So...I did a thing....

Benjy_26

25's Nemesis
Hello all.

I made an impulse amp buy today and I need some info.

I copped a 1955 (I think) Gretsch Electromatic 6161 amp at a pawnshop for 200 American. I plugged in a Squier Mustang HH with rusted strings to check functionality and it all worked except for the tremolo. From what I gather, it's a 2x10 combo that's rated at 15 watts.

Anyone know anything else about these things?
 
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the only 6161 amps ive seen had 6x9 speakers or something like that, two of em jammed next to each other. does yours have 6sl7 preamp tubes?
 
the only 6161 amps ive seen had 6x9 speakers or something like that, two of em jammed next to each other. does yours have 6sl7 preamp tubes?

Mine has the 6x10 speakers and I *think* it has thr 6sl7's. I'm not 100% sure. It's being held at the shop while the cops make sure it isn't stolen. Such is Texas law.
 
gotcha. probably similar to the ones ive seen. controls and jacks on the back? it was a cool sounding amp
 
fenders are like that. not all amps are. i modded my old deluxe reverb so i can use the trem without the foot switch
 
no idea on the old gretsch, once you have it, then we can play around and figure it out. could be its actually broken or ?
 
no idea on the old gretsch, once you have it, then we can play around and figure it out. could be its actually broken or ?

I've got an old Fender footswitch banging around somewhere. The only things I see blatantly wrong with this amp are the two prong cord and a crap load of corrosion in one of the input jacks. I'll keep y'all posted on how things go.
 
I saw some web pics that showed a pair of 6SQ7's and what are probably a pair of 6V6 power tubes.
I didn't see a rectifier tube but I'm reasonably sure there will be one.

Weber makes replacement 6X9 speakers.
I've owned a cattlecar full of little suitcase amps like that over the years.
The only thing I would tell you is I hope you have a good amp tech handy somewhere.
I always had any new (old) amp tech'ed over by a tech before I put it into proper use.

I never saw the sense of buying something like that and not having it in proper operating condition.
But I am fortunate to have an excellent tech nearby for the past 30 years, so that definitely helps.
So I would always figure an additional $200.00 (+/-) for tech fees and parts, maybe speakers too, depending.
Otherwise, I never considered it worth the entry price if the thing wasn't going to be operating and sounding at its peak performance.

Looking at the baffle size, if it were me, I'd probably figure out a way to put a good single 10" in it.
I did a ton of custom baffle replacements back in the day, If it had weird speakers or something I didn't care for, I'd put in whatever my preference was.
I didn't let whatever came stock in it slow me down, I loved modifying those things to suit my own tastes.

The great thing about a lot of those amps once you get them tuned and running right...
Is you can dime the thing and it won't blow you out of the house.
You don't need to worry about attenuators or leaving it on 2 all the time, that is the beauty of those types of amps.

Other than that, looks pretty cool, something I would have bought myself 20-30 years ago.
 
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I saw some web pics that showed a pair of 6SQ7's and what are probably a pair of 6V6 power tubes.
I didn't see a rectifier tube but I'm reasonably sure there will be one.

Weber makes replacement 6X9 speakers.
I've owned a cattlecar full of little suitcase amps like that over the years.
The only thing I would tell you is I hope you have a good amp tech handy somewhere.
I always had any new (old) amp tech'ed over by a tech before I put it into proper use.

I never saw the sense of buying something like that and not having it in proper operating condition.
But I am fortunate to have an excellent tech nearby for the past 30 years, so that definitely helps.
So I would always figure an additional $200.00 (+/-) for tech fees and parts, maybe speakers too, depending.
Otherwise, I never considered it worth the entry price if the thing wasn't going to be operating and sounding at its peak performance.

Looking at the baffle size, if it were me, I'd probably figure out a way to put a good single 10" in it.
I did a ton of custom baffle replacements back in the day, If it had weird speakers or something I didn't care for, I'd put in whatever my preference was.
I didn't let whatever came stock in it slow me down, I loved modifying those things to suit my own tastes.

The great thing about a lot of those amps once you get them tuned and running right...
Is you can dime the thing and it won't blow you out of the house.
You don't need to worry about attenuators or leaving it on 2 all the time, that is the beauty of those types of amps.

Other than that, looks pretty cool, something I would have bought myself 20-30 years ago.

I need to find a *good* tech in my area. I do want this to be more than a cool piece of furniture.
 
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