28 Best Guitar Gifts for Men Who Play

Every guitarist has tripped over his own cable or yanked it out of the jack mid-song. This wireless pair plugs into the guitar and the amp, and suddenly he can wander the room, the garage or a small stage freely. It is a fun, practical upgrade for the price of a nice dinner.

Pair this with an interface and he can mic his actual amp instead of relying on plug-in simulations. The SM57 is the mic engineers have pointed at guitar speakers for fifty years, it is built like a hammer, and it is one of those pieces of gear a player keeps for life.

Plenty of guys have riffs in their heads that never leave the living room. The Volt 2 is how they get onto a laptop: guitar in one input, a mic in the other, and the 610 tube setting adds the polish that makes a home demo sound like a record. It is our top pick for the man who keeps saying he should start recording his ideas.

This little blonde Fender looks like a shrunken version of the amps in vintage tour photos, and it really plays. Leave it on his desk at work or by the couch so he can grab the guitar and noodle without firing up the big rig. It is equal parts gear and decor.

Most men who play own one guitar and talk about the second one for years. This Epiphone gets him the Les Paul shape and the fat humbucker sound of classic rock records without a four-figure price tag. If he grew up on Zeppelin, AC/DC or Slash, it is the gift that ends the "someday" conversation.

Strymon is the name boutique-gear guys drop in conversation, and the Cloudburst is the friendliest way to own one. A few knobs turn a plain clean tone into wide, shimmering space. It is a splurge, but for the player who has built a board and wants one standout pedal on it, nothing on this list will impress him more.

If his record collection leans toward Hendrix-era psychedelia, Smashing Pumpkins or stoner rock, this is the fuzz he has been hearing all along. The op-amp version has a gnarlier edge than the standard Big Muff, and three knobs means he will be making noise within a minute of opening the box.

For the man who learned "Eruption" in his bedroom, the striped EVH 90 is a piece of guitar history he can stomp on. One knob sets the swirl, the toggle swaps between Eddie's early-record sound and a deeper modern phase, and the included patch cables mean it goes straight onto his board.

If you are going to buy him one pedal and you are not sure what he has, make it this. The Tube Screamer is the overdrive behind a huge share of blues and rock records, it flatters almost any amp, and the bundle includes the power supply so it works the moment he opens it. It is the safest great gift on the page.

A looper turns solo practice into a jam session: he records the rhythm part, then plays lead over it for as long as he likes. The RC-1 is the friendliest one BOSS makes, with a glowing ring that shows exactly where the loop is. Expect to hear the same progression drifting out of his room for weeks.

Once a guy owns three or four pedals, they usually live in a pile on the floor with a knot of power adapters. This small board with built-in power fixes that in an afternoon. It pairs naturally with any of the pedals on this list if you want to give a set.

Strum once and the PolyTune shows which strings are off, which saves real time between songs at rehearsal or an open mic. It also mutes the signal while he tunes. It is a quietly professional upgrade from the clip-on tuner most players never replace.

This is our under-$30 top pick because every guitarist needs a strap and most are still using the nylon one that came with the guitar. Levy's wide padded leather makes a difference by the end of a long set or a heavy Les Paul session, and the dark brown looks great on almost any instrument. It is also an easy gift to get right without knowing his gear.

Strings are a consumable most guys buy the cheap way. Three sets of NYXL is the treat version: they settle into tune quickly, survive aggressive bending and add a little presence to his lead tone. It's an easy add-on to a bigger gift or a solid stocking stuffer for a regular player.

Every player loses picks in couch cushions, so a fresh variety pack is always welcome. The mixed gauges also let him try thicker picks for lead work or thinner ones for strumming without committing to a bag of 72. Tuck it into a card or pair it with the strings above.

Spring capos pull strings sharp, which is why players who use one a lot eventually upgrade to an adjustable model. This D'Addario lets him dial in just enough pressure, so the songs he plays in a capo key stay in tune. It is a small, smart gift for the acoustic campfire player.

This one is pure fun. He will start punching picks out of expired hotel keys, old credit cards and band flyers within the hour. The leather keychain means he finally has a pick on him when someone hands him a guitar at a party.

A lot of men pick up the guitar again in their thirties or forties and stall because they do not know what to learn next. This book hands him 50 songs everyone recognizes, arranged at a level he can actually reach. It is a good companion to the looper if he likes to practice alone.

A guitar leaning against the couch eventually falls. The Hercules stand grabs the neck as soon as he sets the guitar down, which makes it ideal for homes with kids, pets or a clumsy roommate. It also means the guitar stays out and within reach, so he plays more.

Hanging a guitar on the wall turns it into decor and keeps it ready to play. String Swing is the hanger serious players trust with expensive instruments, and the hardwood base looks right in a den or home office. Get two if he owns more than one guitar.

Most guys wipe their guitar with a T-shirt, if at all. A kit like this turns a string change into a proper service day, with lemon oil for the fretboard and polish for the body. It suits the man who owns a guitar he is proud of and wants it to stay that way.

A simple, inexpensive add-on that guitar shops have used for decades. Throw it in with the strap or the wall hanger and his guitar will look as good on the wall as it sounds.

If his good electric still travels in a floppy gig bag, a proper hard case is a gift that protects an expensive instrument for decades. This Gator fits Strat and Tele shapes, so check what he plays before you buy. It is the kind of practical gift that a guitar player appreciates more than he expected to.

For the guy who winds down with a guitar in one hand and a bourbon in the other. The guitar-shaped decanter is a conversation piece on any bar cart, and the two glasses invite a friend over for a drink and a few songs. It is our favorite gift on the list for a milestone birthday.

Clapton's memoir is the rare rock autobiography that reads like a novel, and it is packed with details about the gear, the sessions and the other guitar heroes of the era. For the man who grew up on "Layla" and "Crossroads," it is a perfect, inexpensive add-on to a bigger gift.

A practical, personalized gift for the guy who practices with a coffee within reach. Adding his name makes it feel made for him, and it travels to rehearsal, work or the job site. Order a few days early to leave time for personalization.

Fender tweed is instantly recognizable to anyone who has spent time in a guitar shop. This clock brings that 1950s amp look to his studio, garage or man cave, and the silent movement means it will not tick on his recordings. A great match for the String Swing hanger.

The pick suspended in the bottom of this glass is a small detail that guitar players notice immediately. It is a clever, modestly priced gift for a coworker, bandmate or brother-in-law who plays, and it pairs nicely with a bottle of his usual.