1967 Gretsch 6169 Fury Piggyback Tremolo & Reverb 2x12 Stereo Tube Amp Valco-Made w/ Jensen C12N

Up for sale, a 1967 Gretsch 6169 Fury Piggyback Tremolo & Reverb head and matching 2x12” cabinet in collector-grade condition and in perfect working order. This USA-made Gretsch amp was produced by the Valco company in Chicago, home of Supro, National, and Airline, among others. For sweet, saturated tube overdrive and bluesy grit, Valco’s circuits have a distinctive tonal flavor all their own.

The Fury, produced for barely two years before Valco’s bankruptcy in 1968, was designed to be Gretsch’s “powerhouse” amp. This true stereo affair features dual output transformers, rated at 70 watts to deliver a huge, full-bodied sound with a prominent midrange that is articulate, dynamic, and exceptionally responsive to user inputs. When pushed hard, this Fury truly lives up to the name, yielding surprisingly massive natural distortion tones and creamy sizzle.

There are five total inputs: two for each channel plus one “Dual Input,” and the Reverb and Tremolo effects are independently footswitchable, with Speed and Intensity controls for the deep, pulsating Tremolo. The three-position rotary Tone Selector control for Channel Two toggles between Normal, Accordion (slightly rounder and more low-mid centric), and High (bright and shimmering) tonal profiles.

The circuit is extremely original and labyrinthine, hand-wired on myriad short terminal strips, recapped with premium F&T and Sprague electrolytics in the preamp and power supply. The original Triwec transformers (2x output, power and choke) are present, dating to late ‘66 and early ‘67.

The cabinet is loaded with the original pair of Jensen C12NA ceramic magnet 12” speakers, which have 1966 date stamps on their black frames, and the tube complement comprises two matched pairs of JJ 6L6 GC power tubes, with JJ ECC83 preamp valves (and one EHX 6973).

This is an exceptionally well-kept vintage amp: the original deep navy blue covering on the enclosures is virtually pristine, as is the sparkle grillcloth, chrome faceplate, all graphics, the white piping, and the original "Gretsch" logo. All of the original knobs are present. The 1-prefix serial dates to ‘65-’68.