We're fully aware of how fussy musicians can be when receiving gifts. We're guilty of taking our musical equipment a little too seriously – and most of us aren’t particularly good at hiding our disappointment when we receive yet another six-string-themed mug. Well, you needn’t worry, as Guitar World is here to help! Our guide to the best Christmas gifts for guitar players is the place to be if you're looking to surprise your loved one with a guitar-related present they will actually use.
Gone is the fear of disappointing your dear guitar-playing spouse, family member, or friend with a sub-par overdrive pedal, garish strap, or guitar gadget they have no use for – as we’ve trawled through the internet to compile a list of killer guitarist-friendly gifts that we'd be more than happy to receive ourselves on Christmas day.
Now, we know the big day is fast approaching, and frankly, you are running out of time to ensure the gift arrives in time. That's why we've included last-minute gifts that require no delivery time! Click here to head straight there.
We also have stocking fillers, handy tools and gig bag essentials, exciting practice aids, and even a few of the most popular guitars and amplifiers over the last year if you're feeling particularly generous. So, regardless of budget, you'll be sure to find something that will make all their Christmas wishes come true.
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: Editor's picks
While you can't go wrong with any product in this guide, below are the top six items that we believe make the very best gifts for the guitarist in your life.
Fender Play gives you access to a wealth of video lessons from a number of different teachers, all bundled inside a very well-designed app - beginner or pro, they'll be sure to get something out of this app.
This game-changing tuner revolutionized the way many players tuned their guitars with its clever feature that allowed you to play all the strings at once and see which are in or out of tune.
The Ernie Ball Musician's Tool Kit includes everything you need to make these adjustments yourself, such as a heavy-duty string cutter, peg winder, 6-in-1 screwdriver, ruler, and a hex wrench set. It even comes with a microfiber polish cloth and Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes for making the guitar shine.
If you’re an electric guitar player, laying down some chords to then solo over can help you with your improvising skills, as well as your timing. It can also help you understand harmony and melody better. The TC Ditto is one of the best out there, offering superb functionality with just one knob!
Not only is the Spark Mini a terrific practice amp, it’s also light, portable, and is powered by a USB chargeable battery that lasts up to 8 hours. You’ve got a ton of different tones available, covering all sorts of clean and distorted tones, as well as a massive selection of effects.
The Player series is Fender’s gateway into the world renowned brand, though it’s by no means an entry-level guitar. The Player II Strat is just as good in the hands of beginners as it is on the biggest stages in the world. It’s the real deal and delivers players great playability, great sound and solid reliability.
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: Books and lessons, from $/£9.99
When players are in the infancy of their playing careers, practicing can often be dull and pretty uninspiring. Now, one surefire way to spice up their practice routine is to give them the ability to learn from their musical heroes – and a tab book will do just that!
Tab is a relatively simple form of music notation and can be easily picked up by even the newest guitar players, and the beauty is they don’t need to be able to read music to understand it! Our go-to place for music books is MusicRoom, as they offer a massive collection of tab books, with almost every band you can think of being represented.
You’ll be able to find books on how to play Metallica’s Black Album, the hard rock masterpiece that is Back In Black, Green Day’s punk rock opera American Idiot and so much more.
Available for both iOS and Android, this simple app will hold their hand through the entire process of learning the instrument, from basic chords to searing lead lines.
This fun app uses a “gamified” approach that relies on an animated fretboard, which, provided you play the correct notes as the scrolling fretboard delivers them, you'll unlock more content.
Simply Guitar has a rather impressive library of contemporary songs, so they won’t get bored or run out of inspiration.
The beauty of the guitar - or any instrument, for that matter - is you are always learning. Whether that's a new technique, a new song, or just a mega lick, you can always learn something new - and Fender Play is our favorite online guitar lesson platform.
Fender Play gives you access to a wealth of video lessons from a number of different teachers, all bundled inside a very well-designed app - beginner or pro, they'll be sure to get something out of this app.
Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for a budding guitarist, an intermediate player eager to expand their skills, or a seasoned musician looking for fresh inspiration, a Guitar Tricks gift certificate is a fantastic choice – right now this is our overall top choice online guitar lessons platform.
