20 Best Gift Ideas for Guitar Enthusiasts and Players (2023)

The holidays are fast approaching, and if you’ve got a special guitar player in your life, you may be wracking your brain trying to find the perfect gift for them. As a guitarist myself, I totally get the struggle. Guitar gear can be incredibly personal and finding something your guitarist friend will truly appreciate takes thought.

That’s why I’ve compiled 20 guaranteed hit gift ideas at various prices to help you knock it out of the park! Ranging from exciting new innovations to practical essentials under $25 to big splurges over $200, there’s something for every guitarist and budget.

Whether you’re shopping for a beginner still learning the basics or a seasoned pro gigging on weekends, you can’t go wrong with any of these great gifts tailored especially for guitarists. Read on for the inside scoop on which gear will help them play better, sound amazing, and spark inspiration to keep improving their skills.

1. Snark SN5X Clip-On Tuner – Simple and Portable

Don’t be fooled by the low price – the Snark SN5X Clip-On Chromatic Tuner is a handy little device that attaches right to the guitar’s headstock and displays the tuning of each string with precision. Any musician who’s serious about their sound will appreciate this tuning sidekick.

With a bright display and fast response, this tuner will help tune your guitar and provide the tuning stability needed to have your axe sounding pitch perfect every time. Clip it to the headstock for fast tuning between songs at gigs, or keep it secured to a mic stand for easy access.

2. Fender Play Online Lessons – Learn from the Best

Nothing helps you improve faster than professional instruction from trusted teachers. Fender Play offers bite-sized video lessons for guitar, bass, and ukulele. Their step-by-step courses range from absolute beginner to advanced techniques.

A Fender Play subscription unlocks on-demand access to thousands of songs and genres. Gift options include monthly and yearly subscriptions starting at just $9.99 per month or $89.99 per year. 

Priced affordably, this is an ideal gift for beginners or intermediate players seeking to expand their skills. The Fender name also carries prestige when it comes to guitar instruction.

3. Alpine MusicSafe Pro Earplugs – Hearing Protection in Style 

Sometimes, the decibels can get loud, especially during live gigs. So, as musicians who are constantly around these loud environments, we need to protect our hearing. That’s why the Alpine MusicSafe Pro is such a thoughtful gift for noise reduction.

These discreet, low-profile earplugs utilize exchangeable filters to customize attenuation levels for different environments. The filters reduce harmful decibel levels while preserving sound quality, rather than muffling like foam plugs.

For guitarists frequently playing live on stage or practicing with amps turned up, MusicSafe Pro is an essential piece of preventative gear. 

4. Levy’s Leather Guitar Strap – Play in Total Comfort 

A quality strap makes playing in a standing position infinitely more comfortable. Levy’s Leathers Right Height Guitar Strap is a unique kind of strap for all types of guitar players but gigging guitarists will love the gift of a great guitar strap.

Levy’s guitar straps incorporate a simple pull tab for quick and easy height adjustments in seconds and have a split body type to best position it on your shoulders. The strap also hangs balanced at the optimal height.

Priced around $30, this strap combines functionality, comfort and style, making it one of the best gifts for guitarists with an extensive gig schedule.

Also Read: How To Attach A Guitar Strap

5. Pick Geek TRIO Variety Pack – Sample All the Gauges

Finding picks with just the right thickness can be a drawn-out process of trial and error. Speed it up by gifting this affordable sampler from Pick Geek. The TRIO includes three metal tins packed with extra heavy, heavy, medium and light gauge picks perfect for electric, acoustic, and bass.

The varied gauges and materials allow guitarists to test which style works best to match their playing technique and genre. Let them experiment to decide!

The collectible tins keep picks organized and accessible. And the sheer variety means there’s something for any player’s personal preference. Expand your favorite guitarist’s tonal palette with this Pick Geek TRIO set!

6. Dunlop Cry Baby Standard Wah – Iconic Rock Wah Tone

No pedalboard is complete without the legendary tone of a Dunlop Cry Baby wah Pedal. The Dunlop Cry Baby Standard is a classic for a reason, delivering foot-controlled tonal magic with a distinctive vocal sweep.

