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Cassady · June 11th, 2008, 05:53 PM

Has anyone ever played through a Standel 25L15? I know that this is the amp that Chet Atkins used for most of his career and he had fantastic tone.

The reissues are out of my price range, but Weber is coming out with a kit that's a clone of (or inspired by, there's not much in the way of details available) the 25L15 and, quite frankly, I'm getting amp kit GAS (sounds painful, doesn't it?

) several months before the release of the kit.

In the meantime, I'd be happy to hear any Standel stories, especially Gretsch and Standel stories.

Cassady

Jukebox · June 11th, 2008, 05:55 PM

To bad Paul Setzer or JeffO isn't here they could be of some help.

Guitarsmith · August 7th, 2009, 08:56 AM

Finally,

After 2 years of searching, here it is for everyone: The Standel Schematic for the 25L15 amplifier.

This particular one does come from an unnamed source that is supposedly coming out with a kit, but will cost over $4,500. If that's not a ripoff I don't know that is.....

Please don't misunderstand me; I'm not saying that a true Bob Crooks Standel isn't worth the asking prices. I'm saying that a copy of this man's work, The Finest Guitar Amplifer Ever Made, is not worth 5 grand.

Here is it in raw format where the entire human race can benefit from Mr. Crooks efforts and superior intelligence. I think he would prefer to see us all enjoy his work than only the few that have thousands of dollars floating around for ~500 bucks worth of parts in a wooden cabinet.

All the best, take care,
Frank Roy

mugsy · August 7th, 2009, 09:10 AM

That looks like Ted's schematic.

mugsy · August 7th, 2009, 09:17 AM

Weber's JP25 Kit

Schematic

vjf1968 · August 7th, 2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugsy

Weber's JP25 Kit

Schematic

The Weber looks a little different. I'm no expert but just visually it is different.

mugsy · August 7th, 2009, 11:52 AM

Yeah, I should have clarified. The unnamed source in Guitarsmith's post is Ted Weber.

This Weber Standel style kit has been in the works for some time. It was formerly known as "The Pennebaker 25," which is the title on Guitarsmith's schematic. It is currently called the JP25 with a revised schematic dated June '09.

Here's an old blog post about the Pennebaker 25.

getbent · August 7th, 2009, 12:14 PM

the standel thing is interesting. I have a hard time believing that ted would be charging so much for a kit though... is there substantiation for that?

Is the Pennebaker name after james? He is certainly one of my favorite guitar players.

I have only played out of solid state (later) standels, which is why I had no earlier comment, and i guess when a post says "I hope so and so shows up" I always think that the problem is solved....

I think the 'messy' lead dress mentioned in the article is really just the presence of true point to point wiring which looks messy but isn't necessarily inefficient or poor work...

like a lot of these 'holy grail' things lots of mystery and conspiracy... I'm gonna check this out a bit.

Here is a 'near released' 807 kit.... Where is the super high price?

Why must the seller be unnamed? Why the secrecy... it makes no sense to me.

Ted is really sick right now.... is there some other builder they are talking about?

mugsy · August 7th, 2009, 01:27 PM

Getbent: I'm not sure who Guitarsmith had in mind regarding the "unnamed source" of the $4,500.00 kit. (A new production Standel is less than 4k.) The source of the schematic is Weber. The JP25 kit on his site is listed at $650.00. So, there may be some confusion over price, or another kit provider has borrowed Weber's drawing, or ?

mugsy · August 7th, 2009, 01:32 PM

Cassady: Deke Dickerson has some good info on Standel. He has a little bit on his site. He also wrote a history for the Standel site.

Guitarsmith · August 7th, 2009, 03:47 PM

Okay okay,

There's no need say that I'm hiding anything for whatever reason(s). I just did not want to insult or accuse anyone - that could be considered slander. Plus, in a public forum, it could be considered defamation of character.

Having said this, I would like to say, on a "completely different matter", that Torres Engineering is selling a Standel-based 807-driven Baxandall tone cuicuit JBL speaker sounding amp called the Bakersfield.

THEY WANT $4500.

Here's the site: http://www.torresengineering.com/newbroandcoa.html

Here's the photo: http://eventcom.net/torresgraphics/BAKERSFIELD2008.jpg

Be your own judge - is this worth the money they're asking?

I'm just sayin'............................................ ......

Cheers!!!
Frank

getbent · August 7th, 2009, 04:12 PM

Guitarsmith,

Thanks man! Oy vey, Torres... uh no thanks... been there and done that....

I also found that Standel is making amps! They run about 3400.00 (yee haw!) but I suppose they are the real deal....

Merle Travis is pretty much my favorite character in the whole world... so it would be fun to have one of those amps... but, I'd be more likely to build one of Ted's kits and call it close enough...

