywhere else online. Trust me. I did the research. Thanks to Godlyke Distributing Inc. for hooking up this deal!!!

If any of you have been thinking about getting into recording your own music, enter this one!

You could win 1 of 5 copies of Mixcraft Pro Studio 5, “an award-winning, feature rich multi-track recording studio that enables you to record audio, arrange loops, remix tracks, compose with virtual instruments, score and edit video, and add effects to create stunningly professional compositions.”

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The Axe Balancer is a product that claims to keep your guitar or bass in playing position at all times. Looks cool, but does it work? You could find out if you win the Reverend Guitars Dub King Bass that the company is giving away.

Has it been a while since I’ve posted an amp giveaway? It seems like it.

Enter to win one of three ZT Lunchbox amps personally autographed by Nels Cline before a Nels Cline Singers gig at San Francisco’s The Independent, courtesy of Guitar Player magazine.

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Want another pedal giveaway? How about three?

Belgian pedal retailer Crush the Button is giving away a Neunaber Wet Reverb pedal, an Infanem Second Voice pedal, and a Crush/Moody Feedback looper pedal to three lucky people. This is a worldwide giveaway!

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It’s Tuesday and I can’t believe no one on Facebook or Twitter has mentioned the Jet City Music weekly pedal giveaway? Shame.

Head over to the website of our favorite Seattle pedal pushers and enter to win a Malekko Omicron E.Filter, an analog envelope filter pedal that sells for $120.

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I’m a child of the ’80s. Back then, Metallica was king! Now, their music kind of sucks, be we can still look back on who they used to be.

Get in the mood by entering to win a James Hetfield ESP LTD Truckster guitar customized with the new EMG Hetfield Signature Pickup Set, plus some extra swag. Total value: $1,342.

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First off, make sure you enter to win a Maxon SM9Pro+ Super Metal distortion pedal.You’ve got until June 21st to enter.

After the giveaway is over, Godlyke has agreed to let me sell as many Super Metal pedals as you can buy at a significant discount.

So, enter the giveaway and good luck to you, my friends. If you don’t win, and really want a Super Metal pedal, watch your inbox for an email from yours truly with more details.

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Second, we’re rocking a great deal for Father’s Day on GearPipe guitar picks.

Through the end of this Sunday, order a pack of 12 GearPipe picks and I’ll send you 6 extra picks for free. That’s 18 picks. I call it a Picker’s Dozen. Click the link below or the “Buy Picks!” tab on my Facebook page.

I don’t claim that I’m your only source for gear stuff, and chances are Guitar Noize is in your bookmarks. The site is celebrating its 4th Birthday with a killer giveaway.

Enter to win a TC Electronic Flashback Delay, MXR M78 Custom Badass Distortion pedal, 12 Pack of Dunlop Strings, Custom Guitar Noize picks, & more. And that’s just the Grand Prize!

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