Black Friday music deals 2025: the early sales are here - here's everything musicians need to save on guitars, drums, music production gear and more in the biggest event of the year

With a gigantic $252 reduction taking the price down to well below the $600 mark, this Limited Edition Player II Stratocaster is an absolutely stonking deal. It’s the lowest price I’ve seen a Player II guitar going for, so if you’re after a super playable and versatile instrument that punches above its weight then this is a great deal to go for. In my Player II Stratocaster review I gave it four and a half stars out of five, praising the vintage tone of the Alnico pickups, the return of rosewood fingerboards, and the effortlessly playable modern ‘C’ profile neck.

Apple's MacBook Pro M3 features an 8-core processor, 10-core GPU, and supports up to 24GB of unified memory. It's got a tasty $299 discount over at Best Buy. Up to 35 percent faster than the first-generation M1 chip, this is a powerhouse production tool for those who need to run loads of VSTs and plugins without any dropouts or latency.

The Alesis Strata Prime Expanded Electronic Drum Set is as extra as it sounds - ‘expanded’ relates to the additional tom and cymbal you get in the box. This version is a seven-piece kit with 6 cymbals (hi-hat inclusive), and a supremely powerful touchscreen module with an incredible library of BFD-derived sounds and kits. For us, this is the be-all end-all e-drumming solution, with I/O to die for. Usually $4,448, this premium piece of kit has a generous $699 discount over at Sweetwater right now.

I’ve been using a pair of C414s for the last couple of years now, and there’s a reason that you’ll find them in pretty much every studio. They’re bright-sounding and super versatile thanks to the switchable polar patterns. Use them on vocals, on guitar amps, as overheads, as room mics, or even on toms, and you’ll find articulation and clarity with an excellent transient response. They’ve currently got a ginormous $300 reduction, meaning you can pick up a pair for a lot less. Take it from me, you’ll end up using them on everything.

At just $99, the Pigtronix Constellator is a brilliant deal at Sweetwater thanks to a huge $80 reduction. It's an analog delay pedal that delivers a luscious warm wash that belies its budget price point. It's a seriously underrated bit of gear, and we love the modulated tones it can deliver, as well as the mini size that means it's easily able to fit onto any 'board.

I’m a big fan of Lewitt microphones and this LCT 240 Pro condenser microphone is really great value for money at well below the $200 mark thanks to a $30 discount. As well as delivering superb detail and clarity to recordings, it also includes a shock mount and specifically designed pop filter for the microphone to keep your plosives in check. It also comes with windshield should you need to use it in noisy environments, and a carry case to keep it in good condition.

The Positive Grid Spark Mini has been my favorite practice amp for a long time now, thanks to its blend of fantastic tones, excellent volume, yet surprisingly small form factor. With a $50 reduction at Sweetwater, taking it just south of $200, it's awesome value for money, and in my opinion, the perfect practice amp.

If you're looking for a great quality digital piano, the Casio Privia PX-S3100 is an amazing choice thanks to a hefty $270 off in the Sweetwater sale. With a full 88-key keybed and a whopping 700 different sounds onboard, it can do everything from hyper-realistic grand piano tones through to harpsichords, vibraphones, and loads more.

With Casio's multi-dimensional AiR processing, 88 scaled hammer action keys, 26 additional tones and a very accessible playing action, this is a superb option for beginners and intermediates, and with $600 off, you really can't go wrong.

Guitar Tricks: Black Friday bundle, $899 $99
Right now you can score the best-value offer of the year on the best online guitar lessons platform. For only $99, you'll get a full access subscription, plus a fantastic range of beginner material, including a custom lesson plan, a beginner bootcamp, the 100 Essential Licks series, a guitar setup guide and loads more. For the full package you'd usually pay $899, but all this works out at a very palatable $8.25 per month.

Following the success of the S-Style SE NF 3, the SE NF 53 is PRS’s take on a classic T-Style guitar, with a few different twists. Saving $200 at Sweetwater, this is an awesome opportunity to test ride the PRS-designed Narrowfield DD “S” pickups and extremely playable NF 53-profile neck with a 10-inch fingerboard radius, all finished off with a stunning swamp ash body.

I’ve been using a pair of C414s for the last couple of years now, and there’s a reason that you’ll find them in pretty much every studio. They’re bright-sounding and super versatile thanks to the switchable polar patterns. Use them on vocals, on guitar amps, as overheads, as room mics, or even on toms, and you’ll find articulation and clarity with an excellent transient response. They’ve currently got a ginormous $300 reduction, meaning you can pick up a pair for a lot less. Take it from me, you’ll end up using them on everything.

