UK vs. Chinese Vintage 30 comparison clip

[glassjaw7]

Have you noticed that Mesa used to sell their cabs with V30's rated at 70 watts. But now i see them rated at 60 watts. Did Mesa stop using their version of the V30?

I think their 4x12 used to come labeled as 280 watts, but now they're 240 watts. At least i think this is the case. I may be wrong though, i don't know.

From the TGP V30 thread:

I am also advised by Celestion directly that ALL verisons of the V30, no matter when or where or for whom made, are about 65 watts in actuality. So the discretionary 70w or 60w ratings of various manufacturers as printed on their cabs over the years have no real bearing on sound, quality, build, etc. That has never changed. If your 1998 Mesa recto cab has 280w printed on the speaker jack plate, and your 2011 Mesa recto cab has 240w printed on the speaker jack plate, rest assured it is still the same English-made T4335 V30 inside, unchanged since about 1991, with the same tone and power handling. If the older one sounds better, it's just more broken in and the adhesives, magnets and paper cones are aging nicely.

Interesting stuff!

 

[MississippiMetal]

Celestion says STFU.

 

[glassjaw7]

Celestion says STFU.

Never! Not while there are extremely minor sonic details that most people can't distinguish to dispute!!!

 

[Ventura]

I liked the mellowness of the 1st one (now that I finally donned the eargoggles and gave it a test drive); but I liked the snarl and punch of the 2nd one. Had I had the choice? I'd go with No.2 - more bite and snarl...

I've got Alnico Golds for the perfect speaker tone

V.

 

[richedie]

Id' be curious of the code marked on the stamp!?

I know I was told when buying a V30, make sure it has 444 stamped on the back of the cone. I recently picked up a few UK 444 cone V30s and they sound great in my Bogner 212. Before this I had a WGS Vet30 and ET65 in the cab.

 

[FourT6and2]

I'm resurrecting this thread. Hopefully the OP is still around.

He posted another thread with photos of these two speakers. And from the speaker codes, they are both Chinese. The other difference between these two speakers is that one is 8 ohms, the other is 16 ohms.

T3903 Standard Chinese 8 ohm
T3904 Standard Chinese 16 ohm
T3987 Marshall OEM 16 ohm
T4416 Mesa OEM 16 ohm
T4335 Mesa OEM 8 ohm

However, Scumback posted up saying if it says "50" on the sticker, it's Chinese. If it doesn't say "50", it's made in England. However this doesn't match the above speaker code breakdown...

Also, in an earlier thread OP said this, which contradicts some of the information he posted in this thread:

[

The stock V30's in my Orange 2x12 have gold baskets, 444 stamped on cone, "Ipswich England" on magnet decal and also on the little white stamp. This is a new cab bought in 2010.

The stock V30 in my Orange 1x12 has a silver basket, different cone code, no mention of "Ipswich" anywhere, says "Made in China" on stamp, and a completely different magnet decal. This is also a new cab.

I pulled one of the ones from my 2x12 out and compared it with the one in the 1x12 (in the same cab).

The one labeled "Ipswich" sounds like a TOTALLY different speaker. Warmer, more low end, less grit in mids. The one labeled "Made in China" is a ragged mess in comparison.

All I learned is that one speaker sounds a hell of alot better. But I still have no idea if the "good" one is actually Made in England. To add to the confusion, in the past I had a gold basket V30 that said "Made in PRC". Neither of the ones I have now say that. But rather "Made in China". I give up

 

[glassjaw7]

First speaker still sounds much better to me.

 

[FourT6and2]

First speaker still sounds much better to me.

I agree.

But the question is, we don't really know which one is which. Because one speaker is 8 ohms. The other is 16 ohms. And while they both have Chinese codes, one says Made in China and the other doesn't specify.