BOSS RC-5 Loop Station

Why it's worth it

The RC-5 records a phrase and plays it back on a loop, so a guitarist can lay down rhythm and solo over it. It holds 13 hours of stereo recording, stores 99 loops, and includes 57 rhythms with real drum kits.

A looper is the gift that changes how someone practices, not just what they practice with. Instead of running scales over silence, they build a chord progression and improvise over it. Guitar Player Magazine named the RC-5 an editors' pick in its class, citing the 13-hour recording capacity and the onboard rhythm library. Owners frequently mention discovering the drum tracks after purchase and finding they were the best part.

This one reads as thoughtful because it's not obvious. Most people buying for a guitarist reach for strings, picks or a stand. A looper says you paid attention to the fact that they play alone in a room and might want company. That's why it lands as the more personal choice even though it's a piece of equipment.

From our review of 8 gifts for guitar players

What we like

• +A looper is the gift that changes how someone practices, not just what they practice with
• +This one reads as thoughtful because it's not obvious
• +It's built like Boss builds things — a metal chassis a little bigger than a pack of cards, with 32-bit processing and a backlit…

What to know

• –There's a learning curve, and it's real
• –Overdubs land on the same track rather than separate layers, so you can't pull one part back out later