Celestion Speakers and clarity...

[Lewguitar]

The "Clarity From a Speaker" thread reminded of something I've wanted to mention again.

That is that a really good Celestion (like a G12H30 or Vintage 30 or pick a favorite of your own) will usually have a clearer and louder sound than most other guitar speakers.

People tend to think of Celestions as being distorted sounding because they sound so good with overdrive and distortion generating amps.

Celestions are generally not distorted sounding speakers on their own! Usually it's just the opposite.

Put a G12H30 or a Vintage 30 in an amp like a vintage Fender Deluxe Reverb or vintage Pro Reverb amp and the Fender amp will sound louder and clearer and when the amp is cranked so that it's distorted, the distortion will be better sounding and more articulate and generally NOT get muddy at higher volumes.

Celestions sound wonderful if your amp is generating distorted tones...but they are not distortion generating speakers. They just happen to sound great when you do run distorted guitar signals through them. But it's not the Celestion speaker that's distorting...unless you're over powering it.

Lew

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

I think they sound more loud and clear because the high quality construction lets them pass more frequencies that the amp creates.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

My favorite Celestion is the Classic Lead 80. Now that is a nice speaker. I don't like speaker breakup at all. I want the amp to do the work and let the speaker project that cleanly.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

My favorite Celestion is the Classic Lead 80. Now that is a nice speaker. I don't like speaker breakup at all. I want the amp to do the work and let the speaker project that cleanly.

I like those too Erik. A little bit of an American tone mixed in with the normal Celestion tone. I had them in my '82 Marshall JCM 800 50 watt 2 x 12 combo amp. Eric Johnson has used them too, although I think he favors something else these days. Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

I like those too Erik. A little bit of an American tone mixed in with the normal Celestion tone. I had them in my '82 Marshall JCM 800 50 watt 2 x 12 combo amp. Eric Johnson has used them too, although I think he favors something else these days. Lew

80's are too american for me but they are very nice speakers...eric has switched G12-65's and H30's

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

My all around favorite is still the G12H30, but the Alnico Blue in a Princeton is truly a thing of beauty.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

80's are too american for me but they are very nice speakers...eric has switched G12-65's and H30's

G12-65? That's the speaker that came in that '82 1 x 12 Marshall 50 watt combo I just picked up. Cool!

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

Worlds best speaker by general consensus is the Celestion blue(now also gold). Im fortunate to have two cabinets, one loaded with gt-65's and one with G12m-25's.I really couldnt ask for more,,,well maybe a Cabinet loaded with Canabbis Rexs'.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

A G12-65 uses the same magnet, spider and cone as a greenback but with a 65 watt voice coil and a large dust cap...

On the subject of Blues, Golds and even the older (60's) versions they are very cool speakers but for sure NOT for everybody and every amp, or setting...however they cost SO much that all the "it cost a lot so it must be good" guys have to have one and due to that it's considered to be the end all be all...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

A G12-65 uses the same magnet, spider and cone as a greenback but with a 65 watt voice coil and a large dust cap...

On the subject of Blues, Golds and even the older (60's) versions they are very cool speakers but for sure NOT for everybody and every amp, or setting...however they cost SO much that all the "it cost a lot so it must be good" guys have to have one and due to that it's considered to be the end all be all...

I like them best in 30 watt and under cathode bias amps like tweed Fender Deluxes or Vox AC-30's. Don't like them nearly as much in blackface Fenders...to much treble. But in the right amp, like a tweed 5E3 Deluxe, they sound like the best speaker in the world.

Lew

 

[ErikH]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

I like those too Erik. A little bit of an American tone mixed in with the normal Celestion tone. I had them in my '82 Marshall JCM 800 50 watt 2 x 12 combo amp. Eric Johnson has used them too, although I think he favors something else these days. Lew

80's are too american for me but they are very nice speakers...eric has switched G12-65's and H30's

Once I can land an Avatar 2x12 to use with my Marshall (whenever I get that fixed), they are my first choice. They may be too American sounding for some but I love how the work with British voiced amps. You really hear the amp with them.

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

i got to hear the sweat spot for celestion blues. a 20w Laney Lionheart head with 2 15w celestion blues. 30w is close to blowing them, 20w is just...perfect. If you want a little more push, get a Tube Pedal. Since 20w amps can sometimes push +50% past there peak, 15+15=30..... 20+50%=30w..... Rambling at work is fun

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

i got to hear the sweat spot for celestion blues. a 20w Laney Lionheart head with 2 15w celestion blues. 30w is close to blowing them, 20w is just...perfect. If you want a little more push, get a Tube Pedal. Since 20w amps can sometimes push +50% past there peak, 15+15=30..... 20+50%=30w..... Rambling at work is fun

Ive heard of a "sweet spot'..whats a "sweat spot'? Is that the range where the amp is pushing the speaker the hardest before clipping?? LOL

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

i got a g12h30 in my deluxe reverb as lew had suggested and its rocking hard. The amp wails like xena warrior princess when i turn it up loud and drive it with a ts9 and/or compressor. But i will say that it grits up sooner than the stock c12k. I appreciate different tones, but lately ive been craving a JBL d120f for a crisp funk/jazz....

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

sorry at work my brain and fingers arent working together SWEET SPOT
20w Hand Wired Voxish tube + 2 Celestion Blues

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

I *really* wanna hear my Dr. Z Maz 18 through a 2x12 cab with Celestion Blues...I hear that is THE be all and end all...

instead I settle for my Dr. Z cab with a V30 and a G12h30 in it

 

[jeremy]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

i have a celestion gold in my bf dr right now and i like it. a buddy of mine has a blue in his and the gold is a little warmer and bigger in the bottom so it works well.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

I ran my bassman through the Edana cab (equipped with Mojotone BV-30H G12H30 clones). It sounds really good through that cabinet. I might get a 4x10 so it won't be as loud, but it really did sound good. Nice bass too. Might just get another 2x12 made for it and wire it for 4 ohms. Sounded great at 8 ohms to be sure.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

i got a g12h30 in my deluxe reverb as lew had suggested and its rocking hard. The amp wails like xena warrior princess when i turn it up loud and drive it with a ts9 and/or compressor. But i will say that it grits up sooner than the stock c12k. I appreciate different tones, but lately ive been craving a JBL d120f for a crisp funk/jazz....

The JBL would be a good choice for that. I'm surprised that yur G12H30 breaks up sooner than your C12K. Is that an Italian Jensen? Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Celestion Speakers and clarity...

I've never heard the new C12K. It's the stock speaker in the newest version of the Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue. From the Harmony Central reviews and from reading the specs, I get the feeling it may be the best speaker Fender has offered in that amp. The DR's from the 60's and 70's all came with inexpensive speakers. So my remarks about DR's are all based on those. The C12K seems designed for late overdrive. Has a big magnet like the Celestion G12H30 too. Maybe a bigger magnet than the original C12N...my favorite of Jensens original 12's from the 60's. Lew