In the '50s and '60s, Gretsch sought to compete with Fender and Gibson as a full-line supplier of all things guitar, including amplifiers. Unlike other brands, Gretsch didn't manufacture their own amplifiers; all the various Gretsch-branded amps were made by different builders, and sometimes a particular circuit was available with another name on the grill cloth. But just like their guitars, the Gretsch amps capture a particular vibe and style that sets them apart from the rest.
Made by Valco in Chicago, the 6150 Compact Tube Amplifier was the smallest amp in the Gretsch line. The circuit is identical to the Supro 1606, but the Gretsch version has a distinctive style with textured tolex and wheat grill cloth. One knob, three tubes, five watts, and an 8" speaker—what more do you need? The 6150 breaks up quickly and snarls at lower volumes. When you crank the volume knob, it delivers smooth, creamy saturation with rich harmonics. This amp offers the pure vintage sound of low-wattage all-tube goodness.
This Gretsch 6150 Compact Tube Amplifier was made in 1964, and it sounds fantastic. It has been properly serviced and now features a safe three-prong power cable. The filter caps have been replaced with Mod Electrolytic capacitors. It still has its original power transformer, output transformer, and Jensen 8" speaker. Three of the screws on the back panel have been replaced, but all of the remaining parts and components appear to be original.
This 1964 Gretsch 6150 shows some wear and signs of use. Most notably, the H is missing from the front panel so it reads "Gretsc." Needless to say, this amp has a lot of character and vibe, and it backs that up with rich overdriven tone. Similar to a tweed Champ, the 6150 sounds best with the volume cranked, but since it's only 5 watts, the volume level won't blow the doors down.