Christmas Gifts for Guitarists - Help wanted with article ideas

stonevibe

I've been attempting to create some Christmas Buyer Guides for my guitar blog.

They help me build traffic to my site and they may also earn me some affiliate income if someone buys something via my links. This last part could help pay for the hosting and site costs, which would be great.


 I'm aiming for an audience, that isn't as 'clued up' as you lot (well most of you  ) and so I wanted to ask if you had any suggestions.

I'm looking for things that might be useful for anyone who has to buy something guitar-orientated for a family member, that is just starting or not as well-informed, as you lot are.

I have made two already, one for starter guitar kits, and the other for gifts at under $200.

If you lot have any suggestions for useful article ideas with a Christmas focus, then I would appreciate your input.

EricTheWeary

Not that I'd suggest plagiarism...

TimmyO

Being bought inane guitar related tat is always a bit cringe and made me feel bad that people had wasted their money - maybe write an article saying that many guitarists would rather have a few quid toward their next pedal or guitar purchase, than a 3” guitar on a stand replica or a pack of novelty plectrums on the wrong gauge :-) 

thecolourbox

Unfortunately my answer to "what gifts can I buy a musician/guitarist etc" has typically been some nice biscuits, chocolates, or a bottle of what they like to drink. 

I'm sure that's not very helpful though unfortunately 

fretmeister

Nothing but money.

As Timmy said, anything else is cringy and has a 99% chance of being useless crap.
Discourage guitar related gifts!

mrkb

No guitar shaped kitchen objects!!!! Fender chopping boards and spatulas can Fxxx off!!

stonevibe

TimmyO said:

Being bought inane guitar related tat is always a bit cringe and made me feel bad that people had wasted their money - maybe write an article saying that many guitarists would rather have a few quid toward their next pedal or guitar purchase, than a 3” guitar on a stand replica or a pack of novelty plectrums on the wrong gauge :-) 

Yeah, I get that as have had my fair share of guitar-shaped tat given to me over the years

stonevibe

As an example, I guess I'm probably aiming at the parent of a teenager who wants a guitar to learn or has been playing for a short time. And the parent is not a guitar player. However, this is just one hypothetical situation. 

stonevibe

mrkb said:

No guitar shaped kitchen objects!!!! Fender chopping boards and spatulas can Fxxx off!!

I'd take a Marshall Fridge full of cold lager, but f**k the chopping board shaped like a Telecaster body, etc

HerrMetal

Gibson Guitar Care Kit was something I was pleased to receive a couple of years back.

stonevibe

HerrMetal said:

Gibson Guitar Care Kit was something I was pleased to receive a couple of years back.

I think that is a good thing to have as a gift and useful. I put a Dunlop Kit on one of my lists, here

Sporky

A drummer? 

markblack

I got these two recently which I think would be of interest to people starting out as much as those who know a little bit (like me).


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marrs-Guitars-Johnny-Marr/dp/0500026327/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X97J2RIBL4X0&keywords=johnny+mars+guitars+book&qid=1699204697&sprefix=mars+gu,aps,98&sr=8-1


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stompbox-Pedals-Worlds-Greatest-Guitarists/dp/1984860607/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3ST56XHA74KG3&keywords=guitar+pedal+books&qid=1699204758&sprefix=guitar+pedal+boos,aps,90&sr=8-4

stonevibe

That's a great idea. Decent guitar themed books, nice

stonevibe

Sporky said:

A drummer? 

Do they have to feed and toilet-train the drummer?


As a drummer is for life, not just for Christmas.

Roland

The difficulty with buying something for any specialist hobby is that the recipient will have VERY clear ideas on what they want. Plectrums, slides, capos, strings, we all know what we want. More useful if they don’t have them are clip on tuners, guitar stands, music stands, clip on lights for music stands, and nice straps.

stonevibe

Roland said:

The difficulty with buying something for any specialist hobby is that the recipient will have VERY clear ideas on what they want. Plectrums, slides, capos, strings, we all know what we want. More useful if they don’t have them are clip on tuners, guitar stands, music stands, clip on lights for music stands, and nice straps.

Totally agree with this.

I did this one, which covers some of those https://guitarbomb.com/2023/11/03/top-10-guitarist-approved-christmas-gifts-under-200/

Plus, this one aimed at buying for a beginner https://guitarbomb.com/2023/11/05/christmas-guitar-buyers-guide-best-starter-packs/

I think the book idea from markblack is a great one, as I also enjoy looking at nice guitars and so I think a list of cool books is a winner.

Just trying to think of some more 'useful' lists/recommendations for guitarists.

Sporky

I know the aim here is just to get more content to satisfy the algorithm, but when I played guitar I didn't want people to buy me random crap from a list. I had strings, and pedals, and straps, and capos, and a tuner, and cables, and I chose each very carefully and deliberately.

I like the Smiths' music, but a book about Marr would force me to smile and grit my teeth and wonder how much money the purchaser spaffed on it.

I am not the first person in the thread to say this, and I'm sure I'll be ignored like the others, but please don't encourage people to buy random crap based on the recipient having a hobby that is both wide and deep.

stonevibe

Sporky said:

I know the aim here is just to get more content to satisfy the algorithm, but when I played guitar I didn't want people to buy me random crap from a list. I had strings, and pedals, and straps, and capos, and a tuner, and cables, and I chose each very carefully and deliberately.

I like the Smiths' music, but a book about Marr would force me to smile and grit my teeth and wonder how much money the purchaser spaffed on it.

I am not the first person in the thread to say this, and I'm sure I'll be ignored like the others, but please don't encourage people to buy random crap based on the recipient having a hobby that is both wide and deep.

I agree that the algorithm looks for certain phrases.

I'm looking to create for people that aren't guitarists, and that have friends/family members looking to start out playing guitar. These lists/ guides are aimed at people who are not  'clued up' and probably not guys like us who have been playing for decades.

Not every town has a music store these days, so walking into a store and asking for suggestions won't work for everyone.

Plus, my readers are literally all over the world, (they certainly aren't all in the UK), so not sure what access to music stores is like around the world for all of them.

When I worked in a guitar store (90s), it was super common in October/November to get parents coming in and asking for help with setting their kids up with a first guitar, amp, etc

The world has moved on since the '90s and so people tend to search online for recommendations. 

HAL9000

The only guitar-related item on my Christmas list this year is a Pinegrove guitar strap. Other than that it’s essentially booze and chocolate.

stonevibe

HAL9000 said:

The only guitar-related item on my Christmas list this year is a Pinegrove guitar strap. Other than that it’s essentially booze and chocolate.

I'm cool with just booze (not fussed about chocolate). Already have a box full of quality leather guitar straps.