Author Topic: G12H - Heritage vs G12H - Classic vs The Wizard (Read 12811 times)

gwEm · « **on:** February 21, 2006, 01:55:08 PM »

After long deliberation, I've decided a Celestion G12H style speaker would in order. Theres three contenders, and as I'm not able to actually test any of these speakers I'm looking for some guidance.

The application is hard rock/70s metal tone at home in a 1x12 cab.

G12H Heritage
Deeper bass response, meant to be a faithful creation of the originals - however the most expensive option. Is it worth it?

G12H Classic
Made in China (apparantly), so around half the price... But does it sound cheap too?

The Wizard
Eminence copy of the G12H. Similar bass response to the G12H classic, and similar price too. Higher power handling (doesn't matter too much). But does it sound better than the G12H Classic... or even the Heritage?

Any words on these speakers would be really helpful :)

Ced777 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2006, 03:44:14 PM »

Sorry, but I will choose Scumback SA12H-75 over any of these speakers.

http://www.southbayampworks.com/index.html

mikeluke · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2006, 05:02:04 PM »

I have a Wizard in my Peavey Classic 30 and it sounds pretty good - stockist's view was that Eminence were making better speakers than Celestion at present

tewboss · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2006, 12:21:44 AM »

I've heard that Ted Weber's speakers rate very highly (just to throw more options in the pot).

Bainzy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:00:01 AM »

I've heard that people were disappointed that the Heritage G12H wasn't much improvement over the Classic (whereas the G12M Heritage is a lot more authentic than the G12M Classic). Depends how much cost is a consideration really.

Ced777 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2006, 04:21:56 PM »

Quote from: tewboss

I've heard that Ted Weber's speakers rate very highly (just to throw more options in the pot).

Scumback are made by Weber but with special specifications (old pre-rola one)

gwEm · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2006, 07:49:47 PM »

thanks all so far for the replies, really informative stuff...

ced777: those scumbag seem a pretty cool option i must say, i never heard of them before. i love this forum :)

mikeluke (or whoever): eminence claims "the wizard" is 103dB sensitive... for your part do you believe this claim?

Normally G12H is 100dB sensitive, so 103dB seems superbly (a bit too) efficient... especially as even the Celestion G12 Century is only 102dB

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2006, 11:29:18 PM »

the 'normal' G12Hs are already great speakers whereas the normal reissue G12Ms suck - ANY improvement over the normal G12M RI is good.

:twisted:

mikeluke · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2006, 09:33:21 AM »

I can tell you one thing - The Wizard is LOUD!

I guess that it also depends what you are going to play through in and in what type of amp - mine is in a 30W 1x12 combo, and it doesn't get pushed that hard. Without doing a side-by-side comparison it is tough to really tell the minute differences - a bit like buying BKPs I spent a long time discussing with the dealer what I was after and he made a couple of recommendations - as I've mentioned in previous posts, his view is that Celestions are the 'classic' choice but that he believes that Eminence are better made (at the moment - does not apply to older Celestions) - he was not going to make any more £££ out of me whichever one I went for, so I have to think that the view was relatively unbiased. Having said that, a mate has replaced the stock speaker in his Laney LC30 with a G12H Anniversary and that sounds pretty good too.

Decisions, decisions, eh? :)

PhilKing · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2006, 12:41:10 PM »

I have a wizard and really like the sound. I am using it with a Blue Tick Hound with a stereo 3 watt valve amp. It is loud and really punchy. I am going to replace my vintage 30 with a Red Coat, but was thinking of the Red Ryder in this (only for a contrast - I was going to put the Wizard in at first).

I think you will like the sound a lot, though the G12 Vintage that I had in my Silver Jubilee sounds great too. I think the Wizard is a little thicker sounding though.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2006, 08:29:50 PM »

The Eminence Governor seems like a good choice too - I like the clips on that speaker alot from their website. I think it's supposed to be like a Celestion G12H with more power handling (sounds that way).

:twisted:

gwEm · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2006, 02:28:38 PM »

some extremely helpful posts there, thanks!

so in fact it seems like all the speakers I had in mind would be decent choices. PhilKing and mikeluke and swaying me strongly in the direction of The Wizard though. I think I will pick this one in the end now... it just depends on what kind of deal i can get :)

Scumbags would probably be the best sounding, but I can imagine shipping and import tax to UK would make a hefty price hike. I dont care too much about an exact reproduction, as long its in the right ball park and good sounding.

heavier than hell: i understood that the governor was Vintage30 voiced?

in fact, i already spent ages narrowing down my speaker choice to a G12H style ;) they all sound so good from the descriptions, its like trying to choose replacment pickups... worse in fact, because its harder to do research on them to find independant opinons.

even if i eventually decided on G12H sound, i'm still really wondering in the back of my mind what the Celestion G12 Century is like.

Ced777 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2006, 03:58:54 PM »

Quote from: gwEm

Scumbags would probably be the best sounding, but I can imagine shipping and import tax to UK would make a hefty price hike. I dont care too much about an exact reproduction, as long its in the right ball park and good sounding.

I never pay taxes from USPS EMS when I received my Scumbacks. But I could be lucky too...

gwEm · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2006, 04:11:33 PM »

interesting ced, because i find the scumback prices not too unreasonable excluding the shipping/tax possibility.

Ced777 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2006, 05:43:51 PM »

Quote from: gwEm

interesting ced, because i find the scumback prices not too unreasonable excluding the shipping/tax possibility.

You will have to pay for shipping (about $80 for 2 speakers). But I did not pay taxes. I always ask for USPS (you will pay taxes with Fedex or UPS service... allways!).