Some Background

As part of a series on gifts and presents for guitarists. You should find some ideas for what you can buy experienced blues guitarists for birthdays, Christmas or whatever occassion arises.

At this stage, they've probably changed amplifiers a few times. They've probably even changed guitars a few times, accumulating a few spares along the way unless they're one of the very few lucky guitarists who start off with their ideal guitar.

Amplifiers

As for guitar amp, we're now in the territory of the extremely fickle. Similar to the Gift Ideas for an Intermediate Blues Guitarist, be very careful about whether you buy an amp or guitar as a present. With experienced blues guitarists, we're looking for kit that will last and not need replacing because they want something better. General suggestions for blues amplifiers in this category are the Fender Twin, Fender Bassman, Fender Blues Deville/Deluxe (spot the theme), but if they're in for something on the rockier side of blues, then maybe the Marshall Bluesbreaker or Hughes and Kettner Statesman would be better. There are a lot of boutique amps, but you can quickly waste money this way by buying the wrong amp as a present. I'd consider Two Rock, Fuchs, Matamp and Matchless as good manufacturers to start with. Have a look at Top 10 Amplifiers for a quick overview of top-of-the-range amplifiers.

Conversely, the other end of the range is now looking very appealing, even to experienced guitarists. You could get a small guitar combo so they can rock out at low volumes. Makes sure that it's all-valve (or all-tube). These aren't the same as the cheap, beginner practice amps that the guitarist may have started out with 10 years ago. In the last year or two, there's been a trend for very small, low power, but capable amplifiers. These are full of tone and allow for a lot of experimentation. They're not ideal for gigging on their own, but instead these are ideal as a second amp to keep around the house and play in the house. Even better if the guitarist is into home recording since they can get that cranked up tone from a small amp at more volumes which are more bearable for everyone else. Blackstar and Blackheart are two names to watch out for here. There are a few others and I'm convinced it's a growing area.

Blues guitarists have never had it so good with a wide range of great quality guitar amps suitable for blues.

1. Engl Classic 50W 2x12 Guitar Combo AmpThe Engl Classic Tube 50 Amplifier delivers 100% vintage tube tone in an amp that lets vintage meet the demands of the 21st century. 2 channels with separate gain and master volume control deliver a wide range of vintage tones. Up to date features like FX Loop, foot switchable channels and 2 foot switchable volume levels meet the demands of the modern guitar player without sacrificing vintage tube tone.
2. Fender 57 Deluxe 12W 1x12 Combo AmpThe Fender '57 Deluxe Combo Amp is a 12W hand-wired tube amplifier with a 12" speaker. Super cool and timeless, the lower settings of the "chicken head" volume control result in harmonically rich clean sound perfect for authentic vintage rock, blues, and country playing; when cranked up, the Deluxe amp's fat, compressed, wildly distorted tone is not only inspiring, but just plain fun. It also records easily, thanks to all that natural compression. American design, American made!Guitarists who want a moderately powered tube amp for home, studio, or small gigs will fall in love with the '57 Deluxe; tube amp enthusiasts who appreciate the unique qualities of hand-wired, hand-built models and Fender fans & collectors will consider the '57 Deluxe a must-have!The original Fender Deluxe amp of the 1950s was a medium-powered unit designed to let guitarists "hold their own" in a small group. As blues, Western, and rockabilly bands began getting louder and wilder, the overdriven tone of a cranked-up Deluxe found its way onto countless smokin' hot live and recorded performances. Over the past five decades, from Memphis to Liverpool to Texas, players of every conceivable style have employed this awesome tone machine for its unmistakable warm, rich tube tone.Original late '50s hand-wired 12W 5E3 circuit is one of the most touch-sensitive, dynamic amp sounds of all time; manageable volume level for studio or small venue; natural compression adds sustain, even at clean settings.Solid pine cabinet gives the tone a warm, natural wood resonance.Groove Tubes 12AX7 preamp tubes provide sensitive, higher-gain tone; user may install a 12AY7 for the original lower-gain sound, if desired.Jensen P-12Q Alnico-magnet speaker is the same model as used in many of the originals; sounds nice and sparkly clean, then "barks" when you hit it hard.
3. Fender '57 Twin-Amp Tweed Combo AmpThe Fender '57 Twin Tweed Combo Amp effectively reproduces the 1955-1957 edition's low-powered 5E8A circuit, which produces 40W into a pair of 12" Alnico-magnet speakers. Its harmonically rich, clean tones are great for authentic rock, blues, and country playing. When cranked up, the Twin-Amp's fat, sophisticated distortion tone works wonderfully in many modern musical situations.The '57 Twin-Amp gets its power from a pair of USA-made GT6L6-GE output tubes. The power supply includes Fender's rarely seen '50s dual rectifier arrangement, which uses two - 5U4 rectifier tubes. With this design, power amp compression, or sag, is more subtle than it is in many Fender Tweed designs. The preamp contains four high-gain 12AX7 tubes, three of which may be substituted with 12AY7s for the original '50s low-gain sound, if desired. There's also an internal bias pot that allows easy substitution of various 6L6 tube types.Control panel details include Normal and Bright volumes, 4 Inputs (2 Normal, 2 Bright), Treble, Bass, and Presence knobs.The '57 Twin's finger-joined solid pine cabinet resonates with a warm, woody tone. The amp is covered in genuine lacquered tweed, and a vintage brown/gold grille cloth and leather strap handle complete a very vintage package. Fitted cover is included.
4. Vox Custom Classic AC30CC2X 30w 2x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp with Alnico BluesThe Vox AC30CC2X 30W 2x12 Custom Classic Combo with Vox Celestion Blue Speakers was made for great vintage sound. 2 blendable channels feature fully variable tremolo with footswitchability, a custom EQ switch on the Top Boost channel, and Brilliant switch on the normal channel. Spring reverb with dwell switch, footswitchability, and tone control; plus an effects loop with full bypass and level control give you precision command over a broad range of sounds. Boutique features include switchable cathode bias for lower power and longer tube life plus switchable smoothing filter values for looser or tighter feel. Baltic birch cab, vintage-style transformers, tone cut control, and included dual footswitch.
5. Hughes & Kettner Statesman Series STM Dual 6L6 60W 2x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp BurgThe Hughes & Kettner Statesman Series STM Dual 6L6 tube guitar amp carries the Californian 6L6 gene in a classic 2 x 12" chassis, and adds a generous helping of Clean channel headroom. You get bigger, bolder funk, blues, and country tones on your plate. And if you want even more than this 2 x 12" rig serves up, simply super-size the Dual 6L6 with an added STM 212 speaker cabinet.Beauty and the Beast Sinfully sweet American clean with a touch of hillbilly twang and rough-and-ready British rock in one amp? They said it couldn t be done; the sonic divide was simply too wide. They said if you want both worlds of tone and are unwilling to settle for less, you would have to take 2 amps to the stage. They said the warm airy tone of an open back combo and the fat, focused power of a 4 x 12 rock rig were incompatible—beauty and the beast, never to be caged together.

