Black Friday music deals 2022: the best deals and sales still running today

Black Friday music deals 2022: all the best deals, in one place
(Image credit: Fender, Boss, Apple, Casio, Roland, Shure)

Phew, Black Friday 2022 has been and gone, but happily the vast majority of hot deals are still live. We've scoured the wires for all the best deals on music gear and assembled them for you right here in one place. 

So, whether you're a drummer, guitarist, DJ, producer, podcaster or any other type of content creator, you’ve come to the right place for music-related bargains. Check out the hot deals below and get ready for our Cyber Monday music deals extravaganza, when a torrent of new reductions are likely to be revealed. You'll find them here first!

If you're in the mood for a bargain and want to know where to hunt, we'd recommend checking-out the still-live official Black Friday sale over at Guitar Center where there are big discounts available on everything from guitars and electronic drums, to recording gear and software. And Musician's Friend's Black Friday sale rumbles on too, with up to 50% off a range of music gear. If you're in the UK or Europe, Thomann's massive Cyber Week sale is alive and kicking, with up to 60% off hardware and up to 80% off software. Also in the UK, there are insane discounts on guitar gear and beyond at Andertons.

For the uninitiated, Black Friday is an event where the biggest music shops and brands on the planet get busy dropping fantastic deals and discounts on music gear. Whether you're a guitarist, producer, DJ, drummer, or podcaster, this is the time to invest in your rig.

The sheer volume of Black Friday musical instrument deals can be overwhelming, so we're on hand to help arm you with all the latest info you need to get your hands on a dream electric guitar, invest in a new electronic drum set, score yourself a new laptop for music production or pick up some plugins to supercharge your next musical project. 

Black Friday music deals: Quick links

Black Friday Music deals: Top deals

Ableton Live various versions: up to £749

Ableton Live various versions: up to £749, now £425
Thomann is offering just about every version of Ableton Live - one of the most popular DAWs for creating music - for as much as 45% off, plus big discounts on upgrade paths. You can pick up the Intro version of Live for just £55 (normal price around £99); the Standard edition for £249 (normally £449); and the full Live 11 Suite for just £425, normally £749, so a full 45% off retail. It's rare to have such big discounts on every version of Live, and the ideal way to step into the Ableton world and discover why it's such a big music production hit.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: was $159

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: was $159, now $129
Regularly included in ‘best of’ lists for studio headphones, Beyerdynamic’s DT 990s deliver the true sound of your mix with minimal coloration. We use a pair of these regularly in our own mixing and mastering, so can attest to the wide frequency response and rugged construction.

Waves bundles: Starting from just $39.99

Waves bundles: Starting from just $39.99
Bundles represent one of the best ways to get your hands on loads of killer production tools for way less than you would pay buying them individually. You can get up to 91% off the classic Gold, Silver and Platinum packs, but that's just the tip of the iceberg, with artist bundles, virtual instruments and more all included.

Universal Audio Apollo Twin X: $1,199

Universal Audio Apollo Twin X: $1,199, now $983
Widely regarded as one of the best audio interfaces money can buy, the UAD Apollo series uses a unique blend of powerful hardware processing and software integration to seriously beef up your home production. Now with $200 off, you also get a bunch of UAD’s most famous plugins totally free, including the Teletronix LA-3A and Fairchild Tube Limiter.

Roland SPD-SX Pro: £1,039

Roland SPD-SX Pro: £1,039, now £877
Well, here's a deal we weren't expecting so soon. Roland's all-powerful new sample pad has only just been released, but already it's discounted in the Thomann Black Friday sale! This new version includes increased trigger inputs and audio outputs, enhanced audio compatibility, some brilliant visual features, and even sequencing capabilities. For on-stage power and creativity, this is one of the best electronic drum pads around.

Positive Grid Spark 40: was $299

Positive Grid Spark 40: was $299, now $209
The Positive Grid Spark 40 might just be the ultimate at-home amp. The tones are great, and the smart tech is indeed smart. Auto Chord and Smart Jam are incredible practice and learning tools, and a lot of fun, too.

Universal Audio Volt 2 Studio Pack: £217

Universal Audio Volt 2 Studio Pack: £217, now £195
When you're just starting out in the world of home recording, gearing up with everything you need can be an expensive affair. That's why bundles are often the best value way to go. This pack from UA includes one our favourite budget audio interfaces, matched with a pair of studio headphones, a quality microphone a loads of software to get you started. It's currently 8% off for Black Friday.

Boss Katana 100 MKII: was £377

Boss Katana 100 MKII: was £377, now £339
Regularly topping ‘best of’ lists across all genres of amplifiers, this brilliant modeling amp is a firm favourite of ours thanks to its ease of use and tonal versatility. Now with a nice 8% discount, this 100-watt version is powerful enough to gig with, whilst still being usable at home thanks to the power attenuation options. Throw in the full suite of Boss’ studio-quality effects and you’ll soon see why everyone raves about this awesome amplifier.

Harley Benton Fusion-III: was £345

Harley Benton Fusion-III: was £345, £299
If you’re all about your speedy legato runs and diminished chords, then you’ll find a lot to love here. With a feature set you’d usually find on a guitar three times the price, stainless steel frets, a Wilkinson WVS Tremolo, and locking tuners all add up to give you some serious bang for your buck - now with a healthy 10% off on top.

Black Friday Music deals: Software deals

Arturia plugins: were up to £599

Arturia plugins: were up to £599, now from £79
Arturia has some of the best software bundles around and Thomann has big discounts on several titles. Analog Lab V is a great way to quickly experience a huge variety of Arturia plugins and sounds and is currently just £88, reduced from £199 and even cheaper than Arturia is selling it. The award-winning V Collection bundle of 33 synths and keyboards is also massively discounted at just £249 (from £599), while FX Collection 3 - a huge collection of effects processors - is discounted to £169 from £399. Finally the excellent Pigments 3 synth can be yours for just £79, reduced from £199, a saving of over 60%!

Amazing iZotope deals: up to $1,999

Amazing iZotope deals: up to $1,999, now up to $999
iZotope makes software for every aspect of mixing and mastering, employing the latest AI technology to make each process as simple as a mouse click. Get better mixes and mastered tracks in no time with titles like Ozone 10 (pro mastering for $299, was $499), Neutron 3 (incredible auto mixing for $199, was $399) and RX10 Advanced (ultimate audio repair for $799, was $1199). Pick up everything iZotope for up to 75% off!

Positive Grid BIAS FX 2: was $99

Positive Grid BIAS FX 2: was $99, now $39.60
BIAS FX 2 gives you an arsenal of virtual amps, pedals, rack effects, and cabs to shape your sound with. It's one of the best software modelers out there and right now you can save a massive $59.40! 

