Celestion Vintage 30 vs Celestion Alnico Gold

[TrueTone500]

Has anyone compared these two speakers in a 4x12 cabinet? How about mixing them with other speakers?

 

[benduncan]

I have two Spawn 4x12's. One with Alnico Golds and Classic Leads, the other with v30's and Creambacks.

The golds are my favorite by far. They are a lot more smooth/balanced, to my ears. So over all, the golds sound better. But, the v30 has a crunch to it that sounds really good on leads. I think it may have more in the 2-3k range??? It's still mainly the golds, but I blend in plenty of v30 while recording leads. They are in different cabs(same model, though) but I've ran both cabs together before and compared all of them. I prefer the Alnico Gold, Classic Lead combo. The v30's are very similar to the CL's, they have a bit more top end though. I only play in the studio, so I can't say which cuts better live, or anything like that. Not really liking the Creambacks, I'd replace them with some gold's if I had $600

I can record some quick comparison clips if you want. What kind of amp/mics would you be using with them? I have a pittbull and a triple recitfier. As for mics I have a 57, an e906(609) and an audix i5. Not sure if you're working with anything similar.

 

[TrueTone500]

I have two Spawn 4x12's. One with Alnico Golds and Classic Leads, the other with v30's and Creambacks.

The golds are my favorite by far. They are a lot more smooth/balanced, to my ears. So over all, the golds sound better. But, the v30 has a crunch to it that sounds really good on leads. I think it may have more in the 2-3k range??? It's still mainly the golds, but I blend in plenty of v30 while recording leads. They are in different cabs(same model, though) but I've ran both cabs together before and compared all of them. I prefer the Alnico Gold, Classic Lead combo. The v30's are very similar to the CL's, they have a bit more top end though. I only play in the studio, so I can't say which cuts better live, or anything like that. Not really liking the Creambacks, I'd replace them with some gold's if I had $600

I can record some quick comparison clips if you want. What kind of amp/mics would you be using with them? I have a pittbull and a triple recitfier. As for mics I have a 57, an e906(609) and an audix i5. Not sure if you're working with anything similar.

Thanks!

Gear I'm using:
- Cornford RK100 (clean/crunch/low-med-high gain) > Mesa 4x12/V30
- Vox AC30CCH (clean/crunch) > Cornford semi-open 2x12/Alnico Gold
- Guytron GT20 combo (clean/crunch/low-med gain) > 1x12 Alnico Blue
- Shure 57 mics
- DBX 160A Compressor
- TC 1210 and 2290
- RSP Intelliverb
- Lexicon PCM 60
- Mackie mixer
- Korg i30
- Nord Lead 3
- Tascam 8 track RTR recorder

Pedals:
- Fulltone ABY
- RMC 10 Wah
- ADA Flanger
- Black Cat Univibe
- EH Big Muff (use with AC30)



I coated the interior of the Cornford OS 2x12 pine cabinet with Acoust-X, due to excessive resonating. The Cornford 4x12 was fine, but the 2x12 has too much area for pine. Sounds incredible now, especially when paired with the AC30CCH. I love the sound of the 2x12 paired with a 4x12, but in this case I can't use both, because the cabs are of differing impedance ratings. My Cornford 4x12 and 2x12 had a matched impedance. Mesa must be the only company that rates its 4x12 cabinets at 8 Ohms. I've been thinking about the Jensen Jet Blackbird's also.

My idea was to put 2 x V30's in the 2x12, and place the AG's in with the other two V30's in the Mesa 4x12.

Great stuff!

 

[John4021]

Golds always sound "choked" in a closed back cab,at least in a 1x12 and 2x12 cabs.
I bought a open back 2x12 and it was a big differance. Plus my 1x12 is a covertable so I leave it open.

Sounds like Benduncan has better luck in a 4x12 format closed back cab.

 

[Deleted member 13074]

I coated the interior of the Cornford OS 2x12 pine cabinet with Acoust-X, due to excessive resonating. The Cornford 4x12 was fine, but the 2x12 has too much area for pine. Sounds incredible now, especially when paired with the AC30CCH. I love the sound of the 2x12 paired with a 4x12, but in this case I can't use both, because the cabs are of differing impedance ratings. My Cornford 4x12 and 2x12 had a matched impedance. Mesa must be the only company that rates its 4x12 cabinets at 8 Ohms. I've been thinking about the Jensen Jet Blackbird's also.

I'm liking your amp choices - the RK is a righteous beast.
The cab treatment is a new one for me. How did that compare to the option of baffling in terms of what it does for the sound?

Some testimonies say that 8ohms in a 4x12 is a sweeter sound than 16ohms. I went with 8ohms for mine but haven't done an a/b.
At least you can put your Alnicos straight into the 4x12 without having to get new speakers.
That won't take long and then at least you'll know if they work together.
It is unfotunate that the RK doesn't have separate speaker inputs as you could run the cabs together safely for a test into 8 and 4 ohm inputs.
if you have another amp to hand with separate inputs, or can borrow one, you might like to try that before firing up the soldering iron.