Guitars

It's also about time for an upgrade from that intermediate or basic guitar. The standard is by far a US-Made Fender Stratocaster. If they're a bit more traditional, then maybe a Telecaster would do better. There are other good models from other brands, check out G&L and Godin. Unless you know them incredibly well and can afford for the guitar or amp to be ignored or sold at half price, then leave this area well alone. There's a very high chance, you'll get the choice wrong. Remember, guitarists are fickle.

One way out is if the guitarist is a close relative, maybe you could offer an upgrade, but cap the price difference or next thing you know and you'll be paying more for the next guitar and amp than you did for their first car. It pays to do some research first so you know if your contribution will be worth anything and if the present contribution idea will backfire. The new price of the kit in this range is roughly I guess that's roughly $1500-$3500 for a guitar and similar for an amp. Any kit they have to part-exchange will be 30% of original cost at most. Probably nothing at all if it's from a bargain beginner package or has been treated badly.

1. Fender American Deluxe Series Ash Telecaster Electric Guitar Butterscotch Blonde Maple FretboardThe top-of-the-line Fender American Deluxe Ash Telecaster Electric Guitar exudes Fender craftsmanship. You get vintage tone with a solid ash body, S-1 switching, and SCN (Samarium Cobalt Noiseless) pickups for hum-free Tele twang. The one-piece maple neck has a vintage tint, abalone dot inlays, and maple fingerboard decked out with 22 medium-jumbo frets. Includes Fender hardshell case.
2. Fender American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Sunburst Rosewood FretboardThe Fender American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster Electric Guitar is instantly comfortable, with irresistible tone and playability. You won't believe your fingers and ears. The ultimate in high-performance electric guitars, this premium model has an ultrasmooth, sweet neck with hand-rolled edges to make it play fast, smooth, and sweet. SCN (Samarium Cobalt Noiseless) pickups dish out vintage Strat sounds without the hum, while a hot bridge pickup and S-1 switching provide versatility, extra punch, and sustain. Classically contoured ash body fits like a glove. Other features include polished chrome, locking machine heads, American Deluxe tremolo with polished steel saddles, highly detailed fret and nut work, abalone dot inlays, and aged plastic parts. Includes Fender hardshell case.Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickupsIt's no secret that pickup designers have been striving to develop the ultimate noise-free single-coil replacement pickup. In pursuit of as little 60-cycle hum and extraneous noise as possible and the classic bell-like tones and fidelity of the original Fender designs, Fender has poured their energy into discovering a new world-class pickup for the ages. With open minds and a willingness to seemingly question everything, Fender partnered with legendary pickup designer Bill Lawrence. The pickup that was birthed from this extraordinary partnership is the Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickup. It has no hum, no microphonics, close to zero magnetic interruption of the string path; and the widest sonic parameters possible-from Fender classic single coils to tones not yet imagined. Truly a revolutionary design in guitar pickups.
3. G&L ASAT Classic BluesBoy Electric Guitar Clear OrangeA finely crafted solidbody that plays buttery smooth. Gorgeous woods. Premium hardware. The Classic Bluesboy has a solid alder body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard. The G&L MFD bridge pickup dispenses traditional single-coil bite and the Duncan SH55N Seth Lover churns out vintage "Patent-Applied-For" humbucker tones. Schaller tuners. Deluxe appointments and craftsmanship throughout. Includes deluxe hardshell case.The patented Magnetic Field Design® pickups use a ceramic bar magnet installed underneath each coil, with soft iron adjustable pole pieces to transfer the magnetic field to the surface of the pickup. By contrast, traditional Alnico type pickups, such as used in the Legacy and George Fullerton models, use nonadjustable Alnico pole pieces leaving the only