Gretsch Model 6152 Compact tremolo/Reverb Tube Amplifier (1966)
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Item # 10942
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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 home-use practice amplifiers, handy for the many 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 practice amp at the time. In this period Gretsch amps were built by Valco in Chicago, and are well engineered, sturdy and great sounding.
The amp 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 will minimal signs of wear; 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 very minor signs of 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 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.
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 under rated, they rare the equal (sometimes literally) of the more highly regarded National of Supro branded models built by the same factory, and have that extra tang of Gretschiness that adds some mid-60s eye appeal. Overall Excellent Condition.
The 1964 Gretsch catalog featured a "Compact" line of home-use practice amplifiers, handy for the many 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 practice amp at the time. In this period Gretsch amps were built by Valco in Chicago, and are well engineered, sturdy and great sounding.
The amp 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 will minimal signs of wear; 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 very minor signs of 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 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.
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 under rated, they rare the equal (sometimes literally) of the more highly regarded National of Supro branded models built by the same factory, and have that extra tang of Gretschiness that adds some mid-60s eye appeal. Overall Excellent Condition.