If you have a friend or a family member that loves playing the guitar, you've probably thought about what gift to give them for the next occasion. A guitar-related gift is always a good idea. They'll appreciate it a lot and will be thrilled to have it. These people are big enthusiasts when it comes to their hobby. There are plenty of things you can get a guitar player. Starting with an actual guitar, to useful accessories to a small knick knack that they'll keep close to heart.
Keep it Safe with a Guitar Case
If your friend travels a lot and likes to bring their guitar with them, a guitar case is a great gift for the next occasion. This is one of the must-have accessories for every guitarist because even if the guitar doesn’t leave the house, the case can be a great place to store it. You'll find a big variety of practical and protective guitar cases for sale. You can buy them online or at the local store.
There are several types you can choose from. First is the gigging case. This is a nice case if your friend is in a band or does solo gigs in a bar or restaurant. It usually has backpack-like straps so your friend can carry the guitar on their back for convenience. It's easy to load and unload and it’s lightweight, which is very practical.
It has a lot of padding for protection and a rugged exterior. Many of them feature pockets on the inside and out so they won’t have a problem with storing other smaller accessories. But these cases are not suitable for stacking and won’t handle a hard blow, the guitar might get damaged. Second, are hard cases. They're often made from ABS plastic or wood, both very sturdy and durable materials.
They also have a padding on the inside to prevent damage. You can find them as rectangular or guitar-shaped. Both cases look nice, but the rectangular ones are better for storage because of their shape. On the other hand, they’re heavier to carry around and can take up more storage space. Next, we have hybrid cases. They have good protection features, are lightweight, have a waterproof exterior and have some storage space.
And last but not least, flight cases. Many airlines have rules about how guitars should travel. These cases should have heavy-duty internal padding and reinforced metal corners. Once you find the right type of case, make sure you get the right size. Otherwise, the case will be useless. This is the perfect gift to surprise your friend because it’s thoughtful and practical at the same time.
Can't Get Enough Guitar Strings
If you’re not familiar with how a guitar works and what kind of strings it uses, you may need to ask for some help at the store. There are many different types of strings depending on the guitar your friend has. An acoustic one uses:
- Steel strings;
- Bronze strings;
- Nylon strings;
- Brass strings;
- Phosphor bronze strings;
- Silk and steel strings;
- Aluminium bronze strings;
- Polymer-coated strings.
Steel strings bring more clarity to the sound and are often combined with nickel and bronze. Nylon strings are better for classical-style guitars and are common in folk, jazz and flamenco music. These strings have a mellow tone and have a good touch response. Bronze ones give a very bright sound and clear, bell-like tones. And brass strings have a more metallic sound and great clarity.
For an electric guitar, there are round and flat wound strings. Round wound strings have a metal core and wrapping wire all around them. Flat wound strings have a steel core and metal strings wrapped around them. They're mostly for jazz musicians because of their smooth tone. Choosing which strings to buy can be overwhelming, but asking a few questions can get you a long way. You can find them in stores where they have guitars and guitar cases for sale.
How About Guitar Picks?
This is a triangular tool guitarists use to play their instruments. It's also called a plectrum and it’s a very practical accessory. You can find it in several thicknesses:
- Extra thin (0.45mm);
- Thin (0.45-0.70mm);
- Medium (0.60-0.80mm);
- Heavy (0.80-1.2mm);
- Extra heavy (above 1.2mm).
Picks also have different shapes and sizes. The standard ones have one sharp point and a pointed top, but there are also picks that have the same sides and you can hold them as you want. If your friend’s hands are bigger, get larger picks and vice versa. They'll feel more comfortable that way. They're often made of nylon or other plastics, but if you want to buy something different there are picks made of metal, wood or even glass.
A Tuner is Always Useful
A tuner is a small device that tunes the guitar to a specific pitch. There are 4 main categories of tuners. The chromatic one is the most common and it can let the player tune to each note of the chromatic scale. Polyphonic tuners are fairly new and let you play all strings at once. Strobe tuners are very accurate and are on the more expensive side.
This makes them good for beginners because they’ll know if there’s even the slightest difference between 2 strings. And microphone tuners use an inbuilt microphone to catch the frequencies. They're not very accurate but are budget-friendly. If your friend’s a beginner, a clip-on tuner will work perfectly. They'll simply clip it on the headstock and the sensors will pick up the vibrations. Plus, they're easily stored in the guitar bag.
If they have gigs, pedal tuners are the right choice. They're easy to use and simple to control. Plus, the big screen makes the frequencies visible even in the dark. You can also find handheld tuners which are great for home usage, rack tuners that have a lot of features and acoustic tuners that are very discrete.
Fun and Creative Guitar Novelty
Sometimes guitarists have every tool and accessory they need and you can’t buy them anything guitar-related. Or can you? Besides the practical items, there are very simple, fun and creative gifts you can find. If they love coffee or tea, a guitar-inspired cup will be great. Are you creative and like to DIY? You can find an old pick and make them a custom necklace with the pick pendant. Personalise it with a message on the back and get the perfect gift.
There are many books inspired by popular guitarists or books that teach people how to play. If you think your friend will appreciate them, buy them one. A guitar-shaped cutting board is a loving gift if they like to cook and prepare every meal. Keychains, bookmarks, table lamps, posters, bracelets, art, the list is endless. You'll need to use your imagination and know what your friend like. We're sure they’ll appreciate anything that comes from you.
