Gear Acquisition Syndrome fodder for the holidays
If there’s one thing guitarists love, it’s new gear. For 20 years or more, there’s even been a term for this desire to have it all: Gear Acquisition Syndrome, or G.A.S.
However, gear can be very personal. Finding the perfect gifts for electric guitar players can be challenging—especially if you’re not a musician yourself.
To help you surprise and delight the guitarist in your life, we’ve put together this gift guide. Whether it’s a holiday, a birthday, or just another day, they’ll appreciate these suggestions for the perfect gift.
Guitar pedals and effects units
One of the best parts of playing electric guitar is the ability to shape your sound with effects pedals. Pedals open a world of sonic possibilities and allow every electric guitar player to dabble in different genres and styles.
Some of the best pedals for beginner guitarists and advanced players alike include:
- Distortion and overdrive pedals – For rock, pop, and everything in between, a distortion or overdrive pedal is essential. These pedals, like the Maestro™ Invader Distortion or MESA/Boogie Throttle Box, produce a crunchy, dirty tone—perfect for rhythm and lead parts.
- Chorus pedals – The secret ingredient for the quintessential 80s guitar sound is a chorus pedal (though the effect has other, more modern applications too). With an all-analog Comet Chorus pedal, your favorite guitar player in your life can conjure up lush, shimmering chords with the click of a true bypass button.
- Delay pedals – Delay is an echo effect that repeats the player’s notes once or many times, depending on settings. The Discoverer Delay is a straightforward option with desirable features. This bucket brigade device (BBD) delivers warm, analog delay tones, while a built-in modulation function enables wow and flutter and modulation effects.
- Envelope filters – This effect pedal is ideal for the funk fan in your life. Envelope filters give players that “squawky” tone that you’ll find all over 70s records. You can’t go wrong with the Agena Envelope Filter, a pedal that offers two distinct filter frequency options.
Guitar amplifiers
While you can play an electric guitar unplugged, nothing beats plugging into an amp, cranking it up, and ripping a face-melting solo. Unless it’s your next-door neighbour playing guitar drunk at 4am. But that’s another story.
A guitar amp is an investment, but if you’re looking for a big-ticket gift idea, amps are a solid choice. Here are some suggestions based on how much volume and power they’ll need:
- For small spaces – The Gibson Falcon 5 Combo is a compact tube guitar amp perfect for at-home playing, intimate gigs, and recording sessions. It features an all-tube spring reverb—a rarity for an amp this size—and a single 10-inch Jensen® Blackbird 40 Alnico speaker for a refined sound. With its vintage vibe and small footprint, the Falcon 5 makes a great addition to any jam space or living room.
- For mid-sized applications – Guitar enthusiasts who crave more power will fall in love with the MESA/Boogie® Fillmore™ 50 Combo. This dual-channel, vintage-voiced guitar amplifier is exceptionally versatile, bringing dazzling clean tones and smooth, saturated high-gain sounds. Thanks to sophisticated master volume controls, it’s as suitable for home practice as it is for jams and live shows.
- For stadiums, or people with excellent soundproofing – If you want to gift the ultimate high-power setup, consider buying a separate head (the amplifier that drives the speakers) and a cabinet (the box that houses the speakers themselves). The renowned MESA/Boogie Rectifier™ series is a terrific place to start. For example, you could pair a Triple Rectifier Head with a 2×12 Rectifier Diagonal Cabinet and never look back.
If you’re gifting a guitar lover an amp, make sure you include a high-quality guitar cable in the bundle.
Electric guitar care products
It may not be glamorous, but guitar maintenance is a vital part of guitar ownership. An electric guitar kept in tip-top shape is infinitely playable, making cleaning and care accessories a great gift idea.
To help keep their guitar looking its best, you could gift a simple Guitar Polish + Cloth Combo. For something more substantial, there’s the Guitar Care Kit, which comes with fretboard conditioner, polishing cloths, a guitar strap, and more.
Of course, maintenance involves more than just aesthetics. Every electric guitar player needs a Mobile Tech Toolkit; it’s a convenient carry case full of all the essential guitar maintenance tools, including:
- A 10-piece magnetic bit set
- A magnetic bit driver
- A combination wrench for tailpiece posts and tuning machines
- A precision ruler with setup specifications
- A thickness gauge
- A capo
- A string winder
- String cutters
The final—and perhaps most important—piece of guitar gear for keeping the instrument in mint condition is a guitar case. This practical gift will keep their instrument safe during storage and transport. As a bonus, a case is the perfect place to keep guitar accessories.