Loopcloud Artist Subscription: $5.99/month

Loopcloud Artist Subscription: $5.99/month, $1/month
A Loopcloud Artist Subscription gives you 1GB of quality Loopmasters samples, 5GB of cloud storage, 10 free sounds a day and 100 points a month to spend on more. Upgrade at any time to Loopcloud Studio or Professional for additional sounds, storage and credits to spend. This Loopcloud Artist deal lets you enjoy all of the benefits that Loopcloud has to offer - auditioning sounds in real time and key with your music, fantastic plugins and creative editing - and all for just $1 a month for the first two months.

Antares Auto-Tune Unlimited annual subscription: $353.99

Antares Auto-Tune Unlimited annual subscription: $353.99, now $125
The Antares Auto-Tune Unlimited subscription gives you exclusive access to every plugin on Antares' impressive roster of effects. First up, you get every edition of Auto-Tune. That's nine plugins ranging from AutoKey, which automatically detects your key and scale, right up to Auto-Tune Pro X, with its professional grade tuning and an incredible display which lets you get to the heart of your vocal processing. On top of the Auto-Tune suite, Auto-Tune Unlimited gives you an additional 12 effects including Punch, Mutator and Warm to get creative with your vocals in completely new and exciting ways. That's 65% off over 20 pro plugins for a year!

Waves Silver Bundle: Was $599

Waves Silver Bundle: Was $599, now $99.99
Silver Bundle offers 16 plugins for every aspect of music production, including what we think are the best Waves plugins. It is a set of classic and creative Waves plugins with three inclusions from the Waves Renaissance range and the classic C1 Compressor and IR-L Convolution Reverb. You also get everyday tools like DeEsser, Doubler, S1 Stereo Imager and Q10 Equaliser plus L1 Ultramaximizer for mastering. This is a great set of tools for anyone looking for quality alternatives to their stock DAW plugins and is now just $99.99 – saving 83%!

iZotope Music Production Suite 5 Universal Edition: $999

iZotope Music Production Suite 5 Universal Edition: $999, $499 (plus crossgrade deals)
Want the best of iZotope and a lot more in one bundle? Music Production Suite 5 includes Ozone 10 Advanced, RX 10 Standard and Neutron 4. Add Stratus 3D and Symphony 3D by Exponential Audio, and six effects from Brainworx and this has to be one of the finest music production software bundles going. And with 50% off at Plugin Boutique's pre Black Friday sale, you couldn't really ask for more, for less.

Future Audio Workshops SubLab: $70

Future Audio Workshops SubLab: $70, $FREE!
SubLab is a synth designed to deliver all of the bass attitude demanded by genres like hip-hop, Future Bass and trap. When we reviewed it, we concluded “SubLab’s sleek design and floor-shaking signals make it a formidable weapon for any producer.” Normally selling for $70, SubLab is yours for free with this amazing Loopcloud deal. Grab it while you can for free and get your bass sounds low enough to rattle those speaker cones!

iZotope Neutron 4: $514,

iZotope Neutron 4: $514, $256 (plus crossgrade deals)
What Ozone does for mastering, Neutron does for mixing, with its AI Assistant suggesting all sorts of tweaks to transform dull and lifeless mixes into dynamic pieces of music in no time. Increase punch, add width and even match your material to professionally mixed audio. And now you can do it for half price in this pre Black Friday sale at Plugin Boutique, with crossgrade offers from any iZotope product at up to 70% off!

iZotope RX 10 Advanced: $1,199

iZotope RX 10 Advanced: $1,199, $799 (plus Standard, elements and Post Production Suite and crossgrade deals)
iZotope's RX is the renowned audio repair suite for restoring, cleaning, and improving recordings in post-production, music production, and content creation. It helps you clean up spoken words, remove noise, delete glitches, improve mixes and turn many a bad recording into pristine audio. Plugin Boutique features several deals from this Advanced version down to RX Elements for basic repair and noise reduction. Plus there are several crossgrade deals with up to 75% off. RXellent!

iZotope Neoverb 4: $99

iZotope Neoverb 4: $99, now $32
In Neoverb, iZotope uses its AI Assistant technology to help you create amazing reverbs for any instrument. It employs Exponential Audio’s reverb engines for added realism and iZotope's intuitive interface makes coming up with bespoke reverbs that won't muddy your mix easy. Or choose from dozens of incredible presets to add lush and shimmering sounds. With 75% off, there's never been a better time to enjoy one of the most creative reverbs out there.

Native Instruments Komplete Instruments: $49/$199, now $24.50/$99.50

Native Instruments Komplete Instruments:
$49/$199, now $24.50/$99.50
It's also time to consider bigging up your Native Instruments library with some of the best software titles (less) money can buy. Cyber Season sees a range of Komplete Instruments slashed to half price. You can now get software packs like Ignition Keys (to kickstart your pop hits), Lores (organic textures and eclectic layers), and Playbox (chord generation and random idea creation) for 50% off!

Native Instruments Komplete Effects: From $49

Native Instruments Komplete Effects:
From $49, now $24.50
Native Instruments' range of effects covers just about every creative corner of studio recording, and now you can pick up some amazingly inspirational titles for half price. Raum (ambient, twisting reverb), Molekular (modular effects), and Transient Master (for adding punch and dynamics) are just three exciting effects in the Cyber Season sale. Meanwhile bigger bundles like Vintage Compressors deliver more effects for an even bigger saving of up to $100!

Native Instruments Expansions: From $49

Native Instruments Expansions:
From $49, now $24.50
These sound packs are a great way to home in on a particular style, artist and genre, each delivering drum kits, samples, loops for NI instruments, presets, and more. Kino and Wake, for example, both have around 150 amazing presets for Massive X and are currently half price at just $14.50. System Clash and Concrete Sun provide classic hip-hop, dancehall and reggae flavours alongside modern hip-hop for just $24.50 each. Artist packs include DJ Khalil and The Stereotypes - all half price too - are also among an incredible 100+ Expansions up for grabs!

Pro Tools Artist annual subscription: $99

Pro Tools Artist annual subscription: $99, $74.99
Pro Tools is the music creation platform used by countless professionals the world over, and with 25% off the Artist annual subscription, now could be time for you to find out why so many producers choose it. Pro Tools Artist has over 100 plugins and instruments, the ability to record up to 16 inputs simultaneously, plus 32 audio and 64 MIDI tracks. With perpetual updates and support, Artist is the cost effective Pro Tools choice, and even more so with this year's Black Friday subscription discount.

Sibelius Artist annual subscription: Was $99

Sibelius Artist annual subscription: Was $99, now $84
An annual subscription to Sibelius Artist gets you one of the most flexible tools for creating professional scores on your desktop or mobile. You get up to 16 instrument parts, 10GB of sounds (900MB for mobile), 300 musical library ideas, a varied set of instruments, a total of 38 plugins, plus free updates and support. It's a great way to enjoy the slick Sibelius notation experience and now has 15% off the annual subscription fee. Sibelius is rated highly in our guide to the best music notation software.

