To obtain appropriate damping force even during a failure by a simple structure in a damping force adjustment type shock absorber including a pilot-type main valve.

The damping force is generated by controlling an oily fluid flow generated by the slide of a piston within a cylinder 2 by using the pilot-type main valve 27 and a pilot valve 28 as a pressure control valve. The pilot valve 28 adjusts the valve-opening pressure thereof by the thrust of a solenoid actuator S, and also controls the valve-opening pressure of the main valve 27 by adjusting the internal pressure of a pilot chamber 51. When there is a failure, a valve element 58 of the pilot valve 28 is retracted to abut against a fail disk 70 by the spring force of a valve spring 67. Thereby, the damping force is generated by the fail disk 70 on the downstream side of the pilot valve 28, and the appropriate damping force is obtained by controlling the valve-opening pressure of the main valve 27.