Guitar Tricks offers one of the most comprehensive platforms for learning guitar online. It features easy-to-follow Learning Paths that guide you step by step through your progress, along with a toolbox packed with resources like the Ultimate Chord Finder. And that’s just scratching the surface – there are lessons for every style, skill level, and technique, ensuring something for everyone. Right now we're able to exclusively offer Guitar World readers their first month of Guitar Tricks for just $1!
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: Accessories, from $/£8.99
Many players are scared of slide guitar. It may look difficult, but it can offer a level of expression that you simply don’t get when playing the guitar normally - and trust us, it isn’t as hard as it looks. Slides come in many shapes and sizes and a variety of different materials. So, we would opt for a chrome slide for beginners, as these are incredibly robust and offer a bright, articulate tone.
Restringing your guitar can be an ordeal, but the D’Addario Pro-Winder can make it a whole lot easier. This super-affordable tool combines a string cutter, bridge pin puller, and a string winder that will fit most electric guitars, acoustic guitars, ukuleles, and mandolins. This is the kind of tool that every guitarist should have in their case or gig bag at all times.
A good quality guitar cable is an essential part of playing the electric guitar, and for our money, the Fender Deluxe Series cables offer the best bang for your buck. Made using high-quality materials and braided shielding, these cables are durable and won’t affect the tone of their beloved guitar – and better yet, they are dripping with vintage Fender charm!
These cables are available in a variety of lengths (6", 1', 3', 5', 10', 15', 18.6' and 25') as well as two color options, Tweed and Black Tweed.
Every guitar needs a good-looking, stylish guitar strap to complete the look, and string pioneer, Ernie Ball, makes some of the best in the business.
Their ever-popular polypro guitar straps are available in an array of designs and colors, featuring machine-stitched leather ends with durable yet comfortable polypropylene webbing. These straps can also be made extra long, meaning punk fans don’t have to worry about running out of length!
As musicians, we spend the majority of our time in loud environments, whether that’s rehearsal rooms or concert halls, so it’s important to protect our hearing. At the end of the day, if we damage our ears, we may need to give up the hobby that we love so much.
One of our top choices when it comes to hearing protection is the Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs. These sophisticated plugs allow you to choose between varying levels of noise reduction (16 dB, 19 dB and 22 dB) and are extremely comfortable and reusable.
Now, no matter how good your significant other is at shredding the guitar, if they aren’t in tune, it’s going to sound, well, pretty awful.
Luckily the TC Electronic PolyTune is here to help. This game-changing tuner revolutionized the way many players tuned their guitars with its clever feature that allowed you to play all the strings at once and see which are in or out of tune.
Couple that with its bright display, smart design and multiple modes and you have one of the best clip-on tuners on the market.
The latest flagship from G7th - producer of arguably the most popular and best guitar capos around - comes with their Adaptive Radius Technology which allows the capo to adapt to the curve of the fretboard, and more importantly, the strings going across it.
Their claim of maximum tuning stability with minimum tension in every position on any guitar neck is certainly a bold one – but also very much true.
As guitar players, we are constantly making slight adjustments to how our instrument feels to play. From tweaking the action to fine-tuning the intonation and setting the neck relief, these are all elements we like to get just right.
The Ernie Ball Musician's Tool Kit includes everything you need to make these adjustments yourself, such as a heavy-duty string cutter, peg winder, 6-in-1 screwdriver, ruler, and a hex wrench set. It even comes with a microfiber polish cloth and Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes for making the guitar shine.
There’s no doubt that we guitarists find it easy to accumulate guitars over our playing careers. After all, collecting and playing different guitars is what makes the hobby so interesting. However, finding a good space for them all can be a hassle. You want them to be easily accessible, safe and organised. Enter the K&M Guardian Multi-Stand, one of the best guitar stands on the market.
German company K&M is passionate about musical accessories. Having been around for 75 years, we think its products are some of the best in the business, so you can rest assured that your guitars will be safe and sound in this 5-way stand. The K&M Guardian stand is safe for nitrocellulose finishes, has integrated pick holders and even has the option to add casters for easy repositioning.
Best gifts for guitar players: Cases & bags, from $129/£132
For so many of us, our guitar is our pride and joy. Therefore we take protecting it very seriously. When we take our guitar out and about, to rehearsals, a mate's house, or a gig, we want to know that the bag is up to the job of keeping our beloved instrument safe.
One of the best electric gig bags on the market is the newly released Boss CB-EG20, which features a semi-rigid design, is water-resistant and has thick impact panels to protect the guitar inside from the odd knock and bump. As you’d expect, the bag also comes with two external pockets for strings, cables, a tuner, and any other accessories they might have. For those with an acoustic guitar, you’ll want to check out the CB-AG10.
Now, if your loved one owns a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, then this is the case for them. Designed to look like the cases of yesteryear – but with modern reliability – this wooden, oblong case is a dependable way to protect their favorite guitar.
The three-ply hardshell wood case is beautifully wrapped in a tweed covering that just screams vintage Fender, while a gold steel carry handle and draw latches complete the look. The soft crushed acrylic plush interior lining guarantees their guitar will remain scratch and damage-free, and the spacious compartment offers plenty of room for all their accessories.
Now, it should go without saying, but please remember to check the guitar will fit into the case before purchasing.
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: Pedals, from $17.99/£15.99
If the guitar player in your life is a pedal fanatic, then good quality cables to go in-between them is a must. You’re only as strong as your weakest link, right? With these Planet Waves patch cables, there are no weak links at all - these are quality cables that allow your signal to pass through from pedal to pedal without any unwanted noise or interference, plus their low capacitance means that the guitar’s signal will flow through them with utmost transparency.
Making no attempt to hide its intentions, the Nux Steel Singer tries to replicate the sound of one of the most revered, sought-after, not to mention expensive amps ever made, all for a tiny fraction of what the real thing would cost you. It’s an overdrive pedal that has a lovely rich mid-presence, and a nice and smooth high end.
You can use it in a number of ways - to boost for solos, as your main crunch channel, or to push a tube amp on the edge of breakup into a lovely, natural overdrive. There are a number of Dumble-style clone pedals out there, but this one probably offers the best value for money.
This pedal has been around since the late 70s and has appeared on a wide range of professional guitarists’ boards. It sits at a great price point, it sounds amazing, plus Boss pedals are amongst the most reliable and road-worthy pieces of gear out there.
You can use it to add a little more grit to your sound for things like solos, or you can use it as your main distorted tone when playing through a clean amp. There are loads of ways the Boss DS-1 can help add another dimension to your sound, making it one of the best gifts for guitarists you can get.
A good phaser can sometimes be underrated. They’re great for adding a cool, swirling texture to your guitar sound. Whether you’re using it on a clean, choppy funk guitar line, or on heavily saturated riffs, the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone will help you stand out to the listener, plus it doesn’t take up loads of space on your pedal board.
It’s also incredibly easy to use, so there’s no having to pour through a manual here. With one rate knob which controls the speed, and one colour switch controlling the depth, you can get to playing straight away.
One of the most useful things you can get for a guitar player is a looper pedal. Whilst it’s great for building up and layering different parts of a song, as popularised by Ed Sheeran, it’s also a great practice tool.
You really don’t have to want to be the next pop sensation to get the most out of a looper. If you’re an electric guitar player, of any style, then laying down some chords to then solo over can help you with your improvising skills, as well as your timing. It can also help you understand harmony and melody better. The TC Ditto is one of the best out there, offering superb functionality with just one knob!
The TC Electronic Hall Of Fame reverb packs a lot into a compact pedal. From subtle ‘always on’ reverbs to big ambient swells, it really does do it all. There can’t be many guitar players out there that wouldn’t find this pedal useful.
There’s a wide variety of different reverb types on offer, including shimmer reverb, which is often found on much more expensive pedals. The on/off foot switch even doubles as an expression pedal, so you can control the reverb with absolute precision.
