My Standel Project

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

So last year I picked up a beat up 1969 Standel Artist 2x12 off of Craigslist. This amp was as ugly (see before photo below) as it was tremendously heavy, but it sounded amazing with my Fender 1000. These transistor Standels have a completely unique voice, very much different from the typical scooped mid Fender tone. Unfortunately after a couple of gigs it quit working so I stashed it away in the basement.

A few weeks ago I asked local tube amp expert John Pope if he would be willing to take on a transistor amp project and he agreed.

While he was repairing the electronics, I built separate speaker and head cabinets out of solid 1/2" pine with a 3/4" birch baffle. I covered the finished cabinets in blonde tolex as shown in the "After" photo below. The new split cabinet config is way lighter and more portable than the old heavy beast, and much more attractive IMHO.

Turns out the electronics issues were minor. John repaired a loose fuse holder that was causing the amp to cut out, replaced the main caps, replaced the un-grounded power cord and rebuilt the power supply.

Thanks to Lee Jeffriess, who had been preaching that he prefers the Standel all transistor amps for steel over their tube and hybrid models. I am now a convert. This amp sounds fabulous and is the perfect match to my Fender. I wouldn't trade my Fender 1000 for anything short of an original Bigsby and now I have a lifer amp to go with it.

Jussi Huhtakangas · From: Helsinki, Finland

Sweeeet! Such an improvement on the appearance! You and Lee are right, those things sound fabulous!

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

Mighty fine looking rig!!

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