Black Friday is the best day of the year to buy a gift for the guitar player in your life. Whether it's for your guitar-playing husband/wife, son/daughter, father/mother, another relative, or a friend, Black Friday sales make your money go a lot further. Plus, you can keep them until Christmas and give your great guitar gift then, or even on their next birthday.
But, what does your beloved guitar player need? You could ask them, but that will give the game away. So, listen out for any comments or complaints about needing something, or just look around their practice space and see what’s missing. Don’t worry I’ll take you step by step through everything they could possibly need, to make your gift decision a lot easier.
I won’t include any guitars, because you probably won’t be spending that much money. Plus, they are usually very personal choices, so most guitar players would rather be involved in making the decision.
So, let’s get started with…
Practical Guitar Gifts
Guitar Cables
Lots of guitarists unfortunately don’t value their cables. They figure that they are going to break anyway, so why spend lots of money on them? I think this is a false economy, for example, I own quality cables that are at least 15-20 years old.
So, if your guitarist is a little tightfisted, get him a quality cable such as the
Mogami Gold Series Guitar Cable
This is the gold standard of guitar cables, but they are not cheap. However, lots of retailers usually offer them at substantial discounts on Black Friday. Or, if you want a high-quality cable that is more affordable, go for the…
Ernie Ball Braided Guitar Cable
Tuners
No matter how good a guitarist anyone is, if they are out of tune, they will sound terrible. So, a tuner makes a great gift. Lots of guitarists use free smartphone apps, which are ok, but you can’t beat a quality dedicated tuner such as the…
D'Addario NS Micro Universal
Or, if your guitarist loves his effects pedals, get him a tuner for his pedalboard, such as the:
Boss TU-3 Guitar Tuner
Metronome
Boring, but invaluable if your guitarist wants to master the instrument. Practicing with a metronome will continually improve their timing, taking them from average to exceptional. Check out the Black Friday deals at your local music store or search online for the very best prices. I recommend the following:
Korg MA-2 Metronome
Or, if you think they would prefer a 2-in-1 Tuner and Metronome, check out the:
Korg Tm60bk Tuner Metronome
Guitar Stand
Guitars are more robust than most people think they are, however, a knock in the wrong place can be disastrous and decapitate a beloved instrument. That’s where guitar stands come in, but a cheap stand is about as useful as a chocolate saucepan. In fact, I think it is more risky putting a guitar on a cheap stand than leaning it against something.
Go for quality, and with guitar stands that has to be the:
Hercules GS405B Guitar Stand
Or, if you think they would like to hang their guitar on the wall, the:
Hercules GSP39WB Plus
Great Sounding Guitar Gifts
Amplifiers
If the guitarist in your life has been playing for quite some time, they probably have an amplifier they are happy with. Plus, if you ask them “What’s your dream amp?”, the price of whatever amp they mention will probably make you go weak at the knees.
However, if they recently started playing electric guitar and don’t have an amp yet, then Black Friday is the day to put a huge smile on their face. If you’re looking for a very affordable amp that sounds great for the price, go for the:
Spark Amp & App - Reduced from $299 to $219
It’s available directly from the manufacturer, PositiveGrid.com, who are offering their entire range at up to 50% off this Black Friday season. Or, if you fancy spending a little more, take a look at Sweetwater’s super sweet deal on the…
Boss Katana Artist MkII 1x12" 100-watt Combo Amp - Reduced from $529.99 to $399.99
Effects Pedals
Guitarists love pedals, we just can’t help it, they are small, tactile, relatively affordable, and can completely change the way a guitar sounds in a second. That’s why we have so many of them!
But buying them for someone else can be a nightmare. “Have they already got an effects pedal that makes the same or a similar sound?”, “Will they use the effect?”, “What’s with all the silly names, I don’t even know what most of them do?” - these are all things that will go through your mind. Therefore, my best advice is to forget pedals as a gift unless you know specifically what type of pedal, or better still, the exact pedal, they want.
Guitar Parts Upgrades
Guitar parts can also be a nightmare for non-guitarists to buy due to compatibility issues. However, there are some great exceptions, especially when it comes to adding a touch of flair or sophistication to an instrument.
Most guitars have the same old boring plastic knobs, so why not get your beloved guitar player a far more exciting set of metal knobs that will remind them of you every time they adjust them. My personal favorites are the absolutely stunning:
Guyker CKB027 Metal Control Knobs Dia. 6.35 for Guitar & Bass - Reduced from $16.99 to $14.44
Or, for something more ‘manly’, how about the:
Guyker CKB010 Flat Top Knobs Bronze/Antique Brass Bullet Case Style - Reduced from $7.99 to $6.79
Or, take a look around Guyker’s vast selection of knobs to find the ones you think they’ll love and will remind them of you. Plus, they are all available at 15% off up until Black Friday.
Next, let’s move on to…
Educational Guitar Gifts
Every guitarist wants to constantly improve, so any type of book, course, or app makes a great gift for any guitarist. But you need to make sure you know what level they are at, there is no point in buying a basic chords book for someone who has been playing for 20 years, or a collection of advanced jazz standards for a beginner.
Books
There are thousands of guitar books out there, and picking one, much like effects pedals is fraught with danger. Will it be too advanced, will they go through it in a day? Do they already know what’s included in the book?
Therefore, unless you know that there’s a particular book they want, it's best to avoid them as a gift.
Apps
Most apps are aimed at beginners to intermediate guitarists, so that makes buying them a little easier. They are also relatively affordable, so if the guitarist you are buying them only gets limited use from them, it isn’t the end of the world.
My personal recommendation for beginners up to lower intermediate level, and it’s available at a fantastic Black Friday Special price is:
Which is available at 50% off if you select the annual plan up until Black Friday.
Or, if the guitarist you are looking to buy an educational gift for someone who is a bit more accomplished on the instrument, go for:
Wrapping it Up
That’s it for my look at the best Black Friday gifts for a guitar player. I’ve tried to cover a variety of options at different price points to give you a number of ideas.
Happy Black Friday shopping spree and all the best in finding the perfect gift for the guitar player in your life.
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