EZX Expansions for EZdrummer: Was $89

EZX Expansions for EZdrummer: Was $89, now $53
EZdrummer is Toontrack's core beat making platform that enables you to create incredible drums with ease, and across any genre. It features sequencing, 15GB of sounds, a huge MIDI file library plus features like Tap2Find and Bandmate which turn your simple drum ideas into fully-fledged drum tracks in no time. The EZX sound expansion packs take the software into different genres, exploring areas like metal, Latin, jazz, electronic and a lot more. With 40% off, now is the time to take your EZdrummer ambitions up a level. With titles like Dream Pop, Hop-Hop, Metal Machine and Drumkit From Hell, you know that Toontrack has your stylistic ambitions covered, whatever they may be. Simply choose your genre and save $36 per title!

SDX Expansions for Superior: Was $179

SDX Expansions for Superior: Was $179, now $107
Superior Drummer is Toontrack's high-end beat making platform, essentially a full DAW designed for creative, detailed and exceptional drum production. It features seven kits, over 230GB of audio, effects and a vast MIDI library, with all recordings overseen by production maestro George Massenburg. The SDX expansions for Superior Drummer feature additional drum kits recorded in iconic studios like Blackbird in Nashville and The Hit Factory in New York. Now you can expand your virtual drum kits without costly studio time or air fares for an amazing 40% off. Titles like The Rock Warehouse and Custom & Vintage will take you to studios across the world and deliver the best recordings of the most iconic drum kits without you lifting a drumstick. Grab $72 off each expansion pack now!

EZmix 2: Was $149

EZmix 2: Was $149, now $39
EZmix 2 is your easy route to perfect mixing and mastering. It allows you to create great vocal, guitar and drum tracks with preset channel configurations to try out and tweak to perfection. You can even apply mastering settings to entire mixes to lift them to a pro standard in an instant. EZmix 2 is currently discounted by an incredible $110 so you can achieve top notch, professional mixes and mastered tracks for minimal outlay. And once you've mastered EZmix 2, there are plenty of expansion options, all heavily discounted as well. The EZmix Packs offer different guitar tones, vocal presets, mastering settings or general mix tools. You get specific mix settings for different genres - ambient, rock, blues and much more - plus the favoured mix and master settings of famous engineers and producers like Al Schmitt, Andy Sneap and Bob Rock. The EZmix packs are your easy route to instant, professional mixes, whatever your music style and with 30% off each title, there's never been a better time to mix!

EZkeys: Was $149

EZkeys: Was $149, now $97
Think of EZkeys as your virtual keyboard player. You can now pick up the original EZkeys software, with tailored sounds across a wide range of instruments - grand pianos to pads, Mellotron to electric piano - for an incredible 35% off. And once you have entered the EZkeys world, it's EZ (sorry) to expand EZkeys Expansion Packs which then deliver the same variety of other keyboard and instrument sounds, for much less outlay. Each title has been discounted by 40% so you can take your keyboard sounds into completely new realms - Cinematic Pads, Electronic Pop, String Machine and many more - for an amazing $30 off per title.

Black Friday Music deals: Guitar deals

Gretsch G5427T with Bigsby: was $899.99

Gretsch G5427T with Bigsby: was $899.99, $729.99
If you’re after that big-body sound, then this awesome deal is sure to get your heart racing. Now with an amazing $170 off, the Gretsch G5427T features powerful FIlter’Tron pickups, a laminated flame maple top, plus a Bigsby B60 for adding warble and shimmer to your guitar work. 

Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster: $1,999.99

Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster: $1,999.99, $1,749.99
Firmly channeling the spirit of innovation, Fender’s divisive ‘is it or isn’t it’ Acoustasonic Tele now has a huge reduction of $250 at Guitar Center. Featuring an Ebony fretboard, an acoustic engine with ten different voices, and a unique three-pickup system configuration, it may have it’s haters - but we love this groundbreaking guitar.

Fender Player Strat HSS Plus Top: $909

Fender Player Strat HSS Plus Top: $909, $749.99
Fender’s Player series guitar remains eminently popular thanks to its mix of fantastic build quality, timeless sound, and excellent price point. As far as we’re concerned you’ll be hard pushed to get as much bang for your buck with anything else - and now you can get this awesome HSS Strat with flame maple top at a reduction of $160.

Fender MIJ Limited Edition Traditional Mustang Reverse Headstock In 3 Colour Sunburst (was £1,249.00, now £999.00)

Fender MIJ Limited Edition Traditional Mustang Reverse Headstock In 3 Colour Sunburst (was £1,249.00, now £999.00)
Fenders that combine a humbucker in the bridge with a single-coil in the neck are massively overlooked by the company in our opinion. But here it's realised for a hugely versatile guitar. And it's basswood which makes for a lighter weight in our experience.

Ernie Ball accessories: up to 55% off

Ernie Ball accessories: up to 55% off
Black Friday is a great time to load up on stocking fillers and other small gifts for the guitar player in your life. For this year’s event, Amazon has slashed the price on everything Ernie Ball, from guitar picks and guitar cables to capos and tool kits. There’s even a cool pack of colourful Slinky coasters if you’re looking for something a little different.

Gretsch G2217 Jr Jet BT DCM: £425

Gretsch G2217 Jr Jet BT DCM: £425, £349
You can grab a killer Gretsch single-cut with a 17% discount for Black Friday at Thomann. This Junior Jet offers thick, punchy tones thanks to its pair of BroadTron humbuckers and bags of playability with a comfortable thin 'U' profile neck. The finish is Dark Cherry Metallic - a FSR (Factory Special Release) spec.

Harley Benton SC450Plus: was £155

Harley Benton SC450Plus: was £155, now £138
Dual humbucker hard rock and blues tone doesn’t have to cost you thousands of pounds. The Harley Benton SC-450Plus gives you a bunch of premium appointments with an extra nice discount of 10% on an already bargain price. Mahogany body, AAA flamed maple arched top, two powerful PAF-style Alnico V pickups, and a set of Kluson-style tuning machines make this a proper rock and roll workhorse.

Harley Benton DC-600: was £179

Harley Benton DC-600: was £179, now £166
They say three’s a crowd, less is more, keep it simple - but sometimes it’s better to just go all out. This three-humbucker rock monster from Harley Benton embodies that mindset of more is more, and now comes with a cool discount and 3 months of free Fretello Pro Guitar Lessons - ensuring you’ll have the chops to match the impressive rock and roll aesthetic.

Harley Benton Fusion-III: was £345

Harley Benton Fusion-III: was £345, £299
If you’re all about your speedy legato runs and diminished chords, then you’ll find a lot to love here. With a feature set you’d usually find on a guitar three times the price, stainless steel frets, a Wilkinson WVS Tremolo, and locking tuners all add up to give you some serious bang for your buck - now with a healthy 10% off on top.