Delay is one of the most popular effects, and Boss are one of - if not the most popular effects pedal brand, so it’s only right that one of their delays pedals makes it into our list of best gift ideas for guitarists. With a high build quality, amazing sound and superb functionality, this digital delay is hard to beat, especially for the money.
The DD-3T is an updated version of a classic. With only four knobs, you can dial in lots of delay that feeds back forever, or you can just add in a touch of slapback delay, and anything in between! We also love the fact they’ve added tap tempo to this, so you can tap in the delay speed with your foot.
If the guitarist you’re buying for is anything like us, they’ll be partial to an effects pedal or two. Or twenty. Help bring some order to their life with the Pedaltrain Classic Pro pedalboard - one of top picks for the best pedalboards out there. This 'board provides a dedicated base on which the player can store and transport their pedals, thanks to a handy included carry case. It’s not the most glamorous gift for guitar players, but it’s one they’ll be glad to receive.
Best gifts for guitar players: Amps, from $74/£65
If it’s good enough for the likes of Joe Bonamassa and Phil X, it’s good enough for you, right? This nifty little 3W battery-powered practice amp has become the favourite of many players for warming up backstage before a gig. With it being battery powered, you can take it anywhere too.
It sounds really good as well, especially considering its size! There are two channels - clean and overdrive, plus you can dial in some nice sounding delay for an even bigger sound. It’s loads of fun, which makes it a great gift for guitarists of any level.
Fender’s Mustang Micro has recently received a makeover. Now known as the Mustang Micro Plus, this brilliant headphone amplifier comes packed with 25 different amp voices and effects. As a headphone amp, all you need to do is plug the Micro Plus into your guitar, connect a pair of headphones, and voilà – silent practice! If you buy this for a housemate, you’ll never be bothered by a loud amplifier again.
With 100 memory slots to save your favorite tones, built-in Bluetooth for streaming and jam sessions, and even USB recording capabilities, the Mustang Micro Plus is loaded with great features. It’s a practical and affordable gift for the guitarist in your life.
Not only is the Spark Mini a terrific practice amp, it’s also light, portable, and is powered by a USB chargeable battery that lasts up to 8 hours, allowing you to play anywhere you want. You’ve got a ton of different tones available, covering all sorts of clean and distorted tones, as well as a massive selection of effects.
It’s also a clever little practice tool. The app that can be used alongside the amp can create drum and bass backing tracks based on your playing, which can improve your ability to play with other musicians. It can even scan your favourite songs and display the chords so that you can jam along - very clever stuff!
The Boss Katana range is one of the most popular in the world, with the Katana 50 being a go-to choice for many guitarists. Offering both high and low-volume options in a compact and sturdy design, it’s perfect for any playing environment. Now in its third generation, the Katana 50 Gen 3 makes for an ideal gift for guitarists.
Featuring six different amp voices, including the newly added Pushed voice, this amp delivers a wide array of tones. It’s also packed with iconic Boss effects, borrowed from their legendary stompbox range. By connecting to the Boss Tone Studio app, you can edit, rearrange, and experiment with these effects to your heart’s content. The Katana 50 Gen 3 offers 50 watts of power, but thanks to a handy power control, you can dial it down to just 0.5 watts for home practice. There truly isn’t a genre this versatile amp can’t cover.
Read our Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 review
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: Guitars, from $229/£253
Yamaha are one of the biggest names in music and produce a massive range of high quality musical instruments. Their FG800 dreadnought acoustic is no different and makes for the perfect gift for anyone wanting to start playing guitar or for those with a bit of experience already.
The dreadnought body shape lends the guitar a classic, timeless sound and look, and the solid spruce top means you’re going to get a lovely, rich tone. It’s also going to sound better over time as the top ages.
The Yamaha FG800 is a great tool for singer songwriters, producers and guitarists of any level.
Unlike buying an acoustic where all you need to worry about is the guitar itself, to properly do the electric guitar justice, you need to pick up a few things alongside it. You’ll want an amplifier, a suitable instrument cable, a few picks and even a strap for those all-important power stances.
