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Author Topic:  Want to build a 25L15 Standel clone, schematic??
Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2008 11:04 am    
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Anyone got a schematic? It is apparently a well guarded secret per all my research on the net.

I heard Weber was going to do a kit, I can find no evidence of one on his site.
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2008 3:13 pm    
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Ken, I heard about that as well. Just shoot Ted a note, or even better just call him. I'm sure he'd love to talk about it if it's on the drawing board...or if it's beyond that stage you might be able to grab an early release. If you do find out anything let me know - I've been looking for a new major electronics project and that would be high on my list as well.
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2008 4:04 pm    
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Found this in a Jan 2008 news release from Ted:

25L15 (called the Pennebaker 25) (2 months),


Looks like it should be ready to go by now!
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2008 5:24 pm    
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I read somewhere that it wasn't really a clone, but more of a "based upon" model.
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Jack Mansfield

 

From:
Reno, NV
Post  Posted 4 May 2008 6:11 pm     standel 25L15
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Ken, if you go to invictainstruments.com you will see a clone to the 25L15. The InVicta Cascade Amp. He claims that he uses the same circuitry or as close to the originals as they come.
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2008 6:23 pm    
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I saw one of his amps on EBay. It may be electrically the same, but not the same cab, etc. I would hope to create something very close to the original in circuit and cosmetics.

The chassis is a Weber Tweed Pro from what I see, The tube layout is a Fender Pro as well. I can't see it as a very good copy at all.

The original used 807 tubes, not the 6L6GC or 5881 tubes, Also it was a class "A" amp.

Hopefully I can get more info soon!
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 4 May 2008 6:51 pm    
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Ken check Doug Hoffman's site here.

http://www.el34world.com/charts/Diagrams.htm

A large Standel library farther down the alphabetic page.

Piles of Standels.
Though Doug worked for Randall at one point.

It isn't listed by number designation,
but it likely is there.
Or email Doug, I bet he knows how to find one.
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Jussi Huhtakangas

 

From:
Helsinki, Finland
Post  Posted 4 May 2008 10:52 pm    
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The Standels on Doug's site are all 60's solid states, 25L15 was an all tube with separate pre and power amps, like hi-fi systems. The main reason why you can't find a schematic is that there were so few of them made, I guess none of them has never gotten into someone's hands, who'd be interested to draw a schematic . And of course it's understandable that Danny McKinney is not eager to let out the design of the amp he's selling.
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Larry Behm


From:
Mt Angel, Or 97362
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 3:59 am    
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Ken I saw one on ebay for $12,000 maybe the guy would like to sell it to you so you can have one first hand. Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

Larry Behm
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 4:11 am    
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Saw that one Larry, just missed the bid! Went for for a ton of money, Simple looking amp, less parts than the 1955 Pro clone I built, from what I can see.

I would like to see one up front and in person some day to hear the tone for myself. Must be one heck of an amp, as Chet recorded with one for most of his career.
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Jussi Huhtakangas

 

From:
Helsinki, Finland
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 5:04 am    
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That was my buddy and forum member Deke Dickerson who bought the amp on ebay. It is most likely the only 100% original and mint condition 25L15 in excistence. It hasn't been played outside the house much since -54, Deke emailed me some pics of it and it is immaculate, a true collector's piece.
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Joe Smith

 

From:
Charlotte, NC, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 5:07 am    
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Hey Ken, come on up to Charlotte and you can see mine. I have a reissue 25L15 and also a 80L15 that was built in the early 60s.
Send me a e-mail and I will give you directions. I am about 4 hours from Atlanta.
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 5:23 am    
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Ken if you can make a schematic for these two of Joe's,
you have made at least ONE friend here! Smile
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!
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Ken Fox


From:
Nashville GA USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 6:05 am    
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I am not sure how close the reissue is, as their are features on it not found with the original.
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 6:25 am    
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But with an original 80L15 right next to it,
I bet you can get close.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!
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Joe Smith

 

From:
Charlotte, NC, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 6:34 am    
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David, the 80L15 is a completely different amp . It uses 6DQ6s and the 25L15 uses 807s. My 80L15 has been switched to 6L6s, but could be changed back without too much trouble.
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 7:40 am    
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Ah well. Looks like he needs to do the lion share on your amp,
and then visit Deke and grovel a little.

I only want to look inside... PUHLEEEZE.
And measure voltages and take 3000 pics
and draw the WHOLE thing out and and and.
_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!
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Jussi Huhtakangas

 

From:
Helsinki, Finland
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 8:55 am    
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Ken Fox wrote:
I am not sure how close the reissue is, as their are features on it not found with the original.


Their as close as you'd ever want; Merle Travis' original was used when they "cloned" the circuitry on mine. The little "modern day" features that are available as options do not affect on the sound of the amp. Somewhere in my files I have a booklet that has all the specs for the Williamson hi-fi amp which was the basics for the 25L15; specs for components, output tranny, etc. And you have to remember that even the originals were not all exactly the same; a customer could have a choice of tone range "treble or mellow" and Hank Thompson requested for one with four input jacks for his fiddle players to use. And I once played a gig in Vegas using Shady Brown's original which Bob Crooks himself had hot rodded for more volume; the thing was freakin' loud and distorted when turned up past 3.
And yes, 80L15 is technically totally different, but soundvise very close, biggest difference is more volume.
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 10:42 am     hmmmmmm
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As I heard it, the first Standel's weren't all that until fitted with a JBL 130, THEN it became what it is now.
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Jussi Huhtakangas

 

From:
Helsinki, Finland
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 11:29 am    
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Ron, Standels were fitted with JBL D130 from the very beginning, ALL of them from the first introduction prototype which resulted Speedy West to order the #1 production amp. Only other musical amplifier brand that offered JBL or Altec at the time was Ampeg on their high end guitar amps, such as Johnny Smith Fountain Of Sound.
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 12:46 pm     I'll probably never find the info, but....
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To be clearer in my statement, it was the inception prototype/s with whatever speaker he used that Mr. Crooks had out to a very few select players that led him to this one important improvement before venturing into actual production.
Yes, I'm sure all the production pieces were fitted with JBLs once that got ironed out.

I've always wanted a Fountain Of Sound amp. Anyone here ever use one for steel?
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Joe Smith

 

From:
Charlotte, NC, USA
Post  Posted 5 May 2008 2:50 pm    
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmkvX-aODHI
Here is a link to one of my Youtube videos
I wasn't using any kind of effects or reverb. Just going from My Mullen through the Hilton volume pedal into the amps.
This will give you guys an idea of how the 25L15s sound. Please overlook my mistakes.
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 6 May 2008 4:48 am    
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Ok Ken

I found a set on Bill MacKenna's site.
He had posted the link in a Hoffman board link.
Somebody ALSO was wanting to build it.

http://mckennasgarage.com/stuff/

Maybe drop Bill a note and thank him for listing this.
There IS some discussion of the correctness of these drawings.
Maybe good, maybe not.
Here is the link and some discussion on the amp.

http://www.el34world.com/Forum/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1200872335

I opened the .sch in Jschem and it looks interesting.




_________________
DLD, Chili farmer. Plus bananas and papaya too.

Real happiness has no strings attached.
But pedal steels have many!
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Joe Smith

 

From:
Charlotte, NC, USA
Post  Posted 6 May 2008 4:59 am    
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That looks pretty much like the way my 25L15 reissue amps are wired. Great info David
Thanks.
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Jussi Huhtakangas

 

From:
Helsinki, Finland
Post  Posted 6 May 2008 10:30 am    
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Yup, there ya have it I guess, great links! And FYI, that red amp is Merle Travis' first Standel, #2.
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