Books, Speakers, Vinyl and More

There are countless gift options for the music lover in your life, whether it’s a high-end speaker, a swanky vinyl storage solution or some quality guitar picks.

Variety has curated this list of the best music books, merchandise and listening devices — as well as instruments and gear for both beginners and veteran musicians — so you can surprise your audiophile friend or guitar-playing relative with the perfect present this holiday season.

Shop our curated list below:

For vinyl-curious music lovers, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60x-BK is a great starter record player. At $200, it’s a budget-friendly option that will hold up better than the $50 ones, while still offering a similar sound quality to many high-end turntables. It doesn’t have built-in speakers, so you will need to connect it with headphones or another listening device (we have plenty of options down below). Check out more of the best record players to buy this year here.

Cameron Crowe wrote and directed the film “Almost Famous,” based on his experiences as a 15-year-old music journalist who embedded with rock legends like Led Zeppelin and David Bowie. With “The Memoir,” Crowe strips down the Hollywood version and tells the true stories of his youth that led him to become Rolling Stone’s youngest-ever contributor, a movie director and an Oscar-winning screenwriter. Fans of classic rock will marvel at Crowe’s access and descriptions of a bygone era in music. Check out more celebrity memoirs here.

Have you ever wanted to play your electric guitar outside your home, but you didn’t want to lug around an amplifier? Fender’s Mustang Micro Plus is like an amp you can fit in your pocket. The compact device allows you to plug headphones into your guitar and jam on the go, with dozens of amp sounds and effects. It even has Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you could plug in and shred with no cables.

Fifty years after the original album’s release, Pink Floyd‘s classic “Wish You Were Here” album will get 50th anniversary editions that include a greater wealth of unreleased material, collectively dubbed “Wish You Were Here 50.” The new sets arrives Dec. 12, just in time for holiday gifting. You can pre-order the set here.

“Riptide” anyone? For those who want to learn an instrument but don’t know where to start, a ukulele is a good entryway. Fender has a handful of stylish options that keep the instrument’s approachable charm and beachy vibe intact. At $120, the Avalon blows a souvenir shop uke out of the water while still being affordable compared to other professional models.

For bigger gifts for more advanced musicians, consider one of Fender’s Player II guitars. The iconic axe house has upgraded its most reliable models — the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Jaguar and more — with improved hardware, fresh colors and more.

Hedley & Bennett’s newest Grateful Dead collab includes canvas tote bags, aprons and chef’s knives decorated with Dancing Bears and “Steal Your Face” imagery. Check out more Grateful Dead gifts here.