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
  • Artist news
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Kate Bush Army Dreamers
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Theory of Feels
  1. Guitars
  2. Bass Guitars

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

News
By 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

Read more
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Gretsch G6136TG-58 Limited Edition 1958 Custom Falcon and G6134TG-58 Limited Edition 1958 Custom Penguin with Bigsby, photographed on a green leather couch,
Guitars Gretsch's exquisite, limited run Penguin and Falcon are a pair of fine-feathered guitars to crow about
 
 
The Fender Vintera III series offers period correct specs and promises golden era tones — and here five from the range are lined up in formation.
Guitars “We set out to capture the defining moments that shaped Fender’s legacy”: Fender unveils the Vintera III series
 
 
Fender 30th Anniversary Hot Rod Deluxe: the special edition tube combo comes finished with a commemorative "Western" vinyl covering, with gold and brown grille cloth.
Guitars Fender celebrates three decades of the Hot Rod Deluxe with a stunning anniversary edition
 
 
Harley Benton TE Tremolo Series
Guitars Harley Benton unveils three entry-level T-styles with Bigbsy-style vibratos and vintage mojo to burn
 
 
Fender 75th Anniversary Telecaster Road Worn and Cabronita
Electric Guitars Fender 75th Anniversary Vintera Road Worn 1951 Telecaster & American Professional Classic Cabronita Telecaster review
 
 
Latest in Bass Guitars
UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01:  Photo of COMMODORES; L-R Walter Orange and Ronald La Pread performing on stage  (Photo by Mike Prior/Redferns)
Artists Commodores co-founder and bassist Ronald LaPread has died, aged 75
 
 
 Thom Yorke and Flea of Atoms For Peace perform live on stage at The Roundhouse on July 24, 2013
Gigs & Festivals Thom Yorke joins Flea for 10-minute Marvin Gaye jam at Chili Pepper’s only solo UK date
 
 
Sean Hurley plays the Fender 75th Anniversary Precision Bass Collection
Bass Guitars Geezer Butler, Tal Wilkenfeld and Nate Mendel hail the legacy of the P Bass, as Fender celebrates its 75th anniversary
 
 
Rush in 1976, the year the Canadian prog trio's fortunes changed as 2112 was released
Artists “It was the record that changed our lives”: Rush frontman Geddy Lee on the band's classic 2112
 
 
Sterling By Music Man Joe Dart Collection, ft. the Joe Dart I [left] and the Joe Dart Vision – the bass with no controls
Artists No knobs? No problem – Sterling By Music Man takes bass guitar design minimalism to its logical conclusion with the super-cool Joe Dart Vision
 
 
Neural DSP Darklgass Ultra
Bass Guitars Neural DSP unveils the Darkglass Ultimate plugin – a fully featured digital platform for studio-quality bass tone
 
 
Latest in News
Close up of Musician Hands Playing Synthesizer Keyboard in Neon Lighting. Artist Producing Music in Home Studio, Recording Audio with Professional Equipment. Creative Arts and Hobby Concept.
Gigs & Festivals Audience member steps in for ailing keyboard player during a live orchestral showing of La La Land
 
 
UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01:  Photo of COMMODORES; L-R Walter Orange and Ronald La Pread performing on stage  (Photo by Mike Prior/Redferns)
Artists Commodores co-founder and bassist Ronald LaPread has died, aged 75
 
 
Bret Michaels performs during the 2026 Extra Innings Festival at Tempe Beach & Arts Park on February 27, 2026
Gigs & Festivals “More divisive than what I agreed to be a part of”: Bret Michaels excuses himself from the ‘Great American State Fair’
 
 
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: Roger Daltrey of The Who Performs At Acrisure Arena at Acrisure Arena on October 01, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Artists "I mean, it’s extraordinary": Roger Daltrey says that his voice is as strong as ever
 
 
CMAT performs during Radio 1's Big Weekend at Herrington Country Park on May 24, 2026
Singers & Songwriters “Success is increasingly becoming tarnished”: CMAT confronts social media abusers in a candid, emotional post
 
 
US musician and artist Jack White sits on "Sam Phillips Sofa" (2016) as he attends a photocall for the "Jack White: These Thoughts May Disappear" exhibition at Newport Street Gallery on May 28, 2026 in London, England. The exhibition marks the first public presentation of works by the American artist and musician Jack White, featuring his monumental sculpture The Red Tree (2015). (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Guitarists “Working with power tools is therapeutic”: Jack White opens an exhibition of ‘hardware store art’
 
 

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 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...