adjustment being pickup height. The Magnetic Field Design has this adjustment, but further offers individual adjustment of each pole piece, letting the player effectively adjust the output of each string on each pickup. Magnetic Field Design (MFD) yield about twice the output per wind, making the pickup quieter while allowing a greater overall output. The sound of Magnetic Field pickups is slightly warmer with a broader frequency response. One major Nashville session guitarist remarked that G&L Magnetic Field single-coil pickups sounded as balanced and sweet as his favorite old vintage Alnico equipped axe. The difference is that the MFD pickups sound that good right into his amp without all the EQ tweaking of his mixing console that made his other guitar sound so good. When he ran his G&L though his studio rig, he was truly amazed at the rich and warm, yet clear and sparkly sound.
4. G&L Comanche Electric Guitar HoneyBurstThe Comanche Electric Guitar has a swamp ash body (alder on opaque finishes) with a gorgeous figured maple top. One-piece bird's-eye maple neck is incredibly well-finished; a tinted gloss gives it a vintage vibe and a glasslike smoothness. Jumbo frets make it amazingly easy to play. Deluxe guitar hardware includes a dual-fulcrum bridge and Schaller locking tuners. 3 MFD (Magnetic Field Design) Z-coil pickups deliver excellent, clear, cutting tones. The patented Magnetic Field Design® pickups use a ceramic bar magnet installed underneath each coil, with soft iron adjustable pole pieces to transfer the magnetic field to the surface of the pickup. By contrast, traditional Alnico type pickups, such as used in the Legacy and George Fullerton models, use nonadjustable Alnico pole pieces leaving the only adjustment being pickup height. The Magnetic Field Design has this adjustment, but further offers individual adjustment of each pole piece, letting the player effectively adjust the output of each string on each pickup. Magnetic Field Design (MFD) yield about twice the output per wind, making the pickup quieter while allowing a greater overall output. The sound of Magnetic Field pickups is slightly warmer with a broader frequency response. One major Nashville session guitarist remarked that G&L Magnetic Field single-coil pickups sounded as balanced and sweet as his favorite old vintage Alnico equipped axe. The difference is that the MFD pickups sound that good right into his amp without all the EQ tweaking of his mixing console that made his other guitar sound so good. When he ran his G&L though his studio rig, he was truly amazed at the rich and warm, yet clear and sparkly sound.
5. Yamaha SBG1000 DOUBLE CUTAWAY Electric Guitar Brown SunburstCommemorating the 30th anniversary of the celebrated SG1000, Yamaha US has released the SBG1000 guitar, individually handcrafted by the highly skilled master luthiers of the Yamaha Music Craft workshop in Hamamatsu, Japan. The one new feature that has been added to the SBG series is Yamahas Initial Response Acceleration that is a Yamaha technique that accelerates the maturing process of the guitar creating tonal sweet spots and increased stability, which allows the guitar to rapidly develop its unique personality as if it has been played for years.
6. Music Man Silhouette Special HSS Tremolo Electric Guitar Candy Apple Rosewood FretboardSame cool Silhouette shape and features, except this version comes equipped with a Music Man vintage tremolo, a 3-pickup array in an H-S-S configuration, and featuring the patented Music Man "Silent Circuit" which reduces hum while retaining a true single-coil sound. The graphite acrylic resin-coated body cavity and aluminum-lined pickguard provide electronic shielding to block noise and hum from external electrical sources.

Strap Locks

Strap Locks are great. Can't go wrong with them, especially if there's a new guitar involved.

1. Schaller Guitar Strap Locks and Buttons (Pair) Black. Get Schaller's guitar strap locks for added security.

Picks

You can still buy a range of picks for the guitarist. The experienced guitarist will have figured out what they like using, but you can always buy a few esoteric picks to expand their experience. Try some with grooves in, dents for the thumb, different shapes. Again, you don't need to choose based on logo unless they're mad about some other guitarist.