The Cry Baby’s rock-solid construction withstands years of stomping while its Hot Potz potentiometer allows abrupt, definitive sweeps. Perfect for adding expression and vibe to solos and funky riffs. 

Legends like Hendrix, Clapton, and Gilmour have used Cry Baby’s expressive range to create immortal licks. Priced at around $100, this iconic guitar pedal is the best in the business and an essential weapon in every guitarist’s tone arsenal. 

7. Pedaltrain Nano Pedalboard – Portable Rig for Effects Pedal

A clean and portable pedal board organizes all those stompboxes while looking great on stage. The Pedaltrain Nano boards are road-tough yet lightweight.

The all-steel construction and proprietary mounting brackets keep pedals securely fastened while the anodized aluminum tray provides durability. It comes with a padded soft case for protection during transport.

Priced around $80, this pedalboard saves precious stage and studio space. Guitarists will appreciate having this sleek board for wrangling their pedals on the go.

8. Vox amPlug2 Headphone Amp – Silent, Full Tone Anywhere

Vox’s amPlug boosts practice versatility by mimicking studio amp tones through any headphones. It plugs right into a guitar for an authentic tube amp sound anywhere – just crank up and play without disturbing others. No cables are required.

Works well for both the frequencies of bass or electric guitars and has several models to choose from for different styles like blues, classic rock, metal, lead, etc. The AP2AC model emulates Vox’s classic AC30 amp tone which is a favorite among guitarists. A must-have for silent practice.

9. Hercules GSP38WB Wall Hanger – Highlight Your Collection

Good guitarists who play their guitars frequently know that the best way to keep and store them at their hand’s reach is by hanging them. So I advise that if you know one, then you present them with this Hercules GSP38WB wall hanger.

This attractive wall hanger is made of fine wood and adjusts by rotating automatically if you’re going to hang up a bass or six-stringed guitar. The auto grip system should securely lock in your instrument so you’re fully confident to hang it up whenever you’re not in session.

This mountable hanger makes a wonderful practical gift that looks great too. Acoustic guitar players will love to show off their growing guitar family while keeping them secure yet easily accessible.

10. DIY Guitar Pick Punch – Make Custom Picks for Free!

Talk about unique gift concepts, then a pick puncher should be on top of your list. This Pick-a-Palooza DIY Guitar Pick Punch should be your best bet as a Christmas gift for guitar players. Creating a personalized pick only takes seconds!

For quirky and crafty guitarists, the Pick Punch lets you transform any plastic card (old gift cards, ID badges, credit cards) into custom guitar picks. Personalized picks make fantastic little gifts, but this handy tool also saves money on overpriced store-bought picks.

Simply slide in a card, squeeze the Punch, and out pops a pick ready to shred!

11. Gruv Gear FretWraps – Enhance Technique and Recording 

Gruv Gear FretWraps make an excellent gift for guitarists who practice for extended periods or engage in frequent recording sessions.

FretWraps are soft wraps that slip onto the guitar neck to lightly mute unused strings. This allows focusing on fretwork and bends without accidental clashes. The improved isolation also keeps unwanted noise out of recordings. 

Though often used by advanced players for clean recordings, string dampeners can also help beginners cut overtones and unwanted resonance during practice.

12. No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists – Master the Fretboard

Many guitarists get by using tabs, but learning music theory unlocks the entire fretboard to explore new sounds. This highly-rated book by James Shipway breaks complex theory down into easily digestible lessons.

It covers fundamentals like scales, triads and intervals as well as chord inversions, scale patterns, fretboard navigation and modulation techniques. The theory is presented using key examples and exercises specifically tailored for the guitar. 

Gifting this guitar theory book equips motivated players with the knowledge to analyze music on a deeper level, improving improvisation, songwriting and technique. Time to get schooled!

13. Soundbrenner Pulse – Wearable Metronome for Guitarists

Struggling to stay on tempo? Here’s another unique gift idea for the guitarist seeking to take their practice to the next level: the Soundbrenner Pulse smart wearable metronome.

The innovative metronome replaces annoying metronome beeps with precise vibrations. Guitarists simply wear the Pulse on their wrist or attach it to an instrument. Adjustable vibrations ensure the beat is felt without being heard.

