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9to5Toys Gift Guide: Interesting gifts for musicians, beat-makers, and creatives from $8

Welcome to our 2024 collection of the best gifts for musicians. This is not an easy category of person to shop for, that’s for sure. So we have focused on unique items, gear any music maker can appreciate, and some picks especially for getting an aspiring bedroom producer well on their way to their first grammy. From gear for guitar players and beat-makers, right through to first-timers looking to get their at-home setup off to a good start, you’ll find some great ideas down below in this year’s edition of the best gifts for musicians, beat-makers, and creatives.

Teenage Engineering EP–133 K.O. II sampler-05

Teenage Engineering EP–133 K.O. II

You’ll be hard-pressed to find any musician that wouldn’t appreciate some Teenage Engineering under the tree – perhaps all but the most staunch traditionalists, and even they will find their creative curiosities piqued, would absolutely love some to unwrap some of its gear this year.

The Teenage Engineering EP–133 K.O. II sampler, drum machine, and sequencer is a wild, wonderful machine and it’s finally in-stock and readily available at $299 shipped – there’s also an EP-1320 Medieval edition and it’s very much what it sounds like; a real head-turner of an instrument and sound maker loaded with samples from a time of knights in shining armor and a truly bananas synth. 

It’s certainly not cheap, but gifts for musicians rarely are (at least not the really great ones) and it gets much more pricey than this for Teenage Engineering gear. If you want the musician, bedroom producer, or professional on your list to love you more than they already do forever…Teenage Engineering gear is a wonderful place to start. 

Focusrite 4th Gen Scarlett

Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen

If you’re looking to get a youngster or an aspiring music-maker up and running, the latest Scarlett 4th Gen interfaces from Focusrite are a wonderful option. They are my go-to recommendation when it comes to entry-level interfaces, a perfect option for getting a guitar, microphone, or analog keyboard hooked into a computer, and one that can do it without completely breaking the bank. They have been flawless for me ever since I went hands-on, and will likely be for the recipient on your list too. 

  • Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen $120
  • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen $180
  • Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen $280
M4 Mac mini trade-in deals

M4 Mac mini 

Following in line with helping an up and coming production prodigy get started…the M4 Mac mini. Okay, so I get it, this is an extremely indulgent gift, but hear me out. Whether you’re buying for a significant other, your kid, or even a close friend or family member, the $579 asking price on Apple’s brand new Mac mini is a small price to pay for what could open up a lifetime of enjoyment, self-expression, creativity, and maybe even even a career. The new M4 Mac mini is a steal if you ask me, the lowest price of entry to bring home a complete current-generation Mac-based studio in a box, ships with GarageBand and loads of sounds and software instruments without spending another nickel, and a perfect machine to act as the heart of any starter music production operation. 

Shure MV7+ Podcast Mic

Shure MV7+ 

Microphones can be expensive, but I also recommend investing in a good, tried and tested brand nonetheless. And Shure immediately comes to mind. Its mics are great for podcasting as much as they are for making songs in the bedroom, and the latest addition to lineup, the MV7+, is even more versatile than that. It is geared towards podcasters, but this way you can podcast and make songs, over both USB-C or via an XLR cable with an interface, and all from a single investment in a brand that has been making legendary recording microphones for many, many years. 

Spark GO mini guitar amp review

Positive Grid Spark GO

When it comes to guitar players, the Positive Grid Spark GO is a perfect gift. This tiny little amp sounds much better and louder than it looks, comes with a companion app that helps users dial in an array of guitar and amp tones, and is perfect for practicing or bedroom producer recording. At $99, it also hits well above its pay grade if you ask me. My hands-on review will dish up a complete look at the user experience if you need more details. 

Cable Ties

We have gotten some big ticket picks out of the way, so let’s talk about some stocking stuffer-grade gear any musician fighting to keep guitar and mic cables organized can appreciate. This 10-pack of D’Addario Elastic Cable Ties offers a simple way to do just that and in a much more elegant way than those basic (slightly annoying) velcro models. They can handle a lot more than one cable at a time, or one that’s coiled up, and are an easy recommendation to any musician. Don’t cheap out and buy the terrible velcro ones that just get dirty and end up getting thrown out, these elastic ties will last years-on-years and the 10-pack is just $9 Prime shipped

Stocking Stuffers, Accessories, and more:

  • MYLYWOO Wooden Guitar Picks Holder $24
  • Ernie Ball Axis Dual Radius Capo $15 
  • 12-pack Dunlop Acoustic Variety Pack Guitar Picks $8
  • Hercules Guitar Wall Mount $20
  • Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Synths from $79
  • Ernie Ball Musician’s Tool Kit $30
  • PreSonus Eris 3.5 Gen 2 Speakers $100
  • PreSonus Eris 3.5BT Gen 2 Bluetooth Speakers $150
  • PreSonus Eris 4.5BT Gen 2 Bluetooth Speakers $200

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Avatar for Justin Kahn Justin Kahn

Justin is a senior deal Jedi over at 9to5Toys where he heads up our game/app coverage and more. He also covers all things music for 9to5Mac, including the weekly Logic Pros series exploring music production on Mac and iOS devices