1. Dunlop Tortex Jazz Guitar Pick Heavy 3 Dozen.The Tortex jazz guitar picks were carefully designed and manufactured to give the characteristic maximum memory and minimum wear that made the original tortoiseshell picks famous. The small size and sharp point make it the most precise plectrum on the planet.
2. Dunlop Tortex Pitch Black Standard Guitar Picks 1 Dozen .88Mm. Dunlop Tortex Pitch Black Standard Guitar Picks are carefully designed and manufactured to give the maximum memory and minimum wear that made the original tortoiseshell guitar picks famous. Dunlop Tortex guitar picks are available in a variety of gauges. One dozen Pitch Black Picks.
3. Planet Waves 10 Standard Celluloid Picks Medium Green PearlThese guitar picks from Planet Waves provide a natural feel and warm, fat tone due to their celluloid construction. One of the first polymers ever created, cellulose nitrate is made by reacting cotton fibers with nitric acid. Celluloid was substituted for natural tortoise shell picks in the early 1900s and is still one of the most popular guitar pick materials available today.
4. Wedgie Delrin EX Guitar Picks 1 Dozen Blue 1.00MMThe unique and innovative Wedgie guitar picks are designed to be so comfortable, you'll never hold a flat pick again without noticing how flat it is. The Wedgie's contoured shape allows it to be held more firmly without changing its playing feel. The Delrin EX picks are made of a special blend that ensures a clean sound and snappy release.

Straps

Straps are a good present. Go for something with a bit more flair or style that usual. Maybe get one that matches their guitar or the colour of their band clothing (they do have an image, don't they?).

1. Levy's Italian Glove Leather Guitar Strap Black 3 1/2 In. The Levy's Italian Glove Leather Guitar Strap is 2-1/2" wide and made of supple garment leather with foam padding and suede backing. A very comfortable strap, it feels like you've been using it for years the first time you put it on. And just in case you've forgotten - leather smells great! Adjustable from 44" to 53".
2. Gibson Saddle Leather Guitar Strap TanThis 2-1/2"-wide strap provides the utmost comfort with durable saddle leather. Classic looks with embossed design.
3. Perri's 2-1/2" Suede Leather Guitar Strap BurgundyMade from 100% durable, high-quality suede leather, this strap looks and feels great. Fully adjustable to a length of 52". 2-1/2" wide. Choose from different colors to suit your personal taste.
4. Levy's M7DG3 Distressed Leather Guitar Strap BlackThis distressed leather guitar strap bears a design that resembles marble. It's finished off with garment leather backing and tri-glide adjustments. Dimensions: 3" W x up to 69" L

Amp Stand

Most likely, the guitarist will be playing live on a regular basis by now. I'll assume they have a 1x12 or 2x12 combo. The problem with gigs is that the guitarist may be too close to the amplifier to hear it properly. The amp stands allow the amplifier to be off the ground, allowing the guitarist to hear themselves as well as allowing the amp to project to the audience. You may need a special stand for a 2x12 combo, or if you're lucky, then you may get away with 2 stands side-by-side depending on the stands.

1. On-Stage Stands RS7000 Tiltback Amp StandUsing the RS7000 Tiltback Amp Stand gets your amp of the floor, which gives you better onstage monitoring, better coverage for your audience, and keeps feet out of your speaker grille.A perfect choice for various stage and studio amplifier applications, the tilt-back feature will rest your gear on black velveteen rubber pads for the best grip and reinforcement of your sound. The A-frame construction makes this stand extremely secure and stable when holding equipment and gear. Non-slip rubber feet and a locking cross brace keep the stand, and your amp, firmly in place.
2. On-Stage Stands Pro Tiltback Amp StandIf your knees had ears, then maybe you'd be able to hear yourself play with your combo amp sitting on the floor. But that's not the only reason you need an On-Stage Pro Tiltback Amplifier Stand. With your combo amp up off the floor and angled towards your ear, not only can you hear yourself without having to constantly turn up and increase stage noise, your amp also has better projection to the audience. You also gain easy access to your controls. No more bending over and mooning the audience while you make adjustments. One more benefit; nobody accidentally kicks in your grill cloth or guitar speaker on a crowded stage. The strength and versatility of this stand comes from the double clutch disk that allows you to remove and rotate the support arm assembly. The solid steel double stamped 3" disk allows for a secure locking position every time! The A-Frame base with 1" square tubing construction will adjust its floor spread in order for you to get the most support under your amp. Ridged end caps keep all metal surfaces off of the ground and act as a shock absorber.

Pedals

The experienced blues guitarist has probably spent the last few years in search of the perfect tone. Pedals are a great way to change tone and every guitarist knows that and part of the fun is the experimentation. You've now got a much harder job on your hands than if they just starting out. We're now into the classics and boutique territory (not always the same thing).

