It's shopping time.
Yes the holidays are approaching and that means searching for the perfect gift to give the musician in your life. Here are some things we're hoping to receive:
Blue Snowball USB Microphone$99 on Musician's Friend and at Guitar Center
It's hard to find a cheaper or a simpler solution to home recording than the Blue Snowball. This little sucker plugs directly into a USB 2.0 port and works with Mac or PC recording software.
You won't find the same fidelity as a high-end recording setup, but it comes in three colors and includes a fold-out tripod!
For that price, it's a great choice for recording an acoustic guitar, laying down some quick vocals or capturing notes. It's also the only item on this list that would roll reliably downhill.
Carvin CM87S Studio Condenser Mic$99.00 on Carvin.com
While not quite as plug-and-play as the snowball, this condenser microphone is a steal for 100 bones. It's multi-purpose and runs on phantom power, so it's a solid choice for drum work, backup vocals or to mic your favorite amp.
Just check out all these fancy terms Carvin uses to describe the CM87S: "cardioid pattern with a gold sputtered, 6 micron element and premium noiseless FET electronics" and "A max SPL of 135dB (145dB with 10dB pad switch on)".
WTF?!
Harmonium$374.25 on Amazon.com
From The Decemberists to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, every small town band in the universe has utilized the unique "organ in a box" stylizings of a harmonium.
And that is a fact, so don't look it up and do not email me information to the contrary.
Instead, think about what your tunes would sound like with the soft, soothing drones of a harmonium behind it.
Or if you're particularly creative, you can work the harmonium into everyday conversation. Sometimes nouns and verbs are simply inefficient and what you really need is a hand-pumped reed organ. Especially at the breakfast table.
Surbahar$1,004.25 on Amazon.com
If you're looking to add a truly unique sound to your compositions, look no farther than a Surbahar, also known as a bass sitar.
Especially popular in the realm of Indian classical, the surbahar's sounds dig at your soul like a hungry marmoset. The skill demonstrated in a single surbahar performance is also pretty awe inspiring.
Simply put, as dried gourd-based instruments go, this thing is a babe magnet.
What are you hoping to receive this holiday season?
