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.

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.

[podcast]http://criticalpeace.com/wp-content/uploads/07-Please-Read-The-Letter-1.mp3[/podcast]

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.

Here’s the back story. I used to buy picks for a major guitar manufacturer (who sells a similar looking pick…can you guess?), so I have relationships with many factories. My guitar pick factory was kind enough to let me print a small run of picks with the GearPipe logo, made from the same high-quality celluloid that the other company uses.

Win this!!!

The Rules:

• Must be 13 years of age or older to enter
• This is a worldwide giveaway
• Entry deadline is April 14, 2011, at 11:59:59 PM, Mountain Time

Here’s a better look a the baseball:

Limited-Edition Fender Baseball

Unlike many Guitar Center coupon codes, this discount can be taken online, in-store, or over the phone. Just follow the link below to print off your coupon.

If you often find yourself surrounded by a sea of pedals and a wall of sound, this giveaway is for you! I’ve assembled a package of products from some of the most innovating gear manufacturers on earth, and it’s all going to one lucky person.

Up for grabs in the ‘Ultimate Shoegazer Giveaway’ is:

Tweet for another chance to win

Want a second chance at all this gear? Just tweet a link to this page. You can either click the Tweet button below or tweet this message (feel free to edit the tweet, but you’ll need to keep the hashtag & link to be entered in the giveaway):

Learn More About the Gear in this Giveaway

GCB95 Crybaby Wah Wah Pedal

When people talk about wah-wah pedals, they’re talking about the Cry Baby Wahs. This is the one that created some of the most timeless sounds in rock. The pedal that would eventually become the Cry Baby was first created in 1966 by engineers at the Thomas Organ Company. This new and expressive effect was an instant hit with players like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, who have contributed to the Cry Baby Wah’s huge popularity to this day. While other effects have come and gone, the Cry Baby Wah just keeps getting better with age.

MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay Pedal

Go from crisp “bathroom” slap echoes to epic, Gilmouresque delays with the MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay. Featuring 600ms of delay time with optional modulation, and a three-knob layout that controls Delay, Mix, and Regen. In addition, there are two internal trim pots that offer user-adjustable width and rate control of the modulation for even more tonal options. All done by a completely analog audio path for authentic rich, warm analog delay—made possible only by old-school analog bucket brigade technology.

Way Huge Green Rhino Overdrive Pedal

The legendary Way Huge Green Rhino has returned! The Mk II has all the gorgeous classic overdrive that you crave but it has evolved to include cool new features that make it even more rhinoceriffic. In addition to the Volume, Tone, and Drive controls, you get a 100Hz EQ knob to cut or boost your low end by 12dB. Your low notes can either shake the ground like a stampede across the savannah or cut through the mix like a charging rhino’s horn. This pachyderm of a pedal also sports a Curve control to fine-tune the corner frequencies of your tone. All this amazing tone shaping makes other overdrives seem boring and one-dimensional by comparison. In front of a clean amp, with the Volume and Drive set at noon, you can go from pristine purity to a punchy, dynamic rhythm tone. Set the Drive low and crank the Volume and add tons of boost to wallop the input of any amp. Turn up the Drive control with the Rhino in front of a distorted channel and hear more gain and sustain than you ever thought your amp was capable of. And no matter how you use it, the Green Rhino Mk II will deliver clean operation, quiet relay-based true-bypass switching, and the rock-solid construction that Way Huge is famous for.

Visit Website

Pedaltrain 2 + Gig Bag

The Pedaltrain 2 is Pedaltrain’s most popular model. This unit will easily hold a wah and a dozen standard sized stomp boxes. The Pedaltrain 2 comes with a tough cordura nylon gig bag with highly protective panels incorporated into the top and bottom of the case to keep those valuable pedals safe.

These revolutionary pedalboards are made of welded aluminum alloy tubing to ensure that every Pedaltrain is as strong and lightweight as possible. There are no moving parts to loosen or wear out. A durable powder coat finish ensures your Pedaltrain will look great and last a lifetime.

Visit Website

Bullet Cable SLUG Connector Kit

Clean up your tone and your pedal board with the Bullet Cable SLUG™ connector kit. SLUG™ angle block connects jack to barrel keeping effects close. Pre-gauged hex grounding screw guarantees fault-free connections.

The SLUG™ Connector kit is the perfect answer to pedal board and rig setups requiring tight pedal spacing and dependable signal delivery for your performance.

Kit includes: 10 SLUG™ Angle Connectors, hex key, 10 ft / 3.05 m DIY Cable, Bullet Cable Sticker, and instructions.

