Gbase 2009 – With the holidays just around the corner, we thought we’d provide this little primer on gifts and gadgets for the musician in your life, even if that musician happens to be you. There are lots of new toys and trinkets out there and we’ve hit upon a few of those, as well as the classics. Here’s wishing you a wonderful holiday season!!

Let’s start with a few of the classics:

How about portable amplification? The Pignose Amp is powered by 6 “AA” batteries and allows you to plug in, just about anywhere you’d like to.

Gbase has a few of these in-stock feel free to click on this one or search the database

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If you prefer that classic “Marshall” sound, Marshall makes a battery powered, belt-clip capable version. Powered by a 9-volt battery and looks just like the real deal. Click on the pick one up from one of our Gbase dealers.

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We just don’t get tired of this one – it’s the Planet Waves “Strobe-on-String” tuner. It’s like having a strobe tuner in your pocket. This clever little device is the size of a guitar pick, runs on a calculator battery and tunes with incredible accuracy. They’re only $20 retail (but you can find them cheaper if you look around). They make one for Guitar (standard tuning only) and also one for Bass (it’s red instead of the picture silver casing).

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It doesn’t get much more “classic” that this. The “Rat” has to be one of the most utilized pedals of all time. They sound great. They’re reasonably priced – what more could you ask for? Click on the image OR if you are more of a pedal fanatic that just the basic Rat – Gbase has hundreds to choose from – check them out —> HERE!

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You can’t go wrong with the ole traditional Gig Bag – well that’s not completely true, as you want to make sure you know the type of instrument so that the Gig Bag will fit the instrument. There’s lot to choose from, like this Levy Gig Bag to the right. Great construction with numerous pockets for picks, sheet music, cables and the like. You can find dozens more on Gbase for acoustics, electrics, and basses.

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Now here’s a tougher one for all of that want to live a tad more dangerously in the gift-giving world. Pickups are probably one of the more difficult items to choose for a player because it’s personal to their sound. Purchasing one without any knowledge of what the wants, likes, hates, etc – can be a recipe for disaster even though getting them one would be a very nice gesture just the same. So tread ever so cauti0usly in this regard. Gbase has a TON OF TONE with regard to pickups for acoustic guitars, electric guitars, basses and more – all types of configurations, from a plethora of manufacturers – all you have to do is choose!

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Beatles Rock Band came out this year and that’s sure to be a big hit with all those Beatle-fanatics this holiday season. However, here’’s a little extra something that isn’t nearly as expensive but would also thrill a “Beatlemaniac” – Beatle Guitar Straps - these are new from Planet Waves. Straps from – “Meet the Beatles”, “Hard Days Night”, “Help”, “Revolver”, “Sgt Peppers”, “Yellow Submarine”, “Abbey Road” and “Anthology”. There are also Beatles Picks – who wouldn’t want to find one of these in their stocking? Very cool, very affordable!

How about a few of the newer, more trendy gadgets out there?

There are several companies out there doing this so be careful before purchasing one – This one is called Guitar Gadgets and they make DIY kits so you can make your own EFX Pedals – this one being for the classic Ibanez Tube Screamer.

This is probably the most expensive item posted in this suggestion list – coming in at $599. It’s the Boss JS-8. It’s the perfect gift for that bedroom guitarists who doesn’t want to gig out. This until comes complete with a stereo speaker system, built-in EFX and allows the user to play along with their favorite songs.

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I had one of these back in the 70’s…….er I mean a few years ago. They’ve reduced the size quite a bit, thereby the unique name Electro-Harmonix Nano Doctor Q. The Doctor Q gives you funk like tone and wah-like effects by picking with different degrees of sensitivity.

That should get you started, as you only have a few more shopping days/weeks left at this point. All you iPhone groupies out there have an even greater dilemma – there are hundreds of APP’s to delve thru but the truly easy way out, is to give the ole’ Gift card. That way your iPhone-iac can download all the APP’s he or she wants.

From all of us here at Gbase – have a very safe and happy holiday season. We hope to see you back on the site in 2010!

THE GBASE TEAM