Harley Benton HB-35: was £169

Harley Benton HB-35: was £169, now £145
Based on one of the all-time classic semi-hollow body guitars, this beautiful arch top gives you a tactile, resonant sound thanks to the Mahogany sustain block and vintage-style humbuckers. As well as coming with a 12% discount, this brilliant value guitar also gives you 3 months of Fretello Pro Guitar Lessons, worth €59.99.

Harley Benton TE-80: was £166

Harley Benton TE-80: was £166, now £139
This distinctive-looking T-style guitar now has a massive 16% off and if that wasn’t enough to tempt you, you also get 3 months of free Fretello Pro Guitar Lessons, worth €59.99. With a laminated flamed maple top, ash body with walnut stripes, and Canadian maple neck and fretboard, this versatile, workhorse guitar pays homage to a classic whilst still retaining its own distinctive style.

Harley Benton TB-70: £175

Harley Benton TB-70: £175, now £159
Don’t think we forgot about the low-end lovers out there! This stunning-looking bass guitar is sure to turn heads at your next show, featuring an all-mahogany construction with a set-in neck and active electronics. The neck on it is super smooth and fast playing, and you can activate the push-pull volume control for extra tonal variety.

Squier 40th Ann. P Bass LPB: was £389

Squier 40th Ann. P Bass LPB: was £389, now £288
With a stonking 25% off, this stunning-looking Squier P-Bass is one of the best deals we’ve seen at Thomann so far. Its unique combination of Lake Placid Blue finish and gold hardware celebrates 40 years of Squier, giving it a distinctive look to match the signature growl of the split single-coil pickup. Add in some pearloid block inlays and you’ve got a guitar that will definitely turn some heads at your next show.

Ibanez TMB100 Talman Bass: £218

Ibanez TMB100 Talman Bass: £218, now £174
This budget bass guitar just got a massive 20% reduction at Thomann, turning an already value-for-money instrument into a truly great deal. We love the Talman for its tonal versatility, combining a split-coil pickup with a regular single coil to deliver a punchy growl that you can use for pretty much any style. We found it to be incredibly loud, with a chunky yet comfortable neck making it great for extended playing sessions.

Black Friday Music deals: Guitar amp deals

Soldano Slo-mini 30w Guitar Amp Head (was £219, now £199)

Soldano Slo-mini 30w Guitar Amp Head (was £219, now £199)
We can't actually believe the Soldano SLO-Mini 30W head is £199 here – that's £120 off a recently released and incredible little amp, delivering the iconic Soldano SLO tones enjoyed by legendary players at a fraction of the cost.  

Positive Grid Spark 40: was $299

Positive Grid Spark 40: was $299, now $209
The Positive Grid Spark 40 might just be the ultimate at-home amp. The tones are great, and the smart tech is indeed smart. Auto Chord and Smart Jam are incredible practice and learning tools, and a lot of fun, too.

Positive Grid Spark Mini: (

Positive Grid Spark Mini: (was $229, now $179)
The Spark Mini has been a runaway success, and it's easy to see why. This clever little amp gives players all the features they loved about the original but in a smaller, even more practical format - and right now you can save $50

Egnater Tweaker-15 Stack: $949.98

Egnater Tweaker-15 Stack: $949.98, now $499.99
Your eyes aren’t deceiving you, this really is a boutique tube head and cab for less than $500! With the Egnater Tweaker head pumping out 15 watts via two 6V6 tubes and a matching 1x12 cabinet with a 12” Egnater speaker, this super versatile amplifier setup has a whopping $449.99 off.

Blackstar HT Club 40 MkII: $999.99

Blackstar HT Club 40 MkII: $999.99, now $649.99
One of the most popular guitar amps on the gigging circuit, this versatile, all-tube tone machine now has a massive $300 off. The HT Series has made a name for itself as one of the best mid-priced tube combos, and this particular model comes in a distinctive Vintage Blue finish - sure to stand out on stage.

Boss Katana-100/212 MkII: $564.99

Boss Katana-100/212 MkII: $564.99, $449.99
Probably the most popular practice amp in the world, we love the Boss Katana series for its versatility of tone and usability in any situation, whether you’re practicing at home, recording in the studio, or playing a live show. With this super deal at Guitar Center, you can get this brilliant 2x12 combo amplifier with $115 knocked off the price.

Supro Delta King 10: $599

Supro Delta King 10: $599, $399
With a massive $200 reduction, this boutique tube combo is an absolute steal over at Musician's Friend. Despite its small size, it packs a serious punch with a FET-driven boost, Pigtronix FAT high gain mode, and it's even got a fully-analog spring reverb to sweeten the deal. 

Boss Katana 100 MKII: was £377

Boss Katana 100 MKII: was £377, now £345
Regularly topping ‘best of’ lists across all genres of amplifiers, this brilliant modeling amp is a firm favourite of ours thanks to its ease of use and tonal versatility. Now with a nice 8% discount, this 100-watt version is powerful enough to gig with, whilst still being usable at home thanks to the power attenuation options. Throw in the full suite of Boss’ studio-quality effects and you’ll soon see why everyone raves about this awesome amplifier.

Hughes & Kettner Grandmeister Deluxe 40: £1,044

Hughes & Kettner Grandmeister Deluxe 40:
£1,044, £911
Hughes & Kettner amps have their own distinct tonal character, which is what makes them such a standout in the guitar amp world. This 4-channel beast now has a healthy 12% discount, giving you a full complement of powerful tube tones for less. It looks absolutely incredible when powered up with the lights on, and the smart rotary control lets you store a frankly astounding 128 presets and recall them instantly.

Vox amPlug 2 Lead: $59.99

Vox amPlug 2 Lead: $59.99, now $39.99
This perfect practice partner makes keeping your chops a breeze. We find having a headphone amp for guitar around the house invaluable for late-night writing sessions and keeping up our practice regimens. With upgraded analog circuitry, excellent battery life, and superb sound - this sub $40 bargain should be in every guitar player’s basket.

Black Friday Music deals: Guitar pedal deals

Boss HM-2W Waza Craft: $199.99

Boss HM-2W Waza Craft: $199.99, $149.99
Not many pedals can claim to have started an entire genre, but that’s exactly what you’re getting with the Boss Heavy Metal - now with $50 knocked off the retail price. The signature ‘chainsaw’ distortion tone became the definitive sound of Swedish death metal and it soon spread to rock, metal, prog, and many other genres. This Waza Craft version features the original HM-2 sound, as well as a more aggressive custom mode, whilst still retaining the look and feel of the original.

Blackstar Dept 10 Distortion: was $299.99

Blackstar Dept 10 Distortion: was $299.99, $199.99
Powered by a single ECC83 valve, this two-channel black box of tricks adds some serious versatility to your pedalboard. It's got $100 off the retail price over at Musician's Friend, giving you a powerful clean boost and dirt tone that will enhance any guitarist's sound.

