Warehouse Guitar Speakers vs Celestion - my take so far

[grolan1]

I have an Eric Clapton Tremolux - it came loaded with a Celestion Heritage G12-65 speaker. Being an expensive amp I assumed it would be a great speaker. I built a 1x12 pine cabinet and loaded it with a WGS ET65 speaker which sounds great. Ran it with an Orange TT for awhile. For grins I plugged the WGS ET65 cabinet into the EC Tremolux. I was amazed at how much better the WGS speaker sounded than the Celestion G12-65! The G12-65 seemed to breakup at medium to high volumes, but the ET65 was clean and wonderful. Yes the amp itself was breaking up, but the speaker was as well. As you know one of the problems with lower wattage amps is the clean headroom, this speaker not only goes a long way to help that out, but also sounds better. Still amazed how much better the WGS speaker sounds then the Celestion. I personally don't dislike speaker distortion/breakup, but when you have an amp that is very prone to breaking up, I want my speaker normally to not do the same thing. Also the WGS was louder which is surprising as they both rated about the same spl.

Since the Tremolux is an the border of being under powered for gigs, I ordered the newer version of the speaker from WGS, ET90 which is even higher SPL rated (giving it more seemed volume). I installed it and it sounds not only as good if not better than the ET65, it is slightly louder. This will bring the Tremolux one step closer to be a real gigging amp for sure. I may not need the second 12" speaker cab after all.

I can't convey how happy I am with all of my WGS speakers... not only do they do a fantastic job, they cost must less than there competitors and ship super fast from here in the good ole USA!

On a side note, when putting in the speaker in the Tremolux I was very happy to notice the transformers are Mercury Magnetic's, something you would have thought Fender would be advertising!

 

[daddyopapa]

I think the Celestion was voiced to Eric's preference so it breaks up the way he likes it. And Fender does advertise the MM trannies in all the EC amps.

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[keithb7]

I will back up your comments about the WGS ET-65. I bought one last summer for a 1x12 Avatar cab I have. I custom ordered a 4 ohm version. Great speaker! I run it with my '64 Bandmaster head and 18W TMB head. Sounds excellent with both heads for classic rock style music my band performs. Bandmaster cleans are thick with improved bottom end over the stock 2X12 cab with vintage C12N speakers in it. Great service, fast shipping and communication. Yay, WGS.

 

[grolan1]

The Eric Clapton Celestion is stock, no mod's for this amp... but good thought!

 

[surfoverb]

i had an et65 in a tweed deluxe, I took it out because it gave the amp too much headroom. It was loud, bright, and punchy. Great if thats what you want, but I wanted a more trad, farty sounding speaker lol

but yeah very well made speaker.

 

[keithb7]

i had an et65 in a tweed deluxe, I took it out because it gave the amp too much headroom. It was loud, bright, and punchy. Great if thats what you want, but I wanted a more trad, farty sounding speaker lol

but yeah very well made speaker.

I would agree that an ET-65 would be a bad choice in a 5E3 amp. Tweed dirt is a totally different animal than 64 BM cleans or 18W grind.

 

[Jared Purdy]

I think the Celestion was voiced to Eric's preference so it breaks up the way he likes it. And Fender does advertise the MM trannies in all the EC amps.

(link removed)

Exactly. It's a tweed amp, not a BF amp.

 

[dkal24]

I'm sold on WGS. I use the ET65/Retro 30 combo and could not be happier.

 

[Telecasterless]

I bought a speaker from a guy who is a speaker snob. He bought and sold so many speakers, always looking for the right tone. He is an excellent musician and teacher. He said of all the amazing speakers he has owned, nothing has approached the WGS speakers he had. He wasn't trying to sell me a WGS - a Weber actually that didn't fit the tone he was looking for in that particular amp. But he said WGS was the best kept secret....I have no idea, it was just interesting to hear him rave about them effusively, without trying to sell me on one. FWIW

I'm pretty happy with the Weber I got, FWIW.

