Photo Credit: Axe heaven
“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart.
The very next day, you gave it away.
This year, to save you from tears,
I’ll give you some Ratio® Tuners... ”
That’s how the song goes, right? Either way, the holiday season is officially upon us, so it’s time to start checking things off those Christmas lists.
Like any other artist or industry professional, musicians can be pretty picky about what ends up under their tree. To give you a hand, we’ve picked out a few gifts we think the serious guitarist in your life would enjoy.
1. D’ADDARIO EJ16-3D PHOSPHOR BRONZE ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRINGS (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
This is D’Addario’s most popular acoustic guitar string set for a reason. Its warm, bright and well-balanced acoustic tones are the choice for many professionals around the world, including Dave Matthews, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Ryan Adams, Blake Shelton, and more.
2. SONIC RESEARCH TURBO TUNER ST-300 MINI (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
This tiny tuner packs a big punch. The entire range of Sonic Research stroboscope tuners has been praised for its response speeds and extreme accuracy - but now all of that’s available in mini-form. This Stompbox format tuner is fully programmable for alternate tunings and temperaments, and provides guaranteed accuracy up to an extreme ±.02 cents.
3. SHURE SRH1840 STUDIO HEADPHONES (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
The Shure SRH1840s are considered to be one of the most effective studio headphone sets available under $500. The audio performance of these Shures provide clinical clarity without any harsh edges. The highs are tight, the mids are natural, and the lows are delivered with absolute finesse. With a sleek headband, enough padding, and forks made of aircraft-grade aluminum, these headphones are sure to impress.
4. BBE TWO TIMER ANALOG DELAY PEDAL (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
BBE’s Two Timer is a dual-mode analog delay that provides both warm and haunting tones in two independent delay times. The Two Timer’s circuit features a Bucket Brigade Delay (for true analog character), and special film resistors that keep the audio quality pristine. The pedal also has a True hardwire bypass, an LED indicator, and a non-slip rubber bottom.
5. HANDMADE RUSTIC LEATHER GUITAR PICK HOLDER KEYCHAIN BY HIDE & DRINK (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
Not losing all your picks is arguably one of the hardests tasks as a guitarist. Now, you can keep all your picks in one place in the coolest way possible. This guitar pick holder and keychain are made of full grain leather, cut by hand, and diligently sewn together. As all good leather will do, after time and use, the leather will take on a beautifully unique patina.
6. DONNER DP-1 GUITAR PEDAL POWER SUPPLY (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
Don’t be fooled by the price - this power supply still holds its own. It has 10 isolated outputs with separate short-circuit protection, and its compactness makes it great for any musician who wants a good source of power without having to lug around anything massive.
7. GRAPH TECH RATIO® TUNERS
A set of Graph Tech Ratio® Tuners will revolutionize a guitarist’s playing experience. These specialized machine heads have become the industry standard for professional musicians and industry experts around the world for a reason. The gear ratios on the Ratio® Tuners have been tuned to each string diameter, so each string responds the same to any tuning adjustment. This allows for fine tuning on the thicker core strings, and coarser tuning on the thinner core.
Change a guitarist’s life today and get them a set of Ratio® Tuners!
8. IBANEZ MTZ11 MULTI-PURPOSE TOOL (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
The Ibanez multi-purpose guitar tool is the Swiss Army knife of guitarists. It comes with 11 essential tools in a compact arrangement, with wrench sizes written clearly on the body for instant access and use. It has high quality, heat-treated Phillips head screwdrivers and all the right keys for Truss Rod and Floyd Rose adjustments. The perfect gift for the gigging musician.
9. DUNLOP 6504 SYSTEM 65 (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
Dunlop’s Formula 65 has become the standard daily-use guitar care product line for professional guitar techs, repair shops, and guitarists worldwide. The System 65 Guitar Tech Kit contains the Formula 65 polish to create no-residue shine (with proper chemical balance to preserve any finish), the Ultimate Lemon Oil (to clean away fingerboard grime and return fretboards to their original shine), and the Ultraglide 65 String Conditioner (to shield strings from tarnish and corrosion). The kit even comes with two polish cloths and a Dunlop Stringwinder.
10. MUGIG GUITAR STAND (AVAILABLE ON AMAZON)
This cherry-red, wooden guitar stand is not only practical, but beautiful and well-made. Although simple, the sturdy 2-piece X-frame design can be assembled or disassembled in minutes. Perfect for the classy musician on the go.
With this list in hand, you’re all set for holiday success. Don’t procrastinate your shopping this year and make your favourite guitar player smile!
Check out the GRAPH TECH ONLINE STORE for other great gift ideas like TUSQ Pick Lockets, Dry n’ Glide, and more!
*Cover Image Photo Credit: Axe Heaven