Buying for a guitarist can be tricky. Guitars, amps and pedals are personal (and expensive), and it’s hard to know what they already have. The good news: there are plenty of gifts every guitarist uses up, loses or never buys for themselves.
Here are our favourite gift ideas for Sinterklaas on 5 December and for Christmas, sorted roughly by price.
Stocking Fillers and Schoen Gifts
Picks
Every guitarist loses picks. Always. A handful of good ones is the perfect small gift. We sell Dunlop Tortex picks individually in four thicknesses, so you can make up a mix. Not sure which? Our guide to choosing a plectrum explains the differences.
Strings
Strings wear out, so a fresh set is never wasted. The trick is getting the right type:
- For electric guitar: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (10-46) suit most players, or Super Slinky (9-42) for a lighter feel.
- For acoustic guitar: Ernie Ball Earthwood Light.
- For bass: Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky.
Tip: sneak a look at the packet in their gig bag, or ask a bandmate.
A string winder
Small, cheap and it makes every string change quicker. The Dunlop Series 100 string winder also has a notch for pulling acoustic bridge pins.
Gifts Under 35 Euros
GuitarBuddy Fretboard Wax
Our own fretboard wax, handmade in Zandvoort with local beeswax and jojoba oil. It conditions the fretboard, smells great and comes in a tin that looks good under the tree. A local gift with a story. Read why it beats lemon oil.
Guitar polish
Dunlop Formula 65 keeps a guitar looking like new. Pair it with a microfibre cloth and our guide to cleaning and polishing a guitar.
A clip-on tuner
A good tuner is something every player needs, and a second one never hurts. The Ernie Ball ProTune charges via USB-C, so no more dead batteries. More in how to choose a guitar tuner.
A guitar strap
A comfortable strap makes a real difference on long gigs. Our Ernie Ball Polypro straps are simple, strong and reliable.
Strap locks
Probably the most useful gift on this list. Dunlop Straploks stop a guitar falling off its strap, which is the most common way guitars get damaged. Here’s why every guitarist needs them.
An instrument cable
Cables wear out, and a crackly one is a constant annoyance. A good Ernie Ball cable is a gift they’ll use every time they play. Not sure which? Read does a guitar cable affect your tone?
The Gift They’d Never Buy Themselves: A Setup
Most guitarists know their guitar could play better, but never get round to doing anything about it. A professional setup is one of the best gifts you can give: fresh strings, a full clean, fret polishing, fretboard conditioning, and the neck, action and intonation all set for the way they play. It can make a guitar feel brand new.
GuitarBuddy is based in Zandvoort and works with players in Haarlem, Aerdenhout and Amsterdam. Get in touch to arrange a setup as a gift, or see what’s included in a setup.
Order in Time
For Sinterklaas and Christmas, order early to leave time for delivery. Everything above is available in the GuitarBuddy shop, shipped across the Netherlands with PostNL.
