Who made speakers for Standel?

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 6 Nov 2005 2:32 pm

The label on the speaker says "System Designed Transducer SS115, The Standel Company, El Monte, California." They have aluminun dust caps on them. Could it have Altec Lansing?

Thanks, Dave

Brendan Dunn · Post by **Brendan Dunn** » 6 Nov 2005 4:25 pm

I saw one that fit that description on ebay recently .... 15" with a ceramic magnet. According to the mfg. number code it was a Utah.

Here's a link to a list og mfg. codes for speakers. http://www.webervst.com/morecode.html

---Edit-----I was mistaken, the Standel speaker I saw was labeled S115 and didn't have aluminum dust caps.[This message was edited by Brendan Dunn on 07 November 2005 at 12:12 AM.]

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 6 Nov 2005 5:17 pm

I did a search and it is possible that the speakers were made by Stephens Trusonic.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/001687.html

They sound pretty darn good, with similarities to a JBL D130. There's not a lot of info on the net, they must be somewhat obscure.

Dave Z

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 6 Nov 2005 11:28 pm

The two Standel amps that I had owned were piggy back. The first on had a JBL D120 and the Imperial XV had a JBL D130. These were early '60s models that I got through Irby Mandrell when he was the sales rep for Bob Crooks.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 7 Nov 2005 6:27 am

I know Standel used JBLs a lot but I'm wanting to know what other brands of speakers they used. I'm trying to identify the speakers desribed above.

Someone emailed me and said EV.

Anyone else have any input?

Thanks guys. DZ

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 7 Nov 2005 8:48 am

Altec
Both of my Custom 15's have 418B Altec Lansing speakers. Both were made in 1970.

Best speaker for pedal steel I have ever used, IMHO.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1984 Sho-Bud S/D-12 7x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

[This message was edited by Larry Bell on 07 November 2005 at 08:50 AM.]

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 7 Nov 2005 8:57 am

Larry, are your Altecs green and have the Standell logo on them? The ones I have look similar to Altecs but they are not the white frames with the gray covers on them.

I guess I should pull the back of the amp off again and reference the numbers stamped on the frames.

Thanks-Dave Z[This message was edited by Dave Zirbel on 07 November 2005 at 08:57 AM.]

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 7 Nov 2005 9:09 am

Mystery solved! Here is an email reply from Danny McKinney at Standel:

"Hi Dave,

In 1968 Standel bought Trusonic in an attempt to replace the D-130Fs that had changed from the D130. Bob Crooks felt they had gone down in tonal quality. At the time, Trusonic was a few blocks away from the Standel factory, Santa Anita address. The SS115 is an outstanding speaker and you are fortunate to have them. They are very rare and have a unique tone.

The Freer street location was just west of Santa Anita, just up the road from the Standel factory and Trusonic.

Kind regards,

Danny McKinney"

I just realized while reading the Standel website that I grew up a few blocks away from the Standel factory.