7 Gift Ideas for Bass Players That Actually Rock 🎸

Whether they’re a world-class rockstar playing sold out arenas or an air guitarist who spends more time jamming out in their bedroom, musicians can be a notoriously finicky group to shop for. After all, there are so many nuances to playing an instrument… if you’re more of a “sing along to the radio” kind of music-lover than a “learning a new instrument” type, it can be hard to even figure out where to start!

But worry not. That’s what we’re here to talk about today. Bass players tend to have pretty defined preferences when it comes to their gear, but these gift ideas give them the freedom to build their own setup, focus on the skills they’re most interested in, and still show that you care and support them on their creative journey.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the gift ideas for bass players we’ll be going over today:

• Gift cards for music lovers, players, and listeners
• Music stuff that your bass player always needs more of
• Gifts that fit their vibe but broaden their musical horizons a bit

Ready to rock? Then let’s roll!

Get to Know GiftYa, the Gift Card That Rocks 🤘

Before we get too far, let’s take a second to talk about GiftYa digital gift cards. If you’re new here, GiftYa is the latest and (we think) coolest innovation in gifting technology. Say goodbye to clunky plastic gift cards you’re always forgetting at home and hello to the future!

Here’s how it works. You choose from thousands of local and national brands in the GiftYa catalog – from their favorite hole-in-the-wall record shop to national music supply brands – add a photo, video, or pre-designed wrapper, pen your message, and click! It’s off to their email or text message in seconds. 

On their end, they have more ways to redeem their balance than ever. They can use it like any other e-gift code from their phone, attach it to a credit card they carry every day anyway so they never leave it at home, cash it out for a physical Visa gift card or to their bank account, or even swap for another merchant in the catalog for a small fee. Or, you can put the choice in their hands from the very beginning when you get them a GiftYa Select gift card, which allows them to choose from any merchant in the catalog from the start. 

Not sure what sort of gift cards a bass player might have on their list? Try these on for size!

• Text a Guitar Center gift card so they can upgrade their gear or grab some lessons to master a new technique
• Send a Hot Topic gift card for all of their band merch needs
• Buy a Spotify gift card and sponsor their unlimited streaming for the next couple of months
• Email a Best Buy gift card so they can grab headphones or recording tech they need
• Text a Stubhub gift card and treat them to their next concert experience

But while 96% of American adults say that they would be equally or more happy to receive gift cards than a physical gift, you certainly have plenty of other options. 

Now let’s talk about some more tangible gift ideas for the bass player in your life.

1. Picks

There are some things that a musician is constantly replacing, and picks are probably the biggest one. Just like artists are constantly going through paint and knitters are constantly using up yarn, bass players are always wearing out or (let’s be honest) forgetting their picks at practice… so help them out and give them some more!

Many bass players prefer nylon picks due to their versatility, but that’s not to say that every bass player prefers nylon picks. You can always pick (ha) up a few different types and DIY a variety back so they can experiment with their sound. Picks are pretty inexpensive, so it’s a nice way to build this basic necessity into a nice gift.

Another way to add a little pizzazz to the gift of a pick is to add a cool (or even custom) pick case into the mix. 

You can go as simple or as complicated as you want with this. Altoids tins are about the right size for a pick case, so customize it with concert ticket stubs, band stickers, or anything else you think they’d like for a one-of-a-kind present they’ll use all the time. 

If you’re not super crafty yourself, there are lots of options on Etsy, too. But I’d like to draw your attention to this one in particular… a mini guitar amp pick case?? You can’t get much cooler than that!

For the pranksters among us, you can even tell him you “got him a Gibson amp” and hit him with the pick case for a hilarious gag gift. Honestly, I’m cracking myself up just thinking about it. 

2. Straps and such

If guitar straps don’t seem that important to you, well… you probably aren’t a guitarist!

Straps and strap locks are essential because they evenly and securely distribute the weight of the guitar, help prevent injuries, and put them in a better position for playing. Even a hollowbody gets heavy after a long practice or show.

Straps and strap accessories make good gifts because they’re pretty easy to swap out and come in a wide range of colors and prints, including ones that coordinate with their favorite instrument. You can also collect some pins to help them personalize their strap.

