Gifts and Presents for a Bassist
For many of us it is the time of year when friends and relatives ask what they can get us for Christmas. Always a tricky question for a bassist. The request for that latest custom-built signature bass of your very own never quite seems to hit the mark, so I thought I’d hunt around for some alternatives.
So far, these are things that I have previously received, or suggested:
- Musical Mugs – more of the themed variety, than actual noise making ones. They tend to be a little cheesy. How about a simple affair with notes on or a bass cleff? Just so people know you are a bassist, even when you are sat drinking your favourite hot drink.
- Gear carrying bag or a soft gig case – There always seems to be more ‘stuff’ than bags. There are some nice, not too expensive, soft cases around. Protect those pedals or that amp.
- A tuner – a good one that works well with a bass, rather than getting confused.
- Fingerless gloves – if you do outdoor gigs, in colder climates, you’ll know the value of these.
- A nice strap – according to taste and budget.
- CDs – good bass-inspiring music of course. Check through the blog for recommendations.
- Tab/sheet music – chosen carefully, this can be vocabulary expanding stuff, in the musical sense.
The only other good list I found was on Rockband.com. Apparently the right gifts for a bassist are: ear plugs, a cleaner/polish kit and a watch (you’ll have to read the post to see why). Oh, and the worst gift? A keyboard, apparently!
I’m wondering if we are held back by the unspoken rule of presents :- that people shouldn’t buy you something practical or that you would have purchased for yourself. Hey! I’m a bassist, I’m easy! Strings are good.
What bass-related gift would like to receive or would you recommend?
music-related t-shirts I’m real fond of… not bands so much, but a tee that shows a guitar (or better, a bass guitar), or a bass clef, or anything of that nature…
strings would also be awesome…
an effects pedal of some sort…
“Music Theory Made Easy” is a booklet that has done wonders for me, and I would recommend it in a heartbeat!
Good call on the T-shirts – the snow outside had put those out of my mind
. Reminded me of Bass Face.com.
On, just so no-one forgets, this t from Zazzle: http://www.zazzle.com/bassist_shirt-235945781591981262
Here also some bass player’s t-shirts: http://www.bass-shirts.com/ (but the US shop has much less to choose from than the european shop)
Thanks Sam!
Any suggestions beyond T-shirts?
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I’m looking into getting an acoustic bass. Main bazz is a Jazz, and play upright, but need something easier than that big doghouse to tote around for small bluegrass and gospel gigs and practicing at home.
Any input on Ibanez, Michael Murphy(?), Fender, or Epiphone sound, quality, etc. will really be appreciated.
Ya’ll have a pleasant day. BennyB
Well, if you speak German, another funny gift may be the bass player’s cook book from Sandberg:
http://bassnews.de/index.php/2008-12/kochbuch-fur-bassisten/
it doesn’t really make much sense since bass player’s don’t cook.
Sam, of course bassists cook – have you never boiled a set of strings?
[...] and wearable bass bits, which might be good for great holiday gifts (enjoying the comments on Gifts and Presents for a Bassist by the way – keep them [...]
Thank you so much! you just saved me and my parents a lot of shopping
Im just the kind of person that never really wants anything! Thanks again for some great ideas ~ Stephanie
Pick or a Distorter/Fuzz peddle would be nice.
Uh oh – he said pick
(runs and hides for cover).
Effects pedals are a nice idea – although do your friends know you well enough to pick the right one?