Brit voiced speakers re-revisited

[11 Gauge]

So now my Marshall 4210 has been PTP'ed, tweaked, and properly tubed.

I think it's time for another speaker. The stock Celestion G12H-80 is loud, but it's also bright. I'm guessing Marshall went with this speaker for the clean channel, and the reverb?

I'm looking for that classic midrangey, top end attenuated Marshall tone. Greenbacks are a little too rough for my tastes, and I'd probably blow a single one in this 50 (+) watt amp.

The V30 is probably the one that most comes to mind when I think of Brit flavored amp recordings.

But there are so many other options out there, too. Webers, Emi's, etc., that are probably V30'ish, just a little to the left or right.

So which ones stand out as far as giving Celestion/Rola a run for their money?

[Tim Swartz]

Eminence Governor is voiced much like a Vintage 30, but a bit more raw/agressive/loud.

[JohnnyCrash]

Eminence's Tonker is also very V30-ish. Huge mids that may even be a bit much for a V30 fan.

Too many good speakers to consider... without caffeine I'm useless though... I'll work my brain and get back to this thread HAHA

[David Barnett]

G12H30 Anniversary Edition. It's sort of like a more refined Greenback, similar balance but less "ratty", more controlled breakup. Warm but not dark, good inner note detail. It's a truly great rock guitar speaker, works wonderfully with Marshalls.

[6942]

+1 for the Celestion G12H30

Steve

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by David Barnett

G12H30 Anniversary Edition. It's sort of like a more refined Greenback, similar balance but less "ratty", more controlled breakup. Warm but not dark, good inner note detail. It's a truly great rock guitar speaker, works wonderfully with Marshalls.

Originally Posted by 6942

+1 for the Celestion G12H30

Steve

I like those speakers too, but you'd probably blow a single G12H 30w in your 50w Marshall.

I've never even tried one, BUT I'd actually suggest giving the Jensen Jet Blackbird a try... its a 100w AlNiCo, which is likely to be very creamy on the top end...

Some of Eminence's Brit flavored speakers may get you where you wanna go as well.

[JohnK24]

How about Emi's GB12...a 50w version of the Greenback with better bass and smoother highs. Others, I just took an Emi Tonespotter out of my Blues Jr. (too warm for that amp)...it had a warm, phat bottom, nice British mids and highs that cut, but weren't shrill (tele and strat). hth

[Hoodster]

The Weber ceramic Silver Bell is always a popular choice. You can peruse his British Series options from the menu at left. One thing about Ted is his speaker descriptions are always clear and accurate, so there are usually no surprises.

https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/

[Tim Swartz]

FWIW, I find the Celestion 70th Anniversary G12H-30 to be void of mids (scooped sounding). I don't care for them oh their own, but I have a 4x12 with a pair of these and a pair of Vintage 30s, the combination is works very well.

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

I like those speakers too, but you'd probably blow a single G12H 30w in your 50w Marshall.

Emi Wizard then?

[11 Gauge]

The Emi Governor looks like a hot contender, too.

So many of the Emi RedCoats seem similar with the descriptions. I'd like to give one a go, but just don't know which flavor to try.

When I think of Brit flavored Marshall tones, they tend to be of the 70's rock stuff, like;

Highway to Hell (the song). Angus' JTM45 just rips on this cut. Even the extra treble in the solo is cool. I'm assuming this is probably a really old set of Greenbacks...

Allman Bros Live at the Fillmore East. Both Duane and Dicky have that wicked midrange going. Duane's seems to be more of the lower, classic British frequencies, while Dicky has the slightly higher mid stuff. Both are good...

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

Allman Bros Live at the Fillmore East. Both Duane and Dicky have that wicked midrange going. Duane's seems to be more of the lower, classic British frequencies, while Dicky has the slightly higher mid stuff. Both are good...

I think that Allman and Betts had their 1960A/B cabs loaded with Altec speakers.

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

The Emi Governor looks like a hot contender, too.

So many of the Emi RedCoats seem similar with the descriptions. I'd like to give one a go, but just don't know which flavor to try.

Wizard is their take on the G12H30, with improved power handling. Private Jack is their greenback. I don't remember which is the V30 clone - Tonker, Gov'nor???

[Tim Swartz]

Originally Posted by David Barnett

Wizard is their take on the G12H30, with improved power handling. Private Jack is their greenback. I don't remember which is the V30 clone - Tonker, Gov'nor???

I stated above the Governor is their Vintage 30 clone, but it may actually be a bit better.