I'd bet those standels are cool... could I take them to the ragged places I play? It'd be interesing that is for sure...

thanks again the info. Anyone who has had the Torres experience will know what you are talking about... so, I understand and appreciate your discretion....

Ha ha, I just read the torres site... the whole thing is classic Torres... lots of bluster and not quite right... why Bakersfield? Merle and Maphis and those fellers all bought those amps on the other side of the Grapevine and were playing Cal's Corral and all those places as much or more (in LA) than Bakersfield... I guess it is all 'close enough' but, it is probably a good amp... boy that enclosure, the graphics etc look, uh, not good.

Why not spend some time and make it really cool? especially if it is gonna be +4K?

Maybe they are going for the dumble vibe of hippie engineering... weird.

I may spin up there and give one a listen if he has one in his shop.... that would help me decide if I want to tackle a kit that complicated.

roadjunkie · August 7th, 2009, 05:30 PM

Well versed in the Torres dogma but to be fair the Bakersfield retails at 1995.

I forget who it was but a guy on the GDP pieced one together sharp and authentic looking. Paul Stezer just did two Standel look alikes and used two of Dula's 5 watt amps. One has a 10 inch and the other a 12 inch. Something different and sharp!

getbent · August 7th, 2009, 05:46 PM

that is a bodacious discount! How DO THEY DO THAT!!!!????

Wow!

roadjunkie · August 7th, 2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getbent

that is a bodacious discount! How DO THEY DO THAT!!!!????

Wow!

Mr. Torres is really a fairy godmother who waves his magic wand! Presto! Discount! Looking to take Flo's job on the Progressive commercials!

Jeff O · August 7th, 2009, 07:39 PM

If I was told correctly

The new Standels are NOT the exact same circuit.

The Weber kit IS the exact same circuit.

Probably only 50 of the originals still exist, since I think only 72 25L15's were made.

Deke Dickerson owns 3.

As soon as I sell one of my 2 or 3 Tweed Deluxe Clones I'm buying the Weber kit.

Guitarsmith · August 10th, 2009, 12:02 PM

THE STANDEL STORY
The "Butcher Paper" List

Bob maintained a list of his early orders on a large piece of "butcher paper" which he hung on his garage wall where he built the amps. The following is a recreation of that list. It includes amp model, serial number, date of manufacture and original owner. We added the "current owner" column.

If you happen to be fortunate enough to own an original 25L15 and would like for your name to appear as current owner (or to be removed), please email your request and we will happily add you to the list.
The "Butcher Papter" List

MODEL# SERIAL# D.O.M. ORIGINAL OWNER CURRENT OWNER

25L15 Prototype 1953 The Standel Co. On Display at the Standel Factory

25L15 #1001 10-1-53 Speedy West - Capitol Recording Artist Gene Allen (former) Freedom Guitars (current)

25L15 #1002 10-1-53 Merle Travis - Capitol Recording Artist Richard C. Allen R.C. Allen Guitars

25L15 #1003 10-23-53 Dick Stubbs - Town Hall TV Unknown

25L15 #1004 10-23-53 Joe Maphis Town Hall TV CMHOF (former) Eddie Pennington(former) Jody Maphis(current)

25L15 #1005 10-23-53 Jim Corwin Unknown

25L15 #1006 11-03-53 The Whipoorwills - Roy Rogers Band Unknown - Was on eBay before 2007

25L15 #101 12-26-53 Vernon Polk - Les Brown's Band Unknown

25L15 #1007 12-26-53 Ernie Ball - Western Varieities TV Unknown

25L15 #1008 01-15-54 Bill Thrasher Unknown

25L15 #1009 01-04-54 Ethan Williams Unknown

25L15 #1010 02-25-54 Richard Allen Jerry Miller(former) Paul Yandell (former) Russ Cochran (current)

25L15 #1011 03-27-54 Hank Thompson - Capitol Records Unknown

25L15 #1012 03-20-54 Doug Whitenton Unknown

25L15 #1013 03-27-54 Hank Thompson - Capitol Records Unknown

25L15 #1014 03-27-54 Hank Thompson - Capitol Records Unknown

25L15 #1015 03-37-54 Hank Thompson - Capitol Records Music Hall Of Fame - Pete Drake Exibit

25L15 #1016 04-05-54 Dan Boyd Unknown

25L15 #1017 05-05-54 Earl Smith Unknown

25L15 #1018 04-10-54 Paul Bigsby Unknown

25L15 #1019 04-17-54 Johnnie Thompson Unknown

25L15 #1020 04-24-54 Jimmy Day w/Lefty Frizzel Chet Atkins(former) Paul Yandell (donated) Country Music Hall of Fame

