Vintage 1960s Standel Artist Bass Amplifier Head – Model 553B (Rare Tube/Transistor Hybrid)

Up for sale is a incredibly rare piece of American amplification history: a vintage Standel Artist Bass amplifier head (Model 553B), serial number 2976-1.

Engineered during the definitive final era of Bob Crooks' original California production run, this amp utilizes an innovative tube/transistor hybrid design (solid-state/FET front-end preamp paired with a robust tube power section). Standel pioneered this hybrid configuration to achieve what they did best: unparalleled, ultra-crisp, high-fidelity clean headroom with a warm, authoritative low-end that modern solid-state amps simply cannot replicate.

While designated as a "Bass" head, like many vintage Standel and Fender Bassman circuits, this makes an absolutely phenomenal platform for guitar players looking for a pristine pedal-fuzz canvas, keyboardists, jazz archtop players, and pedal steel guitarists who demand flawless clean tones across the entire frequency spectrum.

Wear commenserate with age, amp works well and sounds great!