Yep, you read that right, $8k for a monitor controller. It’s absolutely ridiculous but I implore you to go take a look at this crazy bit of gear, which has got one of the biggest discounts I’ve seen this year with $3,500 off. Based on the monitor section of the flagship Neve 5088 large-format console, the Class A analogue signal paths of this hardware ensure world-class sound and monitor control. It’s got talkback control and a dedicated headphone amplifier, making it a great all-rounder for pro or home studios that want the best of the best.

Whether you need it for Zoom calls, streaming purposes, or you want to make quick recordings from the comfort of your desk, the Samson Meteor Mic has got a gigantic $55 reduction in the Sweetwater sale. As well as looking super cool, it delivers a great sound for vocals and spoken word, as well as doing a decent job on instruments like acoustic guitar.

13" | M1 CPU | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD
Yes, it was released in 2020, but this MacBook Air M1 is still a cracking laptop for music production, and at just $599, it's a total bargain. If this price is beaten this Cyber Weekend, we'd be very surprised.

Apple's MacBook Pro M3 features an 8-core processor, 10-core GPU, and supports up to 24GB of unified memory. It's got a tasty $299 discount over at Best Buy. Up to 35 percent faster than the first-generation M1 chip, this is a powerhouse production tool for those who need to run loads of VSTs and plugins without any dropouts or latency.

I already own UAD Sound City Studios and it's quickly become one of my most used plugins. I use it to liven up drum room sounds, add space to guitar tracks recorded via plugins, and give a sense of space to vocals.

Waves plugins: Starting at $24.99
Waves plugins are some of the most popular plugins of all time, making them a great place to start your plugin collection or stock it up. With an excellent selection of plugins available from just $24.99, this early Black Friday sale is a great way to get more for your money.

Vocalign is on my shopping list this year, having recently used the trial. It's great for making your vocal editing more efficient, allowing you to quickly and easily synchronize vocal doubles and harmonies to get a really professional sound. It's currently got a hefty $80 discount at Plugin Boutique, and you can use it on other instruments too, making it an amazing tool for speeding up the editing of your productions.

Another bit of outboard gear I’m very familiar with, the Avalon BT-737 Tube Channel Strip can be characterised with a single word - clean. Seemingly no matter how hard you push it them the preamps still remain incredibly transparent, delivering a glossy sheen to whatever signals you feed it. With preamp, opto-compressor, and EQ I use it a lot for vocals, but it’s versatile enough to take a shine to pretty much any instrument.

If you want to add realistic drum sounds to your productions for less, this awesome deal on BFD 3.5 at Plugin Boutique is well worth a look. With a massive $160 reduction, you're getting quality drum sounds straight into your DAW for well below $50. With a massive 51 kits there's plenty to get stuck into, and if you like tweaking your drum sounds then you'll love the depth of offer here.

The API 500 series is one of my favourite bits of outboard in the studio I work in, so when I’m at home the EQ plugin is one of my top choices. An engineer friend of mine described it as ‘revealing’ and I can’t put it any better than that. Even when you start getting into boosting frequencies in the realm of 12dB it still somehow manages to sound good, and despite being initially confusing, I find the two-tiered knobs really quick and easy to use once you get used to them.

The latest guitar plugin from Universal Audio replicates a very famous Fender Showman amplifier, giving you massive clean tones and bags of headroom from the comfort of your DAW.

If you're looking for a great quality digital piano, the Casio Privia PX-S3100 is an amazing choice thanks to a hefty $270 off in the Sweetwater sale. With a full 88-key keybed and a whopping 700 different sounds onboard, it can do everything from hyper-realistic grand piano tones through to harpsichords, vibraphones, and loads more.

The Roland E-X50 is a good choice for beginners, offering creative features, strong connectivity, and a sturdy build - and we think it's a steal at only $527.99. Read our full Roland E-X50 review

At the core of this Roland stage piano is a stellar sound engine that delivers magnificent tones to suit any situation - and right now, you can save a whopping $149 at Amazon right now.

Roland's FP range is one of our favourites when it comes to affordable beginner-friendly instruments, so naturally, we get very excited when we see one with a healthy discount. Right now, you can save $199.

With Casio's multi-dimensional AiR processing, 88 scaled hammer action keys, 26 additional tones and a very accessible playing action, this is a superb option for beginners and intermediates, and with $600 off, you really can't go wrong.

For players just starting out on their piano journey, it's vital to opt for an instrument that gives you all the necessary features to learn, without hindering your progress. That means 88-notes, fully weighted keys, sustain pedal and high-quality sounds. Luckily, the P-45 ticks all of these boxes and does so without breaking the bank!

