Blast From the Past
Retro Instruments Take You Back Where It’s At
There’s nothing like buying a vintage instrument or accessory—collectors and enthusiasts scour pawn shops, garage sales, and the Internet looking for sought-after guitars, amps, and stomp boxes from the ’50s and ’60s. But vintage instruments may come with drawbacks—bad electronics, humming coils, and hard-to-find parts.
Manufacturers know the vintage instrument market is hot and have responded with reissues and upgrades of equipment that fueled the rock ‘n’ roll revolution. Now you can own a Beatles bass, Small Faces drum kit, Doors piano, or Little Walter microphone and rock out with the knowledge that your instrument has a warranty and state-of-the-art hardware!
Keyboards
The keyboard with the instantly recognizable and evocative sound is back. The Doors, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Bob James, and Billy Preston loved the Rhodes for its unique “tuning fork” tone production. Originally designed as a music making therapy tool for injured World War II servicemen, the updated Rhodes Mark 7 now has solid-state enhancements, MIDI compatibility, and a USB port.
For further information, visit www.rhodespiano.com
Bass
In Hamburg, Germany in the early 1960s, a young left-handed bass player from Liverpool discovered that the obscure German Hofner violin bass was a perfect solution for southpaws. Thanks to Paul McCartney, the violin bass became an icon. Now you can own an affordable Vintage ’63 Hofner recreation, and get the warm tones that the semi-hollow body is famous for.
For further information, visit www.hofner.com
Drums
British Mod drummers of the ’60s were famous for their driving rhythms and thunderous grooves, and the likes of Keith Moon and Kenney Jones didn’t need monster kits to get that sound, at least when they started out! Gretsch knows all about the Mod spirit, and it shows in the retro finishes it’s added to its Catalina Club Mod line, featuring mahogany shells and mini GTS hardware.
For further information, visit www.gretschdrums.com
Guitar
The Airline MAP-DLX from Eastwood guitars is a tribute to the early ’60s National Newport guitar and its distinctive map of the USA body shape. The recently reissued MAP features Airline Alnico Hot-10 pickups, a Bigsby tremolo bar, and a mahogany tone-chambered body. Available colors are seafoam (pictured), red, black, and white.
For further information, visit www.eastwoodguitars.com
Microphone
The “green bullet” may have been originally designed for the desks of taxicab dispatchers, but because Chicago bluesmen such as Little Walter used them to amplify harmonicas, they will forever be associated with smoky clubs and grungy tones. The Nady VHM-7 Bushman Torpedo has the classic bullet look with modern engineering that allows for clean vocals and inventive special effects, such as hand wah and flutters.
For further information, visit www.nady.com
Amplifier
The Fender ’57, one of Fender’s line of retro amps, is a limited-edition 300-piece run of a 12-watt, hand-wired tube amplifier with a 12-inch speaker housed in a split-grille cabinet with a black lacquer finish. Modern enhancements include a 5E3 Deluxe amplification platform using a Celestion Alnico Blue speaker. Knurled ’57 logo knobs, a solid aluminum handle, and custom hardware complete the package. The amp includes a leather collector’s portfolio containing a certificate of authenticity, designer notes, factory photos, and more.
For further information, visit www.fender.com
