Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Black Friday
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $500/£500 in 2025: Affordable electrics
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Acoustic Guitars Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: Top picks for strummers on a budget
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
A Fractal Audio VP4 Virtual Pedalboard multi-effects pedal on a concrete floor
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2025: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
Two Taylor beginner acoustic guitars lying on a purple floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners 2025: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
Close up of LR Baggs Anthem pickup in an acoustic guitar
Guitar Pickups Best acoustic guitar pickups 2025: electrify your acoustic for stage, studio and sound fx – our top picks for all budgets
Man in green jumper received a gift from a man in a red jumper
Guitars Best Christmas gifts for musicians 2025: 21 affordable festive present ideas for music-makers (which they'll genuinely love)
Kids hands on a beginner keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners 2025: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
Quentin testing a Yamaha piano
Keyboards & Pianos Best digital pianos 2025: I'm a professional piano and music gear reviewer, and these are my top picks
Roland TD-02K and TD-02KV V-Drums electronic drum sets
Drum Kits Best electronic drum set for kids 2025: child-friendly electronic drum kits
Man presses acoustic bridge pin into an acoustic guitar
Guitar Strings Best acoustic guitar strings 2025: Find your favourite acoustic strings
Man holding acoustic guitar in front of a silver laptop
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials What are the best online guitar lessons in 2025? I review guitar gear for a living and these are my favourite lessons platforms
Santa Claus playing piano in front of a Christmas tree
Keyboards & Pianos Best Christmas gifts for piano players 2025: the ultimate festive gift guide for pianists, covering all budgets
Yamaha CSP-255 review
Keyboards & Pianos Best digital pianos for beginners 2025: 8 beginner-friendly pianos handpicked by a professional piano and music gear reviewer
More
  • Pete Townshend on smashing - and fixing - his guitars
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • AI slop hits #1
  • The pain that birthed Don't Speak
  • Europe vs AI
  1. Guitars
  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
Social Links Navigation

Guitarist is the longest established UK guitar magazine, offering gear reviews, artist interviews, techniques lessons and loads more, in print, on tablet and on smartphones
Digital: http://bit.ly/GuitaristiOS
If you love guitars, you'll love Guitarist. Find us in print, on Newsstand for iPad, iPhone and other digital readers

The magazine for serious players image
The magazine for serious players
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Deals not to miss
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Best electric guitars under $500/£500 in 2025: Affordable electrics
 
 
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: Top picks for strummers on a budget
 
 
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
A Fractal Audio VP4 Virtual Pedalboard multi-effects pedal on a concrete floor
Best multi-effects pedals 2025: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
 
 
Two Taylor beginner acoustic guitars lying on a purple floor
Best acoustic guitar for beginners 2025: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
 
 
Latest in Bass Guitars
Mani of the Stone Roses, 1992
Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, dies, aged 63
 
 
The Epiphone Mike Dirnt G-3 Grabber is an affordable replica of his original Gibson and features a trio of Gibson USA pickups, custom wiring, and is available in Natural and Silverburst finishes.
Epiphone unveils signature G-3 Grabber with Gibson USA pickups for Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt
 
 
Thundercat and Sam Rivers composite image
“He played the role of a bass player very musically”: Thundercat pays tribute to Sam Rivers
 
 
Blackstar Debut Bass 25: this compact little combo is finished in black with matching grille clothe and is photographed in close-up against a stone floor and weaved rug.
“Its solid quality, punchy tone and its surprising amount of headroom might make it a secret weapon for rehearsals, or even gigs”: Blackstar Debut Bass 25 review
 
 
Jazz bassist Anthony Jackson performs at North Sea Jazz festival, The Hague, Netherlands, 10th July1998
"Rest in Power": Anthony Jackson, six-string bass ace, dies aged 73
 
 
Fender's American Professional Classic series photographed against the side of a chrome tour bus [L-R]: Jaguar in faded Sherwood Green Metallic, HSS Stratocaster in Faded Lake Placid Blue, Stratocaster in Faded Firemist Gold, Telecaster in Faded Butterscotch Blonde, Precision Bass in Faded 3-Color Sunburst.
Fender gives its US lineup a retro-modern makeover with the American Professional Classic range
 
 
Latest in News
STOCKBRIDGE, GEORGIA - AUGUST 30: Jimmy Jam performs onstage during Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Friends 40th Anniversary Tribute concert at VyStar Amphitheater at The Bridge on August 30, 2025 in Stockbridge, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Jimmy Jam says that Prince’s LM-1 association influenced Jam and Lewis’s decision to switch to a Roland TR-808
 
 
One Love of Arrested Development performs at Santeria Toscana 31 on October 31, 2025 in Milan, Italy
"It just shows the power of community skills and generosity": Local repair cafe save hip hop legends' gig
 
 
Popumusic PartyStudio
Popumusic’s PartyStudio is “the world’s first wireless MIDI synthesizer speaker”
 
 
Bob Dylan performs in concert during Farm Aid 2023
“The idea of being excluded from future shows is truly devastating”: Owner of Dylan fansite is kicked out of gig
 
 
Whitesnake in 1990
"Your golden pipes remain this guy’s all-time favourite rock voice": Steve Vai salutes Whitesnake legend David Coverdale
 
 
roland earth electric piano
Roland's new Earth Electric Piano instrument brings "every electric piano you've ever loved together at last"
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...