Author Topic: Vintage 30 vs. G12H for an Avatar 1x12 cab (w/ Tiny Terror) (Read 23257 times)

hamfist · « **Reply #15 on:** November 01, 2007, 01:13:20 PM »

OK, Here's a link to some speaker clips I have collected (done by Southbay Ampworks - makers of Scumback speakers). They include a lot of scumback speaker clips, but also compare the Celestion G12H heritage and G12M Heritage speaker, for those who would like to hear the difference between the H (heavy) and the M (medium) magnet speakers.
The sample rate on the clips is not the best, but they do give a good idea of the different tones.

http://www.box.net/shared/mci1s9m50b

Armchair Bronco · « **Reply #16 on:** November 01, 2007, 02:49:08 PM »

Quote from: hamfist

This clip - http://www.pebbleman.co.za/ricker/Celestion%20comparison.mp3 - is a good comparison example of the two speakers (plus the expensive Celestion Gold). The order of the speakers in the clip is 1/Gold, 2/ V30, 3/ G12H30.

Thanks for the link! This really helps. It's the first side-by-side comparison of V30's and G12H30's I've heard, and it's tipped the balance in favor of the G12H's for me.

The Alnico Gold clip sounded GREAT (no surprise there), but I preferred the G12H30 (think Malcolm Young rhythm) over the V30 (think Angus Young lead). The G12H30 also appears to be a better speaker for low-volume jamming.

No one has yet said anything about Avatar's line of "Hellatone" broken-in speakers. Here's what they say on the website for their version of the G12H30 (although it also applies to their version of the V30):

"We start with a stock great sounding classic G12H30 Celestion. We convert it into a Hellatone by aging it slightly and by exercising the suspension for 15 hours so when you get it, it has a warmer tone on the very first note. This process gives the Hellatone 30 an even richer low end than it already had. The model 30 has wonderful mids and highs and a beautiful overdrive tone. If you drive it hard, you get a real nice cone break up that sounds fantastic. (70th year Anniversary, not Heritage)"

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Roobubba · « **Reply #17 on:** November 01, 2007, 03:07:51 PM »

Thanks for the links people have posted here. In addition, are there any G12K-100 clips that people have done comparing the sounds with, say V30s, G12H etc?

From reading and listening to various clips (terrible way to do it, I know!), I'm settling on the idea of matching 2 Eminence Wizards with 2 G12K-100s. I'm just a bit put off by the wizards, given that I'm playing very low, fast heavy music, and every site which descibes them talks about jazz...

Roo

PS while I'm at it, any suggestions for 15" speakers to load a 2 x 15" extension cab for the same music, to go with a 2 x wiz/2 x G12K-100 cab?

PPS I forgot to mention that I play quite scooped, currently with a miracle man, looking towards ceramic warpig for a future custom build

hamfist · « **Reply #18 on:** November 01, 2007, 03:33:43 PM »

Quote from: Armchair Bronco

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Yes it does, doesn't it !

Twinfan · « **Reply #19 on:** November 01, 2007, 03:52:03 PM »

Yep, if you're in the US get a Hellatone G12H :D

Armchair Bronco · « **Reply #20 on:** November 01, 2007, 03:59:41 PM »

Quote from: Ted

I found this helpful.

http://www.watfordvalves.com/cgi-bin/documents/testreport_40.pdf

This is a very good review of lots of different speakers. Unfortunately, it's not possible to cut and paste from this PDF file (this has apparently been disabled) so you'll have to read the article yourself.

Here are a couple of snippets I've re-typed on the G12H30:

"The first thing that struck me was the immense warmth of the speaker. It was well balanced and musical at low volume with the treble response silky smooth. When the volume was increased the speaker did not lose control, balance was perfect with the treble still smooth, tight and [crisp]. With the gain wound right up with humbuckers full on the speaker provided a rich harmonic treble with touch responsiveness that would normally only be associated with an alnico speaker.

The speaker provides a sweet singing sustain that was very musical and in no way harsh. The speaker has a very tight bass response with smooth cut and clarity which was equally at home with single notes or power chords.

This is one of the best [Celestions] ever made in my opinion with no faults whatsoever."

_tom_ · « **Reply #21 on:** November 01, 2007, 04:07:50 PM »

Yeah G12Hs are great speakers, that comparison clip has put me off trying a V30 in my cab as it just sounds fizzier and a bit harsher :?

If you want more G12H clips most of the recordings in my sig were done with my Laney into a 2x12 with G12Hs in it. Theres quite a few v-amp clips there as well but you should be able to tell which they are because they sound really artificial. My favourites September, really pleased with my tone on that :D

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #22 on:** November 01, 2007, 08:26:44 PM »

from my experience...

* G12Ms have looser bass and less bass than G12Hs
* G12Ms have less mids, but smoother mids than G12Hs
* G12Ms have smoother treble than G12Hs
* G12Ms compress (cone cry/speaker breakup) easier than G12Hs

:twisted:

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #23 on:** November 02, 2007, 12:10:35 AM »

Quote from: Roobubba

Thanks for the links people have posted here. In addition, are there any G12K-100 clips that people have done comparing the sounds with, say V30s, G12H etc?

From reading and listening to various clips (terrible way to do it, I know!), I'm settling on the idea of matching 2 Eminence Wizards with 2 G12K-100s. I'm just a bit put off by the wizards, given that I'm playing very low, fast heavy music, and every site which descibes them talks about jazz...

Roo

PS while I'm at it, any suggestions for 15" speakers to load a 2 x 15" extension cab for the same music, to go with a 2 x wiz/2 x G12K-100 cab?

PPS I forgot to mention that I play quite scooped, currently with a miracle man, looking towards ceramic warpig for a future custom build

K-100s are just plain awesome.

Really dark heavy sound.

Superb.

Dane · « **Reply #24 on:** November 02, 2007, 12:15:24 AM »

_tom_: Well the clips is a comparison but as i am using a V30, I believe that is not what V30 is abt. Its a very warm and middy speaker. I do not think its harsh. It is great in its own way. I find in the Comparison Clip the Gold sounds the best but maybe its just the setting as I believe V30 is a totally diff animal if u set it right. As i have learned clips and review must be taken with a pinch of salt. Juz my 2 cents. :D

JamesHealey · « **Reply #25 on:** November 02, 2007, 08:38:09 AM »

Hellatone 30 = the best rock speaker bar a scumback.

hamfist · « **Reply #26 on:** November 02, 2007, 08:41:36 AM »

Quote from: Armchair Bronco

Quote from: Ted
I found this helpful.

http://www.watfordvalves.com/cgi-bin/documents/testreport_40.pdf

This is a very good review of lots of different speakers. Unfortunately, it's not possible to cut and paste from this PDF file (this has apparently been disabled) so you'll have to read the article yourself.

Here are a couple of snippets I've re-typed on the G12H30:

"The first thing that struck me was the immense warmth of the speaker. It was well balanced and musical at low volume with the treble response silky smooth. When the volume was increased the speaker did not lose control, balance was perfect with the treble still smooth, tight and [crisp]. With the gain wound right up with humbuckers full on the speaker provided a rich harmonic treble with touch responsiveness that would normally only be associated with an alnico speaker.

The speaker provides a sweet singing sustain that was very musical and in no way harsh. The speaker has a very tight bass response with smooth cut and clarity which was equally at home with single notes or power chords.

This is one of the best [Celestions] ever made in my opinion with no faults whatsoever."

Hey Broncoman !
That Watford Valves review gives a pretty unusual view of the G12H30. The (almost) universal consensus elsewhere (and also my experience) is that they can be very bright, harsh and trebly for a long while until fully broken in. This can take from anywhere between 50 and 250 hours depending on type of use and volume. Once broken in - THEN they are alledged to transform into the type of speaker that WV describes.
Personally, I've only just got a G12H30 (with about 20 hours on it). Lets just say it's still well bright, and I am still patiently waiting for the transformation to occur.
So unless the WV review used a fully broken in speaker, it does not agree with many, many other folks around the globe.

Alan

_tom_ · « **Reply #27 on:** November 02, 2007, 11:25:19 AM »

Yeah the G12Hs take ages to break in, but when they do they sound awesome :D

sgmypod · « **Reply #28 on:** November 02, 2007, 02:29:49 PM »

yup think I'm sold on a g12h30 for my 1x12 and TT maybe a different one to match it later if I get a 2x12

Armchair Bronco · « **Reply #29 on:** November 02, 2007, 02:45:22 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

Yeah the G12Hs take ages to break in, but when they do they sound awesome :D

I'm planning to get a Hellatone 30 which is a G12H30 that's been aged [not sure what that means...maybe hung in a dark room with some salami over some smoke...] and broken in for 15 hours.

From one of the posts above, it seems like this may only represent 10%-15% of the total time needed to really break in this speaker.

Also, I'd imagine that since I'll only have the opportunity to really crank the TT on the weekends, the break-in period will be even longer given the fact that I'll be playing @ low volumes the rest of the time.

Oh well...nuttin' wrong with a little patience!