Holiday Gift Guide For The Instrumentalist In Your Life!

It’s the most wonderful time, of the yearrrrrrr! That’s right friends, the holiday season is upon us and if you are stuck on what to get the special instrumentalist in your life, I have a few gift ideas that they’ll surely love and appreciate.

For the GUITARIST:
There isn’t a guitarist I know who doesn’t love receiving “case candy” (Things you keep in your guitar case) as a gift. Items like strings, picks, extra capos, peg winders, guitar polish, fretboard oil, polishing cloths, guitar stands, etc. All of that can be found at your local music store, or if you’re tired of the crowds, Amazon is always a great bet. I really love the “foldable” guitar stands that you can fit in the front pouch of your gig bag! They’re sturdy, and they take up WAY less room!

Check this link out for some fun ideas: “Case Candy On Amazon”

If you’re looking for something extra special, like a travel guitar for the pro who needs something small and packable or a step-up instrument for the budding guitarist in your family. I suggest checking out “Orangewood Guitars”. (No, we are not sponsored by them, I just think they have great quality beginner/intermediate level instruments that sound great!) They have a few models right around the $100 range that are lovely.

Orangewood Guitars Starting at $108

For The BASSIST:

A lot of the “case candy” mentioned above is also applicable to the bassist in your life. Just make sure you’re buying the right strings! (Bass strings and guitar strings are VERY DIFFERENT.) Depending on how heavy their bass is, you may also think about going with a nice padded strap. The right strap can alleviate pressure, and ease tension in the back. Cause let’s face it, those things are SUPER HEAVY.

Padded Bass Guitar Straps on Amazon

One thing you could get for your super cool bass player is a nice Direct Input Box. (A “DI, or DI Box” converts the instrument from “line level” to “mic level”. Essentially it makes it louder, and can eliminate the hissing noise that comes with playing certain instruments with single coil pickups.) “DI’s” are SO very helpful when you do not want (or need) to lug a massive bass amp to a venue. You can use the DI to plug directly into the PA system that is being run by a sound engineer. Here are a few options.

Cream of the crop Bass DI: Sans Amp
-This DI has been a “tried and true” workhorse in recording studios for years.
Trusted By Many Bassists: MXR Bass DI
-Another trusted workhorse, but at a lower price point.
Decent Cost-Effective Budget DI: Samson DI
-This DI will do the trick, even though there’s nothing fancy about it. It will convert the “line level” of the bass to “mic level”, and that’s all. But that is enough for any decent sound engineer to work with!

FOR THE DRUMMER:

Let’s be real, a drummer ALWAYS NEEDS MORE STICKS. Not because they’re always breaking them (shout out to my former teenage rage-drummer self), but because different stick options allow for different tones and timbres to be used. Here are a few of my favorite stick options!

Vic Firth Dual Tone Mallets - GREAT for getting beefy sounds out of your toms, and also creating shimmering cymbal swells. (Genre: Rock, Alternative, Country)

Promark Hot-Rods - EXCELLENT for practicing, or for being used in a smaller venue where the volume needs to be kept quiet. (Any genre)

Vic Firth Jazz Brush - A great tool for every drummer, even if they don’t play jazz. Brushes can be used to produce different sounds, and colors on various parts of the drum kit.

Drummers can always use more accessories, but one I have found to be priceless is a tablet or phone holder. Great for reading charts off of a device, managing any kind of “in-ear” monitoring app, watching YouTube tutorials, etc. But sometimes finding the right one is a pain. Here’s a Tablet Holder I’d recommend.

While you’re browsing accessories, there are so many great gift ideas on this next page that I just have to share them! From drum rugs (they help prevent the kit from slipping around while being played) to glowing sticks, there’s something for every drummer right here!

Happy gift-giving, and remember, drummers need love too! ;)