Are Celestion Blue Alnico's worth the price?

[johnqpublic2718]

Hey everyone, I have finally decided to purchase a vox ac30, they simply have the best tone! My question is about the speakers they come with. I can order the thing with vox speakers, or for like 600 more get the one with the 2 12" blues. From what I can tell it might be worth it to go ahead and get the blues, since they are a significant contributor to the tone I'm after. What do you think?

[jmaul]

buy the blues separate from the amp.

The blues in vox amps are made in china, the aftermarket ones are still english made.

And yes, its very likely worth it.

[Donnie55]

Do it now, do it later . Either way odds are yer gonna. My friend has a 2/12 with a blue and a gold in it. His tone is awesome. Weber makes an outstanding version of the blue for about half the price. My vote is go for it. You wont be sorry !!

[varakeef]

Eminence Red Fangs will get you there with peanuts compared to Celestion Blues.

[FMA]

I can vouch for the Red Fang. I have one in an AC15 and it's a great speaker.

[1293]

For a new blue, check out Avatar Speakers. I'm not sure what the going price is now, but I paid $229 when Musician's Friend was asking $279. I also picked up a mint used one on ebay for $200.

[patrickhowell]

The speakers retail for $299, so if you buy the amp and speakers separate you save $2 and end up with 2 Vox speakers to sell.

Also, a lot of people like the clones just as much as the originals. Here's a price breakdown of all the offerings for speakers with that "chime" (am I missing anything?)...

Austin Speaker Works "Elegante" - $349
Celestion "Alnico Gold" - $325
Celestion "Alnico Blue" - $299
Scumback Speakers "Scumnico" - $269
Warehouse Guitar Speakers "BlackHawk" - $229
Warehouse Guitar Speakers "Black And Blue" - $225
Ted Weber "Blue Dog" (AlNiCo) - $195
Ted Weber "Silver Bell" (AlNiCo) - $195
Eminence "Red Fang" - $170
Ted Weber "Blue Dog" (Ceramic) - $105
Ted Weber "Silver Bell" (Ceramic) - $105
North Coast Music "Black Dog" - $79

[marshman]

I noticed (and pondered) the difference in cost of an AC30 with Wharfdales and a pair of personally sourced Blues and the flat out cost of the AC30 with the Blues and simply could not figger that out...and the price of Blues has gone up since they came out.

I personally suggest you get the Blues and install them yourself, and as noted, you'll have a pair of 12"ers leftover for selling or some other project.

Antique Electronics (tubesandmore.com) has Blues for $279, FYI, though I'd certainly be willing to entertain the suggestion of 'clones', if it were my amp.

Good luck.

[Groovey Records]

Originally Posted by patrickhowell

Here's a price breakdown of all the offerings for speakers with that "chime" (am I missing anything?)...

Vox Bull Dog original

[JohnnyCrash]

Get the Clestion Blue AlNiCo.

Most folks who go with budget copies have never tried them side by side with a real Blue - yet claim they're the same.

The Blue is an awesome speaker for other amps too (tweed Deluxes, 18w Marshalls, and others).

[jjkrause84]

I know people who've had really good results by replacing only ONE of the Lt. Wharfedales. That way you have the nice "greenback-styled" rumble from the Lt. Wharfedale with the Blue cutting in over the top with that lovely sparkle....it should give you a rich and somewhat more complex tone while also saving you money.

[skeksis]

Originally Posted by jjkrause84

I know people who've had really good results by replacing only ONE of the Lt. Wharfedales. That way you have the nice "greenback-styled" rumble from the Lt. Wharfedale with the Blue cutting in over the top with that lovely sparkle....it should give you a rich and somewhat more complex tone while also saving you money.

+1

I run my AC30CC combo this way... with the Red Fang on one side, stock Wharfdale on the other. Really a cool sound for me. Nothing whatsoever to apologize for.

note that if I could afford a pair of real blues, I'd probably go that route, just 'cause that's what you do with a Vox :-)

[Wayne Alexander]

I've played through Celestion Blues for years, and I've owned or tried most of the clones. The real ones sound better (more three dimensional, swirly, magical) than any of the clones other than the Scumbacks, which may in fact sound better. There's nothing at all wrong with Red Fangs, which are a great speaker, especially for the price, but they do not deliver the specific sound of the Blues if that's what you want. The various Weber alnico offerings to my ears are a bit "simpler" sounding than the Celestion blue - again the Webers are a great speaker, but not exactly a Blue. But none of the 'ceramic' magnet speakers listed as 'clones' above are even remotely close. The alnico magnet is a must for that specific sound, feel and compression.

So my recommendation is that in a Vox AC30 or AC15, if you want the classic, historic sound of those amps, it has to be actual Celestion Blues (or the Scumbacks, which sound like Blues that have been around for many years). All the other options can get you in the neighborhood but not all the way there. If you're not going for the actual, historic, classic voice of the AC30 or the AC15, then get whatever you like. Those amps can sound good with a range of speakers.

[patrickhowell]

Originally Posted by Wayne Alexander

I've played through Celestion Blues for years, and I've owned or tried most of the clones. The real ones sound better (more three dimensional, swirly, magical) than any of the clones other than the Scumbacks, which may in fact sound better. There's nothing at all wrong with Red Fangs, which are a great speaker, especially for the price, but they do not deliver the specific sound of the Blues if that's what you want. The various Weber offerings to my ears are a bit "simpler" sounding than the Celestion blue - again the Webers are a great speaker, but not exactly a Blue.

