PROBLEMProvided is a damping force control type shock absorber capable of obtaining an appropriate damping force even in the event of a failure independently of the stoke of a valving element of a solenoid valve.MEANS FOR SOLVINGA piston 5 having a piston rod 6 connected thereto is fitted in a cylinder 2 having hydraulic oil sealed therein, and a flow of hydraulic oil induced by movement of the piston 5 is controlled by a damping force generating mechanism 26 to generate a damping force. In the damping force generating mechanism 26, damping force is generated by a pilot-type main valve 27 and a normally-open pilot valve 28 which is a solenoid valve, and the damping force is adjusted by energization of a coil 37. A fail-safe valve 100 is provided downstream of the pilot valve 28. During normal operations, the fail-safe valve 100 opens the flow path through excitation of the coil 37 of the pilot valve 28. In the event of a failure, due to loss of excitation, the fail-safe valve 100 restricts the flow path to generate an appropriate damping force in place of the pilot valve 28, which has become inoperable.