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  2. Bass Guitars

Six Of The Best: Retro-style guitars, amps and basses

News
By Guitarist ( Guitarist ) published 13 June 2012

Fifties fun with a modern twist

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Fender Pawn Shop Special Greta amplifier

Fender Pawn Shop Special Greta amplifier

It’s 2012, but in the guitar world, we’re going to party like it’s 1959. Here’s a small selection of the latest retro-flavoured guitar gear coming to a stage near you…

Fender Pawn Shop Special Greta amplifier

£202.80

Fender’s two-watt Greta tube amp is as vintage as your nan’s false teeth. Single 12AX7 and 12AT7 valves power a four-inch Special Design speaker for a range of clean to dirty tones. It also has an input for your mp3 player.

More information:

Fender Pawn Shop Special Greta press release
Fender Pawn Shop Special Greta amp demo

www.fender.co.uk

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Bogner Goldfinger 45 amplifier

Bogner Goldfinger 45 amplifier

Gold custom comet-pattern-embossed vinyl adds a retro sheen to this pro-quality, two-channel valve head that’s capable of tones from any era.

More information:

Bogner Goldfinger 45 review
Bogner Goldfinger 45 amp demo

www.bogneramplification.com

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Gretsch Electromatic G5448T Double Jet guitar

Gretsch Electromatic G5448T Double Jet guitar

Paying tribute to the Gretsch Duo Jet, this Chinese-made Bigsby-equipped retro rocker has tones to match its sparkling looks.

More information:

Gretsch Electromatic G5448T Double Jet review
Gretsch Electromatic G5448T Double Jet demo

www.gretschguitars.com

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Framus Vintage Hollywood Singlecut guitar

Framus Vintage Hollywood Singlecut guitar

German marque Framus launched its first semi-solidbody electrics in 1958, and this new Korean-made creation revives the vibe and slightly modifies the none-more-retro styling.

More information:

Framus Vintage Hollywood Singlecut review

www.framus.de

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Yamaha THR5

Yamaha THR5

Could this be the ‘perfect third amp’? Yamaha’s THR is a reinvention of the practice amp featuring 10-watt output, full-range speakers and hi-fi functionality, and there’s a bigger THR10 version too.

More information:

Yamaha THR10 review

www.yamaha.com

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Godin Shifter 4 Bass

Godin Shifter 4 Bass

Unusual pickups in an unusual configuration, and a familiar design aesthetic, add up to an instrument with great tones with what we could only describe as an air of ‘rightness’ about it.

More information:

Godin Shifter 4 Bass review

www.godinguitars.com

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Guitarist
Guitarist
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Read more
Harley Benton JB-62CC Mini Bass
Harley Benton applies retro-classic colours to its beginner friendly short-scale JB-62CC Mini Bass
Fender American Vintage II Series 2025 new models: a still from Fender's promo video pictures the '51 Tele in Prototype White, the '57 Strat in Black, P-Bass in Olympic White, the exquisite all-new '65 Stratocaster in Candy Apple Red (one of three finish options) and the '66 Jazzmaster in Sherwood Green Metallic.
Affordable retro mojo: Fender expands American Vintage II series with fresh finishes and new models
Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
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Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Trouble: this limited edition single-cut features uncovered pickups and a vintage gloss nitro finish, and it's available in Vintage Cherry Sunburst and Vintage Tobacco Sunburst
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