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Standel Super Imperial XV

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Page last updated Aug 11, 2025

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Description

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Experience the impeccable sound of the Standel Super Imperial XV, a combo guitar amplifier that combines vintage charm with modern functionality. This amplifier is designed for musicians who crave a robust and dynamic tone that complements any style of music. The Super Imperial XV is renowned for its all-tube circuitry, delivering warm, rich sounds that can transition seamlessly from smooth cleans to gritty overdrives.

The amplifier is equipped with a powerful 15-watt output, making it perfect for both small gigs and studio sessions. With its easy-to-use control panel, you can effortlessly shape your sound through its extensive EQ options. Whether you're playing blues, rock, or jazz, the Super Imperial XV ensures your guitar's natural tone is preserved and enhanced.

This versatile combo amp features a custom-designed speaker that ensures clarity and depth in every note. The spring reverb adds an authentic touch to your sound, allowing for a spacious and immersive play experience. Built with classic aesthetics, the Super Imperial XV not only sounds great but looks great too, making it a standout piece on any stage.

Key Features:

15-watt tube power for warm, dynamic sound
All-tube circuitry for authentic tones
Custom-designed speaker for clarity and depth
Spring reverb for an immersive sound experience
Extensive EQ controls for sound shaping
Ideal for small gigs and studio use
Classic design with modern functionality

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Standel Super Imperial XV.

Features and functionality

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The SG212 features a hybrid tube power section with rare RCA 8417 power tubes and an RCA 12AX7A, offering a unique sound characteristic.
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The SG212 includes a parallel OD knob to simulate overdrive, providing versatility for clean amplification and pedal integration.
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The amp's reverb unit needs to be maxed out to achieve distortion, as noted by users seeking the unique tone of Jefferson Airplane's early recordings.
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Setup and maintenance

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Owners note the SG212's knobs require frequent cleaning to prevent static and dropouts, highlighting a maintenance consideration.
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User experience

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The SG212's built-in Maestro Phaser is highly praised, making it a desirable feature for those seeking a distinct modulation effect.
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The SG212 is notably heavy, compared to moving a refrigerator, which may impact portability for frequent gigging.
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Users have noted mixed reviews, indicating variability in performance possibly due to the amp's age and maintenance needs.
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Comparisons

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The SG212's power section is compared to early MusicMan amps, indicating a tonal similarity appreciated by enthusiasts.
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Some owners compare the Standel Super Imperial XV's harsh, metallic breakup tone to that of a 1960s transistor amp, offering a distinct contrast to tube amp sounds.
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The Standel Super Imperial XV is noted for its use in live gigs by bands like the 13th Floor Elevators, suggesting its reliability and performance in concert settings.
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Use cases and applications

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Ideal for replicating the lead guitar sound on "Somebody to Love" and "3/5ths of a Mile in 10 Seconds," highlighting its appeal to fans of vintage psychedelic rock.
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Jorma Kaukonen

Guitarist, Singer

Jefferson Airplane

Verified via Google Books

"I also bought a Standel Super Imperial because Zal [Yanovsky] was playing through one. It was a completely solid-state amp with two fifteen-inch speakers, and no guitarist would probably voluntarily choose one. That said, it's [along with the Guild T-Bird] the gear I used for the solos on "Somebody to Love" as well as "White Rabbit". It worked out OK for me. Years later at a gig in New Jersey at the Tabernacle I found myself sharing the stage with John Sebastian [a founder of the Lovin' Spoonful]. We got to talking and I told him how I got the Guild and the Standel because the Lovin' Spoonful guys had that gear. "We hated those amps," he told me. "We had to use them because we were endorsers." I couldn't stop laughing. Again, it worked out for me...Back then I knew nothing about the gear so when I heard him [Zal Yanovksy], I had to have what he was playing. As if the Super Imperial weren't brittle enough, I added an upholstered box from Kustom with two high-frequency horns. Around the time of Pillow I was transitioning from the Guild Thunderbird guitar and the Standel amp to the Gibson and two Fender Twin Reverbs, but I was still waffling between two setups. The solos on "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" were done with the Thunderbird and the Standel (minus the horns). Saturating the sound with spring reverb was the deal. The other tracks were done with the Twins and the ES-345 Stereo".