AC30 Speakers

[lytener]

I gave in and bought a Vox AC30 secondhand. I also have an AC15. I want to upgrade the speakers but I'm a bit unsure. 3 choices:

Celestion Blues
Weber Bluedog
Eminence Red Fangs

Also what power rating are the speakers and ohms? I read in tonequest that the red fangs were ones that came the closest to the Celestion Blues. Between the Webers and the Fangs I know I will get a good upgrade it's just a matter of a few hundred dollars that separate me from the blues. Is there a noticeable difference in sound from the blues?

I personally was thinking of order webers just to maintain the "look", but I am looking for a consensus on the better buy. If anything I can load up the ac15 with the "other" speaker.

Thanks!

[FMA]

I know Celestion Blues are the standard and for good reason. They're also pretty darned expensive...
And I know Webers get a lot of love, also for good reason.
But I recently put a Red Fang in my AC15 -- replacing a ceramic Wharfdale, and boy howdy, it's a great speaker. What was a great amp is now a phenomenal sounding amp. It's warmer, but still with a great smooth high end. Nice and chimey. It breaks up smoothly. Just a great sounding speaker. Bang for buck, it's hard to go wrong with a Fang.
Of course, that said, it would be hard to go wrong with any of the options you laid out...

[Stephens]

I own an AC30 reissue with Celestion blues and it sounds great. Classic Vox tone. But even the reissue blues aren't like the old ones. I did a lot of reading on speakers to figure out if I wanted the Webers, Celestions or the Red Fangs. They are all great speakers from what I have heard so you cannot make the wrong decision on any of them. From what I have read at the plexipalace Vox board and the Gear Page board, the Red Fang seems to be a modern or updated take on an original blue and the Weber 30 watt (yes the 30 watt not the 15 watt) are supposed to be the closest tonewise against a Celestion Blue. I would suggest trying to look up the threads on these speakers in the archives of these websites and you'll be a bit more educated and these guys really know their stuff. Good luck!

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/forumdisplay.php?f=1

http://vintageamps.com/plexiboard/vi...d92cfa3727419f

[lytener]

I appreciate it fellas. Looking forward to getting new speakers now.

[Wayne Alexander]

lytener, if you want the classic Vox tone you will not get it with a Red Fang or the Weber Blue Dog - they sound very good, but don't sound just like Celestion Blues - I'd say maybe 80% similar, but there's a character that the Blues have that has yet to be duplicated, as far as my experience goes. The Red Fangs are the cheapest alternative, and they're great speakers if your taste leans to a bit more Marshally sound. If you need the classic Vox chime and grind, nothing will give it to you other than the Blues (or the Celestion Gold, if you need the extra power handling, it sounds almost identical). When I use the word "classic" above I mean the sounds we've all heard from musicians using AC30s which have Celestion Alnico G12 speakers in them) - Beatles, Queen, U2, Tom Petty, REM, Foo Fighters, etc. If you want your AC30 to sound exactly like that, forget the cheaper alternatives and save up for the Blues. If you'd be satisfied with a different sonic signature in the same general "type" as the Blues, then the Weber and Eminence are outstanding speakers.

[joey52]

I have a VOX AC15TB with a Weber Bluedog - sounds absolutely amazing! I also have a VOX AC30CC2X with Celestion Blue's - sounds great too (not completely broken in yet, but already shine and shimmer). The only thing I don't like about the Celestion Blue's is the price. Go for either Bluedogs or Red Fangs.

[Twangmeister]

+1 for what Mr. Alexander said. The Celestion Blues are the way to go, and worth the price (see if you can find a broken in pair on eBay). The Celestion Gold, a higher-powered version of the Blues, has been a revelation with my modded Deluxe RI.

[Cottage]

I think Wayne is probably right here. I have an AC30 TB with Red Fangs and I think they sound great, but my tastes lean more to Clapton's "Beano" sound than classic jangle. The Fangs are, however, a very good compromise.

[WrapAround]

Go with the Gold! It's a great sounding speaker, a little thicker/throatier than the Blues.

[1293]

Admit it, you want the blues.

A pair of blues would only be $100 more than either the bluedog or red fang.

Don't waste your money on something you don't want.


NOTE: I have no affiliation with Celestion nor any of Celestion's subsidiaries

[Big Smokey]

I am going to counter the red fangs vs blues issue slightly. I have fangs in my Ac30CC and a buddy has celestion blues. We AB'ed them recently and found the difference barely audible. In my opinion the Red Fangs get you more like 95%-98% there. The tone quest report shootout a couple years ago backs this finding up.

[KC]

just ordered a 30-watt ceramic Blue Dog for my AC30CC1 -- a third of the price of the Gold. I'll report when it arrives (though I've no idea what the Gold would sound like, and so can't compare). I've got a 15-watt ceramic in my Blues Junior & it's bootylicious.