25L15 #1022 05-18-54 Red Hays Unknown

25L15 #1023 05-15-54 Wayne Burdick - Tex Williams TV Show Chas Smith

25L15 #1024 06-09-54 Eddie Dean - Capitol Records Brian Mulligan

25L15 #1025 07-03-54 Henry Maddox - Maddox Brothers & Rose Unknown

25L15 #1026 07-25-54 Les "Carrot Top" Anderson, Town Hall Unknown

25L15 #1027 06-24-54 Marian Hall Bill McHenry 907-357-1010 (Alaska) (sold MAR 2009 - ebayID "g***4" - $16521 - Lives in Connecticut)

25L15 #1028 07-30-54 Butterball Harris - Grand Ole Opry Unknown

25L15 #1029 08-01-54 Bud Chambers Unknown

25L15 #1030 08-16-54 Bob Wilson Unknown

25L15 #1031 08-13-54 Gary Wilson Unknown

25L15 #1032 08-21-54 Don Snow Don Snow (sold Apr 2008 - Deke Dickerson 'eccofonic' on ebay - $12776)

25L15 #1033 09-25-54 Phil Sperbeck Unknown

25L15 #1034 11-10-54 Lee Buck Mike Black

25L15 #1035 11-18-54 Roy Collier Unknown

25L15 #1036 01-14-55 Buddy Emmons Unknown

25L15 #1037 01-21-55 Vic Ashmead - Merle Lindsay Band Jimmy Young

25L15 #1038 01-21-55 Johnnie Patterson - Merle Lindsay Band John Lewis

25L15 #1039 03-12-55 Jimmy Wyble - Vernon Gosnell Unknown

25L15 #1040 03-15-55 Darrrell Johnson Unknown

25L15 #1041 03-15-55 Henry Boynton - The Morgan Brothers Henry Boynton - The Morgan Brothers

25L15 #1042 04-02-55 Kenneth Jacks Unknown

25L15 #1043 05-14-55 Bud Alden Unknown

25L15 #1044 05-28-55 Ben Jack Unknown

25L15 #1045 06-15-55 Demonstrator - Tom Turman Unknown

25L15 #1046 07-19-55 William Howard Unknown

25L15 #1047 08-01-55 Babe Thompson Unknown

25L15 #1048 08-05-55 Jack Lester Unknown

25L15 #1049 09-21-55 Shady Brown Richard Glick - Fine Guitar Consultants

25L15 #1050 09-30-55 Jimmy Murrah Unknown

25L15 #1051 09-28-55 Hank Thompson - Capitol Records Jesse A. Morris - Western Swing Journal

25L15 #1052 09-30-55 Don Hemminger Unknown

25L15 #1053 12-23-55 Harry Mycroft Unknown

25L15 #1054 01-56 Truma & Alice Teel Unknown

25L15 #1056 02-56 Ray Collier Unknown

25L15 #1057 05-56 C.W. Wilson Unknown

25L15 #1058 07-01-56 Freddie Hoover Unknown

25L15 #1055 07-15-56 Doug Farmer Unknown

15L12 #3002 07-21-56 "Bookie" Madin Unknown

25L15 #1059 07-22-56 Jimmy Kelley Unknown

25L15 #1060 07-23-56 Mike Young Terry Bethel (former), Herb Steiner - Austin, TX (Current)

25L15 #1061 08-18-56 Larry Solomon Unknown

25L15 #1062 08-21-56 Joe Babcock Unknown

25L15 #1063 08-22-56 Pete Tester Unknown

25L15 #1064 09-24-56 Glen Harding Unknown

25L15-28 #2001 10-15-56 Merle Travis - Capitol Recording Artist Unknown (1 x 15" & 2 x 8" spks)

25L15 #1065 11-01-56 Leon Roach Unknown

10L8 #4002 11-05-56 Billy Clark Unknown

25L15 #1066 11-25-56 Darrell Johnson Unknown

getbent · August 10th, 2009, 03:07 PM

dammit! I have to have one.

Scott · August 10th, 2009, 03:34 PM

I'd love to have one. I'd also love to get one of those Echosonic remakes that MBL on the GDP is making...just don't have 6 grand to shell out for one...

Guitarsmith · August 12th, 2009, 08:58 AM

Hey all!!

I'm back - and this time I have some goodies for everyone from my latest online treks in the Quest For Tone.

The famous April 1953 Ray Butts Echosonic model EA-1 amplifier. I have a small diagram of it, a basic schematic with (unfortunately) no values (CAN ANYONE FILL THEM IN AND POST THEM PUHLEEZZ!).

I also have 3 pages of details instructions on how the tape echo functions as part of the amplifier - a very good read. I hae never seen these posted anywhere in online forums before until now!!

Let's all get some information together and maybe we can have a working schematic for all of us to enjoy.

Thank you,
Frank