Buying a guitar for a Christmas present is not as easy as you might think. With the wide variety of options out there, where to even begin? Just some of the things you'll have to consider are if you should get an acoustic guitar or electric and what style to get.
To make your gift-giving conundrum a little bit easier, we have selected our top ten favorite guitars that are the perfect gift for the guitarist (or aspiring guitarist!) in your life.
1. Rogue RA-090
Best for: New players
Cost: $66
This mahogany guitar is an excellent introductory acoustic instrument and is affordably priced. If you are buying for a new player or a young aspiring musician, this is the perfect instrument because even though it is cheaper, the tone and projection are still powerful.
The guitar has a whitewood body, which allows it to have more mid-range punch. Thanks to the nato neck, the Rogue guitar has plenty of sustain without sacrificing tone. The fretboard is easy for novice fingers to move up and down. This Rogue RA-090 guitar will certainly get the job done for beginners.
2. Orangewood Victoria Grand Concert Acoustic Guitar
Best for: Beginners
Cost: $125
Orangewood was started as a way to make guitar shopping affordable and accessible again. Each guitar is made in Los Angeles and is set up before it is delivered to you. This way, the guitar can be played as soon as it is opened up on Christmas Day.
This guitar is a slightly small version of other Grand Concert guitars, making it the perfect option for players with smaller hands. The smaller size makes it easier for them to reach all the frets.
When you purchase an Orangewood guitar, you are also helping a good cause. For every 10 guitars sold, the company donates one ukulele to support music education.
It also comes with a padded gig bag, making the Victoria Grand Concert Acoustic Guitar the perfect gift to give on Christmas.
3. Squier by Fender Bullet Mustang HH
Best for: Beginner players
Cost: $134
If you are looking for the top 10 affordable electric guitars under $200, there are many options available, but one of the best ones is the Squier by Fender Bullet Mustang HH. The Bullet Mustang HH has the classic offset double-cutaway shape, and you can choose between either a blue gloss finish or the standard black.
With the slim body, it is very easy to travel with and comes with a padded gig bag. This electric guitar is perfect for playing the blues, indie, or punk rock, and delivers great tones. If you are buying an electric guitar on a budget, choose this Squier.
4. Ibanez IJV50
Best for: Beginners
Cost: $149
Ibanez is one of the biggest producers of rock guitar guitars. The IJV50 is one of the cheaper options, which makes it perfect for beginners who want an acoustic guitar for Christmas to try out the instrument before committing to a more expensive guitar.
The design of the acoustic instrument is simple, with the traditional dreadnought body style. As for quality, it is exactly what you would expect, and it produces a bright tone with strong resonance. If you need to buy an acoustic guitar for someone, this is one of the better options!
5. Yamaha JR Acoustic guitar
Best for: New players with small hands
Cost: $149.99
At 3/4 size, this acoustic guitar from Yamaha is perfect for little hands and younger players who might struggle with a bigger guitar. It is the perfect travel guitar as well, thanks to its smaller size.
The Yamaha JR comes with a gig bag, adding to its portability. Despite its smaller size, it still is carefully made with a spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, and chrome hardwood. This acoustic guitar produces a sweet tone that is sure to impress the gift receiver.
6. Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Package
Best for: Players who want a complete starter package
Cost: $249
If you are buying a gift for someone who really wants a Les Paul, then this is a great starter kit for them. Included in the package is a Les Paul Special II LTD electric guitar. It has two classic humbucker pickups, allowing the guitar to produce some growl. The tone of the guitar is bright and clear and is good for producing a wide variety of music genres.
Also included in the starter kit is an Epiphone Electar 10-watt amp, digital tuner, strap, branded gig bag, cable, and plectrums. It comes with online lessons for eMedia, so whoever you buy the gift for can learn how to play!
7. Yamaha Pacifica 112 V
Best for: Beginner or intermediate players
Cost: $299
The Yahama Pacifica has proven itself to be a benchmark for specification and quality. In particular, the 112 V is a great electric guitar for novice players. While this isn't a fancy guitar, it excels at delivering the basics at an affordable price.
The design is more modern and lightweight than other electric guitars. It delivers a bright tone that is clean, and the distortion boost can add a little bit of grit. Thanks to the pickups, you can get a little more character out of this guitar than others on this list.
The guitar is made of high-quality material, and is well-made; the Yamaha Pacifica 112 V is an electric guitar that will stick around for many years to come!
8. Ibanez RG421
Best for: Beginner players
Cost: $299.99
Since its release in 1987, the Ibanez RG has been offering people access to affordable electric guitars. You can choose between a variety of paint options, including "Blackberry Sunburst," which is a fun color if you have to give a gift to someone with a big personality.
The sound and tone that this guitar produces are overall very good. The overtones tend to be rich and chunky, and perfect for anyone who wants to use the guitar to play metal or rock music. The Ibanez RG421 is also versatile enough to produce jazz or blues if you wish.
9. Fender Player Stratocaster
Best for: Beginner or intermediate players
Cost: $449
The Fender Stratocaster has a long, successful history and is often the dream of many guitarists to eventually own one. As one of the entry-level Strats from Fender, this guitar delivers great value for the price. With the satin neck, they'll have an extremely slick playing experience, allowing the player's hand to move around the fretboard quickly.
Thanks to the five-way selector, there is a minimal amount of treble loss, and the guitar responds very well to gain. The two-point vibrator is extremely smooth and allows you to return to pitch effortlessly.
The design of this Strat is classic, but the quality of the guitar is good enough to survive for many years of hard playing. Don't let the price tag scare you away, because the tone and sound that this guitar produces is well-suited to both intermediate and serious beginner players.
10. Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster: $799
Best for: Advanced players
Cost: $799
The Fender Telecaster, which is one of the pricier electric guitars on this list, is worth the investment. No matter what genre of music you want to play, this Tele can excel at it. Heavy middle, indie music country, or pop: the Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster produces a beautiful sound and clear tone.
This Tele has a five-way switch, which means the player can quickly find the right voice and tone. It also has the classic Telecaster body, format, and controls, so if you are buying it for a Tele-enthusiastic, they won't be disappointed when they open this on Christmas Day.
If you are trying to decide between a Telecaster vs. a Stratocaster, it might be helpful to learn first about the differences between the two instruments.
Christmas is right around the corner! Purchase one of these guitars now to ensure your gift comes in time.
