VALCO FOR THE FRED GRETSCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CIRCA 1961

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).