SLUG™ Angle Connector features:

Bullet Cable DIY Cable features:

Sanyo Pedal Juice Rechargeable 9V Power Source

The Sanyo KBC-9V3U Pedal Juice™ is equipped with high-capacity Sanyo eneloop rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology which provides stable, long-lasting 9V power for music effects devices. Power to the Pedal!

For more than 35 years, Sanyo has pushed the envelope in the development of rechargeable battery technology. Today, Sanyo is recognized as the leading manufacturer of Li-Ion batteries in the world. Sanyo battery products are used for many commercial/industrial applications ranging from automotive, power tools, portable computers and telecommunications. Pedal Juice is built upon this legacy of industry leadership.

For more info, check out my Sanyo Pedal Juice review.

Visit Website

Power-All Power-Grip Pedal Board Tape

For the best Pedalboard Velcro Alternative try Power-All® Power-Grip! Simple yet ingenious, Power-Grip pedal board tape mates to itself via rows of tiny mushroom-shaped posts that form a much stronger bond than traditional “hook & loop” velcro fasteners. Just cut to size, apply, and GRIP!

POWER-GRIP is the best Solution for your securing your guitar pedals to your pedalboard (No Hype).

Watch this video and see the comparison for yourself.

Visit Website

There’s a lot of black magic in the audio cable business, and I always cringe when manufactures up-charge for features you’ll never hear. This is one reason I’ve always respected Ted. The guy makes great sounding, tough as nails cables, and found a way to make guitar cables cool, something that had rarely been done previously.

At Winter NAMM 2011, Bullet Cable introduced a new DIY patch cable kit, the SLUG Connector Kit. SLUG is far from the first solder-free patch cable kit on the market, but I think it’s the easiest to use, and the highest quality. Each SLUG connector only measures .470″ wide, smaller than other connectors on the market. Important? If you have a pedalboard, you know every fraction of an inch matters.

Each kit comes with 10 feet of cable, 10 SLUG right angle connectors, and the hex key you’ll need to build the cables. And building one of these cables is so simple! You stick the wire in the connector and tighten the hex grounding screw on the side of the plug (come to think of it, I have more confidence in this set screw than I do a fragile solder joint). That’s all there is to it!

In fact, Ted challenged me to build a cable in under one minute. His time is 48 seconds. Let’s see if I can do it!

So what’s the Pedal Juice all about? Taking a cue from the product’s Apple-inspired look, the Pedal Juice could not be simpler to use. Unbox the Pedal Juice; charge it for a few hours; plug it into your pedals. That’s it!

Depending on the number of pedals in your set-up the Pedal Juice can go up to 50 hours before a recharge is needed. You might be looking at the photo and thinking that you can only power two pedals at once (the third jack is used to charge the Pedal Juice). This is where that perfectly simple design comes in. If you have a large pedal board, position the Pedal Juice in the middle and daisy chain jumper cables to power the individual pedals (Godlylke’s Power-All cables would be perfect).

We now know the Pedal Juice is convenient, but is it better than just using the 9V power adapters that came with your pedals? In many cases, yes.

These days I do more remote recording that playing, where ground loop noise can be a big problem, so I was really excited at the notion of powering my digital recorders with the Pedal Juice. A few times a year I’ll record at conferences where audio lines from many rooms are pulled into a central location. In some of the older convention centers, ground loops can be huge obstacles for recording a clean, quiet signal. In fact, last year I recorded an event where the buzz was so bad, I had to run a dozen recorders on batteries for three days. Even with the Pedal Juice’s $150 price tag, this would have been a steal considering the small fortune I spent on AA batteries!

This brings me to my one small beef with the Pedal Juice. Although it is promoted as a power source for “portable recording devices,” the included cables don’t fit my recorders’ smaller-than-a-pedal’s 9V jacks. A bummer! I record on an Edirol R-09 and Tascam D-07, which are industry standard. However, I’m assuming this problem could be solved by hunting down the right 9V jumper cables.

Sanyo Pedal Juice with Fender Blender Custom & Fender PT100 Tuner

Without the chance to try the Pedal Juice on a recording session, I plugged in a few pedals. It works exactly as expected! The whisper-quiet performance provided a nice change from the sometimes noisy AC in my 80-year-old apartment. I left the pedals on all day and the LED indicator never even turned from green to red, noting 30-60% power left.

In all, I think the Pedal Juice is a great product for any musician to keep in his or her toolbox!

But, you probably know that I am extremely dependable when it comes to posting gear giveaways on Facebook and Twitter (and more recently, Tumblr). In fact, I started GearGiveaway365 over a year ago and have only missed a few days (he says as he pats himself on the back).