If that sounds like a bit of a headache, then this Squier Affinity Stratocaster pack is the all-in-one solution. It has all of the above-mentioned paraphernalia in one package. The included Affinity Stratocaster comes in a HSS pickup configuration, providing a wide range of tones applicable for multiple genres of music. The Affinity series is one of the best beginner electric guitars out there and is plenty durable for budding rockers.
The perfect gift for kids and younger players. This mighty little SG is 3/4 size, making chord shapes and lead lines easier to fret for those with a smaller handspan.
Epiphone haven’t pulled any punches with the spec on this. You’ve got a pair of hot humbuckers that sound great overdriven and clean so will suit whatever style of music you’re looking to play. The slim neck profile makes for a comfortable playing experience, especially for those just starting out.
What we really like about this is that it stays in tune well, unlike some other smaller electric guitars. It’s got a decent set of tuners, and a compensated tailpiece that keeps your intonation in check, plus you get some neat accessories bundled in with it.
The Stratocaster has been the first guitar for many, and it’s not hard to see why. It's not just iconic in the guitar world – it’s one of the most famous designs in history. Legends like David Gilmour, Steve Rothery and Tom DeLonge have shaped their unique playing styles with this classic instrument.
Fender’s Player series has been the go-to for those looking to dive into the brand’s lineup. Now in its second iteration, the Player II series features a rosewood fingerboard and new eye-catching finishes like Coral Red, Birch Green, and Aquatone Blue. A Player II Stratocaster is the kind of guitar that can stay with you for life – take care of it, and it will take care of you.
Read our Fender Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster review
This is PRS’s more affordable version of their world-renowned Custom 24 guitar that helped but the brand on the map. It’s got a pair of incredibly dynamic and responsive humbuckers, based on what they use in their much more expensive models, that are perfectly suited to playing everything from rock to pop to metal, and beyond.
There’s also a push-pull knob that enables you to switch to more single coil like sounds, making it a really versatile instrument. PRS are known for their really high build quality and amazing finishes - rest assured, this SE Custom 24 is no exception!
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: Tech, from $99/£89
Part of the joy of playing an instrument is being able to record yourself and create entire masterpieces from the comfort of your own home. A decent microphone will mean acoustic guitar players, singers and other non-electric instrument performers can get their sounds into a computer, ready for production. The Rode NT-USB Mini is a small (but perfectly formed) USB microphone which requires no other equipment to operate than a computer or laptop. It’s also ideal for podcasts, video production and even those relentless Zoom calls which take up so much time nowadays.
Ah, Marshall – the poster child for rock ‘n’ roll amps. We can all conjure visions of the iconic walls of Marshall amps that have graced stadiums around the world, and many of us have dreamed of running such a rig ourselves. But Marshall has diversified in recent years, expanding its lineup to include a fantastic selection of wireless headphones and speakers.
The Major range stands out as one of the best offerings in the wireless headphone category. The Major V is the latest addition, and for the price, it delivers stellar features. With an impressive 100 hours of battery life, wireless charging, customizable EQ and sound settings, plus a foldable design for easy travel, you won’t want to take them off. While not all of us will get to play through a wall of Marshall amps, the Major V headphones will enable you to appreciate your music in style.
As the technology gets more affordable, easier to use, and more widely available, it’s becoming increasingly more common to see guitar players record themselves at home. This is fantastic if they wanted to record demos, share song ideas at home or just learn more about the recording process.
Now, while there are many recording interfaces on the market, with the likes of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or SSL 2 being the most popular, we’d choose the Positive Grid Riff specifically for guitar players. The world of recording hardware can be thoroughly confusing and intimidating, but Positive Grid takes a simplistic approach, gearing its affordable interface to guitarists new to recording at home. Check out our glowing Positive Grid Riff review to see exactly what we thought of this fantastic product.
Whether it’s for amplifying backing tracks to play along to or simply listening to tunes, a Bluetooth speaker is a very useful thing to have – they are even better when they are guitar themed! Now, this is not a novelty item. Over the last few years, Marshall has established itself as a leading force in the Bluetooth speaker game, bringing its classic style and sound to this humble audio device.