Overdrive and Boost Pedals

So upping the price a bit, we can head towards buying pedals as gifts. As a rule, don't buy them a pedal if they're got one of those types already. It's ok to buy a chorus, if they've only got overdrive pedals. But unless they've a reason for changing pedals, there's no need to have two overdrive pedals. While the crossed-out statement may have been true for the beginners and intermediates, I'm sure it's not true for a lot of experienced guitarists. I have several overdrive pedals, each with their own character. I find that I don't touch one for a few months, then it will find itself back in my gig bag because of a new song that requires just that tone. I think of them like a pair of shoes; the same pair aren't suitable for all occasions.

If the guitarist is any good with soldering or doesn't mind learning, then try a boost or overdrive pedal from Build-Your-Own-Clone. I've got a few of their pedals and each one is awesome. These are definitely good pedals featuring quality well above their price-point, the downside and the explanation for the low price is that you have to assemble and solder it yourself.

We'll look at some expensive and boutique pedals for the experienced guitarist.

Overdrive

1. TC Electronic VPD1 Overdrive Guitar Effects PedalThe VPD1 vintage pre-drive guitar pedal is a lot more than just an overdrive. With the additional boost section, top and mid boost, remote control, and a vintage-type speaker simulation, VPD1 is a genuinely versatile guitar pedal. TC Electronics scientists designed the VPD1 to reproduce warm driven vintage tones that you would normally only get from a tube amp with the master volume turned all the way up.Simplicity, great sound, and timeless design make up the holy trinity of the VPD1 vintage pre-drive pedal. This overdrive pedal is all about bringing out the best in your favorite guitar/amp setup without any unwanted coloring of tone or quality-compromising add-ons. VPD1 would therefore serve as an excellent companion for the G-System from TC Electronic. The basic drive section delivers a distinguished vintage overdrive allowing every characteristic of your instrument to shine through. When you kick in the boost section, you get a saturated lead sound with plenty of gain and sustain. Additional features on the boost section are the Top and Mid boost emphasis filters that let your tone really cut through.VPD1 features a unique circuit, which accurately replicates every group of components in an original vintage tube amp combo, including the dynamic interaction that occurs between the components. In addition to the drive functionality, VPD1 overdrive pedal actually serves as a small preamp, ranging sonically from barely audible overdrive to snarling leads and beyond.In the VPD1 signal path, the boost section is placed before the drive, which means that the boosted guitar signal not only sounds louder but also sounds more overdriven. This makes it ideal for switching from rhythm to lead guitar. The remote function even allows you to switch the VPD1 boost on and off with the new G-System from TC Electronic, or any other external relay switching device. Top and mid boost switches are also included for a more flexible sonic exploitation of the VPD1 guitar pedal.The VPD1 sports an integrated speaker filter that makes it very useful for studio sessions and home practice. The speaker filter, which can be bypassed at a flick of a switch, is based on the same research as the VPD1 Drive, and underlines the vintage qualities of the new TC Electronic pedal.
2. T-Rex Moller Overdrive and Clean Boost Guitar PedalStunning clean sound with just a little dirt around the edges? Solid overdrive with a tablespoon of clean sparkle to make your distorted chords stand out? Fire-breathing distortion with just a dash of clean signal for better definition? The T-Rex Moller is a classic overdrive guitar pedal that provides a wealth of dynamic overdriven tones with superb tonal control, as well as separate transparent 0-20 db adjustable and switchable clean boost, and a unique overdrive/clean mix option.The mix knob lets you dial in the perfect balance between distorted and non-distorted signal. Rolled all the way up and with distortion maxed too, the effect pedal sounds just like an old tube amp on full volume.Roll the mix knob back a bit, and your clean signal starts to get through, meaning that if you pick lightly, or roll back the volume on your guitar, you get a stunning clean/softly clipping sound that retains all the feel and dynamics of your original tone, only bigger, louder and richer.The boost function lets you dial in a solo level, whether the overdrive circuit is activated or not.Origin The T-Rex Moller pedal was developed in 2003 for a well-known Danish guitarist called Knud Moller. He plays guitar for Johnny Madsen and has also made solo albums. He needed a good tube screamer with a clean boost, so T-Rex made him that pedal based in Alberta. Other Danish players heard and saw the effect pedal, and they also asked for one. Demand increased. T-Rex decided to improve the guitar pedal and mass produce it.
3. Fulltone GT-500 FET Distortion + Booster and Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal RedThe GT-500 Effects Pedal from Fulltone is a discrete FET Hi-Gain Distortion and Overdrive Booster in one box. You could think of them as 2 separate pedals, or think of them as stages to be linked together for endless combinations. The Hi-Gain side has Volume, Distortion knobs, Bass, Mid, and Highs minipots. Its Booster Side has Volume, Overdrive knobs, Bass and Highs minipots.Hard-clipped distortion—the way most guitar pedals achieve distortion—at one point in a circuit can be cool, but stage after stage of FET (GT-500) is very real, very amplike, and has ridiculous amounts of sustain even at low volume. It does the great chunky low-string rhythm stuff and cleans up incredibly well when you turn down the guitar's volume. The Fulltone GT500 contains 9 FETs, 2 Mosfets, and 1 Transistor with no opamps or clipping diodes used.What's special about the EQ? The Hi-Gain side has a discrete Inductor-Driven Midrange circuit—never been done in a pedal before. There's a wah-wah inductor inside the pedal that gives the Midrange control its ability to drastically increase or decrease the entire Low Mid, Mid, and Hi-Mid frequencies, to comical proportions. All this is done without any opamps—this has 100% discrete matched FETs.This Mid control mixed with a strong Bass and Treble control help give the Fulltone GT-500 the ability to dial in more variations than a simple tone control, which can only roll off the Highs.The Series Select Switch allows you to choose which pedal comes first (allowing you to instantly change the order of the 2 circuits). For example: A clean boost slamming into the front end a Distortion sounds way different than a Distortion followed by the clean boost, and when the EQs of the respective sides come into play, it's a wide-open canvas. Regardless of which side of the effects pedal is designated as first in line, you can still use each side by itself, completely independent of the other side.
4. Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive PedalThe Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive pedal gives you the dynamic punch of a clean amp, and the sustain and warmth of an overdriven amp, all in a single stompbox. Sparkle Drive's unique Clean control lets you blend its overdrive circuit with a boosted clean signal for a rich, layered guitar tone.With the Clean control off (fully counterclockwise), the overdrive circuit has the same classic tones as a vintage 808. With the Clean control all the way up, you get a super transparent, 100% clean boost with tons of output for driving the front end of your amp. Just spend a few minutes dialing-in the Clean control with your setup, and you'll find a sweet spot that no other single effect pedal can deliver. The Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive features true bypass switching, a heavy-duty metal switch and on/off status LED. Hand built in the U.S.A. and fully backed by a 5-year warranty.
5. Carl Martin Hot Drive n Boost PedalVoiced with an emphasis on the midrange, the Hot Drive'n Boost pedal will produce tones ranging from crunchy blues to classic rock with great sustain, but cleans up nicely when you back off on your guitar's volume control. The unit features both clean and distortion outputs for players who wish to split their signal into 2 amps. The boost feature lets you pump out up to 22dB more punch for solos that really stand out!

