29 Best Music Gifts for Men Who Play or Just Listen

Plenty of men say they want to get into vinyl and never get around to it. This turntable removes every excuse: press a button and the arm lowers itself, and the built-in preamp means it plugs straight into powered speakers. Pair it with the Edifier speakers and two of the albums below and he has a complete setup by dinnertime. That is why it is our top pick.

The speakers most people recommend for a first turntable, and for good reason. Two inputs let him connect the record player and his computer at once, bass and treble knobs let him tune the sound to the room, and there is no separate amplifier to buy.

For the man who streams most of his music but wants better sound than his phone or TV. One Era 100 SL fills a room with stereo sound, a second makes a proper pair, and the line-in means a turntable can join later. This version has no microphone, which suits anyone wary of smart speakers.

Turntables end up balanced on whatever furniture is nearby. This stand gives the record player a proper home, stores LPs underneath and hides the power cables thanks to built-in outlets. It is compact enough for an apartment living room.

Dust and static are why records crackle. A quick pass with this carbon fiber and velvet brush before each side keeps his collection sounding clean. It is a small, useful gift for any man with a turntable.

Collectors love showing off what is spinning. This solid wood ledge mounts beside the turntable and holds the current album cover, turning his record collection into wall art that changes every night.

For the man who listens on a commute, a flight or in a busy office. The XM5's noise cancellation shuts out engines and chatter, so he can hear the album rather than turning it up to drown everything out. Thirty hours of battery covers a week of commuting.

Wired studio headphones for the man who records, mixes or simply wants to hear exactly what the engineer intended. The M50x is a studio staple, with tight bass and clear detail, and it pairs perfectly with the Focusrite interface below.

Any guitarist will recognize the Marshall amp styling, and anyone will appreciate 32 hours of battery and IP67 waterproofing. It is the speaker he takes to the garage, the backyard or the campsite.

Men who go to a lot of shows, or play in a band, are slowly losing their hearing. These earplugs lower the volume evenly, so the music still sounds clear, and the clear shells mean nobody notices them. A thoughtful gift that protects his ears for decades of concerts.

The best gift for a man who plays guitar, whether he is learning again or gigging every weekend. This palm-sized amp has 33 amp models and 43 effects, plays through headphones for quiet practice, and the app shows chords for almost any song in real time. When he is not playing, it works as a Bluetooth speaker. Big features at a $99 price, which makes it our pick for guitar players.

For the guitarist who prefers real knobs to an app. The Katana Mini runs on batteries, has an analog gain circuit and three-band EQ, and sounds far bigger than its size. It is ideal for practicing on the couch or taking on a trip.

An overdrive pedal is often the first pedal an electric player buys, and this one gives him two flavors: a classic warm tone and a hotter, tighter push for solos. A low-risk first step onto a pedalboard.

Every guitarist changes strings, and most still do it with a pair of kitchen scissors. This winder, cutter and pin puller turns a twenty-minute job into five. A great add-on to any bigger guitar gift.

Dry winter air cracks acoustic guitars, and repairs are expensive. These two-way packets sit in the case and keep humidity right automatically, with no sponges to refill. A practical gift for any man who owns a good acoustic.

A limited-edition tin stamped with the original 1950s Fender logo, filled with a dozen tortoiseshell picks. It is a stocking stuffer any Strat or Tele player will keep on his amp.

Picks disappear into couch cushions and laundry. This hand-stitched leather pouch clips onto his keys, so he always has one when a guitar appears at a party. The leather darkens nicely over time.

If he has ever talked about recording his songs, this is where to start. The Scarlett Solo connects a mic and a guitar to his computer with clean, quiet preamps. Combined with the SM58, it is a full vocal and guitar recording rig.

The mic on nearly every stage in the world. It handles loud vocals and guitar cabinets, rejects room noise and survives being dropped. Whether he sings in a band or records at home, he will use it for years.

For the man who makes beats or electronic music on a laptop. Twenty-five keys, eight MPC pads and knobs he can map to any software instrument fit on a desk next to his keyboard and mouse.

Drummers go through sticks constantly. Three pairs of the classic 5A, in American hickory, will keep him playing for months. It is the practical gift every drummer appreciates.

The instrument for the man who has always wanted to play something but never had time to learn. Sit on it, slap the front, and he has a snare and bass beat in minutes. It is also perfect for acoustic jams with friends who play guitar.

A blues harmonica fits in a shirt pocket and sounds great around a campfire. The Special 20 is the one many pros play, and the key of C plus the included manual make it easy for a beginner to start.

If he has a turntable, he should own this record, and if he just got one, this is the album to play first. The 50th anniversary remaster sounds superb on vinyl and shows off any new speakers. Around $32, it is the easiest great music gift on the list.

Dreams, The Chain, Go Your Own Way: every song on Rumours is a classic, and it sounds warm and full on vinyl. A low-cost addition to any record shelf, and a natural pairing with a new turntable.

Dylan's memoir reads more like a novel than a rock autobiography, full of Greenwich Village in the early 1960s and how he found his voice. A brilliant read for any man who loves songwriting.

Keith Richards tells the Rolling Stones story his way: funny, blunt and packed with detail about guitar tunings, riffs and how the songs were written. Guitar players especially love it.

Two heavy rocks glasses with a hand-printed guitar design, for a pour while the record plays. A good choice for the music lover who already has all the gear.

Concert tickets usually end up in a drawer. This shadow box has a slot on top, so he can drop in the stub after every show and watch the collection grow on his wall. Even better as a gift with tickets to his next concert inside.