Check out the New 2019 Ultimate Guitar Gift Guide Here
Finding the perfect gift for someone can always be a daunting challenge, but if they are a guitar player, then you’ve come to the right place. Below is my top 20 list of gifts for guitar players for 2018.
A common trait I’ve found amongst guitar players is that they drool over the latest, coolest toys but don’t splurge if those things cost more than a couple packs of strings. That is the genesis of this list: things that a guitar player would love, but would probably not buy for themselves. AKA, the perfect gift. Without further ado, here is my list of top 20 gifts for guitar players this year.
1) Levy’s Leathers – Veg Tan Leather Guitar Strap
When it comes to guitar straps, most guitar players will make do with what they have. Unfortunately, this is often a cheap cotton strap that just gets the job done. A nice leather strap is a godsend, especially if you’re playing a heavy guitar. This is a great gift, that any guitar player would love, and it comes from my favorite strap maker Levy’s.
2) TRIC Case
The case I recommend in my HOW TO BUY THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR guide, this is by far my favorite case for acoustic guitars. It is a hybrid hardshell, that has a molded interior with a polypropylene exterior (car bumper core material). These cases are incredibly light and offer more protection against temperature, humidity, and bumps/bangs than any case on the market. If you know someone with a nice acoustic, they absolutely need one of these.
3) Thalia Capo 200 Series – Black Chrome with Engraved Celtic Knot on Hawaiian Koa Wood Inlay
Yes, you can buy a capo for 12 bucks, and the guitar player in your life probably has a couple of those. However, what makes a perfect gift is something that they would never buy for themselves. Thalia capos fit into that category. Sure they’re expensive, but these are the absolute nicest capos on the market. There are plenty of designs available, but I personally love this one with the Koa inlay.
4) Peterson StroboClip HD Clip-On Tuner
The most annoying thing to a guitar player is a guitar that isn’t perfectly in tune. And it’s not particularly pleasant to listen to either. The Peterson stroboclip is by far the most accurate clip-on tuner on the market. This tuner can be used with all instruments, and will make any guitarist happy.
5) Boss TU-3 Tuner Pedal w/Power Supply
Staying on the tuner train, is the guitar player in question play an electric guitar through an amp? Do they have a pedal tuner (a tuner that is on the floor like an effects pedal)? If the answer is no, then this would be an absolute slam dunk gift. I use my Boss TU-3 every single time I pick up my electric, and it has been working perfectly since I bought it 15 years ago (it was actually the TU-2 then). These are considered the workhorse tuner in the industry, and you can’t go wrong picking one of these up.
6) Hercules GS414B A/G Guitar Stand
Are they using a cheap tube guitar stand? I have had so many of those things fall apart, or fall over in my day. A quality guitar stand will save your guitar from unnecessary damage, and will look great too. Serious guitar players swear by this Hercules guitar stand.
7) GIGmate Guitar Tool Kit & String Organizer
Every guitarist needs a toolkit to change strings and perform maintenance. This kit contains everything you need to make any adjustments necessary. A guitarist needs to be prepared for any situation, and this kit prepares you for that.
8) Ernie Ball Power Peg Pro, Battery Powered Peg Winder
As any guitar player knows, the more you play the more you have to change strings. This can get frustrating when all you want to do is get your guitar back up and running and playing with a fresh set of strings. I know that when I’m playing a lot, having a battery powered string winder allows me to change strings much faster. If you’re doing any manner of repair work (as I’ve done), then a powered winder is an absolute must.
9) Mr. Power Guitar Neck Rest Neck Pillow
When changing guitar strings, or doing any work on your guitar, a neck support is an absolute must. If you don’t have a support like this, undo stress can be placed on the headstock of the guitar, and could cause potential damage. Not to mention, this makes changing strings an absolute dream when you have full access to the tuners. Every guitar player needs to have one of these ready for those string changes.
10) Dampit Guitar Humidifier Super
A nice guitar humidifier is an absolute must for any acoustic guitar, especially in the winter time when the humidity drops and everything dries out. Without proper humidification, a guitar can be damaged and even crack. The Dampit is my go-to for humidifying guitars. Most humidifiers require you to keep the guitar in its case (and only work with hardshell cases). With the Dampit, keep the guitar on the stand where it’s easy to pick up.
