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

[Lake Placid Blues]

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

Okay just to know what you have as a starting point:

http://celestion.com/product/26/heritage_series_g1265/

These are well loved speakers and just about the warmest and most balanced sounding speakers out there. They replaced the G12M 25 watt speakers in Celestion's line up during 1978. They were in turn replaced, briefly, by the G12M70, and then by the G12T75.

The G12T75 has a more boomy bass and a much more cutting treble response compared to the 65s. It lacks the vocal mids of the 65 and most other Celestions as well.

One would not expect these speakers to be flubby with a solid state amp. Solid state amps have a high damping factor which helps prevent flubbyness. And I guess they were not flubby until more recently. Perhaps the Heritage versions would make a nice replacements or a re-cone of your speakers is called for. That said, the G12-65 is a medium weight magnet speaker, and these don't control the bottom end as well as heavy magnet speakers.

Heavy magnet speakers alternatives to consider:

Vintage 30 and clones (Eminence Governor, Mojo BV-30V, WGS Veteran 30...)
G12H30 higher wattage clones (Eminence Wizard, is 75 watts,...) Great bass from these types.
G12-80 and clones

The Vintage 30 is a 60-70 watt power handling. H magnet speakers are significantly louder with more treble response than the 65s though.

Also American voiced speakers such the Eminence Swamp Thing, C-rex , and Texas Heat, you might like, but many American voiced speakers and Jensen clones have a rounder bass than Celestion voiced speakers.

 

[Darg1911]

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.

Orange County Speaker is gone (just GLS now). Does Simply Speakers overcharge for shipping?

 

[Demanic]

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

They could be flubby if they are 8 ohm wired in parallel and the amp is rated for 8 ohms. Pushing an 8 ohm amp into 4 ohms of speakers will make it louder but looser.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[uOpt]

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

Orange County Speaker is gone (just GLS now). Does Simply Speakers overcharge for shipping?

It is $93.75 total, including almost $14 shipping.

 

[Darg1911]

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

It is $93.75 total, including almost $14 shipping.

Wow. That seems high. But maybe it's not that high? Have you checked actual shipping costs for shipping in a box large enough to contain and protect the components without damage? I really don't know, I don't do my own speakers. Just thinking out loud so to speak.

 

[BloodRose]

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

Great thread topic!!! I totally agree.. There used to be only a few to choose from and fewer worth using. Greenbacks or vin 30s..Now there are so many.. And to try and figure the right one, factoring your style, the cab or combo, the amp... I find it mind numbing...

Only ever done one speaker change. Pulled the stock PV speaker outta my classic 30 and put in a Private Jack

 

[uOpt]

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

Wow. That seems high. But maybe it's not that high? Have you checked actual shipping costs for shipping in a box large enough to contain and protect the components without damage? I really don't know, I don't do my own speakers. Just thinking out loud so to speak.

BTW, it includes $20 for adhesives.

I just groveled around a bit, there really aren't any cheaper options I can find. Same as last time I looked. Given how cheap a 12L can be on craigslist I am not enthusiastic.

ETA: that's all for aftermarket, not OEM.

 

[HTT]

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.

My recommendation as well. If you are feeling sonically adventuresome, then prepare to spend $$$$$$$ for a number of speakers and always second guessing yourself.

 

[Dave Locher]

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

Okay just to know what you have as a starting point:

http://celestion.com/product/26/heritage_series_g1265/

These are well loved speakers and just about the warmest and most balanced sounding speakers out there. They replaced the G12M 25 watt speakers in Celestion's line up during 1978. They were in turn replaced, briefly, by the G12M70, and then by the G12T75.

The G12T75 has a more boomy bass and a much more cutting treble response compared to the 65s. It lacks the vocal mids of the 65 and most other Celestions as well.

One would not expect these speakers to be flubby with a solid state amp. Solid state amps have a high damping factor which helps prevent flubbyness. And I guess they were not flubby until more recently. Perhaps the Heritage versions would make a nice replacements or a re-cone of your speakers is called for. That said, the G12-65 is a medium weight magnet speaker, and these don't control the bottom end as well as heavy magnet speakers.

Heavy magnet speakers alternatives to consider:

Vintage 30 and clones (Eminence Governor, Mojo BV-30V, WGS Veteran 30...)
G12H30 higher wattage clones (Eminence Wizard, is 75 watts,...) Great bass from these types.
G12-80 and clones

The Vintage 30 is a 60-70 watt power handling. H magnet speakers are significantly louder with more treble response than the 65s though.

Also American voiced speakers such the Eminence Swamp Thing, C-rex , and Texas Heat, you might like, but many American voiced speakers and Jensen clones have a rounder bass than Celestion voiced speakers.

