Speaker Question

[Eric]

OK I was here listening to sound clips of various speakers. I loved the sound of the Celestion Classic Lead 80 (used). It was near perfect, clear and articulate. The new one sounds honky to me. The other speakers sounded muddy to me.

So here's my question what speakers are good at getting that clean sound out of a distorted amp? I relly don't want to break in a new speaker for God only knows how long. Actually I am going to e-mail the guy that did the comparrison and see how old that speaker is. I'm such a total gear geek. :oops:

All suggestions are welcome.

[fps_dean]

I have 2 Marshall JCM 800 era 1960 cabinets that originally had the horrid G12M-75s (mid scoop, way too much low end, nothing nice about them).  I upgraded my slant cabinet (the only one I actually use) with Classic Leads just on faith from what other users told me and a couple of sound clips (V30s were my other option).  I will never use the straight cabinet with the G12M75s in it again after the change.

They sound so much better than most other speakers out there that they'll still sound better than most new while you wait for them to break in.

In a nutshell, they are like V30s with more bass (a lot more but that's not saying much, but less than G12M75s), and less highs but the same great smooth mids that makes the V30s. One thing about them is you need a good amp.... if there's any flaws in the amp, the Classic Leads wont make them ugly.  And you'll also want to down your preamp gain with these and up your master a bit too because your amp will sound a bit fizzier but they get warm when you start pushing power tubes so your amp sounds warmer.

They also work really well clean.  I highly recommend them for Marshall style amps, but stick with V30s for Mesas or if you want an older style tone.  The other speakers I can recommend is the G12H30s but they will break up, but they're loads better than Greenbacks.

Celestion has samples here, I think the same holds true...
http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/features/tone/index.asp

They're my fav. speaks personally.  I did some clips with my Rebel Yell loaded Les Paul through my modified Marshall JCM 900 SL-X but unfortunately I did most of them with the straight cabinet... what happened was I wanted to see how that thing sounded with the G12M75s... terrible, as I suspected, but I decided to record at the same moment.

It should be noted that on the G12M75 clips, the mid was at 10, and only at 5-7 on the Classic Lead clips.

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4562

[38thBeatle]

I have a little time on my hands today and decided to listen to the clips and I agree that the used classic lead sounded the best.The V30 was the next best in  my opinion and I am allowing for my PC speakers which are not the best way of judging-but "thems me thoughts".

[Muttley]

I replaced the G12T-75s in my 1960a with Vintage 30s, and the difference is just astonishing.  They really help my guitar cut through the rest of the instruments.

The other guitarist in my band still prefers the G12T-75s in his 1922 2x12 though.... philistine.  ;)

Muttley

[Twinfan]

I've got G12T-75s in my 1960A and I don't reckon they're that bad actually!  They're nice and clear and handle loud volumes really well.  They don't have the character (big midrange honk) of V30s, but you can dial that in using your amp EQ if you need it or by adding an EQ pedal.

Bottom line - look at your amp and the settings you like.  Decide what you need in a new speaker (more treble, less bass etc) and buy based on that.

[Dakine]

I've got G12T-75s in my 1960A and I don't reckon they're that bad actually!  They're nice and clear and handle loud volumes really well.  They don't have the character (big midrange honk) of V30s, but you can dial that in using your amp EQ if you need it or by adding an EQ pedal.

Bottom line - look at your amp and the settings you like.  Decide what you need in a new speaker (more treble, less bass etc) and buy based on that.

Quite right.
Tweaking is your friend. Why change summit that may well be fine with some adjustment.
V30's in my ENGL sound great but also love the Black Shadow in the Mesa. Both can sound very different or similar depending on EQ'ing.

[Hell Hound]

I'm not a speaker expert but the best combination i've tried so far is a mix of V30 and Century Vintage. it gots that V30 sound with an added tight bottom, and sound very nice clean.
If I could only have one type of speaker in the cab, I'd choose those H30, one of the best sounding speaker IMO

[HTH AMPS]

Those classic lead 80s are very nice indeed with gainier amps - I wasn't so happy with them using a plexi though.

The 75w Celestions are great for metal with gobs of gain at high volume, many people that bitch about them have just bought the wrong cab (they're terrible for 'rock' tones).

 :twisted:

[PhilKing]

Celestion Sidewinder - if you can find one.  I have one in my Silver Jubilee and was told by a studio engineer that it was one of the best guitar sounds he had heard (having BK's in both guitars didn't hurt either!!!).

[fps_dean]

I've got G12T-75s in my 1960A and I don't reckon they're that bad actually!  They're nice and clear and handle loud volumes really well.  They don't have the character (big midrange honk) of V30s, but you can dial that in using your amp EQ if you need it or by adding an EQ pedal.

Bottom line - look at your amp and the settings you like.  Decide what you need in a new speaker (more treble, less bass etc) and buy based on that.

Listen to my clips of the G12M75s with the mids on 10 and the Classic Leads with the mids on 5 I believe (no higher than 7).

...and I have yet to hear an amp they are clear with... anything but that.

[fps_dean]

Those classic lead 80s are very nice indeed with gainier amps - I wasn't so happy with them using a plexi though.

Really... I love them with my Major but that thing has enough power to make 4x300 watt speakers distort....  but yeah they are fairly clean and tight sounding and aren't muddy and don't breakup easily... they wont provide a 60s style tone if that's what you want.

For something like Gary Moore's The Messiah Will Come Again or jazz though, they're awesome clean too.

[fps_dean]

Those classic lead 80s are very nice indeed with gainier amps - I wasn't so happy with them using a plexi though.

Really... I love them with my Major but that thing has enough power to make 4x300 watt speakers distort....  but yeah they are fairly clean and tight sounding and aren't muddy and don't breakup easily... they wont provide a 60s style tone if that's what you want.

For something like Gary Moore's The Messiah Will Come Again or jazz though, they're awesome clean too.  It's basically why I said you gotta have a good amp with them (and a plexi is most certainly a good amp, don't get me wrong but I just imagine you wanted something with a more 60s style breakup if I am correct).

[Eric]

Well I do love gain so I tend to favor cleaner speakers. Greenbacks and similar speakers just sound dark to me.

I would love to find a Celestion Sidewinder like Phil said. I did hear the Eminence Tonker is very similar though.

In addition to my love of gain I also like to down tune so clearer high wattage speakers tend to handle that better.

Oh and fps_dean did I understand you have a Marshall Major?? If so I am beyond jealous. I want one badly.

[HTH AMPS]

I love them with my Major but that thing has enough power to make 4x300 watt speakers distort

heh, they ARE loud beasts those Majors - how do you run that amp? Is it for bass or as a clean amp? Surely you're not cranking it?  :lol:  :lol:

 :twisted:

[Eric]

I love them with my Major but that thing has enough power to make 4x300 watt speakers distort

heh, they ARE loud beasts those Majors - how do you run that amp? Is it for bass or as a clean amp? Surely you're not cranking it?  :lol:  :lol:

 :twisted:

Huh? What's the point of having 200 watts if you don't use them all? :twisted: