Black Friday music deals 2025: don't miss final savings on guitars, drums, music production gear, and loads more

The special edition version of the 8-piece Nitro Max has all the awesome DNA of the main kit (which comes in black), but this version comes with striking red pad shells and rims, plus red accents on the cymbals and module. If you like to stand out from the crowd, this is the kit for you. Today you can save $100.

My top pick for our guide was the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, which for me, delivered the best balance of features, performance, and software offering. Its low-latency performance is simply phenomenal, and you can get it to go below 5ms on Mac which is incredibly low considering the price. It’s great on Windows too, with one of the most robust drivers I’ve ever encountered. Add in some cool features like clip safe and auto gain modes alongside significant improvements in AD/DA conversion, and there’s a good reason it sits in the top spot of my guide. With a nice $30 off over at Sweetwater, it’s the ultimate interface for the vast majority of music makers out there.

The Shure MV7+ is a hybrid USB-C/XLR dynamic mic that delivers broadcast-grade voice capture with minimal fuss. With built-in Auto-Level Mode, real-time denoiser, and a digital pop filter, I can capture great sound quickly, all from one mic. If you record podcasts, voice-overs, or streaming, this $49.05 discount over at Amazon makes perfect sense.

Boss’ Katana 50 is the new benchmark for modern practice amplifiers. It’s got more juice than a Sicilian lemon, more tone than 80s Schwarzenegger, and more versatility than Matthew McConaughey – thanks to its unbelievably good digital modelling technology, including a Tube Logic modelling system that adds a realistic valve-y feel to your chosen tone. Throw in some serious connectivity, and you’ve got a beginner-friendly workhorse that’ll see you right through to thousand-cap venues.

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.

Guitar wireless systems used to be crazy expensive, so this deal on the Xvive U2 Wireless System is a great reminder of just how far we've come in terms of the technology. With a $46 reduction at Musican's Friend, this wireless kit is superb value for money, and the freeing feeling of doing away with cables is a convenience that all guitarists really need to experience.

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.

Universal Audio: Free plugin
Choose from one of ten different plugins free of charge with this amazing deal over at the Universal Audio website. From classic compressors to tape saturation, there’s something for everyone here, but you’ll need to act fast because they’re only available from November 27 to December 1.

One small pedal: 14 great effects. The TC Electronic Plethora X1 will earn its place on your pedalboard for your reverb, delay, compressor and modulation needs – plus more! Now it's hit a rock bottom price for just £99 in Thomann's Black Friday bonanza.

Includes Timeless 3, Saturn 2, Twin 3 and Volcano 3. This bundle is great for ambient, electronic or cinematic work, and far more flexible than buying each separately.

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.

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.

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.

IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors are probably the best small project studio monitors that we have ever tested here at MusicRadar... and that was when they were full price! Imagine our glee now that they're $120 off at Sweetwater this Cyber Weekend. This deal is a no-brainer.

Closed-back, detachable cable version with the STELLAR.45 driver—excellent for tracking, bleed-free monitoring, or layering guitars. I use these when I need isolation but top-tier fidelity. At this price, they’re hard to beat.

My top pick for our guide was the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, which for me, delivered the best balance of features, performance, and software offering. Its low-latency performance is simply phenomenal, and you can get it to go below 5ms on Mac which is incredibly low considering the price. It’s great on Windows too, with one of the most robust drivers I’ve ever encountered. Add in some cool features like clip safe and auto gain modes alongside significant improvements in AD/DA conversion, and there’s a good reason it sits in the top spot of my guide. With a nice $30 off over at Sweetwater, it’s the ultimate interface for the vast majority of music makers out there.

The Shure MV7+ is a hybrid USB-C/XLR dynamic mic that delivers broadcast-grade voice capture with minimal fuss. With built-in Auto-Level Mode, real-time denoiser, and a digital pop filter, I can capture great sound quickly, all from one mic. If you record podcasts, voice-overs, or streaming, this $49.05 discount over at Amazon makes perfect sense.