 

[Bantam]

I replaced stock Jensen in my PRRI with a 12" Black & Blue WGS, I can't express how happy I am with this swop.
WGS Fantatstic speakers

 

[grolan1]

Well, as far as Weber speakers, I feel the same as I do about WGS speakers.. they are fantastic... WGS speaker are cheaper and seem to ship faster than Weber's do. I have 3 10A125's in my 5E7 amp kit from Weber and they sound fantastic.

 

[chris m.]

Thanks for the tip. I am a big fan of Eminence, too, as far as value goes. I'm loving the Red Fang 8 ohm, 12" alnico I recently put into my MMB amp. So now I have a second brand to consider when I'm looking for a speaker. One reason we can save so much money and get great quality is these companies are not putting nearly as much money into full page ads in Guitar Player, etc., so they have lower overhead. It's a different business model that we can all benefit from if we do our homework.

 

[joeperry85]

Hi Guys I'm pretty new here! I have a jtm45 with kt66 and it quite bassy. I have a semiopen back with NEO creamback which sounds fizzy and crappy. I'm totally disappointed by that speaker.

which one would you recommend, ET65 or ET90? I play classic rock but also ambient stuff with that kind of ethereal pristin sound of echore + electric mistress and reverb .

 

[uriah1]

I think WGS are competing head to head with EMI and Weber and Celestion on a few speakers. The ET65 is the line leader. Smooths out dark amps.
Celestion has been pulling for years however, but, with all the choices you really have to consider application.
I love their alnicos, anniv and non-neo creamback 65s. Weber and EMI Tonetubby and scumback have great stuff and Avatar.
Too many choices...aaargh.

 

[stephent2]

Great guys, I stopped by the factory and got a tour (they don't usually do that, but I work w/ Goodsell amps and he uses WGS almost exclusively, Richard gave them a call).

And I have WGS in all my amps, excellent products. My impression of the Celestion Blue vs. the WGS Black and Blue was the same, the WGS just sounds better.

 

[RyCo1983]

The WGS Veteran 30 and their 75 watt equivalent both sound just as good (better in the case of the V30 clone) as the speaker that they are modeled after.

IMHO

 

[theprofessor]

And I have WGS in all my amps, excellent products. My impression of the Celestion Blue vs. the WGS Black and Blue was the same, the WGS just sounds better.

I don't know that I've heard a Black and Blue. I have, however, heard a Blackhawk or Blackhawk HP alnico in a SF Deluxe Reverb, and ... WOW! I wish they weren't so expensive! But then again, a Celestion Gold is expensive, too.

 

[keithb7]

I would agree that an ET-65 would be a bad choice in a 5E3 amp. Tweed dirt is a totally different animal than 64 BM cleans or 18W grind.

Back in 2013 I said this? Ever quote yourself? Lol. I put an ET-65 in a 5E3 that I built this winter. Sure it sounded different than an original stock '59 5E3, but not a bad choice.

 

[stephent2]

Very nice alnico speaker, you're right, not cheap but $50 less than the Celestion Blue for a better speaker

https://wgs4.com/BnB

I don't know that I've heard a Black and Blue. I have, however, heard a Blackhawk or Blackhawk HP alnico in a SF Deluxe Reverb, and ... WOW! I wish they weren't so expensive! But then again, a Celestion Gold is expensive, too.

 

[CV Jee Beez]

I've used both the G12-65and the ET-65. I like both but they are different. They both have that large dust cap but the ET-65 seems to be louder and more brilliant.

I love the Celestion but have used it to tame highs and warm things up.

Ironically I happened onto a real gem. I sold a cab on CL and the buyer had me install the speaker.

He had an original G12-65 that he had reconed at Orange County Speaker works. I looked at the cone and dust cap and realized they gave him a Vintage 30 cone. Everything you love about theG12-65 but with tighter bass and a bit more presence.