Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please :)

[Brow]

Hey guys.

I've got a Marshall 1936 2x12 cab that has a pair of 75w Celestions in it.

The cab sound ok with both my Marshall and Orange amps, but there's always a shrillness to them that I can't seem to EQ out on the amp.

Alot of people on the Orange forum have suggested to me that I try a pair or Vintage 30's in the cab, so I just thought I'd ask here to see what your opinions are on these speakers?

Also, where could I buy a pair from and how much do they usually cost? (Please bear in mind I live in the UK )

Thanx for any help guys.

Craig

 

[Stevo]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

I am in the minority of people who don't really like the v30 that much. I like my mids to be pronounced more. I prefer greenbacks for definite mid presence when going for a Marshall tone.
The speakers you have now are likely G12t-75s. You might be trying to push some tones that the speaker does not focus on, thus the "shrill" sound. I would definitely choose a v30 over a G12t.

 

[Curly]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

I haven't used the V-30, but it's one of the more common speakers that amp makers use stock. Matchless found a way to smooth them out a little, Bad Cat likely did the same thing.
Dr. Z was the first amp maker I saw who mixed a V 30 and the GH30 to compliment each other

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

I'm with Stevo on this one. I think the G12M Greenbacks or the G12H would be a better choice than the V30's.

 

[Marcel]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

I love Vintage 30 loaded Mesa Cabs, much better than 75watt loaded Marshall cabs....

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

Very few amps sounds good with the V30's...
But they can work, but I like greenbacks and G12H much more.

 

[RGN]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

To me the V30 is like an icepick to the brain pan. AHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHAHHAH.

It almost shrieks to my ear but it sounds great mic'd in the studio. I personally like the Ubercab which is 2 V30s and 2 75s to level out the tones.

 

[Brow]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

Thanx for the replies guys.

I have an old Orange 4x12 that has Greenbacks in it, so I know I love the tone of those. The V30's were suggested to me as the next best thing for my 2x12 cab.

Does anyone have more info on the G12H's that a few of you seem to have mentioned? As I've never heard of them, but if they're maybe a better option for me, then they may be worth looking into

Craig

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

Craig,

A V30 combined with a G12-H30 might be a good option. I put those in my Jubilee 2x12 cab to replace the G12-75Ts it came with. Made it sound much smoother and warmer and boosted the bottom end.

I bought mine from Award-Session (who make the Session amps) in Basingstoke and I paid something like £49 each speaker. They usually have an ad in the classifieds in Guitarist. I didn't have to pay any shipping as I work in Basingstoke and picked them up. I think one or other of the valve retailers Hot Rox and Watford Valves also sell Celestions speakers.

Cheers,

Simon

 

[Brow]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

Craig,

A V30 combined with a G12-H30 might be a good option. I put those in my Jubilee 2x12 cab to replace the G12-75Ts it came with. Made it sound much smoother and warmer and boosted the bottom end.

I bought mine from Award-Session (who make the Session amps) in Basingstoke and I paid something like £49 each speaker. They usually have an ad in the classifieds in Guitarist. I didn't have to pay any shipping as I work in Basingstoke and picked them up. I think one or other of the valve retailers Hot Rox and Watford Valves also sell Celestions speakers.

Cheers,

Simon

Hey Simon.

Thanx for the idea about mixing speakers. I've heard comments from some other people that also like this combo of speakers in a cab.

I live close to where Hot Rox is situated, so I'll look into it and hopefully they can help me out

Craig

 

[RushOfBlood]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

You might still have the same problem with the v30, as stated. i would go with the greenbacks yeah

 

[Brow]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

You might still have the same problem with the v30, as stated. i would go with the greenbacks yeah

I know I like the sound of Greenbacks, but I'm not sure that 2 Greenbacks would have enough power handling for a Marshall 100w JCM800 head? I know they'd be fine with the Orange AD30, but I wasn't sure how 2 25w speakers would hold up against a 100w Marshall.

Any opinions on this?

Craig

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

I know I like the sound of Greenbacks, but I'm not sure that 2 Greenbacks would have enough power handling for a Marshall 100w JCM800 head? I know they'd be fine with the Orange AD30, but I wasn't sure how 2 25w speakers would hold up against a 100w Marshall.

Any opinions on this?

Craig

Actually, you might have a problem with the V30 / G12H combo if you're running a 100w head. The V30 handles 60 watts (confusingly), but the G12H only 30 watts, so in a 2x12 cab you'll only have 90 watts power handling. That's risky with a 100w Marshall!

A pair of V30s would handle 120w and would definitely be an improvement on the G12-75Ts. 2 Greenbacks won't handle the power.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

I LOVE v-30's. They are in both my amps

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

I find V30s to be pretty harsh and abrasive, especially at low volumes. I love the mix of a V30 and a G12H30. The G12H30 is smooth where the V30 is rough, and the V30 is articulate and snappy where the G12H30 is mushy.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

Try Eminence Governors. They blow the V30 away IMO. Nice hard rock crunchy sound without that focused high mid spike.

 

[theodie]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

I have one Marshall cab with V30's and another with Celistion G12T 75's and I like the G12t 75's a little bit more. I am wondering if it might have to do with the acoustics of the room or something because everyone seems to always like the V30's more.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

Two G12H can easily handle the 100 watter in a closed cab.

 

[RushOfBlood]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

to set the record straight, I love my V30 and it doesn't seem to be harsh to my ears at all

 

[Brow]

Re: Tell me about Celestion Vintage 30's please

Thanx for the new replies guys.

Speakers are 1 area that I've never really looked into, so I'm sorry if some of my questions are a little simple

Two G12H can easily handle the 100 watter in a closed cab.

I thought the G12H's only had a power handling of 30w each and therefore wouldn't have enough power to handle a 100w amp?

Here's some info I've found on the G12H's:

G12H
Utilises a heavy magnet (H - Heavy), providing superb control over low frequencies. Greater midrange than the G12M with its medium (M - Medium) weight magnet.The definitive 4x12" speaker of the 1970’s - used by all the classic rock bands of the day.

Power Handling 30W
Impedance 8 / 16 Ohm
Sensitivity (1W @ 1m) 100dB
Resonant Frequency 75Hz
Frequency Response 75Hz - 5kHz
Magnet Weight 50oz

This page http://www.watfordvalves.com/speakers.htm#celestion has alot of info on the Celestions

Also, thanx for the sugegstion about Eminence speakers, i'll have a look into those aswell

Thanx for the help guys, keep your opinions comin' please

Craig