The holidays are fast approaching, and the time to start shopping for the guitarist in your life is coming up even sooner. If you’re buying for somebody else, and you’re unsure as to what to get them, don’t panic – the KillerGuitarRigs team has curated a list of some of the best gifts for guitar players in 2021 at prices to suit literally every budget.
Contents
$10 and Under
Music Nomad String Fuel Cleaner & Lubricant
Keeping your guitar clean is one of the few known ways to prevent damage, and even tone loss, particularly the strings. Music Nomad’s string cleaner does a great job of preventing dirt build up and also lubricates the strings for faster play.
Fender Keychain Leather Guitar Pick Holder
All guitarists know how irritating it can be to not have a pick when they need one, or on the contrary, to keep finding picks in the pocket of every item of clothing they own. With this handy leather keychain pick holder, they’ll always have access to picks whenever they need one.
Ernie Ball Super Slinky Guitar Strings
Guitar strings are always a welcome gift for any player – after all, having a spare set on hand in case of breaks, or dull tone is a must. Ernie Ball’s Super Slinkys are the World’s best selling strings, and are always a safe bet if you’re not quite sure which brand to buy.
$20 and Under
D’Addario Guitar Tuner
Gone are the days of bulky clip on tuners. This Micro Clip from D’Addario is discreet, and doesn’t add any noticeable weight. While small, this tuner is easy to use, offers excellent accuracy, and will be a guaranteed hit with anybody lucky enough to receive it.
Amazon Basics Folding Guitar Stand
Guitar stands not only offer a way to protect guitars from the types of damage that usually occur with instruments left on the floor, but they also offer a way to show off a guitarist’s pride and joy. This Amazon Basics stand is rock steady, and a great gift option for any guitarist.
Fender Professional 10’ Guitar Cable
Most guitarists can’t get enough cables! Cables rarely last forever, and when they do break down it’s always at the worst time. These Fender Professional cables are built to withstand harsh use, and at 10’ long offer room to move around on stage.
$35 and Under
D’Addario Tri Action Capo
Capos are devices that allow a guitarist to change the key they’re playing in without having to learn new chord structures. They are essential tools, especially when players are looking to learn to play some of their favorite songs. This D’Addario Tri Action Capo is one of the best on the market, and is built to last.
Gibson USA T Shirt
Gibson is one of the world’s most iconic guitar brands, and this T shirt will let everybody know that whoever is wearing it, knows a thing or two about guitars. It looks great, and will surely be a big hit with any guitarist you’re shopping for.
Double Guitar Wall Hanger
This awesome double guitar hanger has room for 2 guitars of any type, and also features a storage shelf for tuners, picks, or anything else that will fit. It has an attractive wood finish and offers a great way to protect and display guitars.
$50 and Under
Ernie Ball Musician’s Tool Kit
In order to properly look after a guitar, it’s essential to have the proper tools and equipment to do so. Using the wrong gear will almost certainly lead to scratches and other damage. This Ernie Ball musician’s tool kit contains everything a guitarist needs to perform basic maintenance and adjustments on their guitar.
Donner White Tape Delay Pedal
This has become one of our favorite FX pedals at KGR. It offers a real old school tape delay tone, and comes in at a fraction of the price of competitive pedals. A great buy, and no doubt a welcome addition to any guitarist’s pedal board.
PRS Birds In Flight Guitar Strap
A comfortable, quality guitar strap makes a huge difference, and upgrading from something that comes in a starter set, or a budget nylon strap, to this luxurious PRS Strap with its iconic birds in flight design, will not only feel better for the player, but can also go some way to improving performance.
$75 and Under
Blackstar Fly 3 Mini
The market is full of mini amps that look just like the full size counterparts from the respective brands, but unfortunately they’re mostly novelty items that look cool, but sound awful. This Blackstar Fly 3 mini, on the other hand, looks great and sounds unbelievable. There is no mini amp at this price that can even come close.
Ghostfire Pedal Board
If the guitarist you’re shopping for has started to collect FX pedals, but has them just laid out on the floor, they will absolutely love getting this pedal board set. It comes with a whole host of accessories including adhesives and patch cables, and it’s a great way to keep pedals organized and safe from damage.
Gator Gig Bag
A quality gig bag is a must have for any guitarist. Whether they’re starting to jam with friends, or even just going to lessons, having a good gig bag will keep their guitar protected from bumps, scrapes, and the elements. This Gator bag also has plenty of pocket space for accessories, too.
