| Author | Message | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 1101 Registered: 3-2004 |
Does anyone have any experience with Standel Amps? I'm considering picking up a Standel Studio X in the near future, and was wondering if anyone is familiar with them. It's a solid state amp, which normally I'd avoid like the plague. However, it seems like there were some notable users, and they also seem pretty rare. Any opinions? | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2212 Registered: 5-2009 |
I remember back about 1971 I played with a guitar player that purchased a Standel Super Imperial from Don Wehr's Music City on Columbus St in the North Beach district of San Francisco. He got the Standel and I got a Black Face Fender Dual Showman. I remember the Standel sounding pretty good at a High School dance. I think I remember the cool tremolo ! . It is so long ago I will have to think for a while to recapture any details . | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2213 Registered: 5-2009 |
OK, for the discussion ______ The Great John Cipollina used Standel Amps and Fender tube amps together Here is his rig ; http://www.johncipollina.com/rockAmpStack.htm Here is a WIKI link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cipollina I remember going to see various bands from Quicksilver to the Dinosaurs with him playing . He was one of the Fathers of the San Francisco Rock sound . He has a high place in my recollection and respect. | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1323 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have a Standel Studio Bass (IIRC)....2 15 combo, sort of resembles the black slab from 2001,A Space Odyssey . It sounds good , lots of overhead, very heavy !! It's not hi-fi like my F-1X/SF-2 rig , but it does have a nice overall vibe to it. The circuit board has lots of tropical fish caps and some of it has epoxy on it to hide the special sauce. I got mine for $100 about 5 years ago, the early tubed amps are pricey but you should be able to get a deal on the Standel SS gear ( did I mention it's heavy? ) cheers | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 1102 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thanks Guys, I'll also be picking up a Russian Big Muff in the trade, so I'm feeling pretty happy about it. I plan on using it as my Jazz and Country amp. -Kevin | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2214 Registered: 5-2009 |
And then there is this ;______ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km_ojULzUtg | ||
| jon_jackson
Intermediate Member Username: jon_jackson Post Number: 107 Registered: 12-2008 |
I still have my 1969 Standel Super Artist bass amp which I bought when in an early high school band. One of the guy's brother had to drive us to the gigs as we were all too young to drive. It is two separate single 15" speaker cabinets, one with a built-in solid state amp, which could be mounted on an "H" shaped wheeled rack, top and bottom. Fortunately it never suffered from the bad transistor epoxy modules as did many of their transister amps (which eventually led to the original Standel company's hard times). After about a year, I replaced the original Standel-labeled speakers with ElectroVoice SRO's, which I preferred. I still get it out from time to time. Standel was a great company with lots of innovative ideas in their time. | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1723 Registered: 2-2005 |
I used one off and on during the early 70's. It wasn't mine but held up well and kept up with a very loud drummer and guitar player. It had two cabinets in a wheeled frame. The upper cabinet also had a solid state amp built in. I want to say each cabinet had two 10 or 12 inch speakers but they might have been single 15's. Keith | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10478 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wolf; I'll raise you a few strings. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2218 Registered: 5-2009 |
Dave , Nice pedal steel ! Standels were decent amps of old , but now I think they are back ! http://www.standelamps.com/ | ||
| hankster
Advanced Member Username: hankster Post Number: 270 Registered: 6-2004 |
And then there is this... http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=CA#/watch?v=PIF78v9oVYE R. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10479 Registered: 5-2002 |
Richard; did you get the address right? Anybody else have a problem with Richard's link? | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2224 Registered: 5-2009 |
I got a page with 4 different videos . I got a variety page . | ||
| rustyg61
Advanced Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 351 Registered: 2-2011 |
I got the same thing Wolf. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2226 Registered: 5-2009 |
Hey Rusty ___ HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!! | ||
| hankster
Advanced Member Username: hankster Post Number: 271 Registered: 6-2004 |
Wierd - it works for me and takes me to the Standells playing on the Munsters. Sorry everyone. R. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 10485 Registered: 5-2002 |
That would be this. | ||
| hankster
Advanced Member Username: hankster Post Number: 272 Registered: 6-2004 |
Just so. Thanks Dave! R. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5025 Registered: 7-2004 |
In the spirit of 60's bands on 60's sit-coms, I submit this one. Enjoy Bill, tgo | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 565 Registered: 5-2007 |
Ahhh, so THAT'S what Zappa was parodying in Joe's Garage when he sang "Plooking too hard on meeeee." It's good to know this stuff.... | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 1105 Registered: 3-2004 |
Now that I've had a chance to play through the amp all I can say is that I'm quite impressed. It has a very organic sound to it, quite warm and unlike other solid state amps I've used. I contacted Standel, and they were able to tell me that this model was from 1965 and is probably worth around $300-500. I've been reading up, and it looks like all of the transistors used in the amp were early germanium, which might have something to do with the warm sound. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the trade (especially considering I also picked up a Russian Big Muff). | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5031 Registered: 7-2004 |