Thank you for this response, it is exactly what I was looking for. The speakers were tight as heck for the first 10-15 years I beat on them. They only started to give out the last year or two that I actively played so I can't complain! At least now I have a direction to head...

 

[B2D]

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

Dude, these https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?310265-FEELER-Eminence-Man-O-Wars-16-ohm

Yes, those.

In all seriousness, it's tough researching speakers. The last time I looked at the clips of Eminence and Celestion's offerings, they weren't very good. I found a much better range of demos and stuff just by spending a lot of time on Youtube, like this video for example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PPwnFRRIa8

Most speakers out there are modern takes on stuff that's found in classic amps: Greenbacks, G12H30s, G12T75's, V30s, Jensens, JBLs, etc etc... kind of like how there's a lot of Tubescreamer versions out there, but it's awesome when you find THAT ONE.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

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

It is $93.75 total, including almost $14 shipping.

So wait, $14 to ship a fully-assembled speaker - frame and magnet - from where to where? $14 shipping via anything other than the USPS would be cheap even if it was local. UPS charged $18 to ship one of my brother's prints in a tube roughly 100 miles.


And to the OP - where are the other 2 speakers from the 4x12? You took two out to put in a 2x12 cab, so that means the other 2 are still in the 4x12 cab?

 

[mantis]

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

I strongly suggest checking out the Eminence legends. I have found them to be the most universal speaker on the market. I have tried other speakers and they all seem voiced for a purpose. That purpose being what they do great and everything else is second best at best.
The Legends are a wonderful Clean sounding speaker. You can get Fender Cleans that will make you choke up. They also allow you to hear what your amp can do on the drive channel. Push them all you want, they are powerful loud and very clear. You will find clarity in your notes that other spearers IMO do not have.

I played this game once and went right back to the Legends not because my speakers where trashed likes yours are but because I wanted to see if other speakers would sound better.

 

[Dave Locher]

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

And to the OP - where are the other 2 speakers from the 4x12? You took two out to put in a 2x12 cab, so that means the other 2 are still in the 4x12 cab?

Ha! I put the Peavy speakers into the 4x12 cabinet and sold it for more than I had in it back in 1988 or so. I wasn't joking when I said I've beat on these speakers for a long time.
B2D: I seriously did consider your pair. I plan to talk to someone at Eminence soon and if they end up recommending those then you will be the first to know.

My option paralysis lessened once I stumbled across Eminence. Nothing but good reviews all over the place and made in USA. Now I just need them to tell me which exact flavor will hit the sweet spots for me.

I appreciate all the replies so far. It has been educational.

 

[Stickymongoose]

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

I've had really good experiences in the past with Eminence and Warehouse Guitar Speakers. Both are really well built, and not quite as pricey as Celestion. Celestion still makes some really good products, but if you're in the US I think the other two companies are usually a better deal. The clips on each companies site are really only useful for comparing different models across a single brand. Recording setup, signal chain and playing style are going to vary so much that they won't sound anything like that when you get them in your amp, but it gives you an idea of how each model compares.

Recently, I was looking for new WGS speakers to replace some V30s. I thought about what I wanted to change about the V30 cab, then compared WGS' V30 based model against the clips of the rest of their lineup. It's far from a perfect system, but it'll get you close. Also, if you absolutely hate the new speakers, WGS and some other companies will let you swap recently purchased speakers for a different model. I think you just have to pay return shipping on that.

 

[Animal]

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

You won't really know till you try them. Fortunately high-quality speakers are not too expensive to experiment with.

For "British" style speakers I'd suggest trying out the staple options: V30, G12T-75, G12H-30, Greenback .etc and then calibrate from there.

 

[Kais]

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

i recently bought a new cab, and it was tough deciding on speakers. from the few speakers I tried out I knew i wanted something greenback but with more bass. so I went with celestion creamback 65s. According to avatar speakers, vintage 30s and creamback 65s are by far the most popular speakers sold.

 

[allbutromeo]

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

I've been really happy with the WGS ET-65/Veteran 60 combo in my 2×12. It works really well with my JCM900, Mesa MkV and Tubemiester 18. Its their equivalent to the Celestion G12M-65 and 60w V30 I find that they balance each other very well and can handle nearly every style of music and gain levels I've town at them (no super detuned modern death metal or anything like that).

 

[iplaybadly]

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

just my $.02 worth. I built a Marshall jtm 45 clone as a combo with 1x12 and the speaker I used is a celestion creamback 75 (they come in 65 and 75 watt versions). sounds amazing 4 everything from clean (well Marshall style clean) to raunchy distorted. ymmv

 

[Demanic]

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

I have heard the Swamp Thang and Texas Heat speakers by Eminence paired together. Just absolutely devastating from clean to the utmost high gain and everything in between.