Part of a regular Adorama Learning Center series, Sara Landeau’s ‘InSound’ explores the best in audio gear, how-to’s and interviews with other musicians. Read previous installments here.
It’s the week before the holidays and your partner is a gear hoarder. Or maybe that one relative who always acts like they know more about being a musician than you is coming to your house for the holiday. Let’s examine some options for the girls and guys in your life who seem to have everything musical already…
1. Monster Cable – Guitarists love a good 1/4-inch cable and honestly, it feels great to have more than one as safe backup. Cables get destroyed, abandoned, abused, and stolen. Desperate times often call for cheap cables which don’t last. Get one for them with a warranty and a name like “Monster.”
2. Drum Kit Coffee Holder – This cupholder, connected to my crash cymbal stand, never gets old with my students. “Where should I put my water?” Point and bam, there it is. I have no idea how I ever played gigs without it.
3. Comfy Retro-style Drum Stool – Why does everyone want a plain black boring drum throne? Maybe because they didn’t know there were options. We all care about the way our drums look – the personalization, the colors – so why not where we sit? Having a stylin’ yet super comfortable throne not only makes practicing more fun, it’s better for your body ergonomically. Get rid of that boney cheap black one that came with the kit. Celebrate!
4. Ibanez Mini Guitar Effects Pedals – I admit I’m addicted to these little guys. Not only do they travel well, they last and sound great. I always say “every girl needs a tube screamer of her own” but so does every boy. And it’s not just Ibanez that makes these great stocking stuffers, other companies are getting on board to the mini-trend. I can’t live or tour without my Mini-Boost at this point – a recommended pedal for the guitarist who has all the boutique effects pedals already.
5. SureFire EP7 Defender Earplugs – Enough playing around, its time to be serious. We need our ears to make, create, or listen to music. So let’s take care of them. Professional earplugs can range from 1$ to hundreds, and even the cheapest versions are much better than nothing.
6. Tech-Your-Own Guitar or Bass Package – Since the holidays are a spiritual time for many, let’s look at this proverb: “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” That’s how I see this kit. Comes with a 5-in-1 screwdriver with a special 4mm hex adapter for truss rod adjustment, telescopic inspection mirror, ruler, diagonal cutter, capo, feeler gauges, and a string winder.
7. BAM Membership – The Brooklyn Academy of Music, ongoing for 150 years, is constantly offering innovative shows and new performances. It’s the perfect gift for the live music goer in your life – and you can choose the membership level depending on how often they may use the card. A top membership offers free concerts and films for two, so hey, maybe it’s a win-win. BAM also integrates and offers film, theater, dance, music, opera, visual arts, and literary.
8. Tom Tom Magazine Subscription – Not only is this 70+ page magazine chock full of drum lessons, stories, gear and record reviews, it’s a visual piece of art to be saved, stored, and referred back to. My latest issue serves as a coffee table book. This is from their mission statement: “ We seek to raise awareness about female percussionists from all over the world and hope to inspire women and girls of all ages to drum, all while strengthening and building the community of otherwise fragmented female musicians.” And for the guitarists you know and love, get a subscription to She Shreds Magazine http://sheshredsmag.com/ and join the movement.
9. Cats on Amps Calendar– Created from the original website depicting cats sitting on amps comes the long awaited 2017 calendar. Or get a t-shirt, Christmas sweater, and coloring book. Believe me, this is the right gift for that special person you know.