Tubescreamer

Every Blues guitarist needs a Tubescreamer. Maybe this is so basic, it should be in the beginner section. I'd be really surprised if an experienced blues player hasn't got a Tubescreamer or a Tubescreamer clone already. In reality, it's just a form of overdrive pedal. The two main pedals that guitarists look for are the Ibanez TS-808 and the Ibanez TS-9. Originals are very expensive as are the re-issues. Again, if they can build their own from a kit, then the BYOC Overdrive pedal is great and the newer Overdrive 2 looks even better.

1. Ibanez TS808 Vintage Tube Screamer ReissueThe Ibanez TS808 Vintage Tube Screamer Reissue is back. This is the incomparable overdrive pedal that vintage gear hounds are always hoping to find. The 2004 TS808 reissue features the same famous square footswitch and the warm tones of the JRC4558 chip used in most of the original TS808s. Ignore look-alikes. If your tone is suffering from a lack of real warmth, the TS808 is the real, nongeneric prescription.
2. Ibanez TS808HW Tube Screamer Overdrive Guitar Effects PedalThe Ibanez Tube Screamer, in its many versions and forms, can be found on pedal boards across the globe. Its warm overdrive is a sound many players, from advanced to beginner, can't be without. The hand-wired deluxe TS808HW Tube Screamer offers even more capability and was built with the pro musician in mind.Encased in a special, heavy-duty metal box, the TS808HW pedal is hand-wired with select 4555D IC chips (same as the revered and often-imitated TS808) and uses Japanese high-end MOGAMI OEC cable (AWG21). Equipped with true bypass, this Tube Screamer sends pure guitar excitement to your amplifier with no tonal loss whatsoever. This is, by far, the most evolved Tube Screamer pedal Ibanez has ever created.

