Here is a very, very cool amplifier. It's a '60s (probably 1964) Selmer "Trutone" Thunderbird Twin 50, complete with original imitation crocodile skin covering and fold-down legs. It also has the novel "blinking-eye" which pulsates in time with the tremolo.

The famous croc-skin Selmers are probably the most sought-after models due to their exotic good looks. Imitation crocodile-skin (and snake-skin) finishes were commonly seen on British footwear and fashion accessories in the mid-sixties, and Selmer departed from their normally staid and traditional finishes by adopting a very striking two-tone croc-skin/black colour scheme - just in time for the September 1963 British Music Trade Fair. All fashions come round again, flared trousers and the fabulous croc-skins!

The crocodile skin period ran for two years from September 1963 to September 1965. Models in the range included the Little Giant, the Mercury 5, The Concord 8 and 10, The Constellation 14 and 20, the Zodiac Twin 30 and 50, the Thunderbird Twin 30, and at the very top of the tree, and horrendously expensive at the time, was the Thunderbird Twin 50. The price for a T/Bird Twin 50 in September 1964 was 135gns!

The Twin 50 was introduced in mid 1964. Two EL34's were used with grid-biasing. The full valve complement of the Thunderbird Twin 50 is therefore: 2 x EL34: 2 x EC81: 1 x ECC82: 3 x ECC83: 1 x 6BR8: 1 x EM84: plus a GZ34 rectifier valve. Yes, 11 valves!

Two Goodman's 12" speakers were fitted, and these original speakers are still in this amp. Very, very rare, and very, very nice-sounding!

This example is extremely original and unmolested. Even the original vinyl cover is still present, although showing its age (see the more pictures link below). The faux croc-skin is still in great condition, save for a few cigarette marks on the top edges. These are actually quite unobtrusive and minor, testimony to the hard-wearing characteristics of the covering!

The amp has been recently revalved and serviced.

Think you've never heard a Selmer ? Well, if you're familar with the immortal guitar riff forming the mainstay of The Animals' "House of the Rising Sun" then you probably have. During the course of an internet debate amongst Vox fans about what guitar & amp was used to record the song, Hilton Valentine (lead guitarist, whose fingers & Gretsch Tennessean supplied the input signal) was finally tracked down by e-mail and blew away conventional wisdom by declaring "No, it definitely wasn't an AC30, I think it was a Selmer"! As The Animals were a Selmer-equipped band before that song catapulted them on to fame, fortune and free Vox amps (with which they mimed it on TV), the evidence suggests that he's right. ©Tim Fletcher

$4995AUD (plus shipping)

check out this early 1960s photo of Gerry and the Pacemakers playing in the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. Wall to wall Selmers!