Amps

VALVES !!

A SUMMARY OF THE SELMER AMPLIFIER RANGE THROUGH THE VARIOUS PRODUCTION PERIODS, AND THE VALVE TYPES USED FOR EACH MODEL

Power Amp Section of Croc-Period Thunderbird 30, courtesy of Eric Aho, Finland.

The intention behind the production of this table was to help make some sense out of the numerous model names used by Selmer at the various periods, and also to assist in understanding the development of the model range. For instance, we have understood for some time that the Concorde 8 in the "crocodile" period was really a Professional amp from the earlier red/cream period with different cosmetics, and this appears to be confirmed on inspection of the valve compliment. However, the development of the Concord 10 is now easier to appreciate after  noting the change from 2 x 6AQ5 valves of the 8watt amp to the 2 x EL84's of the 10 watt Concord.

A similar matter of interest is that the Zodiac 30/50 amps and the Thunderbird 50 fitted with two EL34's seem to owe their heritage to the 25watt Selectortone Automatic of the Red/Cream Period, rather than the Blue/Grey Twin Selectortone with its pair of KT88 valves which one may have expected. Rather confusingly, only the Thunderbird 30 was developed from the Twin Selectortone. 

The inclusion of valve and silicon rectifiers has been included to show the gradual adoption of solid-state rectification. The use of silicon rectifiers in combination with rectifier valves seems to have begun with certain of the 50/100 watt amps in the "Crocodile" and Blue/Black periods, with all solid-state rectification being used by the time of the SV Period.

Photographs and details of the VALVES COMMONLY USED BY SELMER are provided at the bottom of this page.

KEY TO PRODUCTION PERIODS USED IN TABLE:

R:   Red Cream Period (1958-61)
G:   Blue/Grey Period (1962-63)
C:   Croc-skin Period (1963-65)
BB: Blue/Black Period (1965-67)
BS: Black/Silver Period (1967-69)
SV: SV Period  (1970 - c1978)    

NOTE: The valve information used in this table has been obtained from Selmer catalogues, and has not been compared to official Selmer schematic diagrams. It should not therefore be used for any purpose other than gaining a general overview on Selmer amplifier history. 

NOTES:

• From John Weir - "Silicon rectifiers did not become widely available until about the mid 60's along with transistors, and that is why (to my knowledge) they were not used in the crocodile era. On my Selmer Page I mention how Dick Twydell asked me to update the Twin Lead 30, and my main concern was a lack of space within the case to accommodate another valve. I overcame this largely by eliminating the rectifier valve in favour of silicon diodes, and all of the amps that I was responsible for after that had silicon rectifiers. They took up less space and were more efficient, did not produce heat and eliminated the need for a separate transformer winding."

VALVE (TUBE) TYPES COMMONLY USED IN SELMER AMPLIFIERS:

• POWER AMP STAGE VALVES:

EL34	EL84	KT88	6BW6	6AQ5	EL506
Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Images & Details

 

• PRE-AMP STAGE VALVES:

ECC81	ECC82	ECC83	EF86
Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details

 

• RECTIFIER VALVES & SILICONE DIODES:

EZ80	EZ81	GZ34 (5AR4)	Silicone Diodes
Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details	Click on Thumbnail for Larger Image & Details

 

Return to MAIN SELMER AMPLIFIER INDEX PAGE