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The Standel company was founded by Bob Crooks (an electronics engineer) in the early 1960s, and rose to some prominence in the mid-1960s because of their solid-state amplifiers. The Standel name was derived from Crooks´ previous radio repair business, Standard Electronics.
After learning electronics from correspondence courses, Crooks began working for Lockheed, and was promoted to engineer in charge of their Electronics Standards Lab. In his spare time, Crooks repaired radios in his garage. He was introduced to Paul Bigsby in the early 1950s, who was looking for someone to build amplifiers. Crooks began experimenting with semi-conductors in 1961, and two years later had developed a high power solid state amp. While the company did well during the 1960s, faulty parts and component failures in 1970 led to erosion of the Standel quality reputation. Crooks later sold the company to CMI in Chicago, and worked for them for two years (source: Willie Moseley, Vintage Guitar Magazine).
Crooks later worked at Barcus Berry, and furthered his investigations into tube and transistor amplifiers. Crooks devised a invention that compensated for speaker errors by modifying the signal going into the amplifier. Crooks named the unit the Sonic Maximizer, and it is still being produced by the BBE Sound Corporation of Long Beach, California. See the Blue Book of Guitar Amplifiers for more information on Standel Amps.
After learning electronics from correspondence courses, Crooks began working for Lockheed, and was promoted to engineer in charge of their Electronics Standards Lab. In his spare time, Crooks repaired radios in his garage. He was introduced to Paul Bigsby in the early 1950s, who was looking for someone to build amplifiers. Crooks began experimenting with semi-conductors in 1961, and two years later had developed a high power solid state amp. While the company did well during the 1960s, faulty parts and component failures in 1970 led to erosion of the Standel quality reputation. Crooks later sold the company to CMI in Chicago, and worked for them for two years (source: Willie Moseley, Vintage Guitar Magazine).
Crooks later worked at Barcus Berry, and furthered his investigations into tube and transistor amplifiers. Crooks devised a invention that compensated for speaker errors by modifying the signal going into the amplifier. Crooks named the unit the Sonic Maximizer, and it is still being produced by the BBE Sound Corporation of Long Beach, California. See the Blue Book of Guitar Amplifiers for more information on Standel Amps.
Instruments previously produced in Newark, NJ during the late 1960s. Distributed by Standel of Temple City, CA.