Guitars
What better gift is there for a guitar lover than a new guitar? There isn’t one. A present like that will be remembered for years to come.
Electric guitarists can be particular about what they like and don’t like to play, but some guitars are universally loved. Here are a few suggestions for the electric guitarist in your life:
- A Les Paul™ – The most iconic solidbody electric guitar of all time, the Gibson Les Paul is unmatched in its versatility. From rock to country to R&B and everything in between, the Les Paul delivers superior tone every time. With dozens of finishes, including Cherry Sunburst, Gold Mist Satin, and Ocean Blue, you’re bound to find an instrument you know they’ll love.
- An ES-335 – As a semi-hollowbody guitar, the ES-335 has a big footprint and a bigger personality. Here are seven reasons why you need one in your life. Naturally, these sound phenomenal plugged in, but the f-holes also allow for unplugged at-home play, delivering more volume than a solidbody model. Choose from Vintage Burst, Deep Purple, or any of the other gorgeous finishes.
- An acoustic guitar – If your guitarist friend has been talking about expanding their horizons, an acoustic guitar could be the ultimate present. There are countless options, but fan favorites include the Gibson L-00 Original and the Gibson J-45™ Standard.
Image: Capos make an excellent gift, yielding new opportunities for creativity for players
Essential guitar accessories
Sometimes, the best gift ideas are the practical products no one wants to buy for themselves. Some of the must-have guitar accessories include:
- Guitar strings – Strings need to be changed periodically, so a pack of electric guitar strings is always a welcome sight. Keep in mind that players often have a preferred string gauge and type—some like standard electric guitar strings, while others want the feel and retro tone of flatwound strings—so see if you can find out what they play before you shop.
- Guitar picks – Ask any musician how many guitar picks they’ve lost, and they’ll probably tell you they’ve lost count. Replenish their stash with a gift of Modern Picks, Standard Picks, or Wedge Picks. And then buy them a nice pick tray made from repurposed wood to store them in.
- A guitar capo – Capos allow guitarists to easily change keys to accommodate singers and experiment with unique chord voicings. Set your guitar player up with a Hummingbird™ Capo, or dazzle them with a 24K Gold Capo.
- A guitar stand – Guitars are meant to be displayed and played—not constantly stored away in a case. A Handcrafted Wooden Stand is an excellent gift because it allows a guitarist to showcase their instrument and pick it up whenever inspiration strikes.
- A tuner – A guitar tuner is a non-negotiable accessory, but not all tuners are created equal. The compact Gibson Headstock Tuner detects string vibrations, allowing guitarists to tune with ease, even in noisy spaces.
- A guitar strap – Straps make for a practical gift—you need one to play standing—but they also give guitarists a chance to express their style. Guitar straps come in a range of colors and materials, from black leather to green canvas.
Image: The Gibson Pickup Shop is your first stop for tone
Ideas to enhance electric guitar setups
If you’ve heard a guitarist mention personalizing their instrument, upgraded parts could be a fantastic gift. For example, you might give them:
- Pickups – A guitar’s pickups greatly influence the sound of the instrument when amplified. For example, humbuckers™ have a rich midrange and an even response, while P-90s are more dynamic, with more treble and bass frequencies on tap. As with guitars themselves, pickups are a personal preference. They’re also not always compatible with every guitar, so consider asking questions before surprising a guitarist with one.
- Knobs – Volume and tone knobs can be quickly switched out to give a guitar a more unique appearance. Both our Top Hat Knobs and Speed Knobs are available in different colors.
- A pickguard – Another easily modified component, the pickguard plays a notable role in defining a guitar’s appearance. Swapping a white pickguard for a black or cream one can make a guitar feel brand new.
Note that some parts are best installed by a professional. One portion of your gift could be a visit to a luthier, who can make the modifications and set up their guitar.
Choosing the best gift for an electric guitar player
From a handful of picks to a new amp, there’s a guitar gift for every budget and occasion. And if the electric guitarist in your life has Gear Acquisition Syndrome, they’ll love whatever you give them. Spoiler alert: we all have Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
That said, gear can be a very personal decision, and your guitarist buddy or loved one will probably be happiest to receive something they’ve been eyeing. When in doubt, ask the recipient. If the gift absolutely has to be a surprise, make sure you can exchange it.
Discover more of the best gifts for guitar players to make sure you find the right present. Whatever you choose to gift, choose Gibson. Any electric guitarist would be proud to get a great gift with the Gibson name on it.