Harley Benton DNAfx GiT Pro: was £255

Harley Benton DNAfx GiT Pro: was £255, now £233
Packing a huge selection of amp models, cabinet IRs, and effects models, this powerful floor modeler proves that great sound doesn’t have to cost you thousands and now you can get it for even less! Thomann even includes a free power cable when you purchase, so you can hit the ground running as soon as it arrives. All of the built-in effects can be used in glorious stereo, there’s recording via USB for making your own music, as well as plenty of outputs for sending your glorious amp tone to front of house.

Walrus Badwater Bass Preamp: was £299

Walrus Badwater Bass Preamp: was £299, now £249
For an excellent pedal only released earlier in 2022, this represents another great Walrus pedal deal. This is a proper bass essential; a great platform for your pedalboard or recording with a built-in optical compressor, drive circuit and comprehensive EQ section. XLR and 1/4" outputs allow to run to the mixing desk and your amp simultaneously.  

Black Friday Music deals: Keyboard, piano and synth deals

Roland JUNO-DS88: $1,349.99

Roland JUNO-DS88: $1,349.99, now $999.99
With a realistically weighted piano hammer action and a plethora of great sounding presets, this 88-key synthesizer will suit a variety of keys players - whether you like traditional piano sounds or the more unusual timbre of a custom synth. It’s got some great features for performing players, such as vocal effects, an 8-track sequencer, and a built-in interface and with a huge $350 off, you can get some serious depth and breadth for less.

Korg Minilogue XD Synth: $729.99

Korg Minilogue XD Synth: $729.99, now $599.99
This powerful little synthesizer packs a hell of a lot of features into a compact package and it’s now got an epic $130 off. Great for creating ethereal soundscapes and kinetic soundtracks, it's equally at home doing smooth synthwave sounds as it is the churn and grind of drum and bass. A handy oscilloscope lets you see the characteristics of your sound and with the number of knobs on this thing, you’re not going to run out of sounds any time soon.

NI Komplete Kontrol S49: $699

NI Komplete Kontrol S49: $699, now $599
This smart MIDI keyboard controller from Native Instruments integrates with all the major DAWs with a few clicks of your mouse, meaning you can use various transport controls straight from the controller itself. The 49-key Fatar keybed offers the perfect balance between a realistic piano feel and the rapid response required of a synthesizer. With a cool $100 off, you can now get a complete home studio tool for less.

Korg microKEY Air-25: $169.99

Korg microKEY Air-25: $169.99, now $89.99
If you need to make music on the go, a portable MIDI controller is an essential item. The Korg microKEY Air-25 is small enough to fit in pretty much any bag, meaning you can work on your productions wherever you are and with a massive $89.99 off, we’d say this is one seriously good deal. It features Bluetooth compatibility in case you forget your USB cable, allowing for minimal latency wireless manipulation of all your VSTs and drum machines with up to 30 hours of life.

Roland RP501R: $1,629.99

Roland RP501R: $1,629.99, now $1,199.99
Picking your first digital piano can be difficult, but you want something that will replicate the sound and feel of a full size grand piano without the hefty price tag. With a huge discount of $430, the Roland RP501R is one of our top picks for getting the sound of a full-size grand piano in the comfort of your living room. Its discrete looks and profile mean it fits in effortlessly in your living space, while the SuperNATURAL sound engine and PHA-4 keyboard deliver ultra-realistic sound and feel.

Casio PX-1100 Privia Digital Piano: $858

Casio PX-1100 Privia Digital Piano: $858, now $779
Casio doesn’t just make funny noises these days, in fact, they’re quite quickly garnering a reputation for their properly good digital pianos. The Privia is a stunning-looking instrument thanks to its red top panel and its super slim design means it will fit in pretty much any room of your house. It doesn’t just look good either, the Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard gives you the true feel of a full-size grand piano, where the feel of the keys changes as you move across the keybed.

Roland JUNO-DS61: was $999.99

Roland JUNO-DS61: was $999.99, now $699.99
The ultra-powerful  JUNO synthesizer marries ease of use and a vast array of sounds so you can make music anywhere. There are some delightful tones on this 61-key synth, and we loved the rich organ sounds and expressive pads. As well as a super comfortable keybed it's also got a healthy $300 reduction at Musician's Friend, so something to love for everyone

Roland GP609: was $12,729.99

Roland GP609: was $12,729.99, $8,999.99
If you’ve got both the room and the budget, Roland’s GP609 Digital Grand Piano has a frankly astonishing $3730 off at Guitar Center. This stunning-looking all-white piano has a powerful 6:1 speaker system for room-filling sound and a PHA-50 Progressive Hammer Action Keyboard that responds to your lightest touch and heaviest strikes. Marrying the beautiful sound of old with the technological wonders of the modern age, you can also connect your smartphone via Bluetooth to it, perfect for playing along with your favorite songs.

Elektron Analog Four MKII (was $1649, now $1484)

Elektron Analog Four MKII (was $1649, now $1484)
A step up from Elektron's entry-level Digitone and Digitakt, the Analog Four is a beastly analogue synth that deserves to be at the heart of everyone's set-up. The synth combines the warm, punchy sound of analogue synthesis with the precision control of its digital architecture, pushing the results through an flavourful overdrive that needs to be heard to be believed.

Elektron Digitone (was $849, now $679)

Elektron Digitone (was $849, now $679)
The Digitakt's melodic cousin, this 8-voice polyphonic digital synth packs in a ton of power and functionality in to its compact form factor. Combining advanced FM synthesis with a familiar subtractive synthesis signal flow, Digitone's equipped with four independent synth tracks, multimode filtering and built-in effects, making for a surprisingly capable little unit. 

Black Friday Music deals: Drum machine deals

Korg Volca Sample 2: $169.99

Korg Volca Sample 2: $169.99, now $109.99
This cute little sample-based drum machine can act as part of a larger studio setup, or as a standalone unit for all your rhythm-based creations. Load in your samples via micro-USB then carve and create to your liking with the two step jump modes, double filters, and built-in reverb. MIDI in and out make this a super flexible tool for your studio setup, and with $60 off it’s even better value for money.

Akai MPC One: was $899

Akai MPC One: was $899, now $699
The secret weapon of Kanye, Mark Ronson, and J Dilla, Akai's MPC is a legend in the electronic music world. If you're easily distracted while trying to make music on your computer then this all-in-one, standalone production tool is sure to speed up your workflow.

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Akai MPC Studio (was £169, now £152)
Aimed at beginners it may be, but the MPC Studio still lets you loose, comrising both a controller and the MPC2 DAW, which can also run as a plugin. It boasts16-full size pressure- and velocity-sensitive pads with RGB backlights and aftertouch.

Roland Boutique TR-06: $399.99

Roland Boutique TR-06: $399.99, now $279.99
A reimagining of a now-iconic drum machine, this reboot from Roland takes all the great features of the legendary TR-606 and adds a bunch of sound sculpting options with panning, tuning, and gain controls. A healthy discount of $120 at Guitar Center is a seriously tempting offer, giving extra appeal to this powerful and portable music creation tool.

