peduarte
45 posts
Apr 10, 2012
1:16 PM
|
Hello,
Sorry to create a new topic but an opportunity of me being able to buy a Selmer amp has just arrived!
I would like to know where THE TRIUMPH REVERB is a good amp or not?
I don't know much about amps!
Apparently there's a bit of humming, the owner said.
This link has more information about the amp http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/gallery3/gallery5/cat57.html
Thanks guys
----------
Cheers,
Pedro
|
HawkeyeKane
850 posts
Apr 10, 2012
1:34 PM
|
From what I've read about Selmer, it was a UK based company that made fairly popular guitars and amps up until the mid 60's when the Beatles began endorsing other brands like Gibson, Epiphone, and Vox, and sales began to fall drastically for them. It wound up being owned by Chicago Musical Instruments around the same time that it owned Gibson, and changed hands several times throughout the years until it was completely dissolved in the early 1980s.
That being said...
If this is something from the 60s, which it certainly looks like it is, chances are it has real potential for harp. I've also read that Selmer UK amps are now fairly sought after by vintage collectors. Even if it didn't make a good harp amp, it'd still be a great collector's piece that could bring a good turnaround if properly restored.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
peduarte
46 posts
Apr 10, 2012
1:39 PM
|
Hey man that's good news so far!
Thanks for you input
----------
Cheers,
Pedro
|
HawkeyeKane
852 posts
Apr 10, 2012
2:13 PM
|
Just read the specs on the hosting page to the one you linked above...
I can tell you now, it's looking good so far harp-wise. Looks like two 12AX7s in the preamp, one 12AX7 in the tremolo oscillator, another in the reverb driver, an EZ81 full-wave rectifier, and a pair of EL84s for a 10W output. All of these are good harp tubes. The other two clinching factors are the wiring, which I have no idea as to what it looks like on that particular amplifier, and the speakers, which again, I have no experience with ANY elliptical model. Until you give it a whirl with your mic, you probably won't know for sure if you like it.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Apr 11, 2012 8:49 AM
|
peduarte
47 posts
Apr 11, 2012
6:07 AM
|
Thanks again man!
Not sure if its better to get that or a Fender Blues Jr...
----------
Cheers,
Pedro
|
HawkeyeKane
858 posts
Apr 11, 2012
7:43 AM
|
Mehhhh....
The Blues Jr. has a certain stigma about it as a harp amp. I mean, I've played through a few of them, some were terrible, some sounded alright, but almost all the ones that sounded alright had had some mods done to them. The Junior is over $500. How much is your source asking for the Selmer?
To be honest with you...even though the Junior has a higher RMS output and more adjustability in tone, the Selmer really seems like it might have a better harp quality to it. It's British made, which can be good depending on how it's wired. The years of its production run kinda fell around the time that the skiffle craze in Britain was giving way to the mod and rocker bands. And it has a tremolo as well, which can prove very useful at times.
And if you're worried about the humming, it could be something as simple as a worn out potentiometer, and usually the worst-case-scenario on something like that is just a set of capacitors that needs replacing.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Apr 11, 2012 8:49 AM
|
Greg Heumann
1561 posts
Apr 11, 2012
8:36 AM
|
From the pics and specs according to Hawkeye I think it has real promise. Won't be super loud, of course, but plenty loud for practice and recording. MIGHT need one of the 12AX7's in the preamp circuit exchanged for a lower gain tube to curb feedback but that's an easy experiment. A Kalamazoo uses a 12AX7preamp and an EL84 for power and sounds fantastic. Plus - this amp has MOJO! I would go for it. If you don't like it you can sell it again and can probably break even or close.
----------
/Greg
|
HawkeyeKane
860 posts
Apr 11, 2012
8:54 AM
|
A line out or external speaker jack modification might be a good move to get it gig worthy as well. Whaddya think Greg? God knows the 'Zoo's line out gets folks to where they need to be time and time again.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
peduarte
49 posts
Apr 11, 2012
11:56 AM
|
Nice one dudes
He has sent me some more pics and info:
"Model number = TH/R489 (this is the only number i can find)
Speakers = 3 speakers (3 ohms marking on each) the speakers are original
Valves = 1 x EZ81 2 x EL84 1 x ECC83/12AX7 1 x ECC83/7AX31 2 x 7XA21 "
Does that mean anything to you?? Good or bad?
Thanks!
----------
Cheers,
Pedro
Last Edited by on Apr 11, 2012 11:57 AM
|
MP
2159 posts
Apr 11, 2012
12:15 PM
|
BUY IT! this is a beautiful example of a very rare amp.
Dollar on a dime Django guitarists would love it to match their Selmer guitars.
as stated, resale is noooooo problem if you don't like it. Hum? 60 cycle hum is common and can be reduced or eliminated.
i expect this amp has good midrange , judging from the el84s and the oblong speakers. it may be short on bottom end, but i may be wrong. can't see the tranny.
----------
MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name for info-
|
HawkeyeKane
863 posts
Apr 11, 2012
1:22 PM
|
@MP
That's a good point on the transformer. If it's lackluster, a Hammond tranny would solve that issue.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