The Audient iD4 MkII is a fantastic bit of kit, and I actually still use it as my travel interface when I need to mix on the go. It’s compact, easy to use, and delivers top-quality sound as you’d expect from a company that makes consoles for professional studios. I love the dual headphone outputs which allows for quick and easy collaboration, and I picked it out as a great option for beginner mixers who want something easy to use, but with enough room to grow into as they develop their craft. It’s currently got a cool $30 reduction in the Guitar Center sale, so if you’re looking for a great all-rounder they don’t come much better than this.

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 $4,000 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.

If you want something a little more ‘pro’, the Universal Audio Apollo Twin X is the step up you’ve been looking for. I use its bigger brother, the X4, as my daily in my home studio, and when I was reviewing the Twin X I really loved the analogue style workflow it encourages you to take on. By harnessing the DSP power within the interface itself, you can offload processing from your computer to the interface itself, allowing you to place plugins on the input path like you would in a proper studio. It’s got a huge $200 discount at Sweetwater right now, so if you’re ready to step up to the big leagues, then this is the interface for you.

For those who primarily record guitars, the IK Multimedia Axe I/O is the ultimate guitar audio interface. It’s got some properly cool guitarist-friendly features, like the ability to switch the input for active or passive pickups, an impedance control for changing the high-end content, a dedicated reamp out for changing those DI tones, and it even has a built-in guitar tuner. It’s got a ginormous $100 off at Sweetwater in the Black Friday sale, so if you want to upgrade the way you record your guitars, this is my favorite interface for guitarists.

I picked out the SSL2+ MKII as a great interface for recording vocals, because SSL preamps are known for being ultra-clean. This is certainly the case with what’s an offer here, but there’s also some additional functionality that I think makes it particularly well-suited for vocalists or those who primarily record vocals. The dual headphone outs are great for collaborating with others on tracks, and with dedicated volumes for each, you can set a perfect balance for you and the vocalist you’re working with. The built-in low cut for each track is also super handy, allowing you to get rid of any low-end rumble you might get from your singer moving around whilst they deliver their take. With a nice $50 reduction in the Guitar Center sale, it’s a great time to pick up this interface and upgrade the sound of your recordings for Black Friday.

Don't even think about sleeping on this deal on the latest 13-inch MacBook Air, which rocks a powerful M4 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. And let's face it: it looks pretty darn cool, too.

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 $549, it's a total bargain. If this price is beaten this Cyber Weekend, we'd be very surprised.

Don't even think about sleeping on this deal on the latest 13-inch MacBook Air, which rocks a powerful M4 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. And let's face it: it looks pretty darn cool, too.

Apple is still selling the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Air for £999 on its website, but head on over to Very and the exact same laptop (with an M4 processor, 16GB RAM and a 256GB SSD) can be had for £200 less. Now that's Black Friday magic.

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.

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.

Read more: Synchro Arts Vocalign Ultra review

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.

Read more: Universal Audio API 500 Series EQ review

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.

Get into UAD’s amp-modelling suite at bargain pricing: classic emulations like the Woodrow ’55, Ruby ’63 Top Boost, Dream ’65 Reverb, and Lion ’68 Plexi are all available at this level. It’s a chance to build your virtual amp rig without breaking the bank. Pick your favourites for $29 each (usually $149), grab a 4x essentials bundle for only $99 (usually $299).

This bundle features more than 60 UAD plug-ins, including new additions like Ocean Way Studios Deluxe, A-Type Multiband Dynamic Enhancer, Anthem Analog Synthesizer, Showtime ’64 Tube Amp, Woodrow ’55, plus classic favourites like the 1176, LA-2A, API Vision, Studer A800 and more. It’s a deep-dive toolbox covering compression, EQ, reverb, tape, synths and guitar, and might be everything you need in one tidy place.