Elektron Analog Rytm MKII (

Elektron Analog Rytm MKII (was $1619, now $1484)
Ladies and gentlemen, the king of analogue drum machines, the Analog Rytm MKII. The sound of this mighty instrument is powered by eight analogue drum voices and a flexible sampling engine, running through Elektron's famously versatile sequencer, only to be fired up by analogue overdrive and finished off by the onboard effects and multimode filter. Voila.

Elektron Digitakt (was $849, now $679)

Elektron Digitakt (was $849, now $679)
It's difficult to spend more than a minute on YouTube these days without spotting one of these puppies in a thumbnail, such is the popularity of this drum machine, sampler and groovebox within the music tech community. For good reason, too - with 8 stereo tracks, 8 MIDI tracks and a flexible sequencer, the Digitakt is a powerhouse of a drum machine. 

Native Instruments Maschine Plus (was $1299, now $999)

Native Instruments Maschine Plus (was $1299, now $999)
It's no exaggeration to say that NI's Maschine is one of the most iconic pieces of modern music tech gear. This user-friendly groovebox comes in a few different iterations, the most powerful of which is the Maschine Plus, a standalone production and performance instrument that contains everything you need to chop up samples, build drum patterns and arrange full tracks with ease.

Akai MPC Live II (was $1283, now $1083)

Akai MPC Live II (was $1283, now $1083)
Everybody knows about Akai's legendary MPC - it's a brand that's synonymous with beat-making and music production. The Live II is the most advanced version of their flagship sampler and sequencer that's ever been released, and it's a complete music-making package, equipped with 16 velocity-sensitive pads, a 7" multitouch display, built-in speakers and 16GB of internal storage.

Elektron Syntakt (was $999, $799)

Elektron Syntakt (was $999, $799)
Released this year, the Syntakt builds on the lofty reputation of the Digitakt and Digitone to produce one of the most creatively stimulating pieces of hardware we've come across in years. It's not just a drum machine, but a synthesizer, sequencer and groovebox too, equipped with 4 analogue voices, 8 digital voices, 12 MIDI tracks and some on-board FX that have to be heard to be believed. 

Black Friday Music deals: Drum deals

Roland SPD-SX Pro: £1,039, now £877

Roland SPD-SX Pro: £1,039, now £877
Well, here's a deal we weren't expecting so soon. Roland's all-powerful new sample pad has only just been released, but already it's discounted in the Thomann Black Friday sale! This new version includes increased trigger inputs and audio outputs, enhanced audio compatibility, some brilliant visual features, and even sequencing capabilities. For on-stage power and creativity, this is one of the best electronic drum pads around.

Roland TD-07DMK: $799.99

Roland TD-07DMK: $799.99, now $699.99
With mesh snare and tom pads, acoustic-style hi-hat mounting, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and 25 excellent kit presets, the TD-07DMK is the top of its range. Don't settle for a generic electronic set this Black Friday, this is the best e-kit deal we've seen so far.

Alesis Nitro Mesh SE: $449

Alesis Nitro Mesh SE: $449, now $349
This special edition Alesis Nitro Mesh proves that it's possible for great e-kits to be affordable. You get tunable mesh heads here instead of cheap-feeling rubber, which feel closer to playing an acoustic drum set, while keeping the noise down to a minimum. This already affordable e-kit had $100 off as part of the Musician's Friend sale. 

Simmons DA2108 Advanced Amp: $199.99

Simmons DA2108 Advanced Amp: $199.99, $139.99
Simmons has been synonymous with electronic drums for decades now, and they're still going strong making competitively-priced e-kits and accessories. Take this versatile 100 watt practice amp, for example. Use it as standalone amp, or hook up two for fully immersive stereo sound. And right now it's available with a $60 discount.

Roland PM-100 80-watt monitor: $369.99

Roland PM-100 80-watt monitor: $369.99, now $269.99
Sure, headphones are great for quiet practice at home, but sometimes you've just got to be heard. That's where the portable yet powerful 2-channel personal monitor comes in. It dishes out 80-watts of power and you can have indepent control of your drums and an independent sound source such as your smartphone. 

Donner Microphones: Up to 50% off at Amazon

Donner Microphones: Up to 50% off at Amazon
Donner's affordable microphones just got even cheaper, as they offer up to 50% off at Amazon right now. This sale covers everything from studio-quality condenser mics to wireless live microphones and even USB options. 

Black Friday Music deals: Headphones deals

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: was $159

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: was $159, now $129
Regularly included in ‘best of’ lists for studio headphones, Beyerdynamic’s DT 990s deliver the true sound of your mix with minimal coloration. We use a pair of these regularly in our own mixing and mastering, so can attest to the wide frequency response and rugged construction.

AKG K-702 headphones: £119

AKG K-702 headphones: £119, now £98
It's not always easy to find budget studio headphones that are actually up to the job of serious mixing and creating. In addition to the vintage stylings, the K-70s, feature a varimotion two-layer diaphragm which guarantees transient response and deliver a frequency range between 10 and 39800 Hz.

Black Friday Music deals: Interface deals

Universal Audio audio interfaces: up to 36% off

Universal Audio audio interfaces: up to 36% off
Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of home recording, or you’re a pro producer who needs the best of everything, there is literally something for everyone in the Amazon Universal Audio sale. The single input UA Volt 1 interface, is a great starting point, especially at $117.95 after a 15% discount. Or at the top end, the all singing all dancing UA Apollo X4 Heritage Edition is now that bit more affordable with $400 off the $2,299 asking price.

Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Heritage edition: $1,199

Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Heritage edition: $1,199, now $983
Widely regarded as one of the best audio interfaces money can buy, the UAD Apollo series uses a unique blend of powerful hardware processing and software integration to seriously beef up your home production. Now with $200 off, you also get a bunch of UAD’s most famous plugins totally free, including the Teletronix LA-3A and Fairchild Tube Limiter.

Universal Audio Apollo X16: $4,499

Universal Audio Apollo X16: $4,499, now $3,999
If you’re serious about your recording exploits then this incredible 16-channel interface will seriously beef up your creative endeavors. This powerful thunderbolt interface perfectly integrates into your existing setup, working beautifully with existing outboard gear to supercharge your productions. Now with a massive $500 off, you also get a full complement of UA’s award-winning plugins totally free, worth $2,400 when sold separately.

Black Friday Music deals: Studio monitor deals

Mackie speakers and mics: up to 47% off

Mackie speakers and mics: up to 47% off
One of the most common answers to the question ‘who makes affordable music gear’ is Mackie. Whether you need a pair of wallet-friendly studio monitors to give your laptop mixes a boost, or you need a budget podcasting mic for your next episode, Mackie can be relied upon. Right now there are 16 Mackie products in the Amazon Black Friday line-up worth your consideration.

