Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

[mantis]

Replacement speakers.
Currently I'm running Legends. They sometimes tend to be a bit on the bottom heavy. They are very clear and nice , warm mid range and you can drive the living hell out of them. They stay very clear for Metal style playing. They also clean up to get the fender Twin clean but like I said with a bit of bottom end.
I'm into clarity and even response. I like a speaker that plays what I give it. I'm not huge into colored. I would like a speaker that is crystal clear yet can handle heavy metal playing. Cake and eat it. They will be driven by a 100 watt Tube head.

What I was thinking was changing them out for a Vintage 30's. Every cabinet I have played that had them , I liked.

If you have other suggestions for replacement speakers , I'm all ears. These replacements will go into a sealed 2 x 12 cabinet Birch wood.

Thanks up front,

Dan

 

[CTN]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

Well, If you like the sound of V30s, then you like them

But personally I don't think they are uncoloured or that they have an even response.

They have a definite non-flat voicing slanted in favour of the upper mids and lows. They also have a bit of low-mid grind to them when used with high gain (to my ears anyway). That said, they do sound great for a variety of applications from blues to rock to metal, and especially when you want a punchy, crisp, articulate sound, though the lows tend to be a little loose sometimes - the upper mids are tight though. There's also a bit of classic Celestion honkiness in the mids due to the voicing being slanted towards upper mids, but not necessarily in a bad way or annoying like the G12T-75 for example. It's a great speaker imo. And they sound great in sealed cabs.

I feel like its voicing makes it perfect for situating a guitar into the right area of a mix when mic'd up, without much fussing about on the mixer.

Like I said, they don't have a very even voicing/response, but if you like em, does it really matter?

Celestion's Classic Lead 80s are known for having a flatter EQ and more transparent voicing and also are well reputed for metal

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

+1 on the CL80 or the WGS BL80

 

[mantis]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

Well, If you like the sound of V30s, then you like them

But personally I don't think they are uncoloured or that they have an even response.

They have a definite non-flat voicing slanted in favour of the upper mids and lows. They also have a bit of low-mid grind to them when used with high gain (to my ears anyway). That said, they do sound great for a variety of applications from blues to rock to metal, and especially when you want a punchy, crisp, articulate sound, though the lows tend to be a little loose sometimes - the upper mids are tight though. There's also a bit of classic Celestion honkiness in the mids due to the voicing being slanted towards upper mids, but not necessarily in a bad way or annoying like the G12T-75 for example. It's a great speaker imo. And they sound great in sealed cabs.

I feel like its voicing makes it perfect for situating a guitar into the right area of a mix when mic'd up, without much fussing about on the mixer.

Like I said, they don't have a very even voicing/response, but if you like em, does it really matter?

Celestion's Classic Lead 80s are known for having a flatter EQ and more transparent voicing and also are well reputed for metal

I'm gonna look into them , does any stock cabinets you know of loaded with the Lead 80's? Seems more and more use the Vintage 30's.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

Actually, I think the WGS Retro 30 has a lot of V30 flavor, but a more even-keeled EQ vs the mid spike that their Celestion partners have.

 

[CTN]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

I'm gonna look into them , does any stock cabinets you know of loaded with the Lead 80's? Seems more and more use the Vintage 30's.

Don't know any major brands that do, but I did find this through a quick googling: http://www.gregsproaudio.com/collec...eaker-cabinet-w-celestion-classic-80-speakers

Not sure if that's birch plywood or what sorta reputation that brand has, but a pretty decent price for cab+speakers.

Actually, I think the WGS Retro 30 has a lot of V30 flavor, but a more even-keeled EQ vs the mid spike that their Celestion partners have.

Yup, that's why I use them. They still have the V30's unmistakeable voicing in the upper mids, but the rest of the EQ is much more even, plus it has tighter bass, and more chimey treble.

 

[mantis]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

WGS Retro 30 , got it , going to get my research on. Thanks guys.

 

[CTN]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

almost forgot....

Egnater has some of their cabs loaded with an Egnater-branded Celestion "Elite 80" which is a slightly modified Classic Lead 80.

Bruce Egnater had this to say about the Elites (taken from a thread on TGP):

The Egnater Elite 80 is a Classic Lead 80 that is private labeled for us. They did some sort of tweak to the low end that makes it ever so slightly fuller in a small cabinet. Honestly, I don't know if anyone could really tell the difference between the Egnater and the CL80 except maybe in a blind A/B test. I would consider them interchangeable. FYI, this speaker excels over other speakers in the smaller cabinets (open or closed back) for a much fuller/tighter low end, smoother high end and tons less cone break up (farting). How loud you play has a tremendous effect on how a speaker responds. A V30 can sound brighter, clearer at low volumes but does tend to get a little abrasive in the high end and definitely breaks up easier than the 80 at higher volume.

