What do you guys think of Hellatone speakers?

mistermullens · September 21st, 2008, 03:01 PM

I'm still looking for a proper speaker replacement for my Blues Junior, and I had pretty much decided on going with the Eminence C.Rex until I visited the Dr. Z forum. I read some good reviews on the Hellatone G12H30 speaker. Hadn't heard of it before and I wanted to hear what you guys thought about it. Its the same price as the C.Rex so price is not a consideration. I play mostly blues, and I like early smooth breakup, as well as that nice, fat, Fender sound. I don't really play clean, but if I want it a little clean, I just alter my pick attack or lower guitar volume. Any thoughts?

Rumble · September 22nd, 2008, 12:46 AM

The G12H30 is a Celestion, so it's not really going to give you the classic "Fender" sound. It was originally a bass speaker so it has a crisp, tight low end. It would be a good choice, IMO, but a better choice would be the G12M25 or G12M20 (Greenbacks or clones), especially if you like early, smooth breakup. The Greenback sounds great with EL84 amps, will easily handle the Blues Junior's 15 watts, and is the 'Celestion Blue' of ceramic speakers- one of the first ceramics and it has the old school vintage tone.

hollowman · September 22nd, 2008, 01:13 AM

I put a Hellatone 30 in my champ 12 and it made a huge difference, to me, across the board. I think it is a pretty good deal for a speaker choice, YMMV. If you call Avatar, Dave will talk to you and offer suggestions to what you are looking for.

Johnny Isaacs · September 22nd, 2008, 01:32 AM

I love the Hellatone speakers. I have them in my 2x12 Avatar cab and they sound amazing. I put them right up there with Webers and the older Mojotone speakers.

Johnny Isaacs

6942 · September 22nd, 2008, 08:13 AM

.........early, smooth break-up.........................
NOT with a Celestion G12H-30.
Bluesy, with an early, smooth break-up & Fender sound?

I'd go with one of the Weber P12R or P12Q clones.

Steve

JohnK24 · September 22nd, 2008, 01:25 PM

For starters...I don't believe the Blues Jr. has a classic "Fender sound", it's more Tweed/Voxy tones. I had two of them and tried to make them sound blackface-like. The best speakers I had in the BJs were a Reverend Alltone 1250 (the weber sign. C12NB is very similar) and a Warehouse Guitar Speaker Veteran 30 (Vintage 30 clone)....were is this post going ?...Check out the lineup from Warehouse Guitar Speakers, I believe their higher powered offering of the Green Beret (Greenback copy) might be inline with your tone goal. Smoother, woody tones - but it won't do Twin Reverb big bass tones (then again, the BJ can't do that anyhow, imho...)

Poppatwang · September 23rd, 2008, 10:33 AM

I taste tested a lot of speakers for my 18 watt Marshall clone. The win-nahhhh....
Hellatone's tweaked G12H30. It had the most focus on the low end which was a must
when playing Filtertrons through it. The tele was more forgiving with other speakers but
sounded great thru the Hellatone too.

wetland10 · September 23rd, 2008, 10:36 AM

I use both the Hellatone 30 and 60, love them both. For the price they are a great deal. I also think they have a great tone if you are looking for the specific tones they produce.

Wayne

sunkidd · September 23rd, 2008, 04:44 PM

Have any of you tried a Celestion Blue in a Blues Jr?
does it sound good???
Would it even fit?

Hoodster · September 23rd, 2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppatwang

I taste tested a lot of speakers for my 18 watt Marshall clone. The win-nahhhh....
Hellatone's tweaked G12H30. It had the most focus on the low end which was a must
when playing Filtertrons through it. The tele was more forgiving with other speakers but
sounded great thru the Hellatone too.

Just to clarify, Avatar does NOT "tweak" any of the Celestion speakers. All they do is break them in and relabel them, period. Not that there's anything wrong with that -- they are a great bargain.

That said, I had a Hellatone 30 and sold it after picking up an Eminence Wizard, which is also supposed to be based on the G12H30. The Wizard is not only better than the Celestion IMO, but it is the best 12" I've ever heard. I have also compared it to a Reverend Alltone 1250, which I still own, and the Wizard is like the Reverend only with more of everything. It sounds absolutely huge, balanced and articulate (103 db) and like the Reverend is that rare speaker that sounds fantastic in both Fender and British style amps.

Poppatwang · September 24th, 2008, 04:31 PM

[quote=Hoodster;1433441]Just to clarify, Avatar does NOT "tweak" any of the Celestion speakers. All they do is break them in and relabel them, period.QUOTE]

I get that in that they "exercise" the suspension. But they also claim to "age" them. Now it's my presumption, and Avatar doesn't say, but I thought the
aging was probably a chemical treatment of the doping. Anyone know?

Hoodster · September 25th, 2008, 10:39 AM

[quote=Poppatwang;1434890]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoodster

Just to clarify, Avatar does NOT "tweak" any of the Celestion speakers. All they do is break them in and relabel them, period.QUOTE]

I get that in that they "exercise" the suspension. But they also claim to "age" them. Now it's my presumption, and Avatar doesn't say, but I thought the
aging was probably a chemical treatment of the doping. Anyone know?

Taking the speakers out of the Celestion boxes and playing them 10-15 hours ages them, doesn't it?