I don't know if he has a bass amp, but Eric Pritchard in West Virgina makes AMAZING solid state amps. (Eric is an electronics and engineering genius that did a lot of machine design work for PRS when they started out). His amps are analog, not digital, and have multiple analog voicings (not modeling): Fender, Marshall, Vox, Boogie, several others, and you can even get one with a couple of horns and an acoustic setting for acoustic guitar. I switched from Fender and Boogie to one a few years ago. Small, less than 35 lbs., and dialable wattage up to 90 clean. My little guy can easily hold its own with a Marshall stack! More info here. He's a great guy and will talk to you over the phone forever. If he's not offering a bass amp on his web site, I wouldn't be surprised if he would whip one out on as a custom job. I never thought I'd go for a solid state amp until I tried the Pritchard! Bill, tgo | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2240 Registered: 5-2009 |
Kevin, I love the sound of those Germanium transistors as well . I have had gear made with those and loved the sound, however as I am sure that you are aware of is that those little guys are hard to find replacements for. Sometimes Germanium transistors were in little sockets on the PC board and just need to be reseated firmly when they are indeed suspect . I think that if all is good now you might be in luck. Finding Capacitors for a re-cap job might not be so hard. If you can find a schematic diagram on line or from Standel it would be a wise investment to go with your lovely sounding newly acquired piece of gear . Congratulations ! Wolf | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2241 Registered: 5-2009 |
I have heard Bill's Pritchard amp several times and agree that it has a pleasing sound . | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 1106 Registered: 3-2004 |
Wolf, Definitely good advice. Unfortunately, at some point Standel decided that they needed to protect their circuit designs, and began coating their boards in heavy black epoxy. The good news is that 95% of the amps continue to work after 45-50 years (at least according to wikipedia). I haven't opened mine up to see if it is coated or not, but I'm guessing the answer isn't good. Bill, I've definitely been curious about the Pritchard amps. I would certainly consider him if I ever went looking for another SS amp. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2242 Registered: 5-2009 |
Kevin , Yes I have heard that they did that. (Epoxy Potting , etc... ... )I have had gear like that as well. Sometimes you can work around that. | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1129 Registered: 10-2006 |
I haven't come across a Pritchard, but (inspired by Bill's endorsement of them a while back) I've read the website; here Mr. Pritchard recommends 4 of his 6 models for bass in a 1-12/2-5 combo with a 1-15 extension. Peter | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5032 Registered: 7-2004 |
Eric gives a 30 day money back trial period. To be honest, I never would have tried one without the 30 day return policy. Though everything I read about his amps was very positive, it was still a little disconcerting to shell out $2K+ on an amp I had never seen before, let alone played. I'm very glad I took the chance. After I got it I spoke with Eric about some questions I had and my desire to swap out one of the voicings for another. I shipped the amp back to Eric, he quickly did the mods, and sent it back, NO CHARGE!!!! One mod I did myself was to replace the speaker (it uses a 4 ohm 12" speaker) with a Jensen Neo. A little less dark than the original and a little bit lighter too! Eric is really a trip to talk to - I'd love to be a fly on the wall with Eric and Ron in the same room. Bill, tgo | ||
| jon_jackson
Intermediate Member Username: jon_jackson Post Number: 114 Registered: 12-2008 |
The Standel site has some old schematics of the inside circuitry of the epoxy modules, so there is a chance to work around one if it should go bad. What I've read about them (since that was a concern of mine for long-term ownership), is they usually went bad early if they were going to go out. Don't know how accurate that is, but made me feel better. Jon | ||
| jon_jackson
Intermediate Member Username: jon_jackson Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2008 |
A few photos of my vintage Standel bass amp, just for fun:  1969 Standel Bass Amp, Front  Back  Upper cabinet and amp section The amp can be used as a two cabinet unit, a single cabinet unit (removed from the rack), or the individual speaker cabinets can be used with a separate amp. Jon | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1327 Registered: 6-2002 |
Cool cabs ! I haven't seen that model/configuration before . I'll see if I have a pic of my SS 2-15 combo. | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1328 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here's a few:    | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 1108 Registered: 3-2004 |
Those color coded modules are awesome! I also love those huge tropical fish caps. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 434 Registered: 9-2004 |
OMG, what were they thinking? I hear Dumble hides his components in epoxy. I have some Stars Guitars guitar guts in epoxy modules too. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2333 Registered: 5-2009 |
The Pluto Filter circuits in my old Guild Starfire were encapsulated in epoxy as well.(mounted on the walnut panel) http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/2792.html?1262960781 | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2334 Registered: 5-2009 |
Double post correction_______ (Message edited by sonicus on February 24, 2012) | ||
| peoplechipper
Advanced Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 263 Registered: 2-2009 |
I have a hybrid Standel amp that I loaned to a friend that nay have blown it; hopefully he didn't kill anything in epoxy-good luck fixing that! and of course the power tubes are weird...don't loan Standels!!! |
