CELESTIONS - any fans?

[Imp]

hey guys, i wanna upgrade the speaker in my DSL 401 - atm its got a celestion goldback, and its somewhere between muddy and fizzy :laugh2:

problem is, its for a 40w valve combo, meaning a greenback won't stand a chance.. i've heard the vintage 30 has a very hard, 'shiny' tone which starts to grate for a while..

im after versatility more than anything- indie through to metal, clean sound is still quite important though..

any thoughts or suggestions? celestions are the easiest to find in the UK, but i'm willing to look at other makes if it'll get me the sound i'm after hehe

one other thing - the stock speaker is 16 ohms.. the amp's switchable for 8 though..

tom

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

Hey buddy...I'm a real fan of the V30,but what about the G12H-30? You'd probably still be ok providing you don't go crazy and cranking it way too much?

I find the V30s to have high output,prominent mids,and good lows in open back cabinets,but I won't say they are grating or harsh once they're broken in...They cut and project very well...

Another great speaker that you might consider,are the G12-100s that are in my Fender Cyber Twin...They cover everything from clean to scream in an open back Fender cabinet?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

The G12T-75, Classic Lead, and G12 Centuries will take the watts, in addition to the Vintage 30. The G12T-75 is what comes standard in a lot of the Marshall cabs. It is a brighter speaker. The classic lead will have more definition for leads, and the G12s will be light and sound like, I don't know. Most guys here are celestion fans so give it a while an a true expert will respond

Luke

 

[Xeromus]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

I love vintage 30s! I don't find they harsh or brittle. That depends on the amp. I think they are smooth as can be and have a nice singing tone.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

I love vintage 30s! I don't find they harsh or brittle. That depends on the amp. I think they are smooth as can be and have a nice singing tone.

That's my findings with the V30s....I'm not a fan of the 75s though...I don't like the mids,and these are always the speakers you see in the lower line Marshall cabs..The higher line cabs have either V30s or Greenbacks..???

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

My Rivera 4x12 is fitted with V30's and it ROCKS!!
I've had no problem with murkiness or loss of definition playing a clean strat, nor any loss of face-melting crunch or bottom end with a HB equipped metal machine!!

PS: I play LOUD, too ... not excessively so, but loud enough to be heard over a 5 piece band including another guitarist ... and I've NEVER felt I needed to 'go easy' on the cabinet.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

That's my findings with the V30s....I'm not a fan of the 75s though...I don't like the mids,and these are always the speakers you see in the lower line Marshall cabs..The higher line cabs have either V30s or Greenbacks..???

I have no idea. I don't really like marshall amps much. Well, except for older model ones, but I don't have the money for anything like that. If anything I find the 75's harsh and brittle as opposed to the vintage 30's.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

I think the 75s explain your findings of being harsh...They are harsh to me in the mids and they aren't a classic rock/blues speaker and that's why I'm biased away from them...But it's only my opinion(Which means absolutely nothing)! LOL

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

I have no idea. I don't really like marshall amps much. Well, except for older model ones, but I don't have the money for anything like that. If anything I find the 75's harsh and brittle as opposed to the vintage 30's.

Wow....An anti-Marshall amp guy? You're in the small minority...I'm a Fender/Marshall guy,but it's only because it suits my music styles... :wink:

 

[Xeromus]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

I think the 75s explain your findings of being harsh...They are harsh to me in the mids and they aren't a classic rock/blues speaker and that's why I'm biased away from them...But it's only my opinion(Which means absolutely nothing)! LOL

I think they are the everything speaker. John Petrucci uses them in his rig also. I play everything from jazz to metal on my vintage 30 loaded cab.

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

I like the V30 in some applications, when i'm after a clear tone with more cut and twang/sparkle. When I want a nice fat grind, i use a G12H-30. It can be a little loose on the low end, but I like that because I usually use pretty tight sounding pickups.

 

[Imp]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

whoa, awesome replies, guys

it seems vintage 30s are a lot more widely liked than HC makes out :laugh2: my main dilemma is power handling, i often have to crank the 40w pretty damned loud to outgun the drummer hehe - i wanna be totally confident in my gear..

what would i have to consider when choosing 16 or 8 ohm? my amp takes either, but what's the difference?

tom

 

[Buckeyedog]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

I never liked the 75's either but someone was playing a DSL through a 75 loaded cab the other day and it sounded great. I think Marshall may have designed the 2000's for the 75's. That being said, the V30 seem to be hit and miss.....some guys love 'em, others don't. I'd say G12h 30 and I think you would be ok in you are not diming the amp all the time. I'd personally go with one of the new Eminence line redcoat. Governor (V30), Wizard (G12h) or Private Jack (GB). They have plenty of power handling and sound really good. I like my Governors better than V30s for my Budda amp.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

whoa, awesome replies, guys

it seems vintage 30s are a lot more widely liked than HC makes out :laugh2: my main dilemma is power handling, i often have to crank the 40w pretty damned loud to outgun the drummer hehe - i wanna be totally confident in my gear..

what would i have to consider when choosing 16 or 8 ohm? my amp takes either, but what's the difference?

tom

Tom....Anyone on the know,knows only to take the reviews on HC with a grain of salt....If you want honest and knowledgable answers,it doesn't get any better than our forums brother! We have a great mix of pros,recording guys,beginners,tweakers,and the whole gammut of people...

 

[Breogan]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

whoa, awesome replies, guys

it seems vintage 30s are a lot more widely liked than HC makes out :laugh2: my main dilemma is power handling, i often have to crank the 40w pretty damned loud to outgun the drummer hehe - i wanna be totally confident in my gear..

what would i have to consider when choosing 16 or 8 ohm? my amp takes either, but what's the difference?

tom

As far as I know it doesn't matter whether you take 8 or 16 Ohm. Think if you ever will have the chance to wire this speaker in a cabinet and, if so, which value would suit you better.

You may be have choosen your speaker but I've got to say that I have a Celestion V12-80 Silver Series (now discontinued) and I love the warm deep tone it has. It came stock in my ENGL thunder... Just my 2 cetns

 

[Rich_S]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

Check out the G12H-80 closeout at Avatar:

http://www.avatarspeakers.com/

The G12H-80 is a close relative of the Classic Lead - a cleaner, high-powered speaker. I have one in a Marshall 18 Watter clone and like it, though it's not really like the fabled G12H-30 (or so I'm told). Still, you can't go wrong for $42. I figured if I didn't like it, I could have Ted Weber recone it as a -30. But so far, so good.

Also, check out all the new Patriot/Redcoat speakers from Eminence. Guitar Player did a review of the whole line recently (the issue with Dimebag on the cover) and loved them all. The article provides good, impartial descriptions of all the speakers, along with suggestions as to what each is good for.

 

[Curly]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

you might also take a look at Avatar's Hellatone speakers .. I like the GH1230 version I put in my DRRI

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

you might also take a look at Avatar's Hellatone speakers .. I like the GH1230 version I put in my DRRI

Not to steal this thread but how does the hellatone comapre to the vintage 30's?

 

[Imp]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

As far as I know it doesn't matter whether you take 8 or 16 Ohm. Think if you ever will have the chance to wire this speaker in a cabinet and, if so, which value would suit you better.

You may be have choosen your speaker but I've got to say that I have a Celestion V12-80 Silver Series (now discontinued) and I love the warm deep tone it has. It came stock in my ENGL thunder... Just my 2 cetns

thats a point, if i ever do stretch to a cab it'll be a 2x12... two 16 ohm speakers in parallel = 8 ohms, isn't it? jees, long time since i did physics

thanks for the replies again guys, its another area of gear i wouldnt know j.s about without the fellas on this here forum :laugh2:

 

[Breogan]

Re: CELESTIONS - any fans?

thats a point, if i ever do stretch to a cab it'll be a 2x12... two 16 ohm speakers in parallel = 8 ohms, isn't it? jees, long time since i did physics

thanks for the replies again guys, its another area of gear i wouldnt know j.s about without the fellas on this here forum :laugh2:

Yeah, series and parallel are supposed to have different tones... I don't have my amp books here so I can't tell which are. But, if you think in safety the parallel it's better. If a speaker from a 2x12 cabinet blows up and they are wired parallel mode the amp will be running with with and unmached impedance. That'll let you time to go an turn it off. If the speakers are wire in series that'll be a dead amp and that it isn't good at all!!!