Sleeper Celestions?

[Racerxrated]

I picked up an early 800 cab; it’s a 1984A bass cab that would have had either H100s, 80s, or early T75s. My intention was to put a pair of 1963 Blues and JBL 123s in it, and sell the quad of G12 S50s.
Holy crap these 50s sound killer! They won’t dethrone my fav speakers but man, they sound great and pretty close to my 88 Marshall Vintage cab. Smoother with a little less clarity than the vintages. More upper mids too but not harsh. Pleasantly surprised!
These came stock in the ADA cabs and other mid level Marshall cabs/combos.

Anyone have a Celestion that isn’t a ‘usual suspect’ that they like?

 

[cardinal]

I've not played a legit English Celestion that isn't at least pleasant. Even the hated G12M-70 was ok to me. And the 75s are more than fine as well. I'm sure some of the real budget speakers are garbage though.

 

[Searay]

I must say that I had a JCM800 bottom with 4 G12M-70 and it sounded better than my other two JCM 900 I had at the time with upgraded speakers from the G12T75. I could not figure out why so many hated them. I sold it because I am a snob and gave in to the press that I was not supposed to like them.

 

[thegame]

G10L-35. Yes a 10" speaker. Those old 1980's Marshall 4x10 cabs were killer. Reasonably tight, crunchy but also warm. This speaker is like a bridge between the G12-65 and a Greenback, two speakers already related. And they had very low efficiency measuring 95 db @ 1w/meter. Great for cranking vintage amps without blasting yourself out of the room.

 

[Racerxrated]

G10L-35. Yes a 10" speaker. Those old 1980's Marshall 4x10 cabs were killer. Reasonably tight, crunchy but also warm. This speaker is like a bridge between the G12-65 and a Greenback, two speakers already related. And they had very low efficiency measuring 95 db @ 1w/meter. Great for cranking vintage amps without blasting yourself out of the room.

I had a quad of those in the cab I used throughout the 90s, a felt covered Hughes n Kettner. Nice sounding cab. Turns out that the L35, S50 and K85 are all from the same lineage according to Celestion.

 

[thegame]

I had a quad of those in the cab I used throughout the 90s, a felt covered Hughes n Kettner. Nice sounding cab. Turns out that the L35, S50 and K85 are all from the same lineage according to Celestion.

 

[Fret-Shredder]

I hear you on these 50w celestions. Very smooth sounding with my 80s tribute rack rig. They do have a small magnet but still sound great.

 

[Racerxrated]

These S50s also have a 95 sensitivity like the 35s.

 

[cardinal]

G10L-35. Yes a 10" speaker. Those old 1980's Marshall 4x10 cabs were killer. Reasonably tight, crunchy but also warm. This speaker is like a bridge between the G12-65 and a Greenback, two speakers already related. And they had very low efficiency measuring 95 db @ 1w/meter. Great for cranking vintage amps without blasting yourself out of the room.

I have a 1965B with those and it's a great cab.

 

[napalmdeath]

I have a 1965B with those and it's a great cab.

I had one of those YEARS ago, when I bought a Valvestate VS100 head brand new. They had a used one I took home with it.

 

[thegame]

I have a 1965B with those and it's a great cab.

Nice. I recall liking it more than any 2x12. Though it’s been a couple decades since I‘ve played one.

 

[stephen sawall]

G10L-35. Yes a 10" speaker. Those old 1980's Marshall 4x10 cabs were killer. Reasonably tight, crunchy but also warm. This speaker is like a bridge between the G12-65 and a Greenback, two speakers already related. And they had very low efficiency measuring 95 db @ 1w/meter. Great for cranking vintage amps without blasting yourself out of the room.

I have a pair of the G10L-35. Probably my favorite 10 inch speaker.

 

[mrmega]

The G12C 25 Greenbacks that came in the Marshall Jimi Hendrix Cabs and the Vintage Modern 425A and 425 B cabs are awesome!

 

[Racerxrated]

The G12C 25 Greenbacks that came in the Marshall Jimi Hendrix Cabs and the Vintage Modern 425A and 425 B cabs are awesome!

Those are very nice; I had an early VM B cab with them and that cab killed. I sold it and a few yrs later bought another; didn't sound the same. Came to find out the first year VM speakers were made in Britain along with the Hendrix cabs; the following 2 years were made in China.

 

[Hamer95USA]

Celestion G12K-85 speakers. They came stock in the '90s Peavey VTM straight & slant cabs and their vertical 2x12 stereo guitar cabs.

Guitar George

 

[Racerxrated]

Celestion G12K-85 speakers. They came stock in the '90s Peavey VTM straight & slant cabs and their vertical 2x12 stereo guitar cabs.

Guitar George

Another nice speaker....I had a VTM B cab with them for a while. Very underrated cab and speaker. I'd rather have the K85 than most T75s other than the earlier ones.

 

[Scordare]

Agreed on the G10L-35s.. I bought a beat up KMD 4x10 for next to nothing with them in it and was blown away by how good they sounded.

 

[stephen sawall]

Celestion G12K-85 speakers. They came stock in the '90s Peavey VTM straight & slant cabs and their vertical 2x12 stereo guitar cabs.

Guitar George

I have one of the 2x12 and 4x12 cabs. The speakers are excellent. The cabinet regardless of what speakers used are the best cabs I have ever heard. I have K85 in the 2x12 and greenback / vintage 30 in the 4x12 currently.

 

[Hamer95USA]

I have one of the 2x12 and 4x12 cabs. The speakers are excellent. The cabinet regardless of what speakers used are the best cabs I have ever heard. I have K85 in the 2x12 and greenback / vintage 30 in the 4x12 currently.

I used to own a pair of Peavey 412MS cabs that matched the VTM 60 & 120 amp heads with the gold Peavey logos and the 212 MS cabs with the silver Peavey logos. I moved away from using the 2x12 cabs and traded the 412MS cabs to get a Marshall 4x12 cab and be one of the cool kids. I would agree that the 412MS A & B cabs are well designed with metal corners (not plastic), came with wheels, and the wood used was durable & sounded good. I never thought that the 412MS from the Butcher & VTM amp eras would be a classic speaker cab to own.

Guitar George

 

[Racerxrated]

I used to own a pair of Peavey 412MS cabs that matched the VTM 60 & 120 amp heads with the gold Peavey logos and the 212 MS cabs with the silver Peavey logos. I moved away from using the 2x12 cabs and traded the 412MS cabs to get a Marshall 4x12 cab and be one of the cool kids. I would agree that the 412MS A & B cabs are well designed with metal corners (not plastic), came with wheels, and the wood used was durable & sounded good. I never thought that the 412MS from the Butcher & VTM amp eras would be a classic speaker cab to own.

Guitar George

That ‘armor’ covering they used, seems very similar to the spray on truck bedliner material. Whatever tried to damage that cab would end up mutilated in its attempt.