Not only that, but dozens of people have won gear. My guess is that members of the group have scored over $20,000 in musical instruments.

Since I know how to keep with a good thing, I’ve now added an email newsletter to the mix. I’m offering a daily email, which will be delivered each morning and will include a link directly to the giveaway sign-up page. Or, if you’re pretty good about following this already, get the weekly digest, just to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Click here to sign up!

The legendary rock ‘n’ roll photographer and subject of the new documentary Rock Prophecies shot Led Zeppelin’s first U.S. show at the Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood. He shot Hendrix AND Stevie Ray Vaughan’s final shows. For over forty years, Knight has been what Rock Prophecies producer Tim Kaiser calls “the Forrest Gump of rock ‘n roll. He just had this knack for being right in the middle of history in the making.”

In this podcast episode Knight tells us that, all things being equal, he prefers when great guitars play a front and center role in these history-making events. “I’m guitar-centric. Everything that I’m really interested in has major great guitar in it, and I wouldn’t photograph bands back in the day that didn’t have good guitar.”

Knight also finds that some legendary guitars have taken center stage in his photographs. “Stevie Ray Vaughan and that beat up old Strat of his. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. The first time I saw Stevie Ray and I saw that guitar, it was like ‘I need to photograph that guitar.’ When I did some studio shoots with Stevie, I asked if I could actually shoot some of the guitars because they almost had their own personality.”

“In a way some of the instruments themselves have become rock stars, like Blackie, Eric Clapton’s guitar, or Eddie Van Halen’s guitar.”

If you’re interested in watching the film (and you should be…it features interviews with and performances by Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Slash, Panic at the Disco, Sick Puppies, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and Steve Vai, among others), you can buy the DVD on Amazon and many other retailers, or watch for free during September and October on your local PBS station.

Want to hear more? Subscribe to GearPipe Podcasts on iTunes!

Check out the official Rock Prophecies trailer:

YouTube Link

The most obvious example to many of us would be rock bands who make the leap form playing clubs to theaters to arenas. When you’re playing a small room, you can play intricate guitar solos and drum fills that would get lost in the reverberation of an building meant to host hockey games. So, as bands play larger rooms, they tend to play less notes, taking advantage of the sound of the rooms they find themselves playing.

This is the easy example that many of us have probably thought about. Byrne runs through some other great examples that may not be as obvious to us. How does the outdoor environment in Africa influence the rich African rhythms? Why did the music of Bach and Mozart differ so much? It may have had quite a bit to do with the rooms they knew they’d be playing their latest pieces in.

Very interesting. I hope you enjoy it!

YouTube Link

Bill Mendello, CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, had announced his retirement about a week ago. Certainly big news, but we’d all been waiting for his replacement to be announced to the public. Today, Fender revealed that Larry Thomas, a long-time Guitar Center employee and Chairman & CEO from 1996-2004, will take over the reigns of one of the most-respected guitar companies in the world.

In a released statement, this is what Mendello had to say about the changing of the guard: “I am delighted to be able to pass the leadership of FMIC into the very capable hands of Larry Thomas,” said Mendello. “Larry is a widely-respected person with an incredible amount of experience and valuable insight about music companies and music retailers, large and small. He is one of the true legends in the industry and brings the credentials that will help lead FMIC to even greater future success.”

As a former Fender employee, and someone who is not the biggest fan of Guitar Center, I certainly have my opinions about this move (although they may not be what you think). What are yours? Please leave a comment and let me know if you think this is a good or bad move for Fender.

To celebrate, he’s pulled together a ton of great to gear to give away, including an IK Multimedia Software Bundle containing: AmpliTube 3, T-RackS 3 Deluxe & Sonik Synth 2, Mad Professor Forest Green Compressor, TC Electronic PolyTune, Cubisteffects Custom Modded PROCO RAT, and much more.

Entry Deadline: July 16, 2010
Get It: Click Here to Enter

For daily links to musical instruments giveaways, make sure you follow me on Twitter or become a fan of my Facebook Page.

When I was in college, the house my band practiced in was broken into and our PA system and our guitarist’s amp was stolen, but the only thing that’s even been taken from me was a splash cymbal. A bummer, but not a huge setback.

On the Fender Front Row blog, the folks from Scottsdale have posted some tips to help you recover your instrument if it’s even stolen. This is pretty simple stuff: write down the serial number, take pictures, file a police report…but sometimes we forget the basics, so this refresher is nice.

Of course, the most important thing is to be extra careful and make sure your gear is safe from sticky fingers to begin with!

Here’s a video from a Bakersfield CA news show reinforcing what Fender is telling us.

via Fender Front Row

If you’re one of those trendy hipsters with a smart phone, you can also access GearPipe on your phone in some cool ways.

First, there is now a free iPhone app in the Apple App Store. It’s not fancy, but it pulls in all of the new GearPipe posts right to your phone, with separate categories for each instrument plus contests and giveaways. Again, it’s totally free, so go to the App Store and download it!

If you’re on an Android equipped phone, a BlackBerry, or if you use an iPhone and would rather access GearPipe through the web browser, I’ve also installed a mobile-specific theme to the site. This detects when you’re coming to the website from a phone and serves up a more streamlined version of GearPipe. This seems to work pretty well, but if you get there and see the regular site, scroll down to the bottom of the page and there should be a switch to toggle between the two versions.

Thanks again for being a GearPipe reader!

Let’s get right to it:

• Enter to win a Fender Classic ‘50s Telecaster electric guitar from Glasvegas & Filter Magazine. Enter Here
• Premier Guitar magazine is giving away an amazing sounding Henriksen JazzAmp 110 worth $899. Enter Here
• Create a wish list at Guitar Center and win a $100 GC gift card, courtesy of The Tripwire. Enter Here
• Win a Fender/Squier Strat Pack from Sigler Music. All you have to do is write a “Letter to Santa” telling him why you deserve to win this giveaway. Enter Here
• Here’s on for drummers OR anyone into recording or just making sweet sounds. Win a Black KORG nanoPAD USB Drum Controller from Audiotuts+. Enter Here
• Win a Gretsch Brian Setzer Hot Rod G6120SHLTV electric guitar, signed by Setzer! This guitar is worth $3,341. Enter Here
• Metalheads unite! Win a Bernie Rico Jr Hybrid Vixen electric guitar. This guy is the son of BC Rich founder Bernie Rico Sr. This is a killer V-Style guitar worth $975.00. Enter Here
• Win a Benedetto Bravo archtop guitar worth $5,500! Just fill out a short survey to enter. This prize is courtesty of Premier Guitar Magazine. Enter Here
• To celebrate the release of “Crash Love,” AFI are giving away a special “Crash Love” branded guitar. The Epiphone Les Paul Special II features a custom Crash Love logo and is autographed by Davey, Jade, Adam and Hunter. Enter Here
• Bass Guitar and Amp Giveaway! Win a Daisy Rock Stardust Elite bass guitar, an SWR WorkingPro 12 bass amp, Curt Mangan bass strings, a Levy’s strap, and Equation Audio headphones, courtesy of Bass Frontiers Magazine. Enter Here
• Enter to win a Sonor Phil Rudd AC/DC Signature Snare Drum worth $659. Enter Here
• Enter to win a Gibson SG Zoot Suit Guitar (retails for $1,999), two photo books (Trust: Photographs by Jim Marshall and Sound Kapital), a pair of Converse AC/DC Sneakers and a Karmaloop x MTV Staying Alive Foundation Tee designed by Shepard Fairey. Enter Here
• Courtesy of Taylor Guitars, enter to win a Taylor Swift Baby Taylor acoustic guitar (MSRP: $398), a Band Hero Wii Band Kit, a Band Hero DS Bundle, and a Band Hero tee shirt. Enter Here
• Win an Epiphone DR-100 Ebony Dreadnought acoustic guitar autographed by Brendan Benson and Cory Chisel…and a selection of ten vinyl LPs picked out by Brendan and Cory. PLUS, just for signing up you get to download two free mp3s. Enter Here
• Win a Marshall MG2FX guitar amp. Marshall is giving away a MG2FX guitar amp everyday thru Dec 24. Enter everyday for a better chance of winning. Enter Here

As always, you can get these updates everyday on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GearGiveaway365 or follow us our feed on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/GearGiveaway365. You can also subscribe to our giveaway email alerts to get a weekly email with this summary of links by subscribing here.

You can still enter many of the past weeks’ giveaways, so make sure to check out the GearGiveawy365 Archives.

More on this later, but I’ve just launched two new Facebook pages. First is the “Musical Instrument Coupon Codes” page. This one should be self-explanatory. I also launched one that I call “Guitar Review Theater.” If you’ve created a video review of a guitar, amp, effect, or accessory, you can upload it there for the world to see. Again, I’ll post more details on these later on.

