V30 Variations

[braintheory]

How would you guys describe the differences in the various v30 models and which is your favorite? I know there's the Chinese, British, and mesa one (I hear its supposed to be darker). Are there any other versions?

 

[Oblivion DC]

I like the Mesa one best. It seems to have less "harsh" high end.

 

[sg guy]

-I like the oldest ones, the Marshall-(the original)- then MESA Propriety versions,... in 8 ohms if I can-

 

[Tone Monster]

Mesa

 

[guitarnerdswe]

There are loads of different versions. Before the design change in the early 90 there was Marshall branded and Celestion branded. After the change, you have Marshall, Celestion and Mesa. Then, in the early 2000s, you had the move to China. There is also an Orange version, a Marshall Mode 4 version and a Hellatone one. Plus, 8 and 16 ohm versions sound different. In other words, there is somewhere around 15-20 different versions of it.

 

[D-Rock]

Sometimes certain amps call for the Chinese ones that have a spicier highend, while other amps excel with the darker, more stout sounding Mesa variant.

I have Chinese ones in a very dark, oversized 412 and they are a perfect fit in that cab.

My OEM Mesa 412 with V30s is the only cabinet I've never had the urge to play speaker musical chairs with...

 

[SpiderWars]

I like the Mesa 8ohm best. I had a Mesa 2x12 with Mesa 16ohm and prefer the 8ohm but these were all in different cabs. The Mesa 8ohm are in a Mesa Traditional recto cab.

 

[Salos]

Anyone know which V30s are in the Victory cab I just picked up? They're stock in the cab, it's not the vertical version. Killer cab so far.

 

[Racerxrated]

I've had them all, the earliest V30 being the Marshall Vintages (8ohm) in the 87 Jubilee cabs. Mesa, early 90s versions(first ones offered to the public) made in England until 2000.
I can honestly say that the cab makes the biggest difference in tone, whether it's British or Chinese made V30s. Early 90s Fender Tonemaster cab with British V30s, well broken in pales in tone comparison to a Bogner or Rivera V30 cab with Chinese V30s.
Why? Cab Construction. I A/B'd my Mesa Traditional vs a Rivera KT412. Mesa has British V30s, voiced a bit differently vs Rivera with Chinese V30s...They sounded Identical. No difference. Rivera cabs are top quality just like Bogner, made by the same company.
Quality cab will make those chinese V30s sound great.

 

[CrazyNutz]

The Chinese v30's sound fine in a good cab. However the mesa v30's are the best.

you can buy new mesa v30's, 8 or 16ohm here:
https://store.mesaboogie.com/products/s ... -made.html

 

[Deanmachine]

I have a set of the Chinese V-30 and a set of the UK Marshall label V-30 and the Marshall/Celestion wins that battle

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I prefer the Chinese variant. Not a fan of the Mesa. Too muddy for me.

 

[JamesPeters]

I prefer the Chinese variant. Not a fan of the Mesa. Too muddy for me.

+1

Anyway here's the list of V30s I know of:

-Marshall branded V30 (bright!)
-Chinese-made "off-the-shelf" V30s that you can buy in most stores selling speakers (not as bright as the Marshall-branded ones)
-Marshall "Mode Four" V30 version (similar to the Chinese-made one above, but with somewhat deeper lows and a bit smoother sounding)
-"Mesa" V30 made in UK (darkest/smoothest of the above, lows not as deep as the "Mode Four" version)

As for "the Hellatone version" (Avatar Speakers), they're the same thing as the "off-the-shelf" Chinese version but "broken in". (Avatar also had stock of some of the "Mode Four" version which they used for a "Hellatone version" of that, but I see they no longer have any.)

8-ohm versions tend to sound a bit less peaky in the frequency response than the 16-ohm versions, a bit more "even sounding" (not quite as deep or bright). That's due to how they're made differently for the different impedances; they just end up with slightly different properties.

As for "Orange brand version" of V30: I'd seen some UK V30s (like Mesa uses) in a couple Orange cabs but then recently someone told me he looked inside a newer Orange cab and saw the Chinese ones in there. So I don't know what's up with that, if they used one type then switched...or maybe I'm remembering incorrectly. In any case if they used the same general UK type as Mesa but the 16-ohm version (whereas Mesa uses the 8-ohm version in their 4x12s), that could explain differences people notice in the "Orange brand version".

 

[journeyman73]

anyone know what v30 type friedman uses in their mixed cabs? chinese?

