Product: Selmer SV 30 212 Combo
Price Paid: US used
Submitted
05/11/2006
at
03:15am
by
steve
Email: steve<at>steveayers dot co dot uk
Features
:
10
This is an early seventies thirty Watt valve combo with the "column" styling, i.e. 1 speaker above the other.
It has two inputs, 1 high impedance and 1 low. a switch for lead or bass, a volume control, a tone control and an on / off switch.
But you know, that's all you need with this amp because it has the best feature you need for a guitar amp in bucketfulls..... TONE.
There are two ECC83 valves in the front end and the output valves are EL 506, which are almost immpossible to get today...... but there is an equivilent in the 7868 which is a direct replacement, you just need to tighten the valve socket because the pins are smaller diameter.
My amp has been removed from it's original case and now lives in a flamed hardwood cabinet with the speakers (two celestion G12 "Greenbacks") in a seperate cab.
It has the sound of the Marshall JTM45 offset but it is a little brighter. The distortion comes in at around number 5 or 6 and it is great for blues or blues-rock......... think Bluesbreaker era Clapton. There is enough power for most gigs, just mike it up when things get too loud!
Sound Quality
:
10
The head (as it now is) works with both humbuckers and single coils.
The distortion is progressive as the guitars volume is increased, the addition of a distortion pedal such as a Ratt / Tubescreamer / Behringer blues overdrive gives another channel which has a creamy overdriven rock-blues sound similar to that of Billy Gibbons on the Eliminator / Afterburner period. It's a beautifull noise.
Reliability
:
10
It's handwired and very well made, I would trust it not to fail me.... but I always carry a back-up.... electrical stuff fails sometimes... it's a fact of life!
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
The warranty ran out over thirty years ago!!
It's a simple amp, easy to fix and maintain
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing for more than 35 years, mostly in bands. I own boogies, several Marshalls including the JTM45 offset, and many other vintage valve amps..... this is among the best of them..... and it only cost #30!!
These old lower powered Selmers are a well kept secret, get your hands on one and you'll be glad you did!