Last week’s giveaways:

• BC Rich Giveaway! Win a BC Rich Warlock Electric Guitar and a Lita Ford prize pack (includes her new album “Wicked Wonderland,” a limited-edition vinyl version, and a tee shirt. Enter Here
• Woodwind and Brasswind Silver Bells Giveaway! Win a Stephanhöuser Model SAS2000-SS Sterling Silver Alto Saxophone worth $7,795. Enter Here
• Win a custom built Fender J Mascis Jazzmaster guitar autographed by the members of Dinosaur Jr. Enter Here
• Win a Jim Dunlop Custom Shop Crybaby Rack Wah worth $599. Enter Here
• Be a REAL Rock Hero Contest! Enter to win one of three great prizes. Three lucky winners will walk away with either an Archer SS30 electric guitar, Union 5-piece Drum Set or a $100 Cascio Interstate Music Gift Card. Enter Here
• You may not be that excited about a guitar strap giveaway, but everyone needs to check out these new straps from Anthology Gear Wear. These premium leather straps are hand rubbed, embroidered, etched, etc. If you win, you get to pick your strap (worth up to $180). Click though to view the photos if nothing else! Enter Here
• Disney Tink My Ride Sweepstakes! Grand prize is a Honda Insight EX Hybrid, BUT first prize is a Gibson electric guitar signed by Disney Channel star Demi Lovato (do you people know who she is? I don’t). Enter Here

As always, you can get these updates everyday on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GearGiveaway365 or follow us our feed on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/GearGiveaway365. You can also subscribe to our giveaway email alerts to get a weekly email with this summary of links by subscribing here.

You can still enter many of the past weeks’ giveaways, so make sure to check out the GearGiveawy365 Archives.

1. 40% off private music lessons from TakeLessons.com. With music and vocal instructors in 2800 US cities, Take Lessons can help you learn a new instrument or brush up on an old one. Today only, you can get 40% off your first month of lessons. Learn more about this deal. If you want to learn more about Take Lessons, check out this podcast interview that I recorded with their CEO, Steven Cox, on gearpipe.org
2. Take 10% off Fender & Squier products, nationwide! Fender has teamed up with many of their dealers to offer 10% off Fender & Squier guitars, amps, and accessories (and in some stores Jackson, Gretsch, SWR, and other FMIC brands), this weekend only (through November 30th). Learn more about this deal.
3. Score 15% off any single item (up to a $500 discount) at Guitar Center. This deal is only good on Black Friday. Use coupon code “BLACKFRIDAY” for the discount. Learn more about this deal.
4. Save up to $500 at Musicians Friend. Depending on the amount of money you spend, you can get anywhere from 5% to $500 off your order at Musicians Friend. This deal is only good on Black Friday, and you must use coupon code “MFBF.” Learn more about this deal.
5. Get 15% off most in-stock items at The Perfect Guitar. Perhaps you’d rather support an independent retailer? Use coupon code “BlackFriday.” Only good on Black Friday. Learn more about this deal.

If you’re looking for more Black Friday deals, check out our newly launched Coupon Codes page.

Coupon Code: ROGUE29
Expires: December 3, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

As always, you can get these updates everyday on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GearGiveaway365 or follow us our feed on Twitter, at www.twitter.com/GearGiveaway365. You can also subscribe to our giveaway email alerts to get a weekly email with this summary of links by subscribing here.

In case you’re not checking us out on Twitter or Facebook, here’s our weekly round-up of giveaways:

• Win a killer SubDecay F-Bomb fuzz pedal (worth $109) from Effects Bay Enter Here
• Win a FREE ModTone effects pedal of your choice! Tremolo, Delay, Chorus, Speedbox Distortion, Atomic Phaser, Dyno Drive, Funk Filter, Deep Dive, Extreme Metal or Chromatic Tuner! Enter Here
• Cascio Interstate Music Jam-Tastic Drum Sweepstakes! Grand prize is a Yamaha 14″x7″ brass snare drum signed by Carter Beauford. Additional prizes are Zildjian 14″ & 17″ K Dark Crash Cymbals signed by Carter, a $500 Gift Card from Cascio Interstate Music, a DW 9000 Series Double Bass Pedal, a Yamaha Jacket sig…ned by Carter, and 1 Dozen Pro Mark Carter Beauford Signature Sticks. Enter Here
• Win a SICK Orange Dual Terror guitar head from Premier Guitar. This amp is worth $859, so get on it now! Enter Here
• Any sax players out there? You can get a FREE baritone/tenor sax strap from Rico. Everyone gets one! Just follow the link below to the Rico Facebook page. In a comment, tell them who your favorite saxophone player is, then click the link to take a brief survey about what you like. Pretty simple for free gear. Enter Here
• Check out Sweetwater Sound’s 24-day Holiday Giveaway! Every day from December 1 to December 24, they’re going to give away a special gift of some of the most popular audio and music gear they carry, including gear from Fender, Digidesign, Yamaha, and Epiphone. Enter Here
• Win a bunch of gear from the band Between the Buried and Me. Score an autographed Spector Legend 5 Classic Bass in black cherry finish, D’Addario XL strings, Planet Waves straps, tuners & more, signed Vic Firth drum sticks, and BTBAM swag. Enter Here
• Win a Rock Candy Special electric guitar from Daisy Rock Guitars & Viva la Rock. Enter Here (Expired)
• Win a custom hand drawn Fender Squier Stratocaster guitar by the animators & creators of Phineas and Ferb! Enter Here