 

[Racerxrated]

I prefer the Chinese variant. Not a fan of the Mesa. Too muddy for me.

+1

Anyway here's the list of V30s I know of:

-Marshall branded V30 (bright!)
-Chinese-made "off-the-shelf" V30s that you can buy in most stores selling speakers (not as bright as the Marshall-branded ones)
-Marshall "Mode Four" V30 version (similar to the Chinese-made one above, but with somewhat deeper lows and a bit smoother sounding)
-"Mesa" V30 made in UK (darkest/smoothest of the above, lows not as deep as the "Mode Four" version)

As for "the Hellatone version" (Avatar Speakers), they're the same thing as the "off-the-shelf" Chinese version but "broken in". (Avatar also had stock of some of the "Mode Four" version which they used for a "Hellatone version" of that, but I see they no longer have any.)

8-ohm versions tend to sound a bit less peaky in the frequency response than the 16-ohm versions, a bit more "even sounding" (not quite as deep or bright). That's due to how they're made differently for the different impedances; they just end up with slightly different properties.

As for "Orange brand version" of V30: I'd seen some UK V30s (like Mesa uses) in a couple Orange cabs but then recently someone told me he looked inside a newer Orange cab and saw the Chinese ones in there. So I don't know what's up with that, if they used one type then switched...or maybe I'm remembering incorrectly. In any case if they used the same general UK type as Mesa but the 16-ohm version (whereas Mesa uses the 8-ohm version in their 4x12s), that could explain differences people notice in the "Orange brand version".

There's also the Fender Tonemaster cabs that came with 16 Ohm V30s in the early 90s, nice sounding warmer versions than Mesa. You could buy those off the shelf from Celestion I believe. First public offering of the V30 from Celestion.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I have a set of the Chinese V-30 and a set of the UK Marshall label V-30 and the Marshall/Celestion wins that battle

Got 2 cabs, one had Chinese V30s, other has 2 old 90’s V30s. My buddy has a 4x12 loaded with the Marshall V30s and they sounded killer with my SLO. Absolutely killer. Never tried the Mesas.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I have a set of the Chinese V-30 and a set of the UK Marshall label V-30 and the Marshall/Celestion wins that battle

Got 2 cabs, one had Chinese V30s, other has 2 old 90’s V30s. My buddy has a 4x12 loaded with the Marshall V30s and they sounded killer with my SLO. Absolutely killer. Never tried the Mesas.

After reading James Peter’s comments, those Marshall V30s I played through had to have been the Mode 4 ones. They weren’t as bright as either the Chinese or the English ones I have. They were smoother but had tons of bite. Nice tight low end too. I’ve contemplated trying to buy them from my bud. They sounded that good.

 

[Racerxrated]

I have a set of the Chinese V-30 and a set of the UK Marshall label V-30 and the Marshall/Celestion wins that battle

Got 2 cabs, one had Chinese V30s, other has 2 old 90’s V30s. My buddy has a 4x12 loaded with the Marshall V30s and they sounded killer with my SLO. Absolutely killer. Never tried the Mesas.

After reading James Peter’s comments, those Marshall V30s I played through had to have been the Mode 4 ones. They weren’t as bright as either the Chinese or the English ones I have. They were smoother but had tons of bite. Nice tight low end too. I’ve contemplated trying to buy them from my bud. They sounded that good.

I had a MF 280 cab, sounded very close to the G12 65 cab I had next to it. Not V30 ish at all to my ears. Really underrated cab, and can be found under 300 used.

 

[braintheory]

I have a set of the Chinese V-30 and a set of the UK Marshall label V-30 and the Marshall/Celestion wins that battle

Got 2 cabs, one had Chinese V30s, other has 2 old 90’s V30s. My buddy has a 4x12 loaded with the Marshall V30s and they sounded killer with my SLO. Absolutely killer. Never tried the Mesas.

After reading James Peter’s comments, those Marshall V30s I played through had to have been the Mode 4 ones. They weren’t as bright as either the Chinese or the English ones I have. They were smoother but had tons of bite. Nice tight low end too. I’ve contemplated trying to buy them from my bud. They sounded that good.

I had a MF 280 cab, sounded very close to the G12 65 cab I had next to it. Not V30 ish at all to my ears. Really underrated cab, and can be found under 300 used.

I thought the MF cabs come with k100's?

 

[errrrrl]

I thought the MF cabs come with k100's?

Two types of MF cabs, the slant MF280 had the v30s and the straight MF400 had k100 if memory serves.