Author Topic: Speakers - Vintage 30, Classic Lead or G12H? (Read 30181 times)

_tom_ · « **on:** November 21, 2006, 01:24:10 PM »

I've decided I'm probably gonna change the top speaker in my 2x12 to something a bit more "british" sounding. Currently has an eminence legend in the top which is a bit trebbly and I dont think its letting the amps full potential come through. My amp is a GH50L which is pretty bright. I found this clip on HC of a modded Marshall with a V30 loaded cab which sounds pretty good to me:

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1444424

Now, the top part of my cab is open back (bottom is closed back) and the speakers are front-mounted.

I read something somewhere (probably harmony central again) that the V30 isnt good in front mount as it can rattle a bit and that the Classic Lead is more suitable for front mounting, which makes me lean toward the Classic Lead more. I heard fps_dean's Classic Lead clips which sound great and are also with a british voiced amp.

Just really looking for peoples opinions of the two speakers and if the Classic Lead would sound good for the styles of music I play which is anything from ACDC, Zeppelin style crunch up to Lynch Mob, Accept etc level of gain (like that clip I posted the link to basically).

Cheers for any help!

ps - I know the top bit of my cab is open back, but is changing it to closed back as simple as getting a bit of wood and covering up the hole in the back? If so I'm fine with doing this if need be (no one ever see's the back of the cab anyway!)

DeanS · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2006, 02:57:40 PM »

My preference would be Greenbacks- the best crunch sound going.

_tom_ · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2006, 03:17:58 PM »

Trouble with greenbacks is that they are only 25w, and my head is 50w. I read on the Celestion site that if you have mis-matched speaker wattages (the bottom speaker in my cab is around 100w according to Eminence) then the total power handling is only double the lowest wattage, meaning my cab would handle 50w.. I thought you should always have a bit more than the amps wattage?

How about the G12H? Celestion say "G12H provides a fusion of the Vintage 30 and the Greenback characteristics, producing a thick, warm and syrupy sound while still retaining a tight and focused bottom end." plus its 30w so my cab would handle 60w which feels "safer" to me than a 50w for some reason.

edit - just been listening to Celestions "Tone selector" and whilst not always an accurate representation, the G12H does sound the best out of these 3 speakers in all clips so far. Plus Hunter uses one and gets awesome tone. Is a 60w cab enough for a 50w valve amp though?

DeanS · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2006, 03:39:15 PM »

Oh I see, and if you plan to run your amp dimed then even 60 W isn't going to give you enough as I'd like to bet that your Laney when at full tilt is much more than 50W.

Re the G12H never used or heard them so can't comment. I've come to like the V30 after its has been well and truly broke in- I say this as I have one in my Harly and so the speaker never 'saw' more than 6-8 watts or so. I decided to run my Marshall thro it at reasonable levels for a couple of hours and voila, its now really sweet and has lost the hardness to its sound.

_tom_ · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2006, 03:40:30 PM »

hmm bugger.. I guess I'll email Laney to see what cab wattage they recommend! The G12H sounds really good in the clips aswell.

Twinfan · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2006, 03:43:14 PM »

100w and 30w is a big difference in one cab. Not sure if that matters or not.

V30s are 60w and would be a closer match.

_tom_ · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2006, 03:48:27 PM »

True, it does seem a big difference. Although I'm sure you can mis-match speakers wattages as in the article about changing speakers on Celestions site they mix a Greenback with a V30.. not quite the same as a 100w and 30w though.

Choosing a good speaker is harder than choosing the amp in the first place!

edit - just got a email back from Laney (that was bloody quick!) and they said:

"Hi there,
Thanks for your email.
A 60watt cab will be fine with the GH50L 50 watt head.
In fact, a cab should be AT LEAST the rating of the head that you use.

Thanks, "

So a G12H would be safe to use in this cab.. so long as the wattages arent too far apart to cause a problem.

Twinfan · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2006, 04:33:55 PM »

That might be worth checking with Celestion...

_tom_ · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2006, 04:36:51 PM »

Yeah I've sent em an email. Asked on a couple of other forums and the general consensus is that it will work with no problems.

gwEm · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2006, 06:03:00 PM »

the laney may put out more than 50w, but then the g12h can also handle more than 30w too.

i went with g12h and never regretted my choice.

G

_tom_ · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2006, 06:07:44 PM »

Cool, thanks.

I may go for the G12H. Would you say its quite bright/trebbly through your setup (whatever it may be..) or is nice and warm with good mids?

I know Hunters sounds good which makes me feel more reassured in my choice, as I'll probably go with a V30 for the bottom speaker aswell.

gwEm · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2006, 06:32:41 PM »

I'm running it with various guitars and a Marshall JMP50 2204, which is a generally reasonably bright amp I'd say.

I wouldn't say the speaker was overly bright or trebly at all. Its certinally warm, with nice mids indeed.

In the end I fitted one in a 2x12, with a V30. Compared to the V30 which I paired it with the mids aren't so exaggerated, but they are there thats for sure. I combined it with a V30 because of all the forum/internet discussions about how good they work together, and its true.

I think the mids grind with a nice agression when the speaker is pushed. It can sound kind of old skool too (in a good way), but then its a vintage speaker after all ;)

you can check my old thread:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2868&highlight=wizard+g12h

in the end i brought a 2x12 and got a g12h normal edition, i got a deal i couldn't refuse on it. i didn't try the alternatives, but i think it sounds decent.

if i would have kept the 1x12 i would have loaded a classic lead 80 probably.... but i say that now with the benefit of a few months of experience trying stuff out. i'm learning about tone all the time since I joined the BKP forum.

_tom_ · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2006, 06:40:50 PM »

Sounds perfect then, I think I'll go with the G12H to start with then a V30 to replace the bottom speaker if I feel the need to later on.

Reading your thread, perhaps the Wizard is a better choice as it can handle a bit more power, but I'm guessing the standard G12H in my cab will also work..

dave_mc · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2006, 07:52:03 PM »

another thing to remember is, eminences are rated quite highly compared to what they actually are- they use a different rating system to celestion.

for example, the emi version of a greenback (the private jack, as far as I'm aware) is rated at 50W, while the celesion version is 25 (or 20 for the heritage one).

Something like that. it's likely, in other words, that if the celestion g12H30 is rated "correctly" at 30 watts, that the legend might be more like 70 W, or conversely if the eminence is rated correctly at 100W, the g12H30 might be more like 50/60 watts (all figures there entirely arbitrary and made up to give you an idea).

I think. From what I hear, anyway.

JamesHealey · « **Reply #14 on:** November 21, 2006, 08:07:37 PM »

not enough people like the G12T-75, i think it's the best speaker for rock, followed by the V30..

I have a 2x12 with 75's and they rock, although i'll be getting a Splawn X Pattern Loaded Cab w/Red Coats later on this year.. muhhahaha