Guitarists can immerse in the music instead of straining to hear a faint metronome. Give the gift of intuitive tempo with Soundbrenner!

14. Ernie Ball Musician’s Tool Kit – Keep Their Gear in Peak Condition

For the guitarist in your life who takes pride in their equipment, the Ernie Ball Musician’s Tool Kit makes an excellent gift and is one of the best Christmas gifts for guitar players.

This instrument tool kit has everything a musician would need to tweak not only guitars but other musical instruments as well. It’s got a string cutter, microfiber polish cloth, a stainless steel ruler, a peg winder, wrenches, and a 6-in-1 screwdriver.

Priced at around $40, this kit contains high quality tools to keep guitars shining, protected, and playing smoothly. Throw in a fretboard conditioner, instrument polish, and a string cleaner and you’re all set.

15. System 65 Maintenance Kit – Guitarist’s Tune-Up Toolkit

From strings to frets, this kit contains everything needed to keep guitars in tip-top shape. Jim Dunlop System 65 includes cleaners formulated specifically for fingerboards, finishes, strings, and hardware. The polish removes grime and debris from heavy playing to restore luster.

The microfine fret cloth smooths frets to eliminate snags during shifting. There are even 100% cotton cloths for safe application of all the products.

This handy kit packs essential guitar maintenance products in one pouch. Surprise your loved guitarist by looking out for their musical equipment’s health – they will appreciate you.

16. Roadie 3 – The Automatic Tuner That Does It All

The Roadie 3 makes tuning and changing strings a total breeze. This smart robot tunes in under 30 seconds – twice as fast as previous models! Just place Roadie on the peg and pluck. As an automatic tuner and string winder, It handles winding and tuning the string to perfection.

Roadie 3 comes loaded with over 100 alternate tunings so guitarists can experiment with different sounds. Create custom tunings right on the color display. There’s also a built-in metronome for setting tempo by feel.

When strings are changed, Roadie 3 restrings and tunes the guitar in one efficient process. So, no more winding keys by hand.

17. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 – Plug Into Recording Quality

As a guitarist, I can’t live without my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface. The studio-quality preamps and converters capture every nuance of my playing and vocals. I especially love the Air mode for adding clarity to my Taylor acoustic. 

With two inputs, super low noise, and bundled recording software, the 2i2 makes recording at home totally stress-free. Any guitarist interested in recording should check out this interface – it’s a game changer.

18. Positive Grid Spark Mini – Get Their Practice Space Rocking

One of the hottest digital amps on the market right now is the Positive Grid Spark Mini. I just got the Spark Mini practice amp and I’m blown away! This little 10W powerhouse sounds incredibly full and packs smart features like drum/bass jams, tone creation via an app and Bluetooth capabilities. 

It’s perfect for travel with its compact size and rechargeable battery. I’ve been recording and jamming anywhere with this versatile amp. Any guitarist or bassist looking for studio tone in a portable package needs to try the Spark Mini!

Priced around $230, this mini amp fuses analog soul and smart digital functionality into one powerful practice and travel guitar amp. 

19. Gift Card – Let Them Go Wild at Guitar Center

If you know your special guitarist has their eye on a bigger ticket item like a new electric guitar or amplifier, a Guitar Center gift card is the way to go. With locations around the country, Guitar Center is a haven for gearheads with an incredible selection of instruments, pedals, accessories and more.

Gift card amounts generally range from $25 to $500, allowing you to find the perfect balance for your budget. No musician will complain about having extra spending money at Guitar Center.

The retailer also offers digital delivery gift cards for convenient online purchasing. Give the joy of shopping guitar gear with a Guitar Center gift card.

20. SensorPush Wireless Thermometer/Hygrometer – Monitor Humidity Levels

Here’s a gift with a practical purpose that just might save your favorite guitarist’s instrument. To ensure that the guitar remains in good condition and is not damaged by temperature or humidity changes, a thermometer/hygrometer would be a great gift for any guitarist.

The SensorPush HT1 allows you to monitor temperature and humidity levels automatically and the real-time data is even sent to your phone via Bluetooth. It takes the guesswork out of ideal humidity levels.

Priced around $50, this device provides invaluable environmental insight for guitarists wanting to safeguard their investment.