Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Is it just a celestion that doesn't say "rola" on its back?
What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
- Thread starter Young Angus
- Start date
Sludgenutz
New member
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
linky:
http://www.cathedralstone.net/Pages/CelestionVintage.htm
linky:
http://www.cathedralstone.net/Pages/CelestionVintage.htm
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
Cheers, great info!
Cheers, great info!
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
For those of you that didn't read the link or can't read the link...
Celestion has been owned by the Rola company forever, but at one point Celestion started putting "Rola-Celestion" on a label on the magnet covers. That's the dividing line. Sort of like the L#/"F" plates for Fender.
For those of you that didn't read the link or can't read the link...
Celestion has been owned by the Rola company forever, but at one point Celestion started putting "Rola-Celestion" on a label on the magnet covers. That's the dividing line. Sort of like the L#/"F" plates for Fender.
bygone_tones
New member
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
Almost. They were 'Rola Celestion Ltd' from 1947 onwards. For a few years they stopped putting the word Rola on the labels - 1966 to 1971 (dont ask me why!). These are the speakers people refer to as "pre-rolas".
When people say pre-rola what they really mean is pre-Rola Ipswich. There are Rola Thames Ditton labels around that pre-date the "pre-rola" labels. But most people dont differentiate between the two.
More info in my website article here:
http://www.bygonetones.com/pre-rola-explained.html
Almost. They were 'Rola Celestion Ltd' from 1947 onwards. For a few years they stopped putting the word Rola on the labels - 1966 to 1971 (dont ask me why!). These are the speakers people refer to as "pre-rolas".
When people say pre-rola what they really mean is pre-Rola Ipswich. There are Rola Thames Ditton labels around that pre-date the "pre-rola" labels. But most people dont differentiate between the two.
More info in my website article here:
http://www.bygonetones.com/pre-rola-explained.html
Last edited:
bygone_tones
New member
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
yeah I didnt realise this was such an old thread. Just spotted it on google and thought I would chime in...
yeah I didnt realise this was such an old thread. Just spotted it on google and thought I would chime in...
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
Wow Young Angus....just thought that he had returned.....oh well....
Wow Young Angus....just thought that he had returned.....oh well....
JeffB
Let it B
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
Great site! As a massive m25/h30 fan, especially 12m, I never tire of this stuff about the old celestions. Solodallas also has a great info page about this very subject.
Thanks for the llink, and your time putting this up.
Great site! As a massive m25/h30 fan, especially 12m, I never tire of this stuff about the old celestions. Solodallas also has a great info page about this very subject.
Thanks for the llink, and your time putting this up.
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
The only thing about this "pre-Rola" stuff is that it gives the impression that Rola-labeled Celestions are inferior in some way to the older ones. I don't think this is necessarily true, I've had "post-Rola" Celestions that sound great. It's just a way to differentiate the different eras of Celestions, and not an indication of quality. The main thing about the older Celestions is that they are OLDER, and speakers change in magnetic strength over time, which results in a change in tone.
Al
The only thing about this "pre-Rola" stuff is that it gives the impression that Rola-labeled Celestions are inferior in some way to the older ones. I don't think this is necessarily true, I've had "post-Rola" Celestions that sound great. It's just a way to differentiate the different eras of Celestions, and not an indication of quality. The main thing about the older Celestions is that they are OLDER, and speakers change in magnetic strength over time, which results in a change in tone.
Al
bygone_tones
New member
Re: What exactly is a "pre-rola" celestion?
Yeah a lot of people do think a Rola label means the speaker is inferior in some way. This is one of the common mis-conceptions I was trying to tackle with this article. People place way too much importance and significance on the label.
The company was called 'Rola Celestion Ltd' from 1947 onwards, however during 1966 to 1971 (what guitar players call the "pre-rola" period) they simply chose not to print the word Rola on their labels - and thats all there is to it.
With regards to the sound - celestion used various cone suppliers over the years, and were always evolving their cone assemblies, so the difference in sound is not simply due to the ageing process. The main reason people like the sound of the pre-rolas is because they have great sounding cones made by a company called pulsonic. However the truth is celestion were using pulsonic cones from around 1962 and into 1975. A good few years before and after the pre-rola period. So plenty of Rola labelled speakers exist with those same cones.
Yeah a lot of people do think a Rola label means the speaker is inferior in some way. This is one of the common mis-conceptions I was trying to tackle with this article. People place way too much importance and significance on the label.
The company was called 'Rola Celestion Ltd' from 1947 onwards, however during 1966 to 1971 (what guitar players call the "pre-rola" period) they simply chose not to print the word Rola on their labels - and thats all there is to it.
With regards to the sound - celestion used various cone suppliers over the years, and were always evolving their cone assemblies, so the difference in sound is not simply due to the ageing process. The main reason people like the sound of the pre-rolas is because they have great sounding cones made by a company called pulsonic. However the truth is celestion were using pulsonic cones from around 1962 and into 1975. A good few years before and after the pre-rola period. So plenty of Rola labelled speakers exist with those same cones.