Look for pins featuring things like:

• Bands they like
• Bands they don’t like 
• Cartoon or anime characters
• Famous artworks
• Emojis
• Silly goose badge
• Animals that look like their pets
• Aesthetic pins whether that means tiny radical dogs or spooky academia animals
• Video game characters or power ups
• Memes
• Cryptids
• Hazard symbols
• Vintage campaign pins
• Pins that tout their values 
• Pins you found on the ground
• Pins you DIY’d 

… you get the idea.

3. Music store shopping spree

You may have seen the “book store shopping spree” videos making the rounds on social media. But I guess in case your algorithm is vastly different from mine, I’ve also included one above. But the TLDR; is give them a few minutes to browse, fewer minutes to shop, and whatever they can carry is theirs. 

But in our case, you’ll use Guitar Center, Sweetwater, or whatever their favorite store might be. 

Now, in the case of a music store… this can get out of hand quickly. If you can afford to drop a couple grand on this gift, more power to ya. But the rest of us mortals would benefit from setting a price cap, like no individual item can cost more than, say, $20.

It’s a fun experience, and you’ll be sure they got something they actually want. 

4. Cases and stickers

A nice hard case to protect your bass can easily run $50 to $100 or more, so if you’re looking to spend a little more upgrading their case is always a good idea.

You can give them that blank canvas, but you can also get them started with some stickers to slap on their case like any self-respecting rockstar has. The same rules that apply to pins pretty much apply here too. Get them a whole stack of stickers, and let them place them however they want.

5. Pedals

This is another pricier option than some of the other ideas on the list, but it’s still within gift territory. Pedals control all sorts of effects that change the way an electric bass guitar sounds, including tone, modulation and pitch shifting, compression, EQ, and many more. 

A good place to start is to look at what pedals the bassist in their favorite bands use. In some cases those will be very expensive, professional-grade pedals that might be just a smidge out of budget… but a quick Google search will land you with a dupe that gets them a similar sound and won’t completely smash your budget.

To get you started, your search will go something like this.

If they like Green Day, look for Mike Dirnt’s pedal setup: 

• MXR M300 Digital Reverb Pedal, about $260 😬
• Boss DD-3 Digital Delay 1986-1990, about $140 😬
• TC Electronic Polytune 2010s, like $60 ✅ 

Or if they like Blink-182, look for Mark Hoppus’s pedal setup:

• Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive Pedal, about $180 😬
• MXR M83 Bass Chorus Deluxe Pedal, about $190 😬
• ONE POT Anti Trump FUzz Late 2010s, about $90 ✅

Or we can even take it old school, if they like Led Zeppelin look for John Paul Jones’s pedal setup:

• TC Electronic DITTO X4 Looper, about $220 😬
• Electro-Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi Bass Fuzz Pedal, about $100 🤷
• Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive Pedal, about $65 ✅

Of course some pedals do more complex things than other ones, so they’re always going to be on the pricier side. But if you can find something cool under $100, that’s usually a pretty good deal. 

6. Music notation software

If they don’t already have a music notation software, definitely get them a music notation software.

Guitar Pro is pretty much the best in the game. It works on Mac or PC, and one purchase gets them several licenses to use across their different devices. 

Guitar Pro allows them to find tabs for their favorite songs and practice them however they want to, including starting slowed down and gradually working up to the song’s regular tempo. They can find or design their own warm-ups and practice exercises, and of course, the most exciting part, write music of their own. 

7. Tickets to a concert

For someone who plays music, nothing quite beats watching their favorite musicians perform live. The people that inspire them, that provide the soundtrack to their life or help them get through tough times. And that experience is just that much more intense when you’re standing in a crowd with thousands of other fans who are all feeling the same thing, screaming the lyrics together. 

If you can, grab two tickets and go with them, or at least give them the option to take someone with them. Music builds community, so concerts are a gift best experienced together.

Sorry, no encore :/ That’s the end of our list of gift ideas for bass players!

We hope you found a gift here that totally rocks for your friend or loved one who plays the bass guitar. Whether they’ve been playing for years or they’re just getting started, these gifts are perfect for bass players of any age and skill level.

And don’t forget – check out the full GiftYa catalog for all of our local and national brands. We partner with music supply stores, vinyl shops, and event venues all around the country, so you might just find their favorite local spot in the mix!

Rock on 🎸