 

[TrueTone500]

I coated the interior of the Cornford OS 2x12 pine cabinet with Acoust-X, due to excessive resonating. The Cornford 4x12 was fine, but the 2x12 has too much area for pine. Sounds incredible now, especially when paired with the AC30CCH. I love the sound of the 2x12 paired with a 4x12, but in this case I can't use both, because the cabs are of differing impedance ratings. My Cornford 4x12 and 2x12 had a matched impedance. Mesa must be the only company that rates its 4x12 cabinets at 8 Ohms. I've been thinking about the Jensen Jet Blackbird's also.

I'm liking your amp choices - the RK is a righteous beast.
The cab treatment is a new one for me. How did that compare to the option of baffling in terms of what it does for the sound?

Some testimonies say that 8ohms in a 4x12 is a sweeter sound than 16ohms. I went with 8ohms for mine but haven't done an a/b.
At least you can put your Alnicos straight into the 4x12 without having to get new speakers.
That won't take long and then at least you'll know if they work together.
It is unfotunate that the RK doesn't have separate speaker inputs as you could run the cabs together safely for a test into 8 and 4 ohm inputs.
if you have another amp to hand with separate inputs, or can borrow one, you might like to try that before firing up the soldering iron.

It was boomy and washed-out though the entire range... It was awful sounding! I first tried a center brace, but its effect was minimal. I eventually converted it to semi-open, sounded better, but still too resonant... The Acoust-X coating did the trick! It's now the most musical 2x12 I've ever played through.

The RK has 2 x speaker outputs... Do you mean 2 x selectable Ohm settings like the early Bogner 101B?

Here's a pic of the cabinet after the o/b conversion and Acoust-X treatment... Looks factory!

 

[TrueTone500]

I coated the interior of the Cornford OS 2x12 pine cabinet with Acoust-X, due to excessive resonating. The Cornford 4x12 was fine, but the 2x12 has too much area for pine. Sounds incredible now, especially when paired with the AC30CCH. I love the sound of the 2x12 paired with a 4x12, but in this case I can't use both, because the cabs are of differing impedance ratings. My Cornford 4x12 and 2x12 had a matched impedance. Mesa must be the only company that rates its 4x12 cabinets at 8 Ohms. I've been thinking about the Jensen Jet Blackbird's also.

I'm liking your amp choices - the RK is a righteous beast.

You aren't just a whistlin' Dixie! An ex-bandmate/friend who use to sit-in with Pat Travers came by last week, and was absolutely blown-away after playing through the RK! He's been bugging the sh!t out of me to loan it to him.

 

[Deleted member 13074]

The RK has 2 x speaker outputs... Do you mean 2 x selectable Ohm settings like the early Bogner 101B?

That does look like a pro finish. Great work.

I mean separate speaker outs eg 1x16ohm, 2x8, 2x4 with no selector.
Some manufs offer this and say it gives a more direct connection to the power amp.
For example:

 

[Deleted member 13074]

I'm liking your amp choices - the RK is a righteous beast.

You aren't just a whistlin' Dixie! An ex-bandmate/friend who use to sit-in with Pat Travers came by last week, and was absolutely blown-away after playing through the RK! He's been bugging the sh!t out of me to loan it to him.

I've got a lot of experience with gear over the years. I may even have owned all versions of the V30 at various times lol.
I spent time with the RK through the sig cab (V30s) and it struck me as a no-nonsense, raw & pure one channel monster. I am picky about gain structure, but that amp has a voice I loved.

 

[TrueTone500]

The RK has 2 x speaker outputs... Do you mean 2 x selectable Ohm settings like the early Bogner 101B?

That does look like a pro finish. Great work.

I mean separate speaker outs eg 1x16ohm, 2x8, 2x4 with no selector.
Some manufs offer this and say it gives a more direct connection to the power amp.
For example:

Cool! Looks like a CAE amp I once owned. I didn't know you could mix impedances with this type of set up? I assumed these multi-outputs were in leu of a selector switch... So, you can plug-in an 8 Ohm and 16 Ohm cabinet, and run both at the same time?

I thought these were:
- 1 x 4 Ohm out.
- 1 x 8 Ohm out.
- 1 x 16 Ohm out.
- 2 x 16 Ohm into the 2 x 8 Ohm outs.
- 2 x 8 Ohm into the 2 x 4 Ohm outs.

 

[TrueTone500]

I'm liking your amp choices - the RK is a righteous beast.

You aren't just a whistlin' Dixie! An ex-bandmate/friend who use to sit-in with Pat Travers came by last week, and was absolutely blown-away after playing through the RK! He's been bugging the sh!t out of me to loan it to him.

I've got a lot of experience with gear over the years. I may even have owned all versions of the V30 at various times lol.
I spent time with the RK through the sig cab (V30s) and it struck me as a no-nonsense, raw & pure one channel monster. I am picky about gain structure, but that amp has a voice I loved.