Yeah, but while the copies may not be exact, they are good speakers and most are significantly cheaper. It just depends on how much you're willing to pay for that tone, and any of them will get you closer than the stock Wharfdales.

From what I've heard, the Scumbacks are supposed to sound identical to Vintage 60's Vox speakers and the Austin Speaker Works "Elegante" is supposed to sound better than the original (but cost $349 each...)

[patrickhowell]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

Vox Bull Dog original

I was just listing street prices for current production speakers...

[1293]

Originally Posted by 1293

For a new blue, check out Avatar Speakers. I'm not sure what the going price is now, but I paid $229 when Musician's Friend was asking $279. I also picked up a mint used one on ebay for $200.

I just checked the latest prices.

$239 ea
2 for $475

Free shipping.

[patrickhowell]

Originally Posted by 1293

I just checked the latest prices.

$239 ea
2 for $475

Free shipping.

That's a whole lot better than $598 for two from Musician's Fiend or $600 for them built in the amp...

[johnqpublic2718]

Originally Posted by jmaul

buy the blues separate from the amp.

The blues in vox amps are made in china, the aftermarket ones are still english made.

And yes, its very likely worth it.

How difficult would it be to install the after-market blues in an ac30. Keep in mind that I have done plenty of guitar electronics re-wiring, pickup changes, etc. but I have never worked on an amp. Can you take the back off and get in there without too much risk of marring the amp itself?

[jjkrause84]

Originally Posted by johnqpublic2718

How difficult would it be to install the after-market blues in an ac30. Keep in mind that I have done plenty of guitar electronics re-wiring, pickup changes, etc. but I have never worked on an amp. Can you take the back off and get in there without too much risk of marring the amp itself?

Depends on whether or not you feel confident using one of these.....

[johnqpublic2718]

Oh that easy huh!?! Well maybe I"ll go with the Wharfedale and one English-Made Blue, save some money and get that absolutely perfect tone I'm after. Soo good.

[johnqpublic2718]

I've been playing and writing with some buddies from college quite a bit lately and our bassist has been letting me use his ac30cc with blues (I have a mesa s.o.b., all tube, but not what i'm after) and I just can't get enough of that sweet sweet tone.

[jjkrause84]

Originally Posted by johnqpublic2718

Oh that easy huh!?! Well maybe I"ll go with the Wharfedale and one English-Made Blue, save some money and get that absolutely perfect tone I'm after. Soo good.

Well I'm exaggerating a bit but from what I understand I doubt you'd find it difficult if you've done electronics stuff on your gutiar before.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

Get the Clestion Blue AlNiCo.

Most folks who go with budget copies have never tried them side by side with a real Blue - yet claim they're the same.

The Blue is an awesome speaker for other amps too (tweed Deluxes, 18w Marshalls, and others).

I just picked up a Weber Blue Dog ceramic and to me it doesn't really sound even remotely like a Celestion Blue. I realize it's the ceramic, but some also claim they sound very similar to the Alnico Blue Dog until pushed. I also owned a Genz Benz Black Pearl which had a Red Fang and it is really a great speaker, but it doesn't really sound like the Blue either IMO. More bass, smoother top, less mids.

I hate the price they charge for the Blues, but I'm yet to find a speaker that I like better. They're hard to beat.

[tazzboy]

Email Dave Wilson at avatarspeakers.com and ask him what he charges for the Celestion Alnico Blues.

[castpolymer]

Originally Posted by varakeef

Eminence Red Fangs will get you there with peanuts compared to Celestion Blues.

+1. Have one in my AC15 and it is a peach!

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by patrickhowell

The speakers retail for $299, so if you buy the amp and speakers separate you save $2 and end up with 2 Vox speakers to sell.

Also, a lot of people like the clones just as much as the originals. Here's a price breakdown of all the offerings for speakers with that "chime" (am I missing anything?)...

Austin Speaker Works "Elegante" - $349
Celestion "Alnico Gold" - $325
Celestion "Alnico Blue" - $299
Scumback Speakers "Scumnico" - $269
Warehouse Guitar Speakers "BlackHawk" - $229
Warehouse Guitar Speakers "Black And Blue" - $225
Ted Weber "Blue Dog" (AlNiCo) - $195
Ted Weber "Silver Bell" (AlNiCo) - $195
Eminence "Red Fang" - $170
Ted Weber "Blue Dog" (Ceramic) - $105
Ted Weber "Silver Bell" (Ceramic) - $105
North Coast Music "Black Dog" - $79

Would anybody put ToneTubby's in with this list?

I think they're alnico (could be wrong tho). When I was trying to decide between Blues and the Tonetubbys for my AC15 I went for the Blues. The 'tubbys sounded very smooth, but in a kinda boring way to me. I never got to compare them in similar cabs though.

Cheers,
Geoff

[MickM]

Blues are $244.95 here.http://www.svvintageamps.com/catalog...hp?cPath=21_29

Also, none of the alnico blues are made in China. Celestion N American rep has posted this several times IIRC on TGP and BoogieBoard.