You can still enter many of the past weeks’ giveaways, so make sure to check out the GearGiveawy365 Archives.

Good news…Musicians Friend will pick up the shipping tab for the rest of November 2009 on those oversized items. Just use the coupon code below.

Coupon Code: BIGG
Expires: November 30, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Discount #1: 15% Off Outlet Clothing, Hats, and Footwear at Music123.com
Coupon Code: CLOTHES1
Expires: November 4, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Discount #2: 20% off Accessories in Outlet Store at Music123.com
Coupon Code: ACCOUT
Expires: November 4, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Just in case you missed it, you can become a fan of our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GearGiveaway365 or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GearGiveaway365. If you prefer checking back on GearPipe.com, just stop by on Saturdays for a weekly round-up of links.

Here are the seven gear giveaways from the last week:

• Enter to win a Gibson SG electric guitar signed by Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother from FUEL.TV Enter Here
• Enter to win an ESP HEX-7 Seven-String Electric Guitar from Behemoth frontman Nergal! Enter Here
• Win a signed Ibanez Mick Thomson MTM1 Signature Guitar & 10 sets of Seymour Duncan Blackouts pickups, also signed by Mick. Enter Here
• Win a Native Instruments Maschine Groove Production Studio & Audio Kontrol 1 Interface. Total value just under $1,000. Enter Here
• Win a $500 gift certificate from Carvin.com toward any Carvin merchandise of your choice! This includes guitars & bass guitars, amplifiers, pro audio systems, and accessories. Enter Here
• Win a sweet Paul Reed Smith electric guitar, signed by members of Like A Storm! Enter Here
• Win a G&L Comanche electric guitar, a bunch of BBE guitar effects, and a 58″ Panasonic HDTV! Enter Here

This coupon code is good for just over a week, expiring on November 1, 2009

Coupon Code: ROCKTOBER
Expires: November 1, 2009
Get It: Click Here To Redeem This Coupon Code

In the world of the Internet, a lot changes in two years. A few other sites have popped up that only post gear giveaways. Manufacturers are launching more and more contests (so many that I could only write about a fraction). And social networking sites have become more and more a part of our everyday lives.

So, I’ve decided to throw a little wrinkle in the way I post giveaways. From now on, I’m going to post one giveaway per day, everyday, on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. If you want to follow this feed on Twitter or become a fan of this page on Facebook, you’ll see these giveaways each day, without doing any extra work. On MySpace, the giveaways will be my status update each day. Then just click on the links and enter.

If you’re one of the few people who are not on Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace there are still ways you can stay up-to-date. Each Saturday I’ll post a summary of the week’s giveaways here on GearPipe.com. This will include links to all seven contests. Also, I’ve added a Facebook widget to the right sidebar of the site, which contains all of the links.

Here’s how you can connect to this new feature:

• Become a fan of the Musical Instruments Giveaways Facebook page. You can find it here.
• Follow the @GearGiveaway365 feed on Twitter. If you’re already following my @GearPipe feed, I’ll be retweeting the giveaways each day, so you’re good.
• I wasn’t sure if anyone is still on MySpace, but since the MySpace Music pages are still good for bands, I figured I’d post there, too. Just add GearPipe as a friend.
• Finally, if you just want to check out the weekly update on this site, you can either visit every Saturday, or subscribe to the Contests & Giveaways feed via RSS or by email.