I just vary my guitar's volume knob for clean to high gain when using the RK only. The DBX 160A (limiter mode) helps to control any volume spikes.

 

[Deleted member 13074]

You can use mismatched cabs
In your case it would be your 8 ohm 4x12 into the 4ohm speaker out, and the 16ohm 2x12 into the 8ohm speaker out

 

[benduncan]

Thanks!

Gear I'm using:
- Cornford RK100 (clean/crunch/low-med-high gain) > Mesa 4x12/V30
- Vox AC30CCH (clean/crunch) > Cornford semi-open 2x12/Alnico Gold
- Guytron GT20 combo (clean/crunch/low-med gain) > 1x12 Alnico Blue
- Shure 57 mics
- DBX 160A Compressor
- TC 1210 and 2290
- RSP Intelliverb
- Lexicon PCM 60
- Mackie mixer
- Korg i30
- Nord Lead 3
- Tascam 8 track RTR recorder

Pedals:
- Fulltone ABY
- RMC 10 Wah
- ADA Flanger
- Black Cat Univibe
- EH Big Muff (use with AC30)



I coated the interior of the Cornford OS 2x12 pine cabinet with Acoust-X, due to excessive resonating. The Cornford 4x12 was fine, but the 2x12 has too much area for pine. Sounds incredible now, especially when paired with the AC30CCH. I love the sound of the 2x12 paired with a 4x12, but in this case I can't use both, because the cabs are of differing impedance ratings. My Cornford 4x12 and 2x12 had a matched impedance. Mesa must be the only company that rates its 4x12 cabinets at 8 Ohms. I've been thinking about the Jensen Jet Blackbird's also.

My idea was to put 2 x V30's in the 2x12, and place the AG's in with the other two V30's in the Mesa 4x12.

*VIDEO*

Great stuff!

Nice setup, I've been wanting to try out a RK100 for a long time. I suppose that clips would be pointless if you already own both. I'd say go for it(v30, AG combo)

That acoust-x stuff looks interesting. I just recently put some polyfiber batting in my cabs, like Bogner(and others) does. It took me a while to figure out how much to put in. I started out with a ton, kept reducing it until I only had two sheets of it on the back. I have a ton of extra, lol.

 

[Ventura]

Apples and oranges.

Celestion Alnico Golds?!?!?!?!!? Dude... Those are the Bentley's of speakers - buttery, sweet, beautiful, and well balanced. And ya, they can go hard too - that cat from Anthrax (I think??) loads his 412s with 'em. But they ain't cheap.

Love Golds....

 

[benduncan]

Apples and oranges.

Celestion Alnico Golds?!?!?!?!!? Dude... Those are the Bentley's of speakers - buttery, sweet, beautiful, and well balanced. And ya, they can go hard too - that cat from Anthrax (I think??) loads his 412s with 'em. But they ain't cheap.

Love Golds....

 

[TrueTone500]

Thanks!

Gear I'm using:
- Cornford RK100 (clean/crunch/low-med-high gain) > Mesa 4x12/V30
- Vox AC30CCH (clean/crunch) > Cornford semi-open 2x12/Alnico Gold
- Guytron GT20 combo (clean/crunch/low-med gain) > 1x12 Alnico Blue
- Shure 57 mics
- DBX 160A Compressor
- TC 1210 and 2290
- RSP Intelliverb
- Lexicon PCM 60
- Mackie mixer
- Korg i30
- Nord Lead 3
- Tascam 8 track RTR recorder

Pedals:
- Fulltone ABY
- RMC 10 Wah
- ADA Flanger
- Black Cat Univibe
- EH Big Muff (use with AC30)



I coated the interior of the Cornford OS 2x12 pine cabinet with Acoust-X, due to excessive resonating. The Cornford 4x12 was fine, but the 2x12 has too much area for pine. Sounds incredible now, especially when paired with the AC30CCH. I love the sound of the 2x12 paired with a 4x12, but in this case I can't use both, because the cabs are of differing impedance ratings. My Cornford 4x12 and 2x12 had a matched impedance. Mesa must be the only company that rates its 4x12 cabinets at 8 Ohms. I've been thinking about the Jensen Jet Blackbird's also.

My idea was to put 2 x V30's in the 2x12, and place the AG's in with the other two V30's in the Mesa 4x12.

*VIDEO*

Great stuff!

Nice setup, I've been wanting to try out a RK100 for a long time. I suppose that clips would be pointless if you already own both. I'd say go for it(v30, AG combo)

That acoust-x stuff looks interesting. I just recently put some polyfiber batting in my cabs, like Bogner(and others) does. It took me a while to figure out how much to put in. I started out with a ton, kept reducing it until I only had two sheets of it on the back. I have a ton of extra, lol.

The RK is a great amp. I prefer a single channel 100 watt amplifier for gain tones, so it works well for me. If you're ever visiting the Central Florida area, you're more then welcome to play through it. Except for the transformers and chassis (90% of the amp), I have all the parts needed to build an RK100 clone. I have the OEM transformer codes for sourcing, and they're not too expensive.