What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

[Stevo]

Fortunately, I got outbid on a British greenback on ebay. The same speaker is available at Musicians Friend for $99. Both the Ebay speaker and the ones at MF are "Made in England". What's the deal? I keep hearing that they are made in China now.

I am too lazy to research :laugh2: Enlighten me, oh great tone fellas :6:

 

[LesPaulRules]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

Most Celestion speakers have been made in China for the last couple of years. Obviously, it saves a lot on cost. Most people who purchased both the UK and China made GB's say the sound difference in non-existent.

I do know that the Celestion Blue speaker is still made in the UK. I'll also assume that others are made there as well, though I couldn't tell you the models.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

The Chinese ones have MSG, and come with a fortune cookie after ou install them....

but serously folks

I have read many a thread that seems to say they sound the same, but it sounds much better to say you own Brit ones, and better yet, Heritage models.

 

[Kivitel]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

Making stuff isn't rocket science. The whole idea that items made in China are of inferior quality is a myth perpetuated by people who have a stake in domestic manufacture. Equipped with a good translator and a good design engineer, any product can be made in China with perfect worksmanship. The reason many people associate cheaply made items is precisely because of the cheapness: if you're concerned about price enough to manufacture something in China, you're likely to cut corners anyway.

Having said that, certain parts of manufacturing are best handled by patient, well paid, happy workers. Hence the beautiful finishing work on Gibson Acoustics or Rickenbackers. Scraping off finish on bindings. That might be trickier to pull off overseas (but not impossible).

I'm probably going to get one of those knock-off les pauls soon. I will report back to you when I do.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

Dave at Avatar has also told me that there is no appreciatable difference in tone. That said.....I've got a UK model....naner naner naner!!! LOL!!!

 

[Jeff Dunne]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

No difference between UK and Chinese models moreso than between your average 2 speakers. Celestion shipped all new equipment over to China for them to make the speakers with - it's not like their cutting cost on parts.

 

[Stevo]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

OK thanks for the responses, but my question was about the fact that Musicians Friend sells greenbacks that are made in England. Are they still made in England too? Or does MF have a surplus? Does Marshall use greenbacks that are made in China?

 

[Wattage]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

The Blue's and the custom shop stuff is all still done in England. Everything else is over in China. I wouldn't doubt that still have the ability to do reasonable size runs out of the English factory so there may still be some production.

I could only A/B new Chinese made and well used UK made speakers, the UK's sounded much better to me. Now that difference was most likely because a sweet 20 year old set of Greenbacks very nicely broken in are pretty tough to compete with. The MIC's didn't sound bad just stiffer if that is the right way to put it?

 

[marvar]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

OK thanks for the responses, but my question was about the fact that Musicians Friend sells greenbacks that are made in England. Are they still made in England too? Or does MF have a surplus? Does Marshall use greenbacks that are made in China?

AFAIK, the only GB's still made in the UK are the 'hand-wired',aged Heritage re-issue series.
The ones that Marshall is using are the Heritage series, thus the high cost of those cabs. They also may be offering the Chinese GB in some cabs, but the cost of the cab would be lower.
I sure can't tell a $200 difference between the UK and the China models.

 

[Stevo]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

Maybe I should re-phrase the question:

Musicians Friend has greenbacks with 'Made in England' stamped on the green plastic. The magnet says "Celestion International, Ipswitch England".

ZZounds has greenbacks that are not stamped as 'Made in England', but the magnet says 'Celestion International, Ipswitch England'. ZZounds also includes the text "Country of origin: China"

Here's the difference: MF does not include the text "Country of origin: China" and MF has speakers that have "Made in England" stamped on them.

Are we being BS'd or are the MF speakers really made in England? Or, is the green plastic made in England, and the speaker is made in China? Marketers have a great way of... um... fooling the public.

 

[slightly_rude]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

I think Musician's Friend has an outdated picture. Only the Heritage series and the Celestion Blue are made in England.

 

[marvar]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

If it's a GB made in the UK, the price will be in the 200-300 dollar range, that's one way you can tell! Chinese GB's will be in the $100 range.
They all say Clestion Int'l , Ipswitch on the plastic.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

Listen, I bought 4 of the new greenbacks "made in China". Put them in my cab and couldn't understand anything comming out of them...it must have been Chinese, and I can't speak that.

 

[marvar]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

Listen, I bought 4 of the new greenbacks "made in China". Put them in my cab and couldn't understand anything comming out of them...it must have been Chinese, and I can't speak that.

Silly- didn't you know you had to download the language interpreter program into you amp to use those speakers?:smack:

 

[Stevo]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

They all say Clestion Int'l , Ipswitch on the plastic.

Actually that is marked on the magnet.

 

[Stevo]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

I think Musician's Friend has an outdated picture. Only the Heritage series and the Celestion Blue are made in England.

Ahh I think you have the answer that I'm looking for. I was suspicious about that picture.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

Silly- didn't you know you had to download the language interpreter program into you amp to use those speakers?:smack:

Yeah, do a google search for "Cerestion G12M" and it should come up.

Seriously, there is no sound difference - the Chinese workers seem to be doing a brilliant job at keeping the production standard exactly the same as the ones made in Britain before.

 

[Stevo]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

Also, the guy on Ebay advertised his G12m as an English made speaker. It was probably an honest mistake, due to the fact that the labeling is deceptive, but someone paid a higher price for a used speaker.. not cool.

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

In case anyone is looking, I just got a Greenback from www.avatarspeakers.com for $79. Much lower than i thought they'd be.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: What's the deal with Chinese Greenbacks?

It's Ipswich, not Ipswitch!! :dammit: :nana:


PS - I just noticed Ipswich has a suburb called California. :laugh2: