Vintage 30 love anybody?

[gkinsingapore]

I love my Recto 2x12 as well.

Off the Mesa website:

The test cab came loaded with Mesa/Boogie’s proprietary Vintage 30 8Ω speakers, which, according to Mesa/Boogie’s Doug West, provide a crisper attack and tighter sound compared to the 16ΩVintage 30s commonly found in 4x12 cabinets. Most Celestion speakers are now assembled in China, but Mesa/Boogie’s are still made in England using old-fashioned air-dried adhesives, instead of modern fast-drying types. (Different adhesives have different weights and other properties, and speakers can be sensitive to these subtle tone-altering differences.)

 

[steve_k]

I used to be strictly V30's. Played a lot of Mesa's then though and Diezel's. But, since I have went back sort of old school with Marshall's, Friedman's and what not, I am quickly moving away and not looking back. I have become a huge fan of Vintage Greenbacks and some of the Scums. The M65's just romp with no flub and farting. Nothing wrong with 30's though.

Steve

 

[ericsabbath]

mesa v30s even have a different product code
usually T4335B (8 ohms) or T4416B (16 ohms)
the old english and the chinese ones have T3903 (8 ohms) or T3904 (16 ohms)
marshalls had T3989 (8 ohms) or T3897 (16 ohms)

they're definitely not the same as regular V30s, but I never could make a comparison in the same cab to notice the differences

 

[Hard&Heavy]

Love 30's

 

[droptrd]

Love my 30s too. I have some stock mesa V30s in a recto std and some stock randall v30s in an XL412. the randall is mixed with H30s