I want to buy a present for someone who used to play the guitar (don't know to what standard) and is planning to take it up again on retirement. Needs to be fairly light and not bulky as he lives in the US and is just here in the UK for a holiday. A friend has suggested a clip-on tuner, and on Amazon I see that the ENO clip-on tuner is very cheap (£10), but there isn't really time to get it from Amazon - I was hoping to buy it in central London before the weekend, but I can't find a London stockist. I've looked at the Spanish Guitar Centre and Ivor Mairants websites and their tuners (eg. Intellitouch, Seiko STX1) are much dearer - £40 - £50. I don't really want to spend that much because I am not sure that he will want it eg he may already have one. And I am surprised at the price range.

Any thoughts?

PatC

There are a couple of new fangled guitar rests that people can use instead of footstools you might want to look into. One is a crescent shaped pillow, the other is like a plastic arch that lifts the guitar from your leg.

Couple of sets of good new strings is always nice to have.

If he's starting over, maybe a repertoire book, with a good selection of music across a few grades?

Most music shops have the clip on thingummies. I bought one in my local abc, and it was definitely in the £10 range, not the higher range. That said, I don't honestly use it that much.

I can highly recommend the Intellitouch at £25 (not Intellitune - though I have one of those as well for oboe and it's excellent too).

Also, for the fairly brief time I was playing classical, I used an Ergoplay rest which I thought was better than a footstool.

Both are on http://www.staffordguitar.com/shop/accessoriesnew.asp

Most guitarists are in sorry need of a metronome

Absolutely (and they doubt the power of Delcamp).

Stafford Guitar Studio have a good selection. I've been using the Cherub model for over two years now. It also has pitches to tune up to and the tick isn't the most annoying I've heard.

Here's the link.

http://www.staffordguitar.com/shop/accessoriesnew.asp

(There's also all the other accessories that guitarists use on that page.)

Failing that, definitely strings. You can never have too many spare sets.

Cheers,

Matt.

Thank you for your suggestions. I went to Chappells today and got an Intelli IMT 600 clip-on tuner, which was well rated on Amazon, for £20. Apparently the Intellitouch is quite a lot dearer (may include a metronome). Anyway, thanks again for your help.

Btw while I was in Chappells I couldn't resist going downstairs to look at the piano music, and the Smallwoods Piano Tutor caught my eye. I have my father's copy of this; it doesn't have a date on it but it must be from about 1920. My favourite piece in it is "Won't you buy my pretty flowers" ("Underneath the gaslight's glitter, Stands a little fragile girl, Heedless of the night winds bitter, As they round about her swirl. While the hundreds pass unheeding, In the evening's waning hours, Still she cries with teaful pleading - Won't you buy my pretty flowers?..."). Children's piano books have come on a bit in the last 90 years!

PatC