Standel
Encyclopedia
The Standel Company is an American company specialized in the manufacture of electric guitar amplifiers. It was founded in 1953 by Robert "Bob" Crooks in Temple City
, California
. Standel (a portmanteau of the words standard stand and electronics el) was the name of Crook's side-business of radio and hi-fi repair, located in his garage at 10661 Freer Street, Temple City, California.
. Bigsby, who advanced the engineer 75 dollars to build him a custom amplifier to go with the then famous Bigsby solid bodied electric guitars and pedal steel guitar
s. It was to be the first ever made under the Standel brand.
When designing the amplifier, Crooks would play Les Paul's
song, Lover
, several times through the amplifier and tweak it until it sounded "right". However, the final result was inappropriate for amplifying a musical instrument. Paul Bigsby played through the amp with one of his steel guitar
s and it "sounded terrible". Crooks noted the difference between building a guitar amplifier and building a standard hi-fi
amplifier
. As a result, Bigsby loaned Crooks a guitar so he could continue improving the amplifier.
. West, a steel guitarist, was asked by Crooks, while at Cliffie Stone's
"Hometown Jamboree
" show, to try out his guitar amp. He liked it and ordered the very first Standel amplifier that same night.
Bob then took his amp to the Town Hall Party dance in Compton
, California, where Merle Travis
and Joe Maphis
would be playing. They ordered the second and fourth Standel amplifiers.
Standel amplifiers would benefit from a relative rise in popularity among professional musicians, although at a small scale. Only 64 amplifiers appear on "The Butcher List" (Bob's handwritten chart of amplifiers and clients). Due to the high cost of building these amplifiers, (the JBL alone was $90, about 2-3 months rent in those days) they were used mostly by session musician
s, as their high prices made them difficult to attain for an amateur or hobbyist (price being about double that of a standard production amplifier).
By 1963, Standel introduced hybrid amplification and by 1965 developed a full line of all solid-state amplifiers. In order to protect the designs from reverse engineering, Crooks coated the amplifier's modules in color coded epoxy resin from 1963 to 1969. With the exception of the Red Tremolo module (which usually fails), 95% of these circuits continue to function after 45-50 years of use. For those needing repair, the Standel website (www.standelamps.com) post all known epoxy module schematics to aid technicians in keeping these amplifiers in service.
Eventually, in 1971, the cost to cover warranty repairs became too high for Standel to endure so CMI (Standel and Gibson distributor) covered the cost, and in doing so, acquired controlling interest in the company. By 1972, the Standel brand was replaced by SG Amplifiers (Standel Gibson) being manufactured in the Standel factory at 4918 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte, California. The SG line was a hybrid design (solid-state preamp, tube power amp), developed by Bob Crooks, which harkened back to the original Standel hybrid designs of 1963.
After just over a year of operation, the SG line of amplifiers was discontinued. and the old factory closed down.
For the next 25 years, Bob continued design work for various amplifier companies, including BBE, and developed the Sonic Maximizer. This circuit was licensed by numerous companies and is arguably Bob's most successful design.
Over the next two years, Bob's health began to fail and, in 1999, passed away at 79 years. Bob lived to see his original design, reintroduced at the 1998 NAMM convention in Anaheim, California, 45-years after it's introduction in 1953.
After Bob's death, McKinney continued to operate the Standel Company under the original licensing agreement, granted by Bob's widow, Deloris Crooks. In 2005, McKinney became the sole owner of The Standel Company and The Standel Company trademark.
, where they continue to build, to original specification, the Standel 25L15 and variations of the 50L15 & 100L15 models and Acoustic Magnifier versions of all models. They continue to use original (50 year old) JBL D-130 speakers. Each speaker receiving a specially developed surround edge treatment and full re-magnetization before being put into another 50-years of service, in a Standel amplifier.
Actually Standel never made instruments, but the name went on a series of good quality electric guitars and at least one hollow body electric bass, built by Sam Koontz at the request of Bob Crooks. Bill Lynch of Prattville, Alabama is the current owner of the electric bass, called a 400-D, serial number 1023L. Some of the instruments were sold as Harptone, Mosrite is also involved but it's not real clear how.
Temple City, California
Temple City is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Temple City is part of a cluster of cities, along with Arcadia, Rosemead, Monterey Park, San Marino, and San Gabriel, in the west San Gabriel Valley with a rapidly growing Asian population. Temple City also has a Cuban and Puerto Rican...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Standel (a portmanteau of the words standard stand and electronics el) was the name of Crook's side-business of radio and hi-fi repair, located in his garage at 10661 Freer Street, Temple City, California.
Origins
In 1952, Bob Crooks was approached by inventor/musician Paul BigsbyPaul Bigsby
Paul Adelburt Bigsby was the designer of the Bigsby vibrato tailpiece and proprietor of Bigsby Guitars...
. Bigsby, who advanced the engineer 75 dollars to build him a custom amplifier to go with the then famous Bigsby solid bodied electric guitars and pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
s. It was to be the first ever made under the Standel brand.
When designing the amplifier, Crooks would play Les Paul's
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
song, Lover
Lover (song)
"Lover" is a popular song written by Richard Rodgers, with words by Lorenz Hart. It was featured in the movie Love Me Tonight . Les Paul's version was a guitar instrumental released by Capitol Records in 1948. It has a french title Partout Toi...
, several times through the amplifier and tweak it until it sounded "right". However, the final result was inappropriate for amplifying a musical instrument. Paul Bigsby played through the amp with one of his steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
s and it "sounded terrible". Crooks noted the difference between building a guitar amplifier and building a standard hi-fi
High fidelity
High fidelity—or hi-fi—reproduction is a term used by home stereo listeners and home audio enthusiasts to refer to high-quality reproduction of sound or images, to distinguish it from the poorer quality sound produced by inexpensive audio equipment...
amplifier
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
. As a result, Bigsby loaned Crooks a guitar so he could continue improving the amplifier.
Founding
For a time, Bigsby lost interest in the project, but Crooks nevertheless continued working on his design for several months. He eventually came up with one he was satisfied with. It's cabinet featured padded Naugahyde, aluminum guards around the cabinet, a lighted control panel, JBL D-130 speaker and independent bass and treble controls. Crooks amplifier was both visually and sonorously appealing. He used his shop's name "Standel" as the amplifier's brand. The model was dubbed the 25L15 because it had 25 watts of power and a Lansing, 15" speaker. Bigsby eventually purchased a Standel 25L15, #1018 on April, 10th, 1954.Ascent To Popularity
Once satisfied with his design, Crooks started attending local concerts in order to spread the word about his amplifiers and get musicians to test them. The first one of these musicians was the late "Speedy" WestSpeedy West
Wesley Webb West , better known as Speedy West, was an American pedal steel guitarist and record producer. He frequently played with Jimmy Bryant, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others...
. West, a steel guitarist, was asked by Crooks, while at Cliffie Stone's
Cliffie Stone
Cliffie Stone , born Clifford Gilpin Snyder, was an American country singer, musician, record producer, music publisher, and radio and TV personality who was pivotal in the development of California’s thriving country music scene after World War II during a career that lasted six decades...
"Hometown Jamboree
Hometown Jamboree
Hometown Jamboree was an American country music radio and television show broadcast each Saturday night by KXLA radio, Pasadena, California and KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Cliffie Stone and first held at the American Legion Stadium in El Monte, California, and later at...
" show, to try out his guitar amp. He liked it and ordered the very first Standel amplifier that same night.
Bob then took his amp to the Town Hall Party dance in Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
, California, where Merle Travis
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
and Joe Maphis
Joe Maphis
Joe Maphis, born Otis W. Maphis , was an American country music guitarist. He married singer Rose Lee Maphis in 1948....
would be playing. They ordered the second and fourth Standel amplifiers.
Standel amplifiers would benefit from a relative rise in popularity among professional musicians, although at a small scale. Only 64 amplifiers appear on "The Butcher List" (Bob's handwritten chart of amplifiers and clients). Due to the high cost of building these amplifiers, (the JBL alone was $90, about 2-3 months rent in those days) they were used mostly by session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s, as their high prices made them difficult to attain for an amateur or hobbyist (price being about double that of a standard production amplifier).