PreSonus speakers and interfaces: up to 38% off

PreSonus speakers and interfaces: up to 38% off
We really rate the PreSonus Eris range of studio monitors. They deliver power and clarity on a budget with a range of sizes on offer. There are three Eris models up for grabs currently, starting from $99.95, alongside a discounted interface and dynamic mic.

Black Friday Music deals: Recording bundle deals

PreSonus AudioBox Studio Bundle: $329.99

PreSonus AudioBox Studio Bundle: $329.99, $259.99
Don’t know where to start with your home studio setup? Fear not because this brilliant bundle from PreSonus gives you everything you need to start doing your own production, mixing, and mastering. With a healthy $70 off at Guitar Center, you get an audio interface, studio monitors, microphone, headphones, and PreSonus’ Studio One software in one handy package. It even includes all the cables you need to connect everything up! How’s that for convenient?

Universal Audio Volt 2 Studio Pack: £217

Universal Audio Volt 2 Studio Pack: £217, now £195
When you're just starting out in the world of home recording, gearing up with everything you need can be an expensive affair. That's why bundles are often the best value way to go. This pack from UA includes one our favourite budget audio interfaces, matched with a pair of studio headphones, a quality microphone a loads of software to get you started. It's currently 10% off for Black Friday.

Black Friday Music deals: Mixer deals

Yamaha MG10XUF Mixer: $369.99

Yamaha MG10XUF Mixer: $369.99, now $299.99
Whether you’re thinking of putting on some of your own live shows, or you need to replace that ancient mixer in your practice space, this ten-channel offering from Yamaha is now even better value with $70 off the asking price at Guitar Center. Featuring studio-grade Class A mic preamps, one-knob channel compressors, and a built-in audio interface, you also get 24 different effects for creative processing out front.

When will the Black Friday music deals land?

For 2022, the Black Friday music deals will officially arrive on Friday, November 25 - the day after Thanksgiving and less than a month before Christmas Day, making it the ideal event to pick up Christmas pressies for the music makers in your life. As usual, the deals will extend across that weekend (also know as Cyber Weekend), before finishing with a final flurry of Cyber Monday music deals on Monday 28 November.

Previous experience tells us that the deals aren't isolated to this concentrated four day period though. Many of the best Black Friday music deals will emerge in the weeks leading up to the big day, some as early as mid-October. And many deals stick around well after the event and into December.

Deals are launched at all sorts of random times – sometimes in the middle of the night – so savvy shoppers will need to keep a close eye on their favourite retailers to ensure they grab the bargains they're after. Some Black Friday music deals may stick around for the whole of Cyber Weekend, while others may only be live for a matter of hours, or could be stock-limited. So, if you're looking for a bargain, you need to be ready to pull the trigger.

What Black Friday music deals should I expect?

We’ll be keeping a close eye on the big music retailers throughout October and November. Based on last year's evidence, the Guitar Center Black Friday deals, Sweetwater Black Friday sales, and Musician's Friend Black Friday deals will be the places for acoustic and electric guitars, amps, home recording gear, and electronic drum sets.

When it comes to laptops for music production, this time of year is a great opportunity to pick up a Black Friday laptop deal for the home studio. Last year we spotted discounts on the newly-launched M1 MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs - mostly via Amazon - plus significant money off Dell laptops and older model MacBooks. Keep an eye on our MacBook Pro M1 deals page for the latest big ticket discounts. We're confident this year will be the ideal time to grab a top deal on your next laptop. 

If you're a sucker for software, we're excited to see what the likes of Waves Audio and Plugin Boutique deliver across the event. Last year, some of the biggest offers included crazy discounts on the biggest names in software. You'll want to keep a close eye on our Black Friday plugin deals page for the very best offers this year. 

For drummers itching to pick up one of the best electronic drum sets around, we’re looking forward to seeing price-slashing on some of the year's most popular models, including the new Roland TD-07 range and potentially Yamaha's new DTX series drums. Yamaha doesn't often do e-kit discounts through, so this may be wishful thinking. The Alesis Nitro Mesh e-kit has been a big winner when it comes to Black Friday drum deals, with the beginner electronic drum set seeing discounts of up to $50, plus bundle packages available over the last couple of years.

The Amazon and Walmart Black Friday sales will be massive as always, too. Here you'll be able to pick up everything from cheap wireless headphones and Amazon Echo devices, to top music gear – we’ll be bringing you the best deals we can find across these events.

We've been covering the Black Friday music deals for years now, so you can rest assured our teams will be hunting down the best offers before anyone else and sharing them with you first.

Black Friday music deals: will there be stock issues?

The news headlines tell us that this Christmas it will be harder to get hold of stock due to a shortage of components - particularly when it comes to digital products that require chips - and it may also be harder to get product delivered due to a lack of HGV drivers, particularly in the UK and Europe. 

While the situation will be different for every individual brand and retailer, and some scaremongering needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, our advice would be that if you spot a great deal on something you've had your eye on for a while, to pick it up there and then. Stock may be limited and you don't want to miss out.

Taking into account potential delivery delays, we'd also recommend ordering as early as you can to avoid the risk of the item not arriving on time as we get closer to Christmas. Experience of previous years tells us that Black Friday music deals will start dropping far earlier than the day itself, so you may be able to bag a bargain well in advance and avoid any potential disappointment. 

Black Friday music deals: Discounts and coupons

The Black Friday music deals aren't all about individual product discounts. Some retailers prefer to offer discounts overall on a range of product categories. Usually this comes in the form of a code that you enter at checkout to redeem your discount. 

To give you an example, last year Sweetwater was offering up to 70% off a range of guitars, drums, recording gear, software, headphones and so much more from the big brands. Elsewhere, Guitar Center and Musician's Friend were both offering 15% off select products. 

This is a great way to shop and can end up saving you more when you have multiple items you're looking to purchase.

How to prepare for the Black Friday music sales

If you really want to win big when the Black Friday music deals start flowing, our biggest tip would be to get your research done early, so you know exactly what you're looking for once it's time to strike. 

The good news is that we can help you with that...

To help you create your dream shopping list, take the time to explore our expert and up-to-date buying guides and reviews. These will arm you with everything you need to know about buying the best audio interface, acoustic guitar strings, guitar tuners and so much more.

What else can I buy during Black Friday 2022?

MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.

That's a pretty huge question. It would be far easier to list the things you can't buy on Black Friday. You’ll find loads of bargains on great tech like noise-cancelling headphones, iPads and Amazon Echos – and you can even pick up groceries, pet food and dishwasher tablets – but it’s the Black Friday music deals we’ll be looking out for.

Black Friday music deals: what happened last year?

Last year's Black Friday music deals were off the chain, but we're hoping to see even bigger offers this year. In terms of last year's highlights, laptops and iPads - and in particular MacBook Pros - were available with silly discounts. Here are a few more offers from last year to give you a flavour of what you can expect from the 2022 Black Friday music deals. 

