It’s that time of year when gift-giving anxiety starts to creep in. What do you get the gigging guitar player who seems to have everything? Well, I’m relying on over 20 years of guitar-playing experience, most of that spent on-stage, to help you pick out thoughtful, genuinely useful Christmas gifts that won’t end up at the bottom of a gig bag.
Buying a gift for a guitarist can be tricky, especially if you don’t play yourself. It’s even tougher when the guitarist in question gigs regularly. If you’ve never been in that world, it’s easy to miss what’s actually useful. I’ve received my fair share of duplicate accessories, and while having backups is always handy, six capos might be a little overkill.
I’d also recommend steering clear of things like effects pedals. Sure, the gigging guitarist in your life probably uses them, but choosing the right one on a whim is almost impossible. You’d need to know their preferred brands, current pedalboard setup, whether they have space, and if their power supply can even handle another pedal. The same goes for amps or guitars. Let’s face it, guitarists are a picky bunch, and unless you know them like the back of your hand, it’s unlikely you’ll get it right.
So, without further ado, let’s check out my pick of the best gifts for gigging guitar players.
My top picks
Price: $4.99/£4.99
I can’t overstate how useful I find Ernie Ball Strap Blocks. For gigging, this simple yet effective product has let me prance, headbang, and fling myself around the stage while keeping my guitar strap firmly in place. They’re unobtrusive, require no installation, and come in a variety of colors so you can match your guitar’s finish. As far as gifts go, this is an affordable, practical choice that every gigging guitarist will genuinely appreciate.
Price: $12.99/£11.99
The D’Addario Pro-Winder only really comes into play when something goes wrong and when you’re gigging, that happens more often than you’d think. If a string snaps mid-set, you’ll want to get a new one fitted fast, and the Pro-Winder is perfect for that job. The peg winder (which also fits bass tuners) speeds things up, and the built-in string cutter trims excess neatly once you’re done. For acoustic players, the bridge pin puller is another great reason this tool makes such a useful, thoughtful gift.
From: $34.99/£18.99
A guitar cable might seem obvious, but it’s one of those things every gigging guitarist needs at least one spare of. I swear by Fender’s Professional Series cables. They’re not the priciest in Fender’s range, but they’ve proven the most reliable for me. The thick outer jacket and neatly finished connectors hold up to heavy use, and unlike the tweed Deluxe cables, these don’t fray or unravel over time – something I’ve learned the hard way.
Price: $29.99/£22
Hearing protection is essential for gigging musicians, and the Alpine MusicSafe Pro plugs are the ones I personally use. They do a brilliant job of lowering the overall volume while still letting key frequencies through, so you don’t lose all sense of your tone. The soft ThermoShape material stays comfortable during long sets, and you get three pairs of interchangeable filters for different levels of protection. It might not be the flashiest gift, but it’s probably the most important one here.
Price: $24.99/£24.99
Every gigging guitarist needs a good strap, and the Ernie Ball Jacquard series has been a go-to for decades. They’re comfortable, reliable, and affordable – not to mention available in loads of striking designs. You can easily find one that fits your giftee’s personality. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Spanish Rose pattern – it looks great on my black Strat and has never let me down on stage. They are size adjustable, so no matter the height of the guitarist, they can be adjusted accordingly.
Price: from around $6
It might sound basic, but a set of guitar strings is one of the most universally appreciated gifts for any player. I always love getting a pack of Elixir Nanowebs. These coated strings last ages and hold up to the sweat and grime of live gigs. They’re not the cheapest, but they save your giftee a restring and make their guitar sound fresh again. There is something very satisfying about restringing before a show, and if your giftee doesn’t like doing that, a new packet of strings in the gig bag is always great to have during a show.
Price: $20.99/£19.99
Capos have a strange habit of vanishing into thin air, usually into a bandmate’s gig bag. That’s why a backup is always welcome. The Dunlop Trigger Fly is my favorite on-stage option. It’s easy to apply one-handed, holds tuning well, and clips onto the headstock when not in use. In my last band, we used a capo on almost every other song, and this one held up to constant use without complaint. The Trigger Fly is the newest iteration of Dunlop’s ever-popular trigger capo, and with it, a step up in quality and finish.
Price: $54.99/£51.99
There is a running joke in my band that I’m a bit of a guitar nerd who overprepares for small gigs. That was until our bassist’s strap button fell out mid-set and my Music Nomad tool kit saved the night. It comes with 18 screwdriver bits, seven hex keys, and a handy spanner wrench to handle quick fixes. You never know when you need an all-in-one tool to fix unexpected breakages during a gig, so help your guitarist out and get them a tool that will save the day. It’s pricier than most gifts on this list, but its quality and versatility make it worth every penny.
