Gretsch Model 6152 Compact Tremolo/Reverb Tube Amplifier (1966)
LOADING IMAGES
Gretsch Model 6152 Compact Tremolo/Reverb Model Tube Amplifier (1966), made in Chicago, serial # I-67914, textured tolex finish.
The 1964 Gretsch catalog featured a "Compact" line of amplifiers designed for home-use practice, handy for the thousands of guitar-boom kids happily essaying Beatle songs in the garage. These three models were all single-speaker 5 watt tube amps with an 8" speaker. The most basic model, the Compact 6150 had no effects, the Compact 6151 featured on-board tremolo, and this top model the Compact 6152 featured both tremolo and spring reverb. This made it quite lavish for a supposed practice amp at the time, and sure to be the envy of the rest of the band in the garage!
In this period Gretsch amps were built by Valco in Chicago, and are well engineered, sturdy and great sounding. The 6152 features three inputs, two "regular" and one "bright", master volume and tone controls as well as separate tremolo and "reverberation" controls, each with their own external footswitch jack. A single ended 6V6 power section yields around 5 watts into a single 8" Jensen speaker, a combination that is fairly rare among the myriad of other 5-watt practice amps of the era. The spring reverb and the lovely all-tube tremolo are effects normally only found in more powerful pro-grade amps at the time. This circuit is basically identical to the better known Supro Tremo-Verb 6422TR and versions of it be found in several other Valco-made models branded Silvertone or Airline from the same era.
Height is 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.), 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm.) width, and 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep.
This is a VERY well-preserved example with minimal signs of wear; likely this amp never saw a stage back in the day. The Gretsch "airline" covering is in pristine condition, only showing very minor scuffing around the corners and edges. The grille cloth covering is in impeccable shape; it is taut with no notable rips, only very subtle wear along the lower left corner. The plastic Gretsch logo is intact as well. The faceplate shows only minor signs of corrosive staining but practically all the stenciled lettering is intact. The amp retains its original handle and the two-button reverb and tremolo footswitch is present as well.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original, save for the speaker, which has been replaced with a newer Jensen C8R, which is more robust and sounds fantastic. The power, output and reverb transformers are original to the amp, the latter two both bear the code 524-66-7, dating them to the 7th week of 1966. The original "shoe box" reverb tank is also present. The amp has seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, a grounded 3-prong power cord, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and biased to spec.
This is a truly pristine example of a really wonderful "all-in-one" low-power amplifier that sounds truly fantastic! Gretsch amps of this era are often underrated; they are the equal (sometimes literally) of the more highly regarded National or Supro branded models built by the same factory, and have that extra tang of Gretschiness that adds some mid-60s eye appeal. In our lower volume world today this is a real find in a deluxe recording or low-wattage performance amp. Overall Excellent Condition.
The 1964 Gretsch catalog featured a "Compact" line of amplifiers designed for home-use practice, handy for the thousands of guitar-boom kids happily essaying Beatle songs in the garage. These three models were all single-speaker 5 watt tube amps with an 8" speaker. The most basic model, the Compact 6150 had no effects, the Compact 6151 featured on-board tremolo, and this top model the Compact 6152 featured both tremolo and spring reverb. This made it quite lavish for a supposed practice amp at the time, and sure to be the envy of the rest of the band in the garage!
In this period Gretsch amps were built by Valco in Chicago, and are well engineered, sturdy and great sounding. The 6152 features three inputs, two "regular" and one "bright", master volume and tone controls as well as separate tremolo and "reverberation" controls, each with their own external footswitch jack. A single ended 6V6 power section yields around 5 watts into a single 8" Jensen speaker, a combination that is fairly rare among the myriad of other 5-watt practice amps of the era. The spring reverb and the lovely all-tube tremolo are effects normally only found in more powerful pro-grade amps at the time. This circuit is basically identical to the better known Supro Tremo-Verb 6422TR and versions of it be found in several other Valco-made models branded Silvertone or Airline from the same era.
Height is 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.), 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm.) width, and 8 in. (20.3 cm.) deep.
This is a VERY well-preserved example with minimal signs of wear; likely this amp never saw a stage back in the day. The Gretsch "airline" covering is in pristine condition, only showing very minor scuffing around the corners and edges. The grille cloth covering is in impeccable shape; it is taut with no notable rips, only very subtle wear along the lower left corner. The plastic Gretsch logo is intact as well. The faceplate shows only minor signs of corrosive staining but practically all the stenciled lettering is intact. The amp retains its original handle and the two-button reverb and tremolo footswitch is present as well.
Electrically, the amp is nicely original, save for the speaker, which has been replaced with a newer Jensen C8R, which is more robust and sounds fantastic. The power, output and reverb transformers are original to the amp, the latter two both bear the code 524-66-7, dating them to the 7th week of 1966. The original "shoe box" reverb tank is also present. The amp has seen our typical maintenance and servicing, including replacement of all electrolytic capacitors, a grounded 3-prong power cord, cleaning of all sockets, pots and jacks and biased to spec.
This is a truly pristine example of a really wonderful "all-in-one" low-power amplifier that sounds truly fantastic! Gretsch amps of this era are often underrated; they are the equal (sometimes literally) of the more highly regarded National or Supro branded models built by the same factory, and have that extra tang of Gretschiness that adds some mid-60s eye appeal. In our lower volume world today this is a real find in a deluxe recording or low-wattage performance amp. Overall Excellent Condition.