This vintage-inspired tape delay is one I actually reach for ahead of some of the more guitar-friendly alternatives in my arsenal. It’s full of warmth, flexible modulation, filter sweeps and true stereo delay. At this price, it’s a no-brainer if you want lush echoes or experimental textures.

Includes Timeless 3, Saturn 2, Twin 3 and Volcano 3. This bundle is great for ambient, electronic or cinematic work, and far more flexible than buying each separately.

This is one of the reverbs I rely on when I need natural, musical space without the generic “washed out” sound. Pro-R 2’s decay controls, saturation and gating let me sculpt reverb that sits in the mix rather than flooding it.

This bundle gives you the full FabFilter universe: EQ, dynamics, distortion, delay, synths, filters – everything. If you’re building a long-term toolkit, this is the most efficient buy. I use elements from this on nearly every project.

Saturn 2 remains my go-to for adding rich, analogue-style saturation, transformer grit, or multiband dirt. The way you can morph between tape, tube and amp-style saturation with band control is unmatched. And, at this discounted rate, it’s a creative essential.

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

This piano may look sleek and modern, but it’s not all style over substance, as this piano more than delivers on playability. Casio’s Smart Hybrid Hammer Action Keyboard feels incredibly responsive and offers a very satisfying playing experience, while the Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source delivers a massive range of tones. Save a massive $500 at Sweetwater.

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.

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 $204.

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!

Guitar wireless systems used to be crazy expensive, so this deal on the Xvive U2 Wireless System is a great reminder of just how far we've come in terms of the technology. With a $46 reduction at Musican's Friend, this wireless kit is superb value for money, and the freeing feeling of doing away with cables is a convenience that all guitarists really need to experience.

Neural DSP Nano Cortex: Free plugin
The Neural DSP Nano Cortex is ideal for players who don’t want to fully commit to a floor modeler but want the convenience of amp modeling for playing live shows. It’s jam-packed with some of the most incredible captures we’ve ever heard, and you can make your own captures with it too – impressive for such a small unit. With this deal, if you buy a Nano Cortex from an approved retailer between November 21 and December 3, you can bag yourself any Neural DSP plugin completely free of charge!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

At first, I wasn't quite won over by this guitar's looks, but once I got my hands on it, everything changed. In person, the shape just made more sense, and to my delight, this guitar is not only incredibly playable but also delivers those classic Gibson tones that we all adore. I actually ended up buying one myself! Save $200 at Sweetwater.

Jimi’s original started life with a sunburst finish before he sprayed it black and hand-painted the ‘Love Drops’ design himself. That brings us neatly to the Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Jimi Hendrix Love Drops Flying V. For us, we think the Love Drops is a great statement guitar. It looks fantastic, plays well, and sounds superb, particularly in the neck position.

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.

The special edition version of the 8-piece Nitro Max has all the awesome DNA of the main kit (which comes in black), but this version comes with striking red pad shells and rims, plus red accents on the cymbals and module. If you like to stand out from the crowd, this is the kit for you. Today you can save $100.

Not a fan of the flashy red edition currently reduced at Guitar Center, above? Then head over to Sweetwater for the classic black look, with the exact same spec - and the exact same chunky $100 saving.

The Alesis Strata Core is a rare Black Friday win, offering flagship-level sound and feel at a lower-than-usual price. With its expressive BFD engine, responsive mesh pads and premium ARC cymbals, this discount means pro-level performance in a compact, home-friendly kit. Read our full Alesis Strata Core review.

The above Strata Core offer is great, however it doesn’t come with a hi-hat stand of bass drum pedal as standard. You may have those bits of hardware at home already, but if not Sweetwater has upped the ante with this great deal that bundles the Strata Core with a DW 3000 Series hi-hat stand and BD pedal, giving you everything you need to start playing as soon as our new kit arrives.

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.

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.

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 $3,619.99, throwing in a hydraulic saddle throne worth $248 is a classy move by Sweetwater!

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.