Egnater

 

[Van Noord]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

A V30 and other V30 variant will color your sound still. But midrange is great, so as long as you like that present mid attitute from a speaker than the V30 is it. I use them. They will also will break up somewhat at high volumes adding a grarly crunch to your sound. Awesome. But not for all.

Honestly, I went through the same thing, played Legends, still have em. But I wanted something like cross between them and the V30.
Then I bought a pair of Mesa MC90's.
Bingo.
They are all the things you mentioned and liked about the Legends along with the clear, cutting, midrange and treble crunch of the V30.
Just a great versatile speaker. People call them "full range speakers".
I guess I can see why, they sound so well rounded, and full.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

Replacement speakers.
I'm into clarity and even response. I like a speaker that plays what I give it. I'm not huge into colored. I would like a speaker that is crystal clear yet can handle heavy metal playing.

I don't think the V30 is the right speaker for you because there is quite a bit of coloration to its sound, evident as you drive it harder. Speaker coloration is precisely what constitutes the Celestion sound to me. The way I think of it, my cabinet is a musical instrument, making different sounds depending on how hard it's hit. I think you might prefer Eminence speakers if you can find the right voicing among them. I haven't tried every model ever made, but always had the impression they were a little cleaner, stiffer, tougher than Celestions.

A 2x12 driven with a 100w amp delivers similar SPL to a 50w amp with a 4x12 but the real difference is first will tend to emphasize speaker distortion, latter will emphasize poweramp distortion as cranked. If you still insist on Celestions, I think the G12K-100 "sounds good on paper".

 

[mantis]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

A V30 and other V30 variant will color your sound still. But midrange is great, so as long as you like that present mid attitute from a speaker than the V30 is it. I use them. They will also will break up somewhat at high volumes adding a grarly crunch to your sound. Awesome. But not for all.

Honestly, I went through the same thing, played Legends, still have em. But I wanted something like cross between them and the V30.
Then I bought a pair of Mesa MC90's.
Bingo.
They are all the things you mentioned and liked about the Legends along with the clear, cutting, midrange and treble crunch of the V30.
Just a great versatile speaker. People call them "full range speakers".
I guess I can see why, they sound so well rounded, and full.

Nice man , that's exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

Eminence Swamp Thang, Texas Heats... Both great for what you're describing. Maybe EVM-12L.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

Eminence Swamp Thang, Texas Heats... Both great for what you're describing. Maybe EVM-12L.

Funny, after he mentioned Shadows Fall and their gear in the other thread, I remember one of the dudes used the Krankenstein stack, which has Texas Heats in them. Good call.

Still can't go wrong with EVMs, though.

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

I love vintage 30s ! I'd go with them but everyones tastes are different but like you every cab and amp I have used with V30s always sounds good to me.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

For a 2x12 I'll go along with the G12K-100 recommendation. The Texas Heat could be it too. The Swamps and EVM won't have the same midrange or crunch, and both have more of a low push than the other two. Being that you like the V30 those are what I'd look at.

I've never knowingly heard or used WGS speakers, so I have no idea.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

I expected the swamps to not crunch, but either I have weird ears or mine are thick and crunchy. I like them even more than my EVM-12Ls. The 12Ls are too smooth in comparison and lack the tighter bass for my rig. Texas Heats are slightly brighter too with a lil' more attitude on the highs I found. Another good one.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

You could be right, I had mine mixed with the Wizzes, always seemed like that crunch was coming from them rather than the Swamps. In retrospect I really should have tried the Swamps in my G-Flex, but I assumed they'd be too bassy. Meh, the GBE12's sound ****ing great in there anyway.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

What you are describing is the EVM. I love them in my Mark IIIs and Mark IV, and I understand Zakk uses them with his Marshalls. I like the Mesa C-90 and the V-30 too in my other Mesa amps, but when you say "uncolored" I think of the EVM.

Bill

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

I run 2 swamps in my earcandy 2x12 which is like a gflex. Insane.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Eminence Legends or Celestion Vintage 30's

v30's are like the JB of speakers. Surprisingly versatile, yet still very much a signature sound that is present in the high mid area. They cut like a saber.
I reckon in a closed back 2x12 a pair of swamp things are more likely to fit the description if what the OP is after re: not too colored, crystal clear but can handle heavy playing. Huge and defined low end and top end clarity for days.