What does a Celestion Vintage 30 sound like?

emisilly · January 5th, 2005, 07:46 PM

Thinking about putting one in my Blues Jr. Looking for a warmer overall sound, with the ability to overdrive if necessary with retaining some note detail (no mush). Any personal experiences?

tdu · January 5th, 2005, 07:58 PM

I have one in my Traynor (which is described in an active thread about tube amps on here). I personally love the sound and my tele sounds great through it. It would be hard for me to actually describe the sound though. All I suggest is maybe trying out an amp at the store that has them?

DougF · January 5th, 2005, 11:04 PM

Really improved my Blues Jr....Much tighter sound...does need to be broken in a bit..paid about $130.00 at GC

Tim Bowen · January 6th, 2005, 02:58 AM

Vintage 30 cuts bass slightly and bumps mids a tad. It's "ceramic". Doesn't compress and saturate as quickly as alnico, but is much tighter in the bass, and is punchier. Vintage 30's can be a bit harsh in the upper mids and highs when pushed hard. Every amp I've played with V30's had a sweet spot at no more than 60% of the amp's volume. Beyond that, you're likely better off pushing a small amp with a well matched booster.

Mik · January 6th, 2005, 03:42 AM

I agree with Tim except that the V30 in my Gibson GA15RV is just gettin' started at 60% on the volume knob! Nice to sweet to nasty! Really holds up well. I don't know the Blues Jr, and I guess it's a very different sounding amp than my Gibson, but both amps are (2) EL84, 15 watts (Gibson is cathode biased, the Fender is fixed), the V30 may be a very good match for the Blues Jr. (Mounting holes may have to be drilled in the speaker to install it in the Fender, check that out...if so a V30 trial is out).

Mik

Tim Bowen · January 6th, 2005, 04:04 AM

Cool beans Mik, it's always nice to crank 'em when they'll go for it! Closest reference I have to your post is a little TE Vellocette with a V10 (different beast, I know)... anyway, she's a sweetheart up to a point, and then she's done! I'm the same way with AC30's and Blues... I've got this thing about "sweet spots". I've played very few amps, vintage, boutique, or otherwise, that I felt did their best thing as "cranked", contrary to popular opinion. I like to find "that spot" and then get "more" of it (however I can).

tdu · January 6th, 2005, 09:06 AM

Well it looks like others are better at describing the tone then I am :)

The descriptions are bang on. The comments about a 'tight' sound with a lot of mid are exactly what I hear. The only comment I don't really agree with is the 'sweet spot' one. I have played it at everything from room volume, to practice volume, to stage volume at gigs. I have never found one 'sweet spot' although the louder the better :)

trag-o-caster · January 6th, 2005, 11:46 AM

I keep reading about complaints regarding V30's in an open back cab, and the loss of low end. Apparently, V30's were designed with closed back cabs in mind, so they're a bit harsh in an open back cab. Some are recommending the G12H-30 for open back. I dunno.

I've had real good luck here recently with the two 12" Eminence Legend V12's in my Steelsound cabinet, which is open back. I understand that they are supposed to be Eminence take on the V30, but with a beefier low end. I also REALLY enjoy the G12H-80's that are in my 73 Pro Reverb.

JohnK24 · January 6th, 2005, 02:08 PM

For my Blues Jr. (currently it has a Rev. Alltone 1250, which I'm growing to dislike more each day...too shrill).

From avatar speakers

http://avatarspeakers.com/

I'm getting their Hellatone 30, a shop "broken in" G12H30. I figure with the EL84 based Vox/Marshall like tones, the Celestion should give me a warmer and punchier tone.

hth,

John

Vince a · January 6th, 2005, 03:26 PM

I have a V30 in my BJ, along with matching JJ/Tesla tubes, and a few other mods that our local expert accomplished.

It sounds great at low volume . . . makes my Teles sound more "fenderish," and I agree, it doesn't start coming on until played very loud - even when not mic'ed and competing with a heavy-handed drummer - it doesn't get drowned out. It's 'almost' as loud as an old Bassman that we have laying around . . .

Oh, and it sounds great with a Bad Monkey. I've taken everything out except the BM, and a Dunlop wah that I'm trying to learn to use . . .

Steven · January 7th, 2005, 07:29 AM

The Vintage 30 (and the G12H) have a 100 dB sensitivity witch will make the amp "louder" compared to the stock speaker.

