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November 6, 2010 6:13 PM Subscribe
What's the coolest birthday gift ever for a male, 20 years old, rock n roller, college student (between $50 $ $100)?
Halp!
Halp!
Response by poster: Lol. Ok I want to be a bit more " creative" than that.
posted by TLCplz at 6:18 PM on November 6, 2010
posted by TLCplz at 6:18 PM on November 6, 2010
Is there a concert you know he'd be interested in that you can get him a ticket for? Would he enjoy a high-quality pair of headphones?
I'd caution against getting him anything you aren't 100% sure he'd want or use. I understand the desire to be thoughtful, but when my sister was a 20-year-old rock-n-roller college student she sold half of what my mom gave her on ebay.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:23 PM on November 6, 2010
I'd caution against getting him anything you aren't 100% sure he'd want or use. I understand the desire to be thoughtful, but when my sister was a 20-year-old rock-n-roller college student she sold half of what my mom gave her on ebay.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 6:23 PM on November 6, 2010
$100 Amazon gift card? For a college guy, the best gift ever is cold, hard, cash. Two fifties in an envelope, and you are automatically the most amazing grandpa/aunt/second-cousin-once-removed ever.
Note: if you're a boy/girlfriend, the answer changes dramatically. Tickets to an awesome show and a road trip together wouldn't be the most novel gift ever, but a pretty special one for a college guy.
posted by arnicae at 6:24 PM on November 6, 2010
Note: if you're a boy/girlfriend, the answer changes dramatically. Tickets to an awesome show and a road trip together wouldn't be the most novel gift ever, but a pretty special one for a college guy.
posted by arnicae at 6:24 PM on November 6, 2010
Response by poster: Ok, seriously cash is the end all be all?
posted by TLCplz at 6:26 PM on November 6, 2010
posted by TLCplz at 6:26 PM on November 6, 2010
If dad is cool with it, how about a $100 session at a reputable tattoo parlor?
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:29 PM on November 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:29 PM on November 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
kaosillator? i know it's out of your price range.
you could also check out the stylophone beatbox and pocket synth that are referred to in the amazon listing. they're way less expensive than the korg.
my brother is kind of a well-known rock musician and he and his circle think that this stuff is awesome and a good gift.
posted by lakersfan1222 at 6:29 PM on November 6, 2010
you could also check out the stylophone beatbox and pocket synth that are referred to in the amazon listing. they're way less expensive than the korg.
my brother is kind of a well-known rock musician and he and his circle think that this stuff is awesome and a good gift.
posted by lakersfan1222 at 6:29 PM on November 6, 2010
actually, the kaosillator is just a shade above the high end of your price range. it lists at $250 but they're selling it for $117.
posted by lakersfan1222 at 6:31 PM on November 6, 2010
posted by lakersfan1222 at 6:31 PM on November 6, 2010
Yikes, don't foist a tattoo on someone!
I assume you want to get something music-related since you said "rock-n-roller." So, what kind of music does he like?
posted by John Cohen at 6:34 PM on November 6, 2010
I assume you want to get something music-related since you said "rock-n-roller." So, what kind of music does he like?
posted by John Cohen at 6:34 PM on November 6, 2010
And does he play an instrument?
posted by John Cohen at 6:35 PM on November 6, 2010
posted by John Cohen at 6:35 PM on November 6, 2010
Cash isn't the end all be all, but more information would help lead to a more precise, interesting gift suggestions.
posted by studioaudience at 6:38 PM on November 6, 2010
posted by studioaudience at 6:38 PM on November 6, 2010
Yikes, don't foist a tattoo on someone!
Didn't mean it in the foisting way. Just in a "hey, you want some ink? Let's go get it" way.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:40 PM on November 6, 2010
Didn't mean it in the foisting way. Just in a "hey, you want some ink? Let's go get it" way.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:40 PM on November 6, 2010
Is there an independent record store near his college? A gift certificate from there would be good—it's a bit more personal than cash, but still lets him choose something he likes.
Similarly, a gift certificate at a music instrument store might be good—musicians always need strings, cables, spare parts, and other accessories.
Does he live in a dorm, or with housemates, or what? What's he studying? Where does he spend his time outside of class? How big of a town/city is he in? That might give us a better picture of his day-to-day life.
posted by ixohoxi at 6:44 PM on November 6, 2010
Similarly, a gift certificate at a music instrument store might be good—musicians always need strings, cables, spare parts, and other accessories.