11) Soundbrenner Pulse | Smart, Vibrating & Wearable Metronome
If you are serious about practicing, then a metronome is an absolute must have. And to be frank, the sooner you start playing with a metronome, the better your time and overall playing will be. Every single serious guitar player practices with a metronome. It really is that important. And this is one of the most interesting and innovative metronomes out there. This is a wearable metronome that allows you to feel the time much better, and will absolutely make you a better musician.
12) Timber Tones STO-MT-4 Guitar Picks, Stone Tones Mixed, 4 Pack
Playing with the same old picks can get a bit boring. If you’re looking for a way to mix things up, or looking for a gift for a guitar player who has everything, then look no further than these Timber Tones stone guitar picks. These are an incredibly unique gift.
13) Rattlesnake Cables
A nice guitar cable is a thing of beauty, and Rattlesnake Cables are by a long shot the nicest cables on the market. These things are bullet tough and will last a lifetime. Not all cables are created equal, and the quality of these will blow you away. These make perfect gifts for any guitarist who uses a cable. Electric players and acoustic players who plug in.
14) Electro-Harmonix HOLY GRAIL NANO Reverb Pedal
There are a couple effects that every guitar player should have on their pedal board. Reverb is one of those. The Holy Grail is one of the oldest and most renowned reverb pedals out there. With three different modes, this will handle just a touch of drip to cavernous washes of sound. You cannot go wrong with the Holy Grail.
15) E-Bow Hand Held Electronic Effect Bow for Guitar
Does your guitarist like spacey sounds or experimenting with different ways to play their instrument? The E-Bow has been the go-to for sonic exploration for ages. It induces string vibration through an electromagnetic field giving an eerie sound of a bowed note (thing cello, or violin) without any contact on the string. These things are a blast, and a must have in the true guitarists arsenal.
16) Dunlop GCB95 Cry Baby Wah Guitar Effects Pedal with Deluxe Accessory Bundle
Ok, I don’t want to put too many effects pedals on the list, but this one has to be there. The Dunlop Cry Baby Wah is one of the most iconic effects to come out of rock music. Think Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child and that’s the sound. This is such an iconic effect that it has to be part of every player’s effects collection. Countless hours of fun await anyone with a wah pedal.
17) Vangoa – Guitar Pedal Board Aluminum Alloy 3.3lb. Lightweight Pedalboard 19.8″ x 11.5″ with Carry Bag, Guitar Pedal Cable
Speaking of effects pedals, if you don’t have a pedal board, then you’re really missing out. Especially if you’re moving your setup anywhere, playing with friends or gigging live. A pedal board allows you to organize all of your pedals in one easy to reach place. If you have more than two effects pedals you absolutely need to have a pedal board.
18) Elagon (PCP) PRO CARE PLUS KIT. The Ultimate Guitar Care, Setup & Maintenance Tool Kit.
If you’re looking for more of a holistic guitar kit than the GIGmate Guitar Tool Kit, then this is what you’re looking for. This has everything a guitar player would need. Polish, tuner, tools, capo, etc. It’s all there. This is a comprehensive tool kit and would make a great gift to any guitar player who doesn’t have a dedicated kit like this.
19) VOX AP2AC amPlug AC30 G2 Guitar Headphone Amp
What happens if you want to play your electric guitar and just listen to it with headphones? Some amps don’t even allow for this, and what if you’re traveling? Here is a great gift (especially to give your young guitarist who loves to play, but you need a break from hearing their guitar). This is a headphone amp. It plugs directly into the guitar, and you plug headphones into it and then wail away. This is an awesome gift, and something I wish I would have had when I was just starting.
20) Donner Rechargeable Wireless Guitar System DWS-2 Digital Guitar Bass Audio Transmitter Receiver
I’m going to end this list of 20 great gifts for guitar players with a real good one. What guitar player doesn’t want to be able to rock without the constraints of their cords keeping them standing next to their amp? No one, that’s who. If you’re looking for the ultimate gift for an electric guitar player, look no further. This wireless system allows you to be up to 100 feet away from your amp. Maybe more importantly you won’t get tangled up in all of of your instrument cables. This wireless system will make any guitar player feel like a true rock star.
