Finding the perfect gift for the guitarist in your life can sometimes feel like trying to nail a perfect guitar solo—challenging, but ultimately rewarding. Whether they are a seasoned pro or a beginner, the truth is, a guitarist can always use more gear.
From practical essentials that every player burns through to innovative gadgets that elevate their practice, here is a breakdown of the best gifts and stocking fillers to make any guitarist smile.
Essential Stocking Fillers: The Things They Always Need
These are the affordable, must-have items that often wear out or go missing. A guitarist can never have too many of these.
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Picks (Plectrums) and Pick Holders: The ultimate stocking filler. A guitarist can lose a pick faster than you can say “shred.” Consider a stylish tin, like the Taylor Celluloid Pick Tin, or a handy Jim Dunlop Pick Holder that sticks right onto their guitar or amp, ensuring they never run out during a jam.
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Fresh Strings: The foundation of great tone. A new set of strings, such as the popular Elixir Nanoweb Electric Guitar Strings, can breathe new life into any instrument. Match the gauge (thickness) to what they typically use for a guaranteed win.
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Clip-On Tuners: An essential tool for every player. A compact, accurate tuner like the Fender FT-1 Clip On Chromatic Tuner or the pro-level TC Electronic PolyTune 3 Mini is invaluable, especially for quick tuning changes on stage or in practice.
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Cables: Cables break, fray, and get tangled. A fresh, reliable patch or instrument cable, such as a durable Fender Contour Cable, is a practical and appreciated upgrade.
Guitar Care & Maintenance Kits
For the guitarist who loves their instrument, a maintenance kit is a thoughtful gift that helps them keep their prized possession in top playing condition.
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Polish and Cleaners: Products like Dr. Liston’s Luxury Guitar Polish and Fast Fret Fretboard and String Cleaner help maintain the guitar’s finish and keep the fretboard smooth for fast playing.
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The Pro Winder: The D’Addario Pro Winder With Built-In String Clipper is £12.99 at Andertons. It’s an all-in-one tool for changing strings faster and safer, combining a winder, cutter, and bridge pin puller.
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Work Mats and Crades: For those who like to do their own setup and maintenance, a dedicated area is key. A Guitar Work Mat and Neck Cradle Kit provides a safe, padded surface to work on their instrument without causing damage for only £24.99!
Power Up Their Practice: Mini Amps and Pedals
If you’re looking to spend a bit more on a gift that offers new sonic possibilities, small-format amps and pedals are perfect.
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Portable Smart Amps: The Positive Grid Spark GO Ultra-Portable Smart Guitar Amp is an innovative gift. It’s small enough to fit in a stocking but is a full-featured modelling amp and Bluetooth speaker, offering endless tones for practice on the go.
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Headphone Amps: For apartment dwellers or late-night practice, the Positive Grid Spark NEO Wired Smart Guitar Headphone Amp lets them plug in and hear a whole amp rig privately.
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Mini Pedals and Footswitch Toppers: Effects pedals are always fun. A compact stompbox like a Landlord FX Vintage Fuzz Pedal, or a set of colorful Mooer Guitar Pedal Footswitch Toppers (which make pedals easier to step on), make great mid-range gifts.
Novelty & Miscellaneous Gifts
Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that are fun, inspiring, or unique.
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The Tone Mug: For a humorous and practical gift, “The Tone Mug” offers a guaranteed laugh and a place to put their morning coffee—after all, a guitarist is nothing without their tone. Only £19.99!
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Instructional Books: A classic gift, like the JustinGuitar Vintage Songbook, provides hours of inspiration and new material to learn. Only £23.99!
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Mini Stands: A compact stand, such as the Hercules Electric Guitar Mini Stand with Bag, is ideal for gigging guitarists or for keeping their instrument safely displayed in a practice room.
Andertons Gift Voucher
When in doubt, remember that sometimes the safest bet is aGift Voucher. It allows the guitarist to pick out the exact product, pedal, or piece of gear they’ve been secretly wishing for. Happy gift shopping!
This article may contain affiliate links to Andertons, DeathCloud, Fender, Gear4Music, Sweetwater, and Thomann that help finance the running costs of GuitarBomb. We will receive a small commission if you buy something through these links. Don’t worry; you pay the same price, and it costs you no extra to use these affiliate links for your purchases.
