The Deal: If you’re a bass-playing Beatles fan, there’s no doubt you’ve always dreamed about adding a Höfner “Beatles Bass” to your arsenal. Unfortunately, you’ll have to shell out about 2 grand for the real-deal Hofner bass guitar. For most players this is not a fiscally responsible decision, considering the low percentage of tunes you’d actually use it on.

I’ve found a low-cost alternative that may satisfy your urge until you hit the lottery. Right now at Musicians Friend you can get a Rogue VB100 Series II Hofner-Style Violin Bass Guitar for only $199. Also, for a limited time, Musicians Friend will throw in a gig bag for this bass guitar for free

MSRP: $399.99
Current Price: $199.99 plus free gig bag
Savings: $200.00(50%)
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Deal: Musicians Friend is now running a promotion on the Fender Classic Series Effects Pedals.

For a limited time, purchase a Fender Classic Series pedal, which includes the Fender Blender Custom, Fender Phaser, Fender Fuzz-Wah, Fender Volume, or Fender Volume/Tone pedals and get a vintage-styled Fender KoilKord instrument cable for free (a $19.99 value).

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Deal: In conjunction with Willie Moseley’s “Cool Looks, Classic Sounds: Retro-Inspired Basses” feature on funky new basses in the August issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine, Vintage Guitar and D’Addario are giving away sets of bass strings to five lucky winners! All you have to do is sign up for a free Vintage Guitar Magazine membership and you’ll be entered to win this bass guitar string giveaway.

Winners will receive a set of D’Addario XL Chromes Flat Wound bass guitar strings (valued at $59.99 to $84.99) AND a set of D’Addario XL Half Rounds (valued at $52.99 to $81.99).
Entry Deadline: Not listed.
Get It: Click Here to Enter

The Deal: Ned Steinberger, D’Addario, and Planet Waves have teamed up to offer you the Electric WAV Sweeps.

The Grand Prize includes:

• A NS WAV 4 Double Bass (ARV: $1,195)
• A year’s supply (three sets) of D’Addario Helicore Hybrid Bass Strings (ARV: $358.50)
• Planet Waves Full-Function Tuner and Metronome (ARV: $99.99)
• Planet Waves Custom Pro Cable (ARV: $65)
• Planet Waves Bass Pro-Winder (ARV: $14.99)
• Planet Waves 74mm Padded Comfort Strap (ARV: $28.99)
• Planet Waves Micro-Fiber Polish Cloth (ARV: $9.99)

The total ARV of the Grand Prize package is $1,772.46

Entry Deadline: July 30, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. E.T.
Get It: Click Here to Enter

The Deal: At JustStrings.com, buy any set of guitar or bass guitar strings and get a free five-pack of medium gauge JustStrings.com picks.
Expires: While supplies last
Coupon Code: None required
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Deal: Logitech is teaming up with musical innovators Duran Duran on their 2008 ‘Red Carpet Massacre’ U.S. tour.

You’ll have a chance to win one of three separate grand prizes, featuring a Gibson Les Paul Studio, a Gibson Thunderbird Bass (both personally autographed by the band), or a Logitech Transporter network music player, their most premium audiophile digital audio tuner, valued at $2,000.00.
Entry Deadline: May 31, 2008
Get It: Click Here to Enter

The Deal: Calling all Fall Out Boy fans!!! Musicians Friend has put Squier by Fender Pete Wentz Signature Guitar Straps on sale for just $9.99. Save $5 off the regular sale price.
MSRP: $16.99
Regular Price: $14.99
Current Price: $9.99
Savings: $7.00(41%)
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Deal: Here’s a sick deal for you space-conscious guitarists.

If lugging around a bulky guitar stand is cramping your style, check out these Wallacher Amplifier Mount Guitar Stands. These stands easily slip under the top handle of most amps using existing screws and folds flat for easy transportation. The rubber-padded yoke holds your axe safely. Even if you’re weary, they’re on sale for $2.99 each. What do you have to lose???
MSRP: $29.95
Current Price: $2.99
Savings: $26.96(90%)
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Deal: Guitar World Magazine is giving away a case of Elixir coated guitar strings, in your choice of style.
Entry Deadline: Not Listed
Get It: Click Here To Enter

The Deal: The other day I posted about a great deal on HowAudio.com memberships.

HowAudio.com has just released a new tutorial Making Your Own Pedalboard by Phil O’keefe.

In conjunction with the release of this new tutorial they are giving away the custom pedalboard that Phil O’Keefe used in the making of this video. In addition to winning the pedalboard, you’ll also win these pedals to slap on top:

• Planet Waves Tuner
• Behringer Vintage Tube Monster Vacuum Tube Overdrive
• Danelectro Fish and Chips 7 Band EQ
• Line 6 Space Chorus
• Line 6 Verbzilla
• One-Spot Power Adapter
• With Planet Waves Solderless Cables

One pedal board will be awarded, but in addition they will give away 5 DVDs of Making Your Own Pedal Board.

Expires: June 23, 2008
Get It: Click Here To Enter

The Deal: This weekend only in Guitar Center stores, GC is hosting their Biggest Amp Sale of the Year. Score huge savings on every kind of amplifier - half stacks, combos, bass amps, keyboard and electronic drum kit amps, plus amps for studios, P.A. systems, and DJ rigs and more.

Here are a handful of the deals you can find this weekend:

• Crate GTD120 2×12 combos at the lowest price ever - just $199
• Class A tube amps just $99 dollars
• Buy an acoustic/electric guitar, get a Crate CA10 acoustic amp free
• Buy any effects pedal for $99 or more, get a Danelectro HoneyTone practice amp free
• 180-watt bass heads are only $129
• Up to $160 dollars off power amps for P.A.s, studios, and DJ rigs
• Get KRK RP5 studio monitors for just $199 a pair - while they last
• Extra 10% off electronic drum kit amps
• Up to 20% on every keyboard amp in stock

Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Deal: Yesterday I mentioned the IK Multimedia StompIO™ giveaway over at Guitar Noize.

It appears that IK Multimedia is spreading the love all over the Internet right now. Through the end of April at Guitar Center, if you buy any IK plug-in, you’ll get one effect free. After the purchase, just register your product and choose one of the following free effects:

• AmpliTube 2
• Ampeg SVX
• AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™
• T-RackS
• Classik Studio Reverb

Expires: April 30, 2008
Get It: Click Here For More About This Deal

The Deal: Leave it to Fender! They continue to make mundane, everyday items cool. Right now at the Fender Online Store, spend $50 or more on clothing and collectibles and receive a Deluxe Travel Wallet free. No coupon code is required; the travel wallet will automatically be added to your order upon checkout.
Expires: While Supplies Last
Get It: Click Here to Enter

The Deal: Guitar Noize and IK Multimedia are giving away a StompIO™, the revolutionary guitar/bass FX system that gives you full control over all “Powered by AmpliTube®” software/plug-ins with the same feeling of a traditional hardware floor processor.

Sign me up! Not so fast….to qualify, you’re going to have to work a little. Head over to Guitar Noize and download a copy of AmpliTube Duo LE. Rock out for a while and make a video of your best tone or effects. The best video takes home the prize!
Entry Deadline: May 1, 2008
Get It: Click Here to Enter

I have to admit I’m a total cable geek. I spent five years working in sales and marketing for a major cable manufacturer, and cables were one of my product lines as a brand manager for Fender Accessories. Therefore, it takes a lot for a new cable to impress me.

Recently, I was introduced to Nial McGaughey, who runs Solid Cables, a manufacturer of high-end guitar cables hand-built in Pasadena, California. I received one of his Dynamic Arc Ultra Cables and decided to put it through the test. I pulled out cables from every closet and the back of each amp I own and, hands-down, this cable rocked them all!

I must admit that I do not have a “golden ear.” I’ve met people who can pick out minute details in a cable that I’ll never hear. I did, however, absolutely hear a difference between the Dynamic Arc and other high-end cables. There was more presence, as if I’d taken the grill cloth off the amplifier. I felt there was also a bit more volume coming though, as well. They are also built like a tank. There is no question that these cables came off the bench of a talented engineer!

Long story short, I asked Nial if I could help get the work out about his cables through my side project, Drive Channel Creative (wait….this is my side project!). If you have time, please check out more info at Harmony Central, of visit the Solid Cables website.

The Deal: Of course, to get a mention on GearPipe, there must be a deal going on! For a limited time, purchase any Solid Cables product, and receive a 3″ patch cable (a $50 value) free, through mail-in rebate.
Get It: Here are a few online retailers selling Solid Cables:

• Super Sound Music
• Custom Guitar Gear
• Blues City Music