- Don’t buy: a guitar pick puncher
- Don’t buy: a guitar toilet handle
- Don’t buy: a guitar spatula
- Don’t buy: a guitar-shaped backpack
- Don’t buy: a guitar tie
- Don’t buy: a guitar-shaped lunchbox
Nobody wants to witness that awkward flash of disappointment when their Christmas gift misses the mark. “Thanks, it’s… great!” they’ll say behind a forced smile, which really means, “I would have preferred the cash instead.” Secretly, we’ve all been there.
Guitarists want something useful to make music with, not a throwaway novelty item. But don’t fret, we’ve done the hard work for you by rounding up the worst, tackiest guitar-related prezzies you should avoid at all costs, followed by some genuinely great guitar accessories and other gifts you can grab instead for around the same price.
Don’t buy: a guitar pick puncher
Do buy: actual guitar picks
Guitarists lose plectrums all the time. And when their stash starts running low, they’re far more likely to go rummaging down the back of the sofa than reach for a gimmicky pick puncher. Honestly, the plectrums you make from old loyalty cards with one of these feel awful and sound even worse!
You’re much better off buying a pack of tried-and-tested guitar picks you know they’ll use, rather than this flimsy excuse for a Christmas present. Most decent plectrums have the brand and thickness printed on them, so just take a quick peek at what they already use and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to buy.
Pick & mix
Don’t buy: a guitar toilet handle
Do buy: a mini guitar pedal
Yup, for the price of a tacky guitar-shaped toilet handle, you could get the guitarist in your life a wicked new guitar pedal. That’s something that’s actually fun, gives them a fresh new sound and, most importantly, helps them make music. There’s a busted flush joke in here somewhere…
There’s a surprising amount of choice too. Mini guitar pedals from the likes of Tone City and Landlord FX are a great shout, with plenty of options available for under £50 a pop. They take up hardly any space, are great fun to experiment with and will get far more use than a novelty toilet handle ever will.
Stocking-friendly stompboxes
Don’t buy: a guitar spatula
Do buy: patch cables
Unless they’re a keen cook (and let’s face it, they probably wouldn’t use a guitar-shaped spatula anyway), a guitarist is far more likely to spend their free time in front of an amp and pedalboard than in the kitchen.
So, flip the spatula and get them some patch cables for connecting their guitar pedals together instead. Guitarists will always appreciate spare cables, because sooner or later, the old ones are bound to give up the ghost. And if they’re gigging on the reg, backups are practically essential. Most players are also likely to add a couple of new guitar pedals to their setup every year. So, even if they don’t need the cables right away, they’ll almost certainly come in handy before long.
Cables for Crimbo
Don’t buy: a guitar-shaped backpack
Do buy: a real acoustic guitar
On the one hand, you could buy them a leather bag shaped like a guitar, which looks pretty daft. On the other, you could buy ‘em a brand-new acoustic guitar that’ll provide years of musical enjoyment. The choice is pretty obvious, right?
Now, acoustic guitars from brands like Alvarez and EastCoast don’t exactly fall into stocking filler territory. But they’re brilliant value for money, especially if you’re looking to spoil a budding guitarist this Christmas. You can even pick up a beginner-friendly model for under £100, which really puts the price of that novelty backpack into perspective!
Strum up some cheer
Don’t buy: a guitar tie
Do buy: a guitar strap
The novelty of a guitar tie wears off long before you’ve had a chance to parade it around the office Christmas party. And let’s be honest, that’s probably the only occasion you’d get away with wearing one.
Rather than gifting this fashion crime, treat your loved one to a guitar strap that’s much cooler looking and far more useful. It’ll help them play comfortably while standing up and might even coax them off the couch this Christmas. We stock loads of guitar straps in different colours, patterns and materials, so we’re sure you’ll find one to match their style.
Wrap up a new strap
Don’t buy: a guitar-shaped lunchbox
Do buy: a gig bag
If you’re lucky enough to have your other half make your lunches, you might not feel quite so smug when you have to carry your sarnies into the office in one of these. It’s an awkward shape. You can’t fit it in the dishwasher. And it just looks ridiculous.
Instead, why not gift them a gig bag? That way, they can protect their beloved instrument from the elements when they’re on the move. Starting from under £20, our gig bags help keep guitars clean, safe and easy to transport. Plus, they’re super handy for storing picks, guitar cables and other bits and bobs.
Bag a better gift!
Crackers for more Christmas content?
Head over to our website and check out our dedicated Christmas page for even more gift ideas and shopping advice for musicians.
Our Christmas gift guide for electric guitarists is packed with recommendations that’ll strike the right chord, from compact guitar headphone amps to essential guitar care products. Or, if you’re shopping on a tighter budget, take a look at our blog featuring the best affordable Christmas gifts for guitarists instead.
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