I've had a HX Stomp on my pedalboard for the past couple of years now, and it's become the hub for all my delay, reverb, and modulation sounds. Instead of having three separate pedals it handles a multitude of duties sitting in the FX loop of my amp. I also use it for amp modeling in conjunction with third-party IRs, where it's perfect for recording guitar demos. This limited mint green edition has eye-catching looks to add to the equation, and with $100 off at Guitar Center I can highly recommend picking one up.

With everybody raving about the new Oasis guitars, this Epiphone Les Paul Custom P-90 caught my eye over at Guitar Center. It's got a hefty $150 discount, and the black and gold aesthetic with dual P-90 pickups gives it a look not too dissimilar to Noel's new guitar, for much less money.

At just $99, the Pigtronix Constellator is a brilliant deal at Sweetwater thanks to a huge $80 reduction. It's an analog delay pedal that delivers a luscious warm wash that belies its budget price point. It's a seriously underrated bit of gear, and we love the modulated tones it can deliver, as well as the mini size that means it's easily able to fit onto any 'board.

The SE NF 53 sees PRS put its own spin on a classic T-style design, and right now it’s $200 off at Sweetwater. This model features the brand’s Narrowfield DD “S” pickups for punchy clarity, a comfortable NF 53-profile neck with a 10-inch fingerboard radius, and a beautifully finished swamp-ash body. A classy blend of vintage character and modern playability.

If you’re after a stylish single cut, this could be the one. With $180 off at Guitar Center, the SE Zach Myers 594 pairs a chambered mahogany body with a single F-hole, keeping things lightweight and resonant. Two PRS-designed 245 “S” pickups deliver plenty of punch, making this model as versatile as it is eye-catching.

If you love to shred, this one’s for you. With $216 off at Sweetwater, the SE Custom 24 Floyd lets you dive-bomb and chug to your heart’s content, all while showing off its stunning Charcoal Cherry Burst finish. It’s a powerful, stage-ready guitar that proves serious performance doesn’t have to come with a premium price tag.

With $220 off at Guitar Center, the SE Studio is a fantastic all-rounder for players who want maximum flexibility. A figured maple veneer and shallow violin carve give it plenty of visual appeal, while the HSS Narrowfield configuration makes it equally at home in the studio or on stage. A smart buy for any studio guitarist this Black Friday.

The Alesis Strata Prime Expanded Electronic Drum Set is as extra as it sounds - ‘expanded’ relates to the additional tom and cymbal you get in the box. This version is a seven-piece kit with 6 cymbals (hi-hat inclusive), and a supremely powerful touchscreen module with an incredible library of BFD-derived sounds and kits. For us, this is the be-all end-all e-drumming solution, with I/O to die for. Usually $4,498, this premium piece of kit has a generous $699 discount over at Sweetwater right now.

Roland TD516: FREE throne worth $248!
The TD516 has literally just been released. I've played one and can confirm that it really is ahead of the game, taking a good amount of tech from the 7 series drums and putting them in a more affordable package. The addition of digital snare, hats and ride with this kit is a true game-changer. While this kit isn't cheap at $3,699.99, throwing in a hydraulic saddle throne worth $248 is a classy move by Sweetwater!

And if all the extra bells and whistles of the expanded edition Strata Prime are more than you will reasonably use, the standard edition is also on sale right now with a healthy $200 discount. In our 5-star Alesis Strata Prime review we described this kit as a "bonafide game-changer", and that's even more true at this price. This is not a kit you will grow out of or want to upgrade for a very long time.

Now this is a great deal! The TD-07 range of V-Drums is fantastic not only for beginners with a bit of budget, but it's also a great step-up kit for drummers who are moving forward with their playing. The all-mesh configuration comes with fantastic hardware, some excellent on-board sounds and Bluetooth built into the module for wireless jamming with your phone or tablet.

Donner's Backbeat is by some distance the most expensive of its high-value range, and suitably feature-laden as a result, with touchscreen module, dual-zone mesh pads, Bluetooth connectivity, multi-track USB audio and its USP, snazzy customisable LED lighting on each pad and cymbal. It really does look the business.

Donner's Backbeat is by some distance the most expensive of its high-value range, and suitably feature-laden as a result, with touchscreen module, dual-zone mesh pads, Bluetooth connectivity, multi-track USB audio and its USP, snazzy customisable LED lighting on each pad and cymbal. It really does look the business. Use discount code EABE for the full reduction.

If you're looking for a great quality digital piano, the Casio Privia PX-S3100 is an amazing choice thanks to a hefty $270 off in the Sweetwater sale. With a full 88-key keybed and a whopping 700 different sounds onboard, it can do everything from hyper-realistic grand piano tones through to harpsichords, vibraphones, and loads more.