January 5th, 2005, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
emisilly Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Virginia Beach Age: 40 Posts: 485	What does a Celestion Vintage 30 sound like? Thinking about putting one in my Blues Jr. Looking for a warmer overall sound, with the ability to overdrive if necessary with retaining some note detail (no mush). Any personal experiences?

January 5th, 2005, 07:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,531 11 Photos	I have one in my Traynor (which is described in an active thread about tube amps on here). I personally love the sound and my tele sounds great through it. It would be hard for me to actually describe the sound though. All I suggest is maybe trying out an amp at the store that has them? __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

January 5th, 2005, 11:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
DougF Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Minnesota Age: 43 Posts: 124	I bought one too Really improved my Blues Jr....Much tighter sound...does need to be broken in a bit..paid about $130.00 at GC

January 6th, 2005, 02:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 48 Posts: 3,390	Vintage 30 cuts bass slightly and bumps mids a tad. It's "ceramic". Doesn't compress and saturate as quickly as alnico, but is much tighter in the bass, and is punchier. Vintage 30's can be a bit harsh in the upper mids and highs when pushed hard. Every amp I've played with V30's had a sweet spot at no more than 60% of the amp's volume. Beyond that, you're likely better off pushing a small amp with a well matched booster. __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

January 6th, 2005, 03:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mik Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,416	I agree with Tim except that the V30 in my Gibson GA15RV is just gettin' started at 60% on the volume knob! Nice to sweet to nasty! Really holds up well. I don't know the Blues Jr, and I guess it's a very different sounding amp than my Gibson, but both amps are (2) EL84, 15 watts (Gibson is cathode biased, the Fender is fixed), the V30 may be a very good match for the Blues Jr. (Mounting holes may have to be drilled in the speaker to install it in the Fender, check that out...if so a V30 trial is out). Mik __________________ a "motor-bike with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocations, to excess."-T.E. Lawrence

January 6th, 2005, 04:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 48 Posts: 3,390	Cool beans Mik, it's always nice to crank 'em when they'll go for it! Closest reference I have to your post is a little TE Vellocette with a V10 (different beast, I know)... anyway, she's a sweetheart up to a point, and then she's done! I'm the same way with AC30's and Blues... I've got this thing about "sweet spots". I've played very few amps, vintage, boutique, or otherwise, that I felt did their best thing as "cranked", contrary to popular opinion. I like to find "that spot" and then get "more" of it (however I can). __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

January 6th, 2005, 09:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,531 11 Photos	Well it looks like others are better at describing the tone then I am :) The descriptions are bang on. The comments about a 'tight' sound with a lot of mid are exactly what I hear. The only comment I don't really agree with is the 'sweet spot' one. I have played it at everything from room volume, to practice volume, to stage volume at gigs. I have never found one 'sweet spot' although the louder the better :) __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

January 6th, 2005, 11:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,631	I keep reading about complaints regarding V30's in an open back cab, and the loss of low end. Apparently, V30's were designed with closed back cabs in mind, so they're a bit harsh in an open back cab. Some are recommending the G12H-30 for open back. I dunno. I've had real good luck here recently with the two 12" Eminence Legend V12's in my Steelsound cabinet, which is open back. I understand that they are supposed to be Eminence take on the V30, but with a beefier low end. I also REALLY enjoy the G12H-80's that are in my 73 Pro Reverb. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

January 6th, 2005, 02:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
JohnK24 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Saxonburg,PA Posts: 1,401	Here's what I'm going to do For my Blues Jr. (currently it has a Rev. Alltone 1250, which I'm growing to dislike more each day...too shrill). From avatar speakers http://avatarspeakers.com/ I'm getting their Hellatone 30, a shop "broken in" G12H30. I figure with the EL84 based Vox/Marshall like tones, the Celestion should give me a warmer and punchier tone. hth, John __________________ Got Twang ?!

January 6th, 2005, 03:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Vince a Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Modesto, CA Age: 62 Posts: 780	I have a V30 in my BJ, along with matching JJ/Tesla tubes, and a few other mods that our local expert accomplished. It sounds great at low volume . . . makes my Teles sound more "fenderish," and I agree, it doesn't start coming on until played very loud - even when not mic'ed and competing with a heavy-handed drummer - it doesn't get drowned out. It's 'almost' as loud as an old Bassman that we have laying around . . . Oh, and it sounds great with a Bad Monkey. I've taken everything out except the BM, and a Dunlop wah that I'm trying to learn to use . . .

January 7th, 2005, 07:29 AM	#11 (permalink)
Steven Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 511	The Vintage 30 (and the G12H) have a 100 dB sensitivity witch will make the amp "louder" compared to the stock speaker.