By 1963, Standel introduced hybrid amplification and by 1965 developed a full line of all solid-state amplifiers. In order to protect the designs from reverse engineering, Crooks coated the amplifier's modules in color coded epoxy resin from 1963 to 1969. With the exception of the Red Tremolo module (which usually fails), 95% of these circuits continue to function after 45-50 years of use. For those needing repair, the Standel website (www.standelamps.com) post all known epoxy module schematics to aid technicians in keeping these amplifiers in service.
Downfall
In 1970, Standel unknowingly received a batch of output transistors that, over time, would fail with a burst of DC taking the speakers with them. The once dependable Standel brand began experiencing a high rate of warranty returns.Eventually, in 1971, the cost to cover warranty repairs became too high for Standel to endure so CMI (Standel and Gibson distributor) covered the cost, and in doing so, acquired controlling interest in the company. By 1972, the Standel brand was replaced by SG Amplifiers (Standel Gibson) being manufactured in the Standel factory at 4918 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte, California. The SG line was a hybrid design (solid-state preamp, tube power amp), developed by Bob Crooks, which harkened back to the original Standel hybrid designs of 1963.
After just over a year of operation, the SG line of amplifiers was discontinued. and the old factory closed down.
For the next 25 years, Bob continued design work for various amplifier companies, including BBE, and developed the Sonic Maximizer. This circuit was licensed by numerous companies and is arguably Bob's most successful design.
Reformation of Standel
In 1997, after 25 years of abandonment, the Standel Trademark became public domain and Bob Crooks was quick to secure the brand. Wanting to produce Standels again, and after a number of remarkable coincidences, Bob came into contact with Danny "Sage" McKinney, the founder of Requisite Audio Engineering and through Franklin Garlock (Standel's west coast sales rep from the 1960s), requested a meeting with McKinney. Danny, having first met Bob when he was only 14 years old, always saw Bob as a mentor and looked forward to seeing him again. Shortly after this reuniting, Bob offered Danny the licensing to build and market Standels, with Bob acting as technical advisor to the new Standel Co. For the next 10 years ('97-'07) Standels were built at the Requisite Audio Engineering shop, in Glendale, California, just 17 miles from the original Standel factory.Over the next two years, Bob's health began to fail and, in 1999, passed away at 79 years. Bob lived to see his original design, reintroduced at the 1998 NAMM convention in Anaheim, California, 45-years after it's introduction in 1953.
After Bob's death, McKinney continued to operate the Standel Company under the original licensing agreement, granted by Bob's widow, Deloris Crooks. In 2005, McKinney became the sole owner of The Standel Company and The Standel Company trademark.
Present Day
In 2007, the company was moved to Ventura, CaliforniaVentura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
, where they continue to build, to original specification, the Standel 25L15 and variations of the 50L15 & 100L15 models and Acoustic Magnifier versions of all models. They continue to use original (50 year old) JBL D-130 speakers. Each speaker receiving a specially developed surround edge treatment and full re-magnetization before being put into another 50-years of service, in a Standel amplifier.
Technical Achievements
Standel was a pioneer in modern amplifier design, the following are some of the company's achievements.- First to use JBLJBLJBL is an American audio electronics company currently owned by Harman International. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing. Their primary products are loudspeakers and associated electronics. There are two independent divisions within the company — JBL Consumer and JBL Professional...
speakers in a musical instrument amplifier - First to use padded upholstery
- First amplifier to have illuminated dials
- First closed-back bass amplifiers
- First piggy back amplifiers
- First amplifier to contain its dials on the front panel
- First hybrid amplifier (used both valveValve amplifierA valve amplifier or tube amplifier is a type of electronic amplifier that makes use of vacuum tubes to increase the power and/or amplitude of a signal. Low to medium power valve amplifiers for frequencies below the microwaves were largely replaced by solid state amplifiers during the 1960s and...
and solid state circuitry) - First self-powered speaker cabinets
- First to have separate "Bass" and "Treble" dials (most amplifiers only had one "Tone" dial at the time)
Combo Amplifiers
- 25L15 - 25 Watt valve amplifier, JBL D130 speaker and padded upholstery.