Price: $11/£7.99
If your guitarist uses pedals, grab them a few EBS Flat Patch Cables. I’ve gone through more patch cables than I care to admit, and these are by far the most reliable I’ve used. Their flat design saves pedalboard space, which means you can squeeze on that one extra pedal, something every gigging guitarist tries to do. They’re also built tough, with gold-plated connectors that hold up to the wear and tear of gigging life. Since switching to EBS, I’ve had far fewer cable failures mid-set, and that alone makes them worth their weight in gold.
Price: from $4.99/£3.99
Guitar picks are always a great shout, but if you want to go beyond the usual, treat your giftee to a premium option like the Gravity Classic. These picks are made from high-grade acrylic, giving a super-smooth glide across the strings and a bright, articulate tone. They’re also very durable, so you’ll get way more use out of them than a standard celluloid pick, as they barely wear away. I use the Classic shape and love the way they glide across the strings alongside their snappy attack. Sure, they’re pricier than your average plectrum, but that’s what makes them feel like a proper gift rather than a throwaway.
Buying advice
When looking for a gift for the gigging guitarist in your life, there are a few things to consider. I’ve worked in a guitar store for the last ten years, and I’ve been through my fair share of festive seasons. When the partner or family member of a gigging guitarist comes in asking for advice, this is what I typically tell them to consider when selecting the perfect gift:
1. Figure out what products they use
Whether that means sneaking into their home studio for a quick look around, or just outright asking them what gear they gig with, it’s the best place to start. You don’t have to be an expert; even noting down a few brand names or product types can go a long way. This not only helps you avoid unwanted duplicates that end up buried at the bottom of a gig bag, but it also gives you a better shot at buying something genuinely useful. If you know they love Ernie Ball strings, for instance, stick with that. Familiarity is your friend here.
2. Stick to a budget
Let’s face it, guitar gear can get expensive fast. Even something as simple as strings, cables, and accessories adds up when you start piling them into the basket. While I’ve kept this list to gifts under (or around) $/£30, it’s still easy to get carried away once you start seeing all the shiny new toys. Setting a clear budget not only keeps your spending sensible but also helps narrow down your options. There’s a lot of choice out there, and having a set price point makes it much easier to focus on practical, useful gifts instead of going overboard.
3. Prioritize practicality
When it comes to gigging, it’s the practical pieces that save the day. Since guitarists are often very particular about the gear they use, sticking to something useful is the safest bet if you’re buying on someone’s behalf. Tone is subjective, so gifting an effects pedal or amplifier can be risky; what sounds great to one player might sound awful to another. The same goes for guitars, where preferences are so personal that even seasoned players get it wrong sometimes. Practical gigging gifts, like the ones on this list, are always a safe choice and guaranteed to get used.
What to avoid
There is a lot of tat out there with many pitfalls that you should keep your eye out for. There are a few things I would avoid if you are buying a gift for a gigging guitarist – selecting one of these might result in your gift being unused, gathering dust in the corner of a studio or in the trash.
Effects pedals
Unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, I would avoid choosing a random effects pedal. A gigging guitarist’s tone is sculpted from the ground up, with very particular choices and you don’t want to purchase an effects pedal that doesn’t suit their style or current setup.
A guitar
Much like an effects pedal, a guitar is perhaps even more personal. You are setting yourself up for failure unless you know exactly what the guitarist wants. Since a guitar is such a tactile choice, picking out a random guitar that you are unsure of is a recipe for disaster for any experienced player.
Unbranded gear
There’s a lot of cheap, unbranded gear online that looks like a great deal, but quality control is often hit-or-miss. Unreliable tuners, straps, patch cables or strings can cause more frustration than they’re worth, especially on stage. Stick to trusted brands that gigging players already rely on, you’ll get much better performance, peace of mind and they’ll not blow up on stage.
Where to shop
Not sure where to shop for gifts? These are the specialist retailers we trust:
In the US
You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
- Guitar Center: Up to 30% off pre-Black Friday deals
- Sweetwater: Shop the all-access early Black Friday sale
- Musician's Friend: New Black Friday deals added weekly
- Positive Grid: Major smart amp savings
- Fender: Save on acoustics and spares
In the UK/Europe
- Thomann: All the latest Hot Deals, in one place
- Gear4Music: Early Black Friday deals are live