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Save 50% on Arturia V Collection 8 and more
This was Arturia's biggest software sale ever: giving you not only V Collection 8, but also the FX Collection 2 and Pigments 3 for half price. 

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iZotope Diamond: $2,268, now $149, $2,119 off
For not much more than the cost of the Gold or Platinum packages, you had the opportunity to add Diamond to your production arsenal. 

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Waves Black Friday sale: Save $$$ & get free plugins
This sale had everything from reverbs and delays, to compressors and virtual instruments - all at stellar prices. 

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Positive Grid Spark + free bag: $299, now $224
The Spark from Positive Grid has taken the practice amp world by storm. With thousands of tones at your fingertips, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, plus intelligent features such as Smart Jam and Auto Chords, it’s no wonder it’s the best-selling amp for home use. Last year you could save $75 and get a free padded gig bag (usually $60), plus free shipping!

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M-Audio BX5 Studio Monitor (Each): $179, $99.99
Well, if you are going to splash out on a new audio interface, it's worth also considering a quality set of studio monitors to ensure you hear your mixes to their fullest potential - and with $79 off each speaker, last Black Friday was a great time to grab one.

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Roland GO:KEYS 61K: was $349, now $249
The Roland GO:KEYS 61K is a completely wireless, battery-powered, portable solution for playing keyboard. It comes loaded with over 500 sounds, has its own speakers built in and is equipped with Bluetooth for wire-free connectivity. You even get access to free online lessons via Skoove. This feature-packed portable keyboard offers a lot of bang for your buck, and had $100 off for Black Friday. 

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Squier Classic Vibe '60s Strat: $449, $399
There are few guitars more iconic or versatile than the Strat, and last year you could grab a piece of the action for $399 thanks to Sweetwater. 

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Alesis Command X Mesh e-kit: $899, $629.99
Alesis is one of the very best when it comes to Black Friday deals - and this Command X with all-mesh heads is no exception to the rule - which had $270 off at Musicians Friend.  

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Ableton Live 11 Suite: was £509, now £379
Last year you could save £130 on the download version of Ableton's flagship Live 11 bundle at Thomann.

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Apple M1 MacBook Pro (256GB): £1,299 £1,169.97
There was a £130 saving on this 13-inch MacBook Pro at Amazon UK, with M1 power, 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage. Logic Pro and GarageBand are already fully compatible and other DAWs and plugins are starting to follow suit.

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Dell XPS 13 | i5 | 8GB:  £1,149, now £999
This XPS 13 i5 is one of the top music production laptops for those who prefer to do things on a slightly smaller budget. This XPS model contains an 11th Gen. i5 processor which, although not the most powerful option in the range, is still more than capable of some reasonable processing speeds and power. Most medium-sized recording sessions will be catered for with this XPS 13, and if you’re someone who just likes to record their own tracks, this laptop with 8GB of RAM should be more than suitable - and last year you could save £150 off as part of Dell UK’s Black Friday sale.

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D'Angelico Excel Series DC: $1,699.99, $1,099.99
D'Angelico sure knows a thing or two about hollow-body guitars, and the Excel Series proves this old-school jazz brand can make a modern guitar for contemporary players. The Seymour Duncan 59 humbuckers provide a wealth of tones from full-on rock n roll to expressive blues and warm jazz tone, this stunning guitar can do it all. 

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Sterling Music Man Ray34HH Bass: $1,029.99, $699.99
The StingRay has been responsible for some of the most legendary bass tones of all time. The thunderous low-end and bright high-end attack make it perfect for aggressive styles of music, and this sinister all-black finish means it now looks the part as well - and it was available for $330 at Musician's Friend. 

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Squier Contemporary Jazz Bass: $449.99, $349.99
The Contemporary series builds on Fender's legacy and brings it into the modern-day, with sought-after features and sleek new finishes. The SQR Active Ceramic pickups deliver bags of low-end punch and a clarity only found on active electronics - and it was available for $100 off the retail price.

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Behringer synths at Sweetwater: up to $270 off
Last Black Friday, Sweetwater was making a host of Behringer's most popular products available for staggeringly cheap prices. With $230 off the DeepMind 12, their 12-voice analogue behemoth is more accessible than ever, while more portable products such as the TD-3 are going for as low as $89. 

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Novation Launchpad X: Was $199.99, now $169.99
Still the king of affordable Ableton Live pad controllers, the Launchpad X comes with an upgraded feature set and feels better than ever. At this price, it's cheaper than ever, too, and comes with a free sleeve, too.

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1 year Fender Play + Mustang Micro: $330, $169.99
This insane Black Friday deal was perfect for guitarists looking to improve their skills for less. For only $129.99, you not only got unlimited access to Fender Play, but you also received a free Mustang Micro headphone amp, and 10% off all Fender gear for the whole year.

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Shure SM7B: was $399, now $359, save $40
If you buy just one microphone in your lifetime, the Shure SM7B deserves a place on your shortlist. It's a mic that excels at broadcast applications because it flatters any voice, even in the worst untreated rooms. It's also a superb vocal mic for singers, whether on stage or in the studio. Need to record instruments? It's great for guitar cabs and drum kits too. The word legendary is overused but it's well-deserved here.

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Roland TD-07KVX: $1,599.99, now $1,199.99
With mesh snare and tom pads, acoustic-style hi-hat mounting, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and 25 excellent kit presets, the TD-07KVX is the top of its range. This was the best Black Friday e-kit deal we saw last year.

Find more epic deals on a range of music gear below 

Black Friday music deals: Software

Black Friday Music deals: Guitar deals

Akai MPC Live II (was $1283, now $1083)

Akai MPC Live II (was $1283, now $1083)
Everybody knows about Akai's legendary MPC - it's a brand that's synonymous with beat-making and music production. The Live II is the most advanced version of their flagship sampler and sequencer that's ever been released, and it's a complete music-making package, equipped with 16 velocity-sensitive pads, a 7" multitouch display, built-in speakers and 16GB of internal storage.

Elektron Analog Four MKII (was $1649, now $1484)

Elektron Analog Four MKII (was $1649, now $1484)
A step up from Elektron's entry-level Digitone and Digitakt, the Analog Four is a beastly analogue synth that deserves to be at the heart of everyone's set-up. The synth combines the warm, punchy sound of analogue synthesis with the precision control of its digital architecture, pushing the results through an flavourful overdrive that needs to be heard to be believed.

Chris Barnes

I'm MusicRadar's eCommerce Editor. It's my job to manage the buyer's guides on MusicRadar and help musicians find the right gear and the best prices. I'm a guitarist and a drummer and I've worked in the music gear industry for 18 years, including 7 years as Editor of the UK's best-selling drum magazine Rhythm, and 5 years as a freelance writer working with many of the world's biggest musical instrument brands including the likes of Roland, Boss, MusicRadar and Natal.

With contributions from