To get you pumped about this, I actually started posting these a week ago. So, as promised, here is your weekly summary of links:

• Enter The Great KISS Guitar Giveaway! Win a Paul Stanley signature Washburn guitar autographed by all members of KISS. Enter Here
• Win 1 of 3 Sets of Istanbul Agop Cymbals from Modern Drummer Magazine. You’ll win either a Lenny White, Cindy Blackman, or XIST Cymbal Set. Enter Here
• Pearl Jam Backspacer Guitar Giveaway! Win a custom Gibson Les Paul Jr featuring artwork from Pearl Jam’s new album, Backspacer. Enter Here
• Win a $20,000 Mic Locker from Sweetwater Sound. 24 microphones including mics from Shure, Blue, Earthworks, Sennheiser, beyerdynamic, and more. Enter Here
• Win 2 tickets to the 2009 Atticus Tour, a custom Epiphone guitar, & a fully loaded D’Addario and Planet Waves accessories package including strings, tuners, picks and more! Enter Here
• Win a Buffet Crampon Greenline Bass Clarinet + a $1K Woodwind & Brasswind shopping spree (total value $10,000) Enter Here

I welcome your feedback on this, so please leave a comment if you have any ideas to make this better.

This coupon code is good on order shipped to the Continental U.S. only.

Coupon Code: 294SHIP
Expires: October 31, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Follow the link below and you can also print off a coupon to get this 15% discount in one of their stores. The fine print says this is good on items priced $3,333 or less. I’m not really sure what the significance of that number is…but who care, right?

Coupon Code: BTB15
Expires: September 27, 2009
Get It: Click Here To Redeem This Coupon Code

No order minimums. No expiration date. No strings attached. Thanks IntrumentPro!

Coupon Code: gearpipe
Expires: Does not expire
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

With this coupon code, you’ll save $10 off qualifying purchases of $99-$198, $25 off qualifying purchases of $199-$348, $50 off qualifying purchases of $349-$498, or $100 off qualifying purchases of $499 or more.

Hundreds of brands qualify, so get on it!

Coupon Code: SUMMER
Expires: July 14, 2009
Get It: Click Here To Redeem This Coupon Code

Now here’s the catch. Music123 says this deal is good for three days only, but they don’t say which days. Seriously…I looked all over the email they sent me and on their website. If I totally missed it and someone out there knows which days this runs, please leave the dates in the comments. My assumption is that it’s July 3,4, & 5. Who knows?

Coupon Code: Fireworks – Call 1-800-458-4076 24 hours a day.
Expires: July 5, 2009 (maybe!)
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

GC does say this promo is for Dads and Grads, but I doubt you’ll have to prove you have a certain piece of male anatomy to score this discount.

From today thru June 21, 2009, you can take 20% a single item, as long as it costs $199 or more. As always, there is some fine print. A few big brands, Fender and Gibson included, do not qualify. But there are still hundreds of brands that do, including Ernie Ball, BC Rich, TASCAM, and Cakewalk.

If there’s been a somewhat costly piece of gear you’ve had your eye on, take advantage of this one!

Coupon Code: GRAD20
Expires: June 21, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

In addition to entering the coupon code below at check out, here’s what you have to do:

• Spend $150 – $249.99……..Save $15
• Spend $250 – $499.99……..Save $30
• Spend $500 – $999.99……..Save $75
• Spend $1,000 – $1,999.99…Save $200
• Spend $2,000 & Up ……..Save $400

Coupon Code: FORU
Expires: June 15, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PT

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

This coupon code gives you 10% off your next order, but there are few catches. One, you have to call in and order over the phone, no big deal. The number is 800-996-8637.

The other twist is that there appears to be a different coupon code for each person on their email list. Below, I’ll give you the coupon code they sent to me, so it may work for you or it may not. Or, possibly it might work for the first person who uses it. Good luck!

Coupon Code: EP0903C-943590
Expires: March 31, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Here’s how it works:

• Spend $150 – $299.99……..Earn $20
• Spend $300 – $499.99……..Earn $35
• Spend $500 – $999.99……..Earn $75
• Spend $1,000 & Up ……..Earn $200

Expires: March 31, 2009

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

All you have to do is is place an order for over $200 and you’ll instantly save $25 on your total.

Coupon Code: SAVE$25
Expires: March 22, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Retailer Music123 is also running a product review contest right now. All you have to do is go to their website (follow the link below) and review a product that they sell, positive or negative. You’ll automatically be entered into a weekly drawing for a $250 Music123 gift certificate.

Entry Deadline: April 3, 2009
Get It: Click Here to Enter

If you see something that catches your fancy, but you don’t quite have the cash right now, Guitar Center is also offering one year of no payments and no interest if you use your Guitar Center Preferred Player Card.

Expires: March 30, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

In addition to entering the coupon code below at check out, here’s what you have to do:

• Spend $150 – $249.99……..Save $20
• Spend $250 – $449.99……..Save $35
• Spend $450 & Up ……..Save $60

Coupon Code: WANT
Expires: March 31, 2009

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

When checking out, just enter the coupon code below to take advantage of the extra 15% off.

Coupon Code: BLEMSALE
Expires: March 9, 2009, 10:00 AM PT
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Let’s great straight to the prizes:

Grand Prize Package

• Guitar Hero® World Tour Complete Band Game, including wireless guitar controller and drum kit controller and wired microphone for the Xbox 360® – ARV $189.99
• Xbox 360® console includes 60GB hard drive – ARV $299.99
• $1,000 Evans prize package voucher – ARV $1,000.00
• Evans limited edition Guitar Hero® World Tour t-shirt – ARV $30.00

Three Monthly Prize Package

• Guitar Hero® World Tour Complete Guitar Game for the Xbox 360® – ARV $99.99
• $250 Evans prize package voucher – ARV $250.00
• Evans limited edition Guitar Hero® World Tour t-shirt – ARV $30.00

100 Second Prizes

• Evans limited edition Guitar Hero® World Tour t-shirt – ARV $30.00

Entry Deadline: March 31, 2009
Get It: Click Here to Enter

The details:

• Save Up To 78% Off MSRP!
• Extra Savings On Slightly Scuffed Gear In Every Category
• New Gear Added Hourly
• Quantities Strictly Limited
• Price Cuts: Extra savings off our already discounted prices
• Factory B-Stocks: Some of the industry’s sweetest values
• Great alternative to used gear, with only minor cosmetic flaws and the Musician’s Friend Advantage
• Free shipping on most orders $99 and up

Expires: March 17, 2009

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

This sale runs the entire gamut of instrument types, from guitar, drums, band and orchestra, to keys and pro audio products.

By just glancing at the Spring Price Drops landing page, Woodwind and Brasswind currently has 481 different products on sale, with discounts up to 68%.

Expires: March 31, 2009

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

All you have to do is follow the link below to enter your email address and product news preferences. Once you submit your info, you’ll receive an email containing instructions to get your 20% discount. Basically, they’ll give you a promo code that you can use on a call-in order.

Expires: Until further notice

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Amazon is selling The 99 Most Essential Mozart Masterpieces as an mp3 download for $2.99. Now, you may not be a classical music junkie, but for three bucks, these are some pretty solid pieces of music to have in your collection.

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

Through the end of February, Woodwind and Brasswind is offering an extra 10% off the already reasonable “value brands” on their website, thanks to a new coupon code. This includes brands like Pulse drums, Laguna and Rogue guitars, and Bundy horns.

Coupon Code: MusicTen
Expires: February 28, 2009

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

This coupon is good through the end of February, 2009.

Coupon Code: GIMME
Expires: February 28, 2009
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

This deal is only good today and tomorrow (12.03.08 and 12.04.08), so get on it!

Coupon Code: JOY08
Expires: December 4, 2008
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

This discount applies to all DVD box sets but, since this is a music site, we’ll concentrate on music DVDs. However, take a look the their entire selection as you’re sure to find some good holiday gift deals.

Here are a few that caught my eye:

• Pink Floyd: Great Gig in the Sky: Album by Album Guide
• Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
• Gov’t Mule: A Tail of Two Cities
• Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004
• Jazz Icons: Jazz Icons Box Set
• Beatles Anthology [5 Discs]
• Bob Dylan: Don’t Look Back – ’65 Tour Deluxe Edition
• Jazz: A Film By Ken Burns [10 Discs]
• The History of Rock ’n’ Roll [5 Discs]
• Stax: Double Feature – Respect Yourself/ Stax Volt Revue

Expires: December 2, 2008

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal | Check out all Borders Cyber Monday Deals

When the holidays come around, I’ve always tried to give gifts to loved ones who are not musically inclined that involve music. This is especially true with younger members of my family. One of my favorite gifts to give is a music box. Exposing children to music at a young age is so important. Music boxes usually play a piece of classical music, so you can also expose them to timeless tunes at a young age.

Chances are you’ve seen a San Francisco Music Box Company store at your local mall. They’ve also got a great website and are offering great deals throughout the month of December. By entering the coupon code below at checkout, you’ll get free shipping plus 10% off your order of $75 or more .

Coupon Code: SFMBAFDEC
Expires: December 31, 2008

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

This deal is good online, over the phone, or in a Guitar Center store. Follow the link below to print out a coupon if you’re heading into a retail location

Coupon Code: Friday only: SAVE15 / Sat & Sun: SAVE10
Expires: November 30, 2008
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal