Selmer SV 50R 212 Combo

It doesn't have many features.. and thats what makes it so great.

It sports: two channels each with two inputs
Treble/Bass/Volume for each channel
Reverb
Power on/standby
Thats really it..

No messing about, just really unbeatable presence and tone. All valve with 2 12" celestion speakers (one above the other) - these really make it sing. Completely versatile as you have a treble and bass channel (which can be footswitched with an A/B pedal) and its the foundations for any music style with the right guitar/pedals etc.

I like the addition of the reverb tank, very subtle and warm. I don't use it very often but is a nice feature.

I use the amp currently in my bedroom, and with 50 watts at my disposle I dont really get to crank it up to its full potential. When i get it out though... it really cant be described how it sounds..

To finish on a negative.. it is extremely heavy. Its bass amp heavy.. and being a column style combo it is very awkward to move as well. Its too good to hold this against it though. A set of casters will resolve this issue or a trolly - haven't decided yet.

I currently play a rickenbacker 330 through it and it really sounds incredible. I have put a tele through it and it sounded totally different - i can't describe it.. it still sounded incredible.. just different! So I am trying out different guitars to get the right sound for the right styles. A band mate has a SV 30 212 combo and plays it with an LP - so punchy and cuts through so well.

As mentioned it has a treble/bass channel. The latter is intended for bass guitar as well (the speakers are so powerful) but if I was a bass player I would get a dedicated bass amp.. this is a guitar amp baby! The treble channel (as talked about in another review) is VERY trebly which I love. Sometimes after using the bass channel, the treble can sound quite quite bare so all i do is patch the two channels (with the alternative inputs) and blend the two. Just like a ac30 or hiwatt.. sounds so creamy yet so punchy.

This amp is all clean. I have tried cranking it up to break it abit but it goes too loud before I can get there! Pedals are the answer really - and this is exactly how i wanted it to be. Simple cleaness and throw in a pedal when it needs it.

I would say I can depend on it. Its been going for forty years already! Its got some life in it yet. Recently serviced and is in brilliant shape.

I would and do use it without backup currently. As I start getting more of a collection of heads though, Ill have a spare incase. I'm not worried though.

Selmer stopped making amplifiers a long time ago. No warranty or 'hotline to call for support'.

I just get it serviced at my local amp technician. Its quite an easy amp to look over and sort out.

I love its trebly bite and warm side too.
I love its simplicity.
I love the fact its so much better than I ever imagined :)
I do not love its heaviness.

If it was stolen (you can't lose an amp!) I would look for another. Buy something like an orange or vox in the meantime and indefinitely end up with a selmer again once I found one.