Wah

At this level, we should be looking at the boutique models and those offered by original manufacturers, but with improvements to the switch and rock mechanisms as well as to the tone

1. Fulltone Clyde Standard Wah Guitar Effect PedalClyde McCoy was a big-band Trumpet Player in the '60s... not a great musician, but one famous for getting a muted wah wah sound. This led to Vox trying to approximate this muted trumpet sound in a pedal... hence the Vox "Clyde McCoy" wah wah circa 1967.Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton used a Vox "Clyde McCoy" model wah wah. Photos taken during the recording of Electric Ladyland document Jimi's as being the "signature" model, featuring Clyde McCoy's name written out script style on the bottomplate. The other type of Clyde McCoy was the "picture" version, which had Clyde's photo on the bottomplate. The "signature" model, with it's great sounding "halo" inductor, is what the Fulltone CLYDE is modeled after.The Fulltone CLYDE was born from taking the best of the best of Fulltone's vintage Vox wah collection, and analyzing every aspect... going so far as sacrificing a few of the vintage inductors to get it right.Our Inductor is a tuned core hand-made unit using exactly the same type wire and inductance as the '60s-era Vox, except very consistent from one unit to the next. A tuned core inductor is much more expensive to make, but the end result is worth it. Drop this into your wah and experience the difference. The only change from the original '60s Vox design is the addition of a very usable internal Resonance Control which is a large durable trimmer, for bass and gain adjustment, which is easily adjustable by hand without tools and with room to mark your favorite settings.All 2008CLYDE Standard wahs sport the most authentic '60s Vox-type inductor available, which happens to also be the quietest.
2. Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah Guitar Effects Pedal BlackThe Clyde Deluxe Wah Pedal is the updated version of a Fulltone standard. The Deluxe version of the Clyde wah has all the features that players have come to know and love about the original, but now it has a 10-step variable input level control, it's true-bypass with a bright side-viewable low-current pilot light status indicator, and it has 3 selectable modes: Wacked, Jimi, and Shaft.The Wah Pedal's 3-way mode switch and variable input control pot will let you dial in almost any type of wah sound you can imagine. All the way from classic Voodoo Chile to biting funk to down-and-dirty low-end grunt. The Fulltone Clyde Deluxe can do it all.
3. Budda BudWah Wah PedalThe Budda BudWah Wah Pedal uses a custom inductor that is voiced to produce the midrange honk of vintage wahs without the top-end harshness. At bass settings, the tone is thick and honky without losing note clarity. When accentuating the highs, a carefully selected roll-off frequency ensures the BudWah isn't piercing like many wahs. A tight and focused tone sweep produces an outstanding vocal-like quality. Circuitry features a hard-wire bypass; custom coil inductor inspired by the vintage Fasel inductor; full-ground plane board for noiseless operation; and a beefy, reliable switch.
4. Dunlop BG-95 Buddy Guy Wah PedalCited as a major influence by wah-wah masters such as Hendrix, Clapton, and Vaughn-Buddy Guy helped establish the wah-wah as part of the blues vocabulary. To honor his contributions Dunlop has created the Crybaby Buddy Guy Signature Wah Pedal, featuring the Fasel Inductor for a sweet and singing top end, and 2 distinct user selectable wah voices-choose DEEP for a big and throaty growl, or BG for Buddy's own warm and bell-like wah tone. Convenient side-mounted LEDs indicate which mode you are in, while a separate LED indicates effect on/off. Let your guitar sing the blues in style with the Buddy-approved polka dot graphics and custom signature tread.

Chorus

1. Carl Martin Chorus XII PedalUnbelievably rich sound and ultra-quiet operation are the strengths of this quality pedal. Also, it functions essentially as 2 pedals, with 2 identical but independent sets of speed and depth controls, each with its own LED that flashes according to speed setting. A Select switch lets you change settings mid song.
2. Voodoo Lab Analog Chorus PedalVoodoo Lab's Analog Chorus pedal is an exact sonic replica of the most sought after chorus of all time: the 1976 Roland CE-1. With its lush and distinctively organic tone, it's the standard by which all other chorus effects are measured. Now you can get those same classic sounds in a compact stompbox! The Analog Chorus pedal gives you a huge range of sounds from a thick analog doubling, to uber-lush chorus, and even a Leslie rotating speaker. Guitar Player says: "Strikingly vocal with a distinctive organic tone. Warm, pulsing, and sexy."

Tremolo

1. Carl Martin Trem o Vibe Pedalt consists of a tremolo and a real vibrato, both with independent sets of speed and depth controls. The tremolo effect works like a change in volume; the vibrato works as a change in tone (pitch modulation) and is carefully designed to imitate the sound of a real tube vibrato. Features 2 switches: on/off and select. Has a built-in regulated power supply.
2. Voodoo Lab Tremolo PedalVoodoo Lab's Tremolo pedal delivers authentic vintage tube amp tremolo sounds from gentle and warm, to machine gun-style insanity all in a single pedal. By using the same lamp and photocell assembly found in many classic tube amps, Voodoo Lab's Tremolo gives you real analog tone right from a compact 9V stomp box!By using the inventive Slope control, you can change the shape of the tremolo waveform from traditional to full on stuttering madness and all points in-between. Speed and intensity controls provide a wide range that includes very slow and deep sounds, and the Volume control lets you cut or boost the overall output to your amp.

Reverb

Buying this would mainly depends if their amplifier already has a good reverb unit built-in and whether they're happy with it. To be honest, I'd avoid these unless you have some inside information. I'd look at the T-rex Verbzilla or the Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail.

