I've been playing guitar for years, and this is the gear I'd spend my own money on. Nothing flashy, just reliable strings, tuners, stands and a couple of pedals that do their job. Every pick comes with a note on why it earned a spot.
My go-to acoustic strings: bright, balanced and cheap enough to change often.
D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings
Clips on, reads fast, even on a loud stage. Doesn't get easier than this.
Snark SN5X Clip-On Tuner
One-handed, fast and holds tune without buzzing. I keep one in every gig bag.
Kyser Quick-Change Capo for 6-String Acoustic
Cheap, grippy and consistent. Buy a dozen because you will lose them.
Dunlop Tortex Standard .73mm Yellow Picks, 12 Pack
Folds up small and the auto-grip arms actually hold the neck. Safer than leaning it on a wall.
Hercules GS414B Plus Guitar Stand
Bright display and rugged. Still the pedal tuner I'd trust on a dark stage.
Boss TU-3 Pedal Tuner
Padded enough for the commute and the car, though not a substitute for a hard case on flights.
Gator Padded Guitar Gig Bag
The easiest way I know to get a guitar or vocal into a computer with clean sound.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen USB-C Audio Interface
Tiny, loud enough for practice and surprisingly good sounding. Great for late-night playing. It's only 7 watts, so it's for the bedroom, not the stage.
Boss Katana Mini 7-Watt Combo Amp
Comfortable for long sessions and rugged enough to trust at a gig. Simple polypro webbing that has never let me down. It's plain, but that's the point.
Ernie Ball Polypro Guitar Strap
A simple kit with cleaner, polish and fretboard care. It keeps strings fresh and the guitar looking good. Nothing fancy, just easy habits that make gear last.
Dunlop System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit
Coated strings that stay bright for weeks. They cost more, but I change them far less often, so it evens out.
D'Addario NYXL Electric Guitar Strings 10-46
Classic orange distortion that has been on records for decades. It's raw and a bit harsh, but with the tone dialed back it still sounds great.
Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal
Keeps my acoustic from drying out during Kingston's dry season and in air-conditioned rooms. Cheap insurance for a guitar I care about.
Oasis OH-1 Guitar Humidifier
Gets a guitar off the floor and onto the wall where I'll actually pick it up and play. The locking arm gives me peace of mind.
Hercules GSP38WB Plus Wall Hanger
Simple, clear delay with a tap tempo footswitch, which is the feature that sold me. Easy to dial in quickly at a rehearsal.
Boss DD-3T Digital Delay Pedal
Cuts my string changes down to a couple of minutes. The built-in cutter is handy, and I stopped getting sore fingers from hand-winding.
D'Addario Pro-Winder String Winder and Cutter
Quiet, tough and long enough to move around a room without pulling out of the amp. A bad cable ruins a session, so I don't cheap out here.
Fender Deluxe Series Instrument Cable, 18.6 ft
I'd reach for this when I want that swirling, vintage phaser tone on clean guitar or even electric piano parts.
MXR Phase 90 Pedal
A smooth, sturdy volume pedal that lets me swell chords and fade out cleanly. It's built like a tank and took no time to get used to.
Ernie Ball VP Jr Volume Pedal
A 7-watt practice amp small enough to sit on a desk for late-night playing. I'd want it for quiet jam sessions at home.
Boss Katana Mini 7-Watt Combo Amp
I'd keep this in my gig bag as a solid capo for acoustic sessions. It's a simple, sturdy design that looks quick to move between songs.
Shubb C1 Acoustic Guitar Capo - Nickel
Coated strings that should last a lot longer between changes. I'd want a set of these for acoustic gigs where I can't restring often.
Elixir Acoustic Guitar Strings 80/20 Bronze 12-53
A rechargeable clip-on tuner I'd want for the gig bag, so I'm not hunting for coin batteries. USB-C charging is a nice touch.