Does he live in a dorm, or with housemates, or what? What's he studying? Where does he spend his time outside of class? How big of a town/city is he in? That might give us a better picture of his day-to-day life.
posted by ixohoxi at 6:44 PM on November 6, 2010
Concert tickets and an awesome pair of earplugs.
An old film camera with high speed film for taking photos at concerts.
A donation to kiva.
Renting a scooter/motorcycle for an afternoon.
A used record player and some classic vinyl.
posted by beepbeepboopboop at 6:44 PM on November 6, 2010
An old film camera with high speed film for taking photos at concerts.
A donation to kiva.
Renting a scooter/motorcycle for an afternoon.
A used record player and some classic vinyl.
posted by beepbeepboopboop at 6:44 PM on November 6, 2010
seconding an excellent pair of headphones...
posted by lakersfan1222 at 6:49 PM on November 6, 2010
posted by lakersfan1222 at 6:49 PM on November 6, 2010
If I played guitar I'd want one of these Pick Punches, but I'm not young or hip.
posted by TooFewShoes at 6:57 PM on November 6, 2010
posted by TooFewShoes at 6:57 PM on November 6, 2010
Not sure if he has parties or lots of friends at his place, but perhaps a laser show device. Due to the glut of stuff coming out of China there's a lot of cool laser gadgets in the $50-100 range. If you're in the US there is an FDA ban on the higher power stuff, which is probably good since it will make it more unlikely you'll send something that ends up putting an eye out.
posted by crapmatic at 6:59 PM on November 6, 2010
posted by crapmatic at 6:59 PM on November 6, 2010
A shirt from Rockmount.
Prefer the vintage section myself, but he might want a plaid.
posted by Ironmouth at 7:41 PM on November 6, 2010
Prefer the vintage section myself, but he might want a plaid.
posted by Ironmouth at 7:41 PM on November 6, 2010
Booze? (I'm assuming he's turning 21.)
Barring that, maybe a really nice electronic tuner.
posted by corey flood at 7:59 PM on November 6, 2010
Barring that, maybe a really nice electronic tuner.
posted by corey flood at 7:59 PM on November 6, 2010
2 season tickets to roller derby.
posted by meindee at 8:02 PM on November 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by meindee at 8:02 PM on November 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
I happen to have one of those very things here (a 20 yr old male rocker) and his fav gifts in that range are money, guitar pedals, money, food, money, hoodies, money, belts, money, earrings, and money. In no particular order.
posted by iconomy at 8:19 PM on November 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by iconomy at 8:19 PM on November 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
If he's poor (i.e. if he is trying to support himself through college), money is seriously the way to go. When I was 20, I was eating beans on toast for dinner every night, and sometimes I fantasized about what I would do with $10 that was ear-marked for the rent or bills. My parents were a bit clueless, and would give me expensive but impractical (and un-re-sellable) gifts, that made me want to cry, that someone else could spend that much money on something silly when I would have used it so much better.
posted by lollusc at 8:56 PM on November 6, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by lollusc at 8:56 PM on November 6, 2010 [3 favorites]
Ok, seriously cash is the end all be all?
Money actually is the best thing if his financial situation is particularly tight. If he's not struggling to make rent or buy food (any more than a typical college student), I'm sure he wouldn't complain, but it doesn't seem as necessary.
How good of a sense do you have of his sense of style and taste in music? You could definitely do something cool with that, but based on the information we have now, any specific suggestion or selection could easily be a miss. If you want to get him a hoodie or earring or concert tickets, it's important to be sure he would like it.
posted by J. Wilson at 9:54 PM on November 6, 2010
Money actually is the best thing if his financial situation is particularly tight. If he's not struggling to make rent or buy food (any more than a typical college student), I'm sure he wouldn't complain, but it doesn't seem as necessary.
How good of a sense do you have of his sense of style and taste in music? You could definitely do something cool with that, but based on the information we have now, any specific suggestion or selection could easily be a miss. If you want to get him a hoodie or earring or concert tickets, it's important to be sure he would like it.
posted by J. Wilson at 9:54 PM on November 6, 2010
Ok, seriously cash is the end all be all?
