Greenbacks and power handling

marshman · April 29th, 2008, 11:02 PM

This cat I'm jamming with has his amp at my place (he usually just plays through my R30) and it starts acting up (Hot Rod Deluxe--big shock, I know), so I'm talkin' to him about it. Sounds like the power resistors acting up, so I tell him I can probably bandage it, but he tells me that Sam Ash offered him a warranty, (it's used--good call) and it's still valid, so we figger it'd be better to let them deal with it. Then I take a look, and there's a Celestion Greenback in there...huh?

Now, I know from playing with this guy that he's not a big 'tube distortion guy', he gets 99% of his tone form his pedalboard, but how many of you guys would put a 25 watt speaker, Celestion or otherwise, into a 40 watt amp? The Greenback was a 'bonus' from the sales guy at SA, and I'd've surely taken him up on it were it offered to me, but I woodena left it in that amp.

I'm also wonderin' if he'd take a standard Fender/Emi in trade?

Rumble · April 29th, 2008, 11:20 PM

Celestions generally handle at least 5 watts more than their rating says, but putting a Greenback in a HRD is stretching it for sure. You might be able to get by with a G-12H, but either way, those speakers are too nice, not to mention costly to blow because someone wasn't paying attention to the proper wattage. A Vintage 30 or Gold would be the right speaker for that amp.

marshman · April 29th, 2008, 11:34 PM

I told him--that amp is too powerful for that speaker. He says: "Should I have gotten the Blue?"

I played it for about 30 seconds this afternoon (before I knew there was a Greenback in there) and thought "boy, this thing actually sounds pretty good, all things considered..." Mine has been on the bench so long I can't even remember what it sounds like.

Anyway, I thought that sounded like a bad idea. I was thinking that even with a 33% safety margin, that's pushin' your luck, handling wise.

April 29th, 2008, 11:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
marshman Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE PA Posts: 987	Greenbacks and power handling This cat I'm jamming with has his amp at my place (he usually just plays through my R30) and it starts acting up (Hot Rod Deluxe--big shock, I know), so I'm talkin' to him about it. Sounds like the power resistors acting up, so I tell him I can probably bandage it, but he tells me that Sam Ash offered him a warranty, (it's used--good call) and it's still valid, so we figger it'd be better to let them deal with it. Then I take a look, and there's a Celestion Greenback in there...huh? Now, I know from playing with this guy that he's not a big 'tube distortion guy', he gets 99% of his tone form his pedalboard, but how many of you guys would put a 25 watt speaker, Celestion or otherwise, into a 40 watt amp? The Greenback was a 'bonus' from the sales guy at SA, and I'd've surely taken him up on it were it offered to me, but I woodena left it in that amp. I'm also wonderin' if he'd take a standard Fender/Emi in trade? __________________ 42

April 29th, 2008, 11:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
marshman Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE PA Posts: 987	I told him--that amp is too powerful for that speaker. He says: "Should I have gotten the Blue?" I played it for about 30 seconds this afternoon (before I knew there was a Greenback in there) and thought "boy, this thing actually sounds pretty good, all things considered..." Mine has been on the bench so long I can't even remember what it sounds like. Anyway, I thought that sounded like a bad idea. I was thinking that even with a 33% safety margin, that's pushin' your luck, handling wise. __________________ 42

April 29th, 2008, 11:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rumble Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 37 Posts: 1,142	Celestions generally handle at least 5 watts more than their rating says, but putting a Greenback in a HRD is stretching it for sure. You might be able to get by with a G-12H, but either way, those speakers are too nice, not to mention costly to blow because someone wasn't paying attention to the proper wattage. A Vintage 30 or Gold would be the right speaker for that amp.