G12k-100 vs red back

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This is an interesting old post..
I recently got an H75 and I have used them before. To me, the H75 lacks mids and girth. To me it sounds thinner than the red back and K100. I tried an H75 with my Redbacks but it sou ded thin to me. I switched to a CL80, and the thickness came back my favorite speakers are the redback, K100, CL80and English V30.

The best high gain mixes I have tried are the K100/V30 and Redback/V30..
Maybe I need to give the H75 some more time. Seems to lack the thick meaty sound of Redbacks and k100s..
 
To the post above, Redback and H75 user here... I'll first I've listened to dozens of clips between all of these speakers and have had most of them in my cabs as well, but take this with a grain of salt.

Clips: I seem to really like the RI GB's in clips the best. The clips I've heard of the Redback have been inconsistent; some sound great and others not so much. K100, V30, Cream 90s, 65s, 75s all have been pretty consistent to my ears. I really like clips of the H75 as to me they seem like a good blend of a V30 and RI GB...to my ears. I don't find they mids hollow like a T75, but just a bit less full compared to some others.

The more I listen to V30 clips, the more I realize that on their own they could be a bit annoying, but I have them mixed with an H75 in my 2x12 and for live shows, that pair kills it. Love my tone with that pair and it cuts through the mix great.

Never liked many clips of the K100s and I don't care for them in person. Played them through many amps: Helios, Splawn, Henning, Mesa JP, Friedman, modded Marshalls, and I just don't dig them.

In-person: I love the Redback. I just did an A/B of the Redback in an OS 1x12 Voltage cab against my Friedman 2x12 with V30/H75 mix, and it more than held it's own. I was quite surprised how this comparison did in the room to my ears based on comparison clips online. It was much better in person. The Redback had just the right amount of rolled-off highs that I want and can use my EQ more to taste vs the V30/H75 where I'm rolling back Presence/Highs at higher volumes. The Redback gives me a bit more control. The bass bunch is full and tight! The Redback mids aren't flat to me, but more relaxed than the V30 and I feel slightly 'thicker' than the H75, but not as thick as a Cream M65.

I want to try the Redback/V30 mix sometime. I think you could do well with an all Redback 2x12 or 4x12. Of course, many amps are speaker and cab dependent. My 3 amps right now are modded Marshall types, and the Redback loves them all.

Regarding Redback vs. K100, since I'm just not a fan of K100's, my bias is obvious. I'm sure K100s rock in many applications, but I give the edge to the Redback based on my experiences.

Cheers.
 
K100/V30 in my Bogner 212 sounds incredible with my amps for rhythm or lead. Really throaty and thick. So punchy.

In my 412, V30/Redback.

In my Stone Age, doing Redback/H75
Right now have two Redbacks in one 212 but I think the H75 will balance it out. Soloing, I need more bite and bloom up top and upper mids.

Even with a bright amp, I find I need to blend the Redback.
 
PSGuitar said:
K100/V30 in my Bogner 212 sounds incredible with my amps for rhythm or lead. Really throaty and thick. So punchy.

In my 412, V30/Redback.

In my Stone Age, doing Redback/H75
Right now have two Redbacks in one 212 but I think the H75 will balance it out. Soloing, I need more bite and bloom up top and upper mids.

Even with a bright amp, I find I need to blend the Redback.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I could see that if you're used to those somewhat brighter speakers for sure. I don't find the Redback 'dark' at all, it's just tamed compared to other Celestions. ...Why not try the V30 first?
 
Junk Yard, you mean try the V30 first in my SA 212??

It's a 212 and I think the added bass of the H75 will be nice and I already have V30s in all other cabs, so I want some variety

412 - V30/Red
212 - V30/K100
212 - H75/Red

I hear what you say about the Red not being dark. For our music and my ears, I find I like what other speakers do to blend the Red.

Lots of pro cabs just use V30s, but I like blending in Reds, 100s and CL80s...
 
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PSGuitar said:
Junk Yard, you mean try the V30 first in my SA 212??
It's a 212 and I think the added bass of the H75 will be nice and I already have V30s in all other cabs, so I want some variety

412 - V30/Red
212 - V30/K100
212 - H75/Red

I jlhear what you say about the Red not being dark. For our music and my ears, I fins I like what other speakers do to blend the Red.

Lots of pro cabs just use V30s, but I like blending in Reds, 100s and CL80s...
Click to expand...

Agree. I think the RB is gaining some traction. Again, some (not all) clips on YT made it sound bad compared to my experience. I bet the initial descriptions of 'dark' turned some people off, or maybe some clips, but I bet most folks would like them overall.
 
In thr end, we all hav edifferent ears and our amps and how we EQ, will dictate
I know guys who play be the Red and hate. I know guys who love the V30 and hate. Same with the T75. Some hate that speaker, yet my friend and tech has one of the best live tones around using a Marshall and T75s.
 
Curious how the Redbacks has rolled off highs and huge, right lows like the K100, but with a small dust cap!? I though large dust cap speakers like the K00, H65 and CL80 have the shaved highs and big lows?

The red back is an anomoly? It's got huge lows like the K100, but darker and more even. The K-100 has more highs.

Not sure how they did it.

I tried the H-75 and personally hated it. Too hollow and thin to my ears with my amps. Redbacks sound light years better to me.

Favorite speakers are V30s, K100s, CL80s and Redbacks. Add in Lynchbacks, and I am good to go.

Would like to try the Eminence Mick Thompson.
 