1. T-Rex Room-Mate Tube Reverb Guitar PedalThe RoomMate is a sweet-sounding reverb pedal. Four guitar reverb presets are only the start of the rich, warm sound that this box delivers. A built-in 300-volt power supply takes the whole effect to the next level, powering a T-Rex tube that adds voluminous, earthy warmth to incredible detail and spacious true stereo.Mix, high cut, and stereo out To shape your sound further, the RoomMate features a mix control and a high cut knob for increasing definition or backing off on the highs, vintage style. And there is naturally a stereo out for the studio or stereo live situations.Four signature sounds Room-Mate's mode knob gives you a choice of four signature presets. 1. Classic Plate is everything you want in a vintage medium plate reverb. 2. Warm Hall gives you a bigger sound with natural warmth. 3. With superb high-end resolution, Bright Hall gives you amazing detail. 4. Chorus with Warm Reverb is a sweet-sounding effect for bringing your acoustic guitar to life on stage.
2. T-Rex Tonebug Reverb Guitar Effects PedalThe Tonebug Reverb from T-Rex is a stunning reverb pedal built with one goal in mind: bring life to dry, flat-sounding, bedroom-bound guitar playing. The Tonebug Reverb pedal simulates real-life performance environments, from huge echoing concert halls and modern-sounding live stages to raunchy clubs and basement dives. But no matter what setting you choose, the Tonebug Reverb delivers loads of incredible T-Rex tone will keep you sounding like the best of them.What makes the Tonebug Reverb such a versatile stompbox is its clever dual-mode feature. The mode switch lets you go from Modern's more contemporary reverb sounds to Spring for a world of vintage reverb that sounds almost too authentic to be true. The T-Rex Tonebug Reverb is really like having 2 separate peals in one.
3. Tech 21 Boost R.V.B. Analog Reverb Emulator PedalWith the Boost R.V.B. Analog Reverb Emulator Pedal, Tech 21 brings a fresh perspective to the standard reverb pedal. By incorporating a clean Boost function — up to 9dB — your solos will jump out with greater dimension. The Boost R.V.B. is designed with tweakable, "lo-fi" analog technology. By manipulating the controls, you can infuse degrees of warmth and life characteristic of vintage reverbs. The circuitry intentionally injects the inherent imperfections of vintage units, which is what makes them so seductive and nostalgic. A single, continuously-variable Time control provides a full sweep of size. The Boost R.V.B. parameters are engineered so that you can explore and custom tailor such reverb styles as spring, plate, and natural room/hall ambiance.

Volume Pedal

Volume pedal - so often overlooked, these can make an amazing difference to the sound coming out of an amp.

1. Ernie Ball Stereo 25K Ohm Volume PedalThis stereo pedal is designed specifically for instruments with active electronics and buffered effect returns. Use the A input/A output for the left channel and the B input/B output for the right channel. For use as a mono volume pedal, use the A input and A output. For use with stereo cable installations using TRS type stereo plugs, use the B input and B output.
2. Visual Sound Visual Volume PedalWith the die-cast aluminum Visual Volume, the rocker position is indicated by a column of ten LEDs. With the rocker fully back (toe up, heel down) all of the lights are off and so is the volume. As you rock your foot forward, the indicators light up one by one until all 10 are lit. When all lights are on, you're at maximum volume. To find your level at a glance, LEDs 1-4 are blue, 5 is red, 6-9 are blue again, and 10 is red.The Visual Volume Pedal operates on 9V battery or an optional power supply. It will function passively without power though the LEDs will be inoperative. Visual Volume recommends using a high-quality regulated 9VDC adapter like the 1 Spot. Boss PSA, Dunlop ECB-03, Ibanez AC-109, and Morley 9V also acceptable. The Visual Volume pedal is easy to service. If you ever wear out the control pot, Visual Volume has a kit to restore your pedal to like new service. Many users are even able to make the switch themselves.Inputs and Outputs Input 1 and Output 1 are all you need for mono volume control. Tuner Out: Even with the volume all the way down, the tuner out still sends volume to your tuner, allowing you to tune silently without switching any cables around. If you don't plug into Input 2, both Outputs send the signal from Input 1, so you can plug into 2 different amps at the same time. Plug into inputs 1 & 2, and the Visual Volume becomes a stereo volume pedal. Great if you put a Stereo Chorus pedal in front of the Visual Volume. Or, plug 2 guitars into the Visual Volume and you can make quick guitar changes without unplugging. Other adjustments With the removal of the bottom plate on your pedal you can set the pedal for active or passive mode, adjust pedal tension, and in active mode, individually set the gain for each input.

Clothing and Accessories

If you know what they're interested in, then get some t-shirts, belt buckles, hoodies, hats or even a tote bag. Look at Audio Cloth for good examples.

Part of an in-depth series looking at gift and present ideas for guitarists