$100 and Under
Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal
The Jim Dunlop Cry Baby is one of the most iconic pedals in the world, and is a staple of many guitarists’ pedal boards. Any player you’re shopping for will almost certainly be delighted to add one of these to their pedal collections.
Folding Guitar Maintenance Table
Just as having the proper tools to do maintenance is important, so it having the proper workstation. This folding maintenance table is carpeted to protect guitars from scratches, and features a built in neck rest to keep them in the right position during maintenance.
iRig HD2 Digital Guitar Interface for iPad, iPhone, and Mac
The iRig series is one of the best establish guitar gadget lineups around, and their flagship HD2 is a great unit for any guitarist to get started with recording using simply an iPhone or iPad, or, even just to be able to use their iPad as an amplifier.
$200 and Under
Squier Bullet Mustang
The Mustang just oozes cool. It clearly has the Fender vibe, but this model comes with humbucking pickups for fat tone and great versatility. The Squier Bullet range is a phenomenal starting platform, and if you’re looking for a first guitar to buy for someone, this is a solid choice.
Roadie 2 Smart Automatic Tuner
Some people just hate tuning, but thanks to technology, they don’t need to worry about it anymore. With the Roadie 2 Smart automatic tuner, the handset doesn’t just say when the guitar is at pitch, it actually turns the machine heads and tunes the guitar automatically.
Monoprice Stage Right 15 Watt Tube Amp
In recent years, tube amps have risen sharply in price, and have become simply unattainable for many, but Monoprice are changing that trend with the Stage Right 15W tube amp. It boasts all the features of models 5 times the price, it sounds great, it looks great, and it makes a great gift for any guitarist.
$350 and Under
Boss Katana 50
Boss Katana amps represent some of the best value in the industry, and their 50 watt KTN50 MK2 absolutely embodies this. This is a modeling amp that accurately matches the tones of many different amplifiers, giving players the benefit of many different amps all in one unit.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Interface Bundle
If you’re shopping for somebody who wants to start taking recording seriously, then they will need an audio interface, and this Scarlett 2i2 bundle also includes everything else they’ll need to get going. This is quality gear that works as well for advanced guitarists as it does for beginners.
Soundbrenner Core Musician’s Smartwatch
This is truly the gift for the guitarist who has everything – the musician’s smart watch. Working just like a regular smart watch, it can show you all of your notifications, but unlike a regular smart watch, it offers a tuner, a vibrating metronome feature, and even a decibel meter function.
$500 and Under
Taylor BT1 Baby Taylor
Taylor is one of the biggest brands in acoustic guitar manufacturing, and their BT1 Baby Taylor is a great all around model. It’s good enough to grow with a beginner, and it’s the right quality for a seasoned guitarist looking for a travel sized guitar.
Boss Waza Air Wireless Guitar Amplifier Headphones
If the guitarist you’re shopping for happens to live in circumstances that prohibit loud noise, these Boss Waza Air wireless guitar amp headphones are the perfect solution (as distinct from headphones that run from a guitar amp). Boss has built the same technology they put into their regular amplifiers into a pair of ultra premium headphones that work as well as a primary amplifier as they do for bedroom practice.
Headrush MX5 Amp and FX Modeler
Representing the next generation of digital multi FX and modeling, the Headrush MX5 is a great option for guitarists who want the benefit of multiple amplifiers and pedals, but don’t necessarily have the room (or money) for a practice space full of amps and multiple pedal boards. This handy device packs all of that into one unit and is sure to be a big hit.
$500 and Over
Fender American Performer Stratocaster
Fender’s American made models are the best that this storied brand has to offer. If you’re looking to get somebody a truly special guitar, an American made Fender Stratocaster is a great way to do that.
Line 6 HX Stomp XL
If you’re shopping for a guitarist who is already committed to the world of digital FX and modeling, this Line 6 HX Stomp will definitely be well received. This unit is fully compatible with their Helix hardware and software, and can store thousands of top quality amp, FX and cabinet models.
Shure SE846 In Ear Monitors
When playing live, hearing what the audience hears is critical to make sure that they hear the music as intended. If you’re shopping for somebody who plays live regularly, they will absolutely love these Shure SE846 in ear monitors, which are arguably some of the best on the market.
Final Thoughts on the Best Gifts for Guitarists
We truly hope this guide gave you some good inspiration for your holiday shopping. The vast majority of guitarists would be thrilled to receive pretty much anything on this list, so you really can’t go far wrong at all. Remember, the closer to the holidays we get, the more people start shopping for the guitarists in their lives – buy early to avoid disappointment later!