PSGuitar said:
In thr end, we all hav edifferent ears and our amps and how we EQ, will dictate
I know guys who play be the Red and hate. I know guys who love the V30 and hate. Same with the T75. Some hate that speaker, yet my friend and tech has one of the best live tones around using a Marshall and T75s.
Click to expand...
Cabs cabs cabs. If you play a Marshall cab with V30s, harsh city (NOT the Marshall Vintage). But if you play a Mesa, Rivera, Bogner or Diezel with V30s they sound great. Cab construction/design is HUGE when it comes to how you interpret a speaker. With T75s, I have the first version with the magnet vents..if you played it then played a Marshall T75 cab from say 2000 you would think they aren’t even related. That speaker has gone through MANY revisions over the years, since they came out in ‘83.
 
Mr. Willy said:
Maybe I misread your post, but Redbacks have a large dust cap. And yes, they are awesome.
Click to expand...
Yup. Redbacks have large dust caps.

Racerxrated said:
Cabs cabs cabs. If you play a Marshall cab with V30s, harsh city (NOT the Marshall Vintage). But if you play a Mesa, Rivera, Bogner or Diezel with V30s they sound great. Cab construction/design is HUGE when it comes to how you interpret a speaker. With T75s, I have the first version with the magnet vents..if you played it then played a Marshall T75 cab from say 2000 you would think they aren’t even related. That speaker has gone through MANY revisions over the years, since they came out in ‘83.
Click to expand...

100%. I've had the same speaker combos in OS Bogner 2x12s, Friedman 2x12s, and Stagecraft and they all sounded different cause the cabs were different.
 
Mr. Willy said:
Maybe I misread your post, but Redbacks have a large dust cap. And yes, they are awesome.
Click to expand...
My bad! They do have a large cap! I was thinking of the H75, which I don't like. Much prefer the Redback.
 
PSGuitar said:
My bad! They do have a large cap! I was thinking of the H75, which I don't like. Much prefer the Redback.
Click to expand...
I didn’t care for the H75 either. Not a bad speaker, but not the best fit for amps on the brighter side, imho. The Redback compliments my SLO in all the right places. Love it.
 
I just didn't like the H75 with any of my amps, even my dark amps. Just always sounded weak, and hollow to me. Redback, V30, CL80 and K100 sound much thicker and meaner with my amps.
 
What Racer said about cabs. I've owned every Mesa Recto cab but the Mini Recto 1x12. They all have Mesa V30s in them They ALL SOUND DIFFERENT. The 4x12 straights are the most balanced & amazing, that and the 1x12 cube shaped Recto cab. The 2x12s are all very bright with reduced bottom end.

I currently have the standard 2x12 horizontal. Because it's so top-shifted I've actually thought that perhaps replacing the pair of V30s with a pair of Redbacks would be a yin to the cab's yang & balance the tone out. Plus then it could blast my Triple & Coli! My only concern would be what it would do to the tone in the band mix- the V30s really do sit nice there.

Examples of 2x12 fizz-

 
I have a pair of K85 (K100). I was thinking about getting a pair of Redback to put in a 4x12 with them.
Anyone mix these speakers in a cab ???
 
Redbacks and K100s mix well but for me it was overly bassy. I prefer Redback/V30 and Redback/CL80 (my Splawn 412) and K100/V30 (my Bogner 412).
I love Redbacks but not so much on their own.
 
GJgo said:
What Racer said about cabs. I've owned every Mesa Recto cab but the Mini Recto 1x12. They all have Mesa V30s in them They ALL SOUND DIFFERENT. The 4x12 straights are the most balanced & amazing, that and the 1x12 cube shaped Recto cab. The 2x12s are all very bright with reduced bottom end.

I currently have the standard 2x12 horizontal. Because it's so top-shifted I've actually thought that perhaps replacing the pair of V30s with a pair of Redbacks would be a yin to the cab's yang & balance the tone out. Plus then it could blast my Triple & Coli! My only concern would be what it would do to the tone in the band mix- the V30s really do sit nice there.

Examples of 2x12 fizz-

Click to expand...

I had the same issues with 212 cabs.
I found converting to semi open back, helped dramatically.
I also prefer mixing in Redbacks, K100s and CL80s/90s with V30s.
I love the thickness of Redbacks. Have to balance them with brighter speakers I find. Not sure how I would mic them live though. Makes me feel mixing is not best unless we can mic our cabs in the middle, between two speakers.

Are those cabs all MESA V30s?

I have one cab with half Mesa V30s and one with China V30s. Both are great, but different. My Mesas. Are a bit darker and not as clear.

Opening up the 212 makes a huge difference.
 
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PSGuitar said:
I had the same issues with 212 cabs.
I found converting to semi open back, helped dramatically.
I also prefer mixing in Redbacks, K100s and CL80s/90s with V30s.
I love the thickness of Redbacks. Have to balance them with brighter speakers I find. Not sure how I would mic them live though. Makes me feel mixing is not best unless we can mic our cabs in the middle, between two speakers.

Are those cabs all MESA V30s?

I have one cab with half Mesa V30s and one with China V30s. Both are great, but different. My Mesas. Are a bit darker and not as clear.

Opening up the 212 makes a huge difference.
Click to expand...
Yes they're all stock Mesa V30s. I've sold most of those cabs though and the ones I have now are for the most part older ones that sound super sweet. All 4x12 straights. The newer cab I have left is way more spikey, maybe it just needs years of abuse, IDK..?
 
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