Vibrolux · September 25th, 2008, 12:42 PM

Here's what Dave at Avatar said during aToneQuest interview:

"I heard about aging speakers in the forums, so I decided that it would be a great service to offer our customers. Then I took it one step further and decided to come up with my own proprietary speakers. I came up with the idea of taking the most popular Celestions, breaking them in and marketing them directly to musicians at a very fair price as Hellatone. I was buying Celestions in large container quantities anyway, so it was a natural transition. We break them in by playing them on audio amps with bassy CDs for at least 15 hours at night when we aren’t here. We also do a very minimal, subtle treatment on the speaker which I should keep to myself."

September 21st, 2008, 03:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
mistermullens Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Age: 31 Posts: 2,296 51 Photos	What do you guys think of Hellatone speakers? I'm still looking for a proper speaker replacement for my Blues Junior, and I had pretty much decided on going with the Eminence C.Rex until I visited the Dr. Z forum. I read some good reviews on the Hellatone G12H30 speaker. Hadn't heard of it before and I wanted to hear what you guys thought about it. Its the same price as the C.Rex so price is not a consideration. I play mostly blues, and I like early smooth breakup, as well as that nice, fat, Fender sound. I don't really play clean, but if I want it a little clean, I just alter my pick attack or lower guitar volume. Any thoughts? __________________ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

September 22nd, 2008, 12:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rumble Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 37 Posts: 933	The G12H30 is a Celestion, so it's not really going to give you the classic "Fender" sound. It was originally a bass speaker so it has a crisp, tight low end. It would be a good choice, IMO, but a better choice would be the G12M25 or G12M20 (Greenbacks or clones), especially if you like early, smooth breakup. The Greenback sounds great with EL84 amps, will easily handle the Blues Junior's 15 watts, and is the 'Celestion Blue' of ceramic speakers- one of the first ceramics and it has the old school vintage tone. __________________ Somewhere between saturation and satiation.

September 22nd, 2008, 01:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
hollowman Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kansas City Age: 44 Posts: 492	I put a Hellatone 30 in my champ 12 and it made a huge difference, to me, across the board. I think it is a pretty good deal for a speaker choice, YMMV. If you call Avatar, Dave will talk to you and offer suggestions to what you are looking for. __________________ "In a land where all are blind, the one eyed man is king"

September 22nd, 2008, 01:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
Johnny Isaacs Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,459 3 Photos	I love the Hellatone speakers. I have them in my 2x12 Avatar cab and they sound amazing. I put them right up there with Webers and the older Mojotone speakers. Johnny Isaacs __________________ Myspace music page I've never trusted a guitar player who hasn't licked a few 9volts... Famous last words...... after this one, no new Tele's!

September 22nd, 2008, 01:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
JohnK24 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Saxonburg,PA Posts: 1,399	For starters...I don't believe the Blues Jr. has a classic "Fender sound", it's more Tweed/Voxy tones. I had two of them and tried to make them sound blackface-like. The best speakers I had in the BJs were a Reverend Alltone 1250 (the weber sign. C12NB is very similar) and a Warehouse Guitar Speaker Veteran 30 (Vintage 30 clone)....were is this post going ?...Check out the lineup from Warehouse Guitar Speakers, I believe their higher powered offering of the Green Beret (Greenback copy) might be inline with your tone goal. Smoother, woody tones - but it won't do Twin Reverb big bass tones (then again, the BJ can't do that anyhow, imho...) __________________ Got Twang ?!

September 22nd, 2008, 08:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
6942 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,572	.........early, smooth break-up......................... NOT with a Celestion G12H-30. Bluesy, with an early, smooth break-up & Fender sound? I'd go with one of the Weber P12R or P12Q clones. Steve

September 23rd, 2008, 10:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Poppatwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,884 13 Photos	I taste tested a lot of speakers for my 18 watt Marshall clone. The win-nahhhh.... Hellatone's tweaked G12H30. It had the most focus on the low end which was a must when playing Filtertrons through it. The tele was more forgiving with other speakers but sounded great thru the Hellatone too. __________________ The Dieselfitters http://www.dieselfitters.com Roy Hubbs http://www.royhubbs.com

September 23rd, 2008, 10:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
wetland10 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 380	I use both the Hellatone 30 and 60, love them both. For the price they are a great deal. I also think they have a great tone if you are looking for the specific tones they produce. Wayne

September 23rd, 2008, 04:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
sunkidd Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 404	Have any of you tried a Celestion Blue in a Blues Jr? does it sound good??? Would it even fit?

September 24th, 2008, 04:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
Poppatwang Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 1,884 13 Photos	[quote=Hoodster;1433441]Just to clarify, Avatar does NOT "tweak" any of the Celestion speakers. All they do is break them in and relabel them, period.QUOTE] I get that in that they "exercise" the suspension. But they also claim to "age" them. Now it's my presumption, and Avatar doesn't say, but I thought the aging was probably a chemical treatment of the doping. Anyone know? __________________ The Dieselfitters http://www.dieselfitters.com Roy Hubbs http://www.royhubbs.com

September 25th, 2008, 12:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
Vibrolux TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 58	Here's what Dave at Avatar said during aToneQuest interview: "I heard about aging speakers in the forums, so I decided that it would be a great service to offer our customers. Then I took it one step further and decided to come up with my own proprietary speakers. I came up with the idea of taking the most popular Celestions, breaking them in and marketing them directly to musicians at a very fair price as Hellatone. I was buying Celestions in large container quantities anyway, so it was a natural transition. We break them in by playing them on audio amps with bassy CDs for at least 15 hours at night when we aren’t here. We also do a very minimal, subtle treatment on the speaker which I should keep to myself."