How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Dave Locher

Dave Locher

New member
The 1978 Celestion speakers in my 2x12 cabinet have finally given out. They just flub terribly whenever I chunk a chord at any volume above 2.
I see there are now roughly 15,000 different 12" guitar speakers on the market. There is no way I can try any of them out (no local shops have a variety in cabinets or amps).
How do I go about buying new speakers without going broke?
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Celestion Vintage 30. Start there and I think you will find what you want.
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

You want to make sure to match the ohm rating of the original and the wattage. Check the Trading Post here, I know there are a few pairs up for sale for much less than list price.

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Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

First off...what kind of amp(s)....how much juice does it put out? What kind of guitars are you using? What kind of music do you play? Do you play out?
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Just google what speaker your "hero" uses or what was used on whatever recording you like. Thank god the pros don't typically use some ultra-expensive newfangled speaker like is often the case with other gear.
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

If you liked the speakers in your 2x12 cabinet, take off the back and see which ones they are.By another set of them or something that compares to them.
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Thats my point: I can get the exact same speakers again but there are so many options now that it seems like there might be something I'd like better, OR something cheaper I would like just as much?
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Celestion, Eminence and WGS all have clips online of their speakers. I'd start with the model you have for reference, then listen to the other models to decide which direction you want to go.

All that being said, if you specify the amp, guitar and style you are looking for, people here have enough experience to point you in the right direction. ;)
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

1978 Randall RG150 head. Solid state but everyone who hears it assumes it's all tube. I play with the gain pegged at 10, master volume around 3, bass at 10, mid around 7, treble around 6, presence around 3-4. I play Gibsons with Dimarzio Super Distortion humbuckers or similar using 10-52 strings, standard tuning. I play mostly rythm, mostly punk & hard rock. I hit the string hard with a heavy pick, play a lot of open E, G, A, & D chords and do a lot of palm muting. Sometimes I throw in some mid boost with an eq pedal. When I play lead I prefer long sustaining notes over speed.
My sound is chunky, thick, loud, but warm and not at all shrill. Very percussive and lows that make things shake. It is not a real high-gain amp. It's more crunchy. I bought it because it has a ton of headroom.
It is definitely the speakers. When I plug my rig into someone else's cabinet it sounds fine.
I bought the Randall as a half-stack but the cabinet weighed a ton. I bought a Peavy 2x12 and swapped in two of the Celestion speakers from the Randall 4x12. Those two speakers in that cabinet gave a warmer sound than the 4x12 and that has been my sound ever since.
I am no longer in any active bands but it looks like I may be gigging a few times a year so I want to get this solved.
I know I can probably get the exact same speakers but I thought possibly the technology has advanced a bit since 1978?
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

As far as the tech moving on, it has and it hasn't - the new stuff now sounds like the old stuff reliably! If you like the tone of your Celestions, ID their spec - particularly magnet type (if they're early 70s, good chance they're ferrite/ceramic, though they may be alnico). Once you have this, you'll find all the manufacturers have their own versions - and you'll also find that everyone has an opinion about which are best. I'm partial to Eminence alnico speakers, for example, mainly because they're slightly more sensitive (louder per watt - I play low-watt EL84 amps) than Celestions, but I also loved the Celestion Blues in my AC30. If you go with Celestion for straight replacement, you won't be missing out - they're great speakers.


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Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Dave Locher said:
The 1978 Celestion speakers in my 2x12 cabinet have finally given out. They just flub terribly whenever I chunk a chord at any volume above 2.
I see there are now roughly 15,000 different 12" guitar speakers on the market. There is no way I can try any of them out (no local shops have a variety in cabinets or amps).
How do I go about buying new speakers without going broke?
Click to expand...

Somebody is selling a CD with recordings of a bunch of 12" speakers. I forgot who but I got it and it was very helpful.

I mean not helpful as in it didn't make a 4x12 any smaller... **** product.
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

You can have them rebuilt as well. Use a reputable facility and it ain't cheap, but it's a fair clip less than a new speaker. But shipping could make it close to a wash. Still worth it for speakers that there are no new equivalents of, or that the new versions just aren't as good.
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

What speakers are they specifically? This will give us a better reference point. If you liked them before you may be able to install a new set of re-issues or clones and be happy. Or go a different route to change the bottom end more to your liking overall.

To combat flub, usually heavier magnet speakers (or alnicos or neodynium) will have a tighter bottom, but at the cost of a brighter top as well. Any new speaker will have a lot more top end harshness than your used to from those old worn in speakers at first, so brace yourself for the break in period.

Is the cab closed back or open back?
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Going from the sounds you said you like, I reckon you'd be pretty happy with celestion g12K100s
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Speaking of speakers, anybody got a recommendation where to get a recone kit for a EV12L? Without getting ripped off in shipping?

At this time I actually don't want OEM since I'm curious what the difference is if you go aftermarketeers.
 
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

I pulled one speaker. (It's a closed, front load cabinet.)
They are Celestion G12-65 8 ohm speakers. I am certain they are 1978; they were originals in the 4x12 1978 Randall cabinet I pulled them from.
I dont know if I wired them paralel or in series back around 1988 when I did the swap, but the amp calls for an 8-ohm load so should I stick with 8-ohm speakers or go for 16-ohm? I vaguely recall talking to a stereo salesman who recommended wiring them to give more resistance rather than less?
I played this setup continuously for years and years so I guess it was reliable as it is.

I will ask around about getting them rebuilt but I am also interested in something new.
 
Last edited:
Re: How the @#$& do I choose new speakers?

Two 8 ohm in parallel will give you a 4 ohm load. Two 16 ohm in parallel will give you an 8 ohm load, which is what your amp wants to see.

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