Under $100 is where music gifts get serious without getting expensive: a pedal that's been on records for decades, a real cymbal, a microphone people use on air. Here's one classic for each kind of musician. Every pick comes from our rankings, with tonight's Thomann price. For smaller budgets, see gifts for musicians under $50.
For a guitarist
Boss DS-1 Distortion, $85
One of the best-known distortion pedals ever made, also great as a booster at low gain. #1 of 546 distortion pedals.
Hughes & Kettner Spirit of Metal, $55
An all-analog nano amp head with up to 50 watts into 4 ohms, a headphone output with cabinet emulation and a line out, built for high-gain sounds. #3 of 16 solid-state guitar heads.
For a bassist
Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff Pi, $88
The Big Muff fuzz tuned for bass, with a bass boost switch so the low end stays fat. #1 of 143 bass pedals.
For a drummer
Meinl 16" HCS China, $77
An explosive 16-inch china cymbal, the trashy accent most beginner kits don't have. #2 of 36 16" china cymbals.
For a producer or keyboardist
Korg nanoKEY 2, $59
A slim 25-key velocity-sensitive USB controller that fits next to any laptop. #1 of 34 master keyboards (up to 25 keys).
For a podcaster or streamer
Rode PodMic W, $82
A dynamic XLR microphone made for speech, with an internal pop shield and a solid build. #1 of 21 broadcast microphones.
Questions
What is the best gift for a musician under $100?
A classic for their instrument: the Boss DS-1 ($85) for a guitarist, the Bass Big Muff for a bassist.
What can I get a musician for $50 to $100?
A good effects pedal, a cymbal, a MIDI keyboard or a microphone: all real tools they'll use.
How we picked. Every product comes from an AudioFu ranking, scored on demand, price, specs and brand; specs from Thomann's product data. Prices are converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate and updated every night, as are the ranks. Prices move, so a pick near $100 can cross the line.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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