No. You can spend $100 way better than he could. I'd buy him a damned good bottle of single malt Scotch and let that particular education begin.
maybe buy some cigars, too. I recommend Meharis Brasil, short but not too sweet.
posted by philip-random at 1:15 AM on November 7, 2010
No. You can spend $100 way better than he could. I'd buy him a damned good bottle of single malt Scotch and let that particular education begin.
maybe buy some cigars, too. I recommend Meharis Brasil, short but not too sweet.
posted by philip-random at 1:15 AM on November 7, 2010
I would send a card with a note essentially saying that you'd love to get him a gift to the value of around $100. Say that you would have gotten him a present yourself, but for such an important birthday you wanted to make sure that he got something that he truly wanted. If you don't live too far away from him, say that you'd love to help him pick it up from the store/go try stuff on/whatever.
And if you think that he needs the cash, put in a little postscript that if he doesn't have anything particular in mind, you'd be happy just to put some money in his account for him to spend as he pleases, and that you'll take him for a nice meal next time you see him.
posted by djgh at 4:23 AM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
And if you think that he needs the cash, put in a little postscript that if he doesn't have anything particular in mind, you'd be happy just to put some money in his account for him to spend as he pleases, and that you'll take him for a nice meal next time you see him.
posted by djgh at 4:23 AM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Does he have an Amazon wish list? Enter his email address on this page to find out.
posted by ixohoxi at 6:21 AM on November 7, 2010
posted by ixohoxi at 6:21 AM on November 7, 2010
If you go the Amazon wish list route, be careful and check when he last updated it. Anyone buying me anything off mine might be in for a surprise, as it's been at least four years since I updated it.
Otherwise, why not split the difference: buy him something great for around $50 and also give him $50 cash? When I was a poor student, cash was always the thing I wanted, but I always felt a bit bad about that. Getting him a more personal gift and giving him the cash will make him feel like you did put thought into his birthday, but you also know that cash is the most useful thing.
ideas for things: a few sets of good guitar strings, a few albums (from itunes) that really matter to you, a book you love, this book, a bottle of mccarthy's scotch, or (as meindee mentioned above) tickets to roller derby.
posted by dizziest at 7:14 AM on November 7, 2010
Otherwise, why not split the difference: buy him something great for around $50 and also give him $50 cash? When I was a poor student, cash was always the thing I wanted, but I always felt a bit bad about that. Getting him a more personal gift and giving him the cash will make him feel like you did put thought into his birthday, but you also know that cash is the most useful thing.
ideas for things: a few sets of good guitar strings, a few albums (from itunes) that really matter to you, a book you love, this book, a bottle of mccarthy's scotch, or (as meindee mentioned above) tickets to roller derby.
posted by dizziest at 7:14 AM on November 7, 2010
Gift card/voucher for an online instrument store? I use Sweetwater and Musician's Friend all the time. They're both great.
(Also, the pocket synth that lakersfan1222 mentioned earlier, the Korg Monotron, is really cool. But so is cash.)
posted by mintcake! at 7:14 AM on November 7, 2010
(Also, the pocket synth that lakersfan1222 mentioned earlier, the Korg Monotron, is really cool. But so is cash.)
posted by mintcake! at 7:14 AM on November 7, 2010
laser-firing remote-control helicopters -- one for him and one for a friend.
posted by monkeymonkey at 7:26 AM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by monkeymonkey at 7:26 AM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Does he also like older bands? For my stepson's 18th birthday we bought a concert ticket stub from a Guns n Roses / Metallica show the night of his birth along with a signed guitar pick, and had them framed. Vintage tour shirts from the year he was born could be another cool gift.
posted by Mchelly at 11:09 AM on November 7, 2010
posted by Mchelly at 11:09 AM on November 7, 2010
Being an around-that-age university student, I can say that I'd really appreciate being taken out to a nice meal and some cash. I always need money, and there's nothing better than when my parents' friends come through town and take me to a nice Italian place or what have you.
posted by Cpt. The Mango at 11:33 AM on November 7, 2010
posted by Cpt. The Mango at 11:33 AM on November 7, 2010
If he likes older rock too, then a record player could be cool.
posted by kjs4 at 3:01 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by kjs4 at 3:01 PM on November 7, 2010
Any Electro-Harmonix guitar effects pedal will cause him to flip out with joy.
The Big Muff with Tone Wicker, for example.
posted by Cantdosleepy at 4:43 AM on November 8, 2010
The Big Muff with Tone Wicker, for example.
posted by Cantdosleepy at 4:43 AM on November 8, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Sassyfras at 6:14 PM on November 6, 2010 [19 favorites]