The Best Gifts for Guitar players [Helpful Buyers Guide]

Something Useful Vs Novelty Gifts

When you’re looking for a gift, you have two basic choices. Find something they can actually use, or buy a fun novelty. Both can be great options but they each come with potential pitfalls. 

“Useful” is subjective, depending on the type of guitar your loved-one plays, and the type of music they’re into. Also, bear in mind, that if an item is useful to them, they may already have one (or several!).

It’s generally less likely that he guitarist in your life will already own a novelty gift. But be careful. Novelty guitar gifts can be a little trashy sometimes. An ex-girlfriend once bought me some guitar-shaped cufflinks. They looked cheap and were awkward to wear while typing at work. So they didn’t last long, and neither did she. But that’s another story.

Gifts To Avoid

Unless you know that they need them, try to avoid buying these gifts for guitarists.

• Tuners
• Capo
• Strings
• Picks

Guitar tuners are an essential piece of gear, but only need to be bought once unless they get broken or lost. These products tend to be quite durable and large so there’s every chance your friend or loved one is using the same tuner they’ve had since they started.

Capos can be useful for some guitar players but they aren’t used for every style of music. They are much better suited to acoustic guitar playing, and are often used by beginners. Though they do have their uses for other styles and skill levels.

Buying guitar strings as a gift can be a minefield. You need to make sure you buy the correct type (acoustic strings won’t work on electric, and vice versa). Then there’s the string gauge ( thickness) and materials to consider.

Picks (also known as plectrums) are also difficult to buy as gifts. Size, material and thickness all matter here, and there’s such a variety.

Even if you hit all these, I find string and pick preference to be highly personal. They are in constant use when playing, and make a huge difference to the experience of playing guitar.

For beginners who have not yet developed a preference, you may find that strings and picks make good gifts. But for more experienced players, they are best avoided.

Get To Know Your Guitar Player Buddy

Don’t be afraid to talk to your loved one and see if there’s anything specifically that they need. That way, you’ll avoid buying something they don’t need at all and won’t like.

Some questions you can ask are:

• Do you play electric or acoustic?
• Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player?
• What type of music do you enjoy playing?

Knowing these things will help you avoid buying the wrong gift and will also make your gift a little more personal.

Create A Budget

Buying a gift for a guitarist can be a bit pricey if you’re not careful. But there are some guitar-related products that are still nice and also affordable.

At the end of this guide, I’ve listed five gifts at reasonable prices that any guitarist will love.

Go For Quality

You’ll most likely want to invest in a gift that will last. You’ll avoid wasting money and your music loving buddy will enjoy having something that doesn’t need constant replacing. If you’re willing to invest the money in it, try to find something that they wouldn’t normally buy themselves because of its value or price. This will add more meaning to the gift.