They have many speakers to choose from, but our favorite is the Kilburn II, which is lightweight (weighing in at only 2.5 kg) and is seriously loud! The sound is clear and crisp with plenty of low-end. This is a must for any music fan.
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: Merch/Clothing, from $12.99/£11.99
If there's one thing guitarists love, it's telling anyone who'll listen what our favorite guitar is. The problem is, not everyone appreciates being told why we think the Telecaster is the superior design over the Strat, but thankfully with the help of a snazzy Fender branded t-shirt, hoodie or cap, we don't need to tell anyone – with the logo emblazoned on our chest, you'll know exactly what our favorite guitar is.
all joking aside, the official Fender store has some very tasteful guitar-themed clothing, hats and accessories in a wide range of styles and sizes that will be sure to please any Fender fanatic.
Whether it’s in the kitchen, games room or recording studio, this Fender Bar Stool is guaranteed to brighten up the place. Though the less in-your-face Custom shop logo version may appeal to the more higher-end guitarist, there’s something quite special about the fiesta red of the classic Fender design. These stools are available in 24 and 30 inch heights.
Always wanted to build your own '70s-era Fender Strat and 65 Princeton Reverb amp, but the thought of putting together the real thing terrifies you? Well, the Lego Stratocaster kit from Fender may be the perfect gift for you!
This set includes all the bricks to build the guitar in either red or black, guitar picks in 4 colors, as well as a miniature stand so you can display your newly built guitar - there is also a sticker with the Fender logo made from Lego bricks which you can use on your real guitar or amp, which is a nice touch.
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: DIY kits, from $160/£75
This BexGears Les Paul-style guitar offers budding luthiers and guitar fanatics an easy-to-build singlecut to get their teeth into. With its Okoume body and curved mahogany veneer top, it is a little different when compared to the traditional LP setup, but with that said, it still looks and sounds just like it should, plus it helps keep costs down.
All the tricky soldering has already been done with this DIY guitar kit, so you’re left with the job of clipping together all the pickups and pots etc. It’s still enough for you to feel like you’re really getting involved, but it does make it a touch easier.
Offsets are increasingly popular amongst a variety of guitar players, so it’s only right we include a DIY version here.
This is an affordable kit that includes a primed body and neck, all the necessary hardware and a set of P-90 pickups. Most of the electronics are already done, so there’s no soldering involved; just clip your pickups in and you're ready to rock.
As this is a very easy kit to put together, it makes a fabulous gift for novice guitar builders with no to little experience and it's a pretty fun way to spend the weekend!
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players: Last minute ideas & subscriptions
Is the special person you are buying for extremely fussy about their music gear? Well, in that case, you may want to opt for a retailer voucher/gift card. This option takes all the guesswork out of buying a gift, allowing the recipient to choose exactly what they wanted in the first place – and not to mention, it will avoid the awkwardness when they ask if you kept the receipt.
Our recommendations would be Thomann and Andertons in the UK and Guitar Center, Sweetwater and Musician’s Friend in the US.
One of the worst feelings in the world is seeing your favorite band announce a concert in your area and you not having the cash to secure a ticket. Well, with a Ticketmaster voucher, you can make sure that your loved one never needs to experience that overwhelming sense of disappointment.
While on the surface, a subscription to the House of Mouse may not look like the most obvious thing for a music lover, the reality is there is a wealth of entertainment available that will satisfy the most discerning muso. A Disney Plus subscription will give you an inside look into the Fab Four’s songwriting process with The Beatles Get Back, you’ll gain a different perspective on the most famous sex tape scandal with Pam & Tommy and Pistol gives you a look a pre-fame Johnny Rotten and Co. and if that’s not enough, you’ll also get access to a vault of Disney classics, Star Wars, Marvel, The Simpsons, and Alien.
What better gift for a guitarist than the gift of music? Well, with Amazon Music you can give them access to over 90 million tracks and for us, it’s the best value music streaming service you can subscribe to right now. It’s easy to navigate, all their favorite artists are present, and the audio quality is superb - what’s not to love?
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