- 50L15 - 50 Watt valve amplifier, JBL D130 speaker and padded upholstery.
- 100L15 - 100 Watt amplifier, JBL D130 speaker and padded upholstery.
Acoustic Magnifiers
- AM-25L15 - Self-powered extension speaker system with JBL D-130 for the 25L15.
- AM-50L15 - Self-powered extension speaker system with JBL D-130 for the 50L15.
- AM-100L15 - Self-powered extension speaker system with JBL D-130 for the 100L15.
Combo Amplifiers
- 30C24 - 30 Watt amplifier sporting an all-tube circuit with a high-gain preamplifierPreamplifierA preamplifier is an electronic amplifier that prepares a small electrical signal for further amplification or processing. A preamplifier is often placed close to the sensor to reduce the effects of noise and interference. It is used to boost the signal strength to drive the cable to the main...
. - 100C24 - 100 Watt version of the above. Uses CelestionCelestionCelestion is a British maker of loudspeakers.-History:The work of what would become Celestion started in Hampton Wick in 1924. Celestion Radio Company and Celestion Limited were formed in 1927, and two years later the company moved across the Thames to Kingston. The company grew rapidly, but was...
speakers instead of JBL.
High gain heads
- S30-H - Head only version of the 30C24.
- S100-H - Head only version of the 100C24.
Speaker cabinets
- C24 2x12 - Lightweight cabinet with two 12
speakers. Buyer decides which speakers are to be used. - C48 4x12 - Lightweight cabinet with four 12
speakers. Buyer decides which speakers are to be used.
Musical instruments
From 1961 to 1967, Standel had a short period as a manufacturer of stringed instruments.Actually Standel never made instruments, but the name went on a series of good quality electric guitars and at least one hollow body electric bass, built by Sam Koontz at the request of Bob Crooks. Bill Lynch of Prattville, Alabama is the current owner of the electric bass, called a 400-D, serial number 1023L. Some of the instruments were sold as Harptone, Mosrite is also involved but it's not real clear how.
Notorious users
- Speedy WestSpeedy WestWesley Webb West , better known as Speedy West, was an American pedal steel guitarist and record producer. He frequently played with Jimmy Bryant, both in their own duo and as part of the regular Capitol Records backing band for Tennessee Ernie Ford and many others...
- Merle TravisMerle TravisMerle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
- Joe MaphisJoe MaphisJoe Maphis, born Otis W. Maphis , was an American country music guitarist. He married singer Rose Lee Maphis in 1948....
- Chet AtkinsChet AtkinsChester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
- Joaquin Murphy
- Hank Thompson
- Grady MartinGrady MartinThomas Grady Martin was one of the most renowned, inventive and historically significant American session musicians in country music and rockabilly....
- Hank GarlandHank GarlandWalter Louis Garland , better known as Hank Garland, was a Nashville studio musician who performed with Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and many others.-Biography:...
- Larry CollinsLarry CollinsLarry Collins may refer to:* Larry Collins , author of several historical books, mainly in collaboration with Dominique Lapierre * Larry Collins , one of The Collins Kids, a juvenile rockabilly duo...
- Barbara MandrellBarbara MandrellBarbara Ann Mandrell is an American country music singer best known for a 1970s–1980s series of Top 10 hits and TV shows that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s...
- Ralph MooneyRalph MooneyRalph Mooney was a well known steel guitar player. He played with many country and western artists, including Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and played in Waylon Jennings' band for two decades....
- Noel Boggs
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- Wes MontgomeryWes MontgomeryJohn Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
- Cliff GallupCliff GallupClifton E. "Cliff" Gallup was an American electric guitarist, who played rock and roll in the band Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps in the 1950s.-Biography:...
- Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
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- Lovin Spoonful
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- Pete DrakePete DrakePete Drake , born Roddis Franklin Drake, was a major Nashville, Tennessee-based record producer and pedal steel guitar player....