A GUITAR AMPLIFIER, 6161

Details

VALCO FOR THE FRED GRETSCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CIRCA 1961
A GUITAR AMPLIFIER, 6161
The control panel with logo GRETSCH, the serial number plate applied to the cabinet stamped T60717, the cabinet ink stamped internally 6161, covered with a grey faux tweed Tolex cloth with white piping
16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) high; 23 1/8 in. (58.7 cm.) wide; 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm.) deep
GRETSCH

Sale room notice

Mark Knopfler plans to donate no less than 25% of the total hammer price received, to be split equally between The British Red Cross Society (a charity registered in England and Wales with charity number 220949, Scotland with charity number SC037738, Isle of Man with charity number 0752, and Jersey with charity number 430), Brave Hearts of the North East (a charity registered in England and Wales with charity number 1006247) and the Tusk Trust Limited (a charity registered in England and Wales with charity number 1186533).

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Amelia Walker Director, Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections

awalker@christies.com +44 20 7389 2085

Lot Essay

Mark Knopfler purchased this amplifier at a guitar show in Nashville in the early 2000s. For each track to be recorded, Knopfler would rigorously test various amps and instruments to ensure the best sound possible for the song. Keyboardist and co-producer Guy Fletcher photographed this 6161 as part of a line-up of 13 amps during one such trial process, as seen in his 2011 online studio diaries chronicling the recording sessions for Knopfler’s seventh solo studio album Privateering. This amp is only partially seen in the shot just behind guitar tech Glenn Saggers’ right leg (see image).

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