..also, the Bro's had JBLs in their cabs w/ the backs taken off... not sure if they were doing this when Filmore came out or not.

[11 Gauge]

Sorry Tim - you woulda saved me a bunch of time and trouble, had I read your original post about the Governor!

Dickie may have been running the JBLs during the Fillmore recordings - his midrange is a little different (higher, smoother) than what I'm used to hearing from that era.

Open back cabs? Hmmm...

[Red Planet]

The Eminence Wizard might be a good choice. They sound Great Openback. I dont like them in a Closedback Cab.

My other Choices for that Amp would be a Classic Lead 80, a G1265, or a Celestion Gold. Any of these would sound stellar.

[DrewB]

Originally Posted by Tim Swartz

FWIW, I find the Celestion 70th Anniversary G12H-30 to be void of mids (scooped sounding).

I won't totally disagree with you, but I would say the "scoop" is pretty shallow. I don't agree that they're devoid of mids, but they're definitely clear, as opposed to nasally. That speaker is my favorite current-production Celestion, really making a Marshall sound like a Marshall should, IMO. I put a pair in a friend's JCM800 4104 50-watt MV combo and the amp sounded amazing with them. As for myself, I use a pair in a closed-back Avatar 2x12 pushed by a Marshall 1987X, and have one in my 18-watt clone.

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by Tim Swartz

FWIW, I find the Celestion 70th Anniversary G12H-30 to be void of mids (scooped sounding). I don't care for them oh their own, but I have a 4x12 with a pair of these and a pair of Vintage 30s, the combination is works very well.

Odd, it doesn't sound scooped at all if you use it in an amp with no tone stack, like my 18-watt. No one would say that combination is lacking in mids in any way.

But then most amps with TB or TMB tone stacks are themselves rather scooped.

[Tim Swartz]

I gave them lots of opportunities, I just like more mids. I would guess they would sound more balanced in a amp with an abundance of mids...which is what you have if you don't have, or bypass the tone stack. Amps like this typically sound great on the bridge pickup, but pretty tubby on the neck pickup.

[ramseybella]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

Sorry Tim - you woulda saved me a bunch of time and trouble, had I read your original post about the Governor!

Dickie may have been running the JBLs during the Fillmore recordings - his midrange is a little different (higher, smoother) than what I'm used to hearing from that era.

Open back cabs? Hmmm...

I remember many years ago there was an interview with then the Young Eric Johnson and the the topic of the Allman Brothers Fillmore tone came up.
Acording to EJ they where using Marshalls with YES! Open back 4x12 cabs, Johnson proceeded to exsplane that switching the power tubes and some other Mojo would have done the same thing?

[6942]

I'm using a Celestion G12H30 in a 1 x 12 open-backed cab, driven by a 5 watt EV Jr. amp.
I find it a VERY dynamic sounding speaker myself.
Scooped mids?
Not on my planet they don't.

Steve

[David Barnett]

Originally Posted by Tim Swartz

Amps like this typically sound great on the bridge pickup, but pretty tubby on the neck pickup.

I had a different reaction. My Telecaster has always sounded a little dull on the neck pickup through Blackface amps such as my '63 Deluxe-Amp, but with the "Marshall" 18-watt clone I've got three very useful voices with that guitar now, I can "hear into" the neck pickup a lot more than before, as though a veil has been lifted.

[Tim Swartz]

I was referring to amps that have the tone stack lifted as being mid-heavy, thus being a better fit for a 70th Anniversary G12H-30. I've been playing clean Marshalls forever (4 input 20s, 50s and 100s), seems lots of guys think of Marshalls as just grinders... just not the case w/ the 4 holers. I completely understand the "veil" being lifted and "seeing into the pickup". Compared to a BF/SF Fender it is lusher, richer clean sound with higher highs, lower lows and a more hamonic midrange... just a lot more colors on the sonic palate.

[JohnnyCrash]

It don't matter about the G12H-30 - it doesn't have the power handling to take a 50 watt Marshall as originally asked.

For what its worth I liked my G12H-30 just fine, but I sold it a while back.

[FenderGuy53]

Originally Posted by JohnK24

I just took an Emi Tonespotter out of my Blues Jr. (too warm for that amp)...it had a warm, phat bottom, nice British mids and highs that cut, but weren't shrill (tele and strat).

Too warm for the BJr? Explain, please.

Wanna sell your Tonespotter?

[Marzio]

has anyone tried the eminence private jacks?