The kids had a blast shooting this for Christmas 2007. We’ll be posting our 2008 version of the 12 Days of Christmas in the next week.

Deciding to buy a used guitar pedals online can potentially save you a lot of money, but you also want to be careful; used pedals can be defective or even missing parts sometimes. Unfortunately, there are also scammers online who deal in deception. In this article, we’ll outline how to reduce your chances of getting ripped off when buying used guitar pedals online.
One of the best ways to buy used pedals cheap is through auction sites. Obviously, eBay is one popular choice, but there are also many other auction sites online, some of which focus exclusively on guitar gear. But before you bid on a guitar pedal up for auction, there are a few points to keep in mind.
ALWAYS investigate the reputation of the seller before deciding to bid. Most auction sites have a feedback and ratings system. This will allow you to see what kind of experiences others have had purchasing items from a particular seller. While it is practically impossible for a seller to have 100% positive feedback rating (after all, some people will complain about anything), you do want to make sure that the percentage of happy buyers is very high. A 98% or higher positive rating is preferable.
You also want to consider how many items the seller has sold at auction. If their positive feedback is 100%, but they’ve only sold two items, you can’t be really sure what kind of seller they are. On the other hand, if you see thousands of successful auctions, and a 98% positive rating, it’s a pretty safe bet that the seller is a straight shooter and is not out to rip anyone off.
It’s also important to thoroughly investigate the condition of the used guitar pedals being offered. Most pedals sold on online auctions will include a photo, so you can get a good sense of the condition of the unit. You can also e-mail the seller with any questions you may have, and this is actually a good technique to find out how responsive the seller is to customer service. After all, if they do not respond promptly to questions before you buy the pedal, they probably will not respond promptly to problems after the sale.
Guitar pedals are made to be stepped on, so by definition they are usually quite tough. However, if you’re purchasing older used guitar pedals it pays to ask questions about the condition the unit is in — especially if the pedal is being offered at a really cheap price. Remember the old saying, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. “
In particular, you should ensure that the input and output jacks on the pedal are solid and noise-free. Often, quarter-inch jacks on the sides of used guitar pedals become loose, and can cause random annoying “clicking” sounds. Don’t hesitate to ask the seller directly if the input and output jacks feel solid to the touch and are quiet.
You’ll also want to make sure the pedal has a reliable AC plug. In the case of some older guitar pedals, buying a “wall wart” AC plug will cost nearly as much as the pedal itsel. So you definitely want to be sure it is included in the sale.
Finally, consider your gut instinct before bidding on any used guitar pedal, especially a cheap one. Does the seller provide adequate information about the pedal? Is there a clear color photo of the unit? Sometimes an auction will just seem somehow “fishy,” and you’re not even sure why. In these cases, it’s better to hold back and listen to your gut instinct — it will usually be right.
You can buy all kinds of used guitar pedals at online auctions, and prices are normally cheaper than you will find in music stores or pawn shops; however, always take your time and thoroughly investigate both the guitar pedal and the seller before making a bid.

What would a rock band be without a bass guitar? It is one of the most overlooked of the rock instruments, but it is also one of the most essential. Without a bass, the only beat you have to go with is the beat of the drums, and that does not always work for certain songs.
The bass guitar is also one of the easiest of instruments to learn how to play. It only has a few chords, and often in songs, it uses the same beat over and over, with a few variations. Due to the ease of use, as well as its role as a part of rock and roll, many kids will want to take up the bass guitar.
However, the problem with bass guitars is that they are not cheap. This is not a problem for the child, but it is a problem for the parent who wants to encourage their child to try musical instruments to broaden their horizons. With bass guitars costing upwards of a few hundred dollars, what can parents do to ensure that they will be able to afford to buy a bass guitar for their children.
The answer comes in the form of a used bass guitar, which are a dime a dozen and can be found in stores and online. When you have the option of paying hundreds of a new bass guitar, or paying as little as $50 for a used bass guitar, which are you going to choose?
As any parent can tell you, children often get bored of things they are enthusiastic about, very quickly. If you spend hundreds on a new bass guitar and your child gets bored with it, then you are going to be out a lot of money. Even if you sell it, you will be selling it for a lot less than you bought it for, and you will take a heavy hit in the pocket book.
However, with used bass guitars, you will not pay a lot and if your child bores of it, then no harm no foul. You can then sell it and make a profit, or break even, whichever is good. When you are looking for a used bass guitar, try online and pawn shops. Online, you will find sites like Craigslist. com and eBay. com, which often have excellent instruments for sale. Pawn shops also have very cheap prices and if you decide to sell the bass guitar, you can sell it right back to the pawn shop.
Bass guitars are essential in rock music, think of bands like The Who, Nirvana, or The Red Hot Chili Peppers, without their signature bass rifts. As a result, many children want to learn to play the bass guitar and they will often go to great measures to convince their parents to buy it for them. If you are going to buy a bass guitar, make sure it is a used one, because the last thing you want when you spend a lot of money is to have your kid toss it into the closet after a month.