Amps
FIRST OF THE MANY - SELMER/RSA TRUVOICE AMPLIFIERS 1947 TO 1957
Bruce
Clarke playing a lap steel through a Selmer-Truvoice "15" amplifier in
1949. For further details, click HERE.
Amps
Bruce
Clarke playing a lap steel through a Selmer-Truvoice "15" amplifier in
1949. For further details, click HERE.
As an aside, an interesting piece of evidence which demonstrates the roots of
Selmer's electronics part of the business existed in the catalogues up to the
late 1960's. This was a Contact Microphone, which still had the name RSA
Truvoice on its casing right up to that time. Presumably, Selmer didn't want to
go to the expense of changing the case mould.
Truvoice TV8 (Serial No 100401) together with Selmer Lap Steel guitar, purchased new as a pair in 1949 by Billy Smith of County Down, Northern Island. Billy still owns this beautiful old outfit.
A small amp measuring 12" x 15" x 4", and fitted with an 8" speaker. Valves: 1 x KT33C, 1 x U31, 1 x KTZ63 rectifier.
Probably a 10 watt combo, and fitted with a 12" speaker.
A single volume control and tone control located in a recess on top of the amp.
Five unknown valves were fitted to this amp which seems to have been introduced
by Selmer very soon after World War 2.
A mid-range model that was based on a 10" speaker. Two input sockets for high and low impedance, each with their own volume control, and a shared tone control. A rather prominent voltage selector which also serves as the on-off switch for the amp! Valves: 1 x ECC83; 1 x 12AX7; 2 x EL84 (?) giving a rated output of 8 watts (peak 10 watts).
Three inputs (two high and one low impedance), with a volume control for each input and a single shared tone control. The same type of voltage selector/on-off switch as for the TV10 above. Curious strip-type art deco speaker grill. Valves: 3 x ECC83; 2 x PL82; 1 x EZ81 rectifier. Speaker - 12".
A PA system that was designed for portability. The amplifier section was stored inside the two speaker cabinets, which themselves clipped together to make one compact unit for transportation.
This model is thought to have been used by the Beatles in their very early Quarryman days. It was still in the Selmer catalogue in 1958. The amplifier section was carried inside the two speaker cabinets, which clipped together for easy portability. Output 12 watts. A microphone was also included in he package.
Over the years there seems to have been a two input version ( Valves - 3 x KTZ63; 2 x KT33C; 2 x U31) and a three input version ( Valves - 3 x 12AX7; 2 x PL82; 1 x PY82 rectifier).
Picture of 1950's Selmer hand-held microphone - probably of the type that could have been used with the PA Systems featured above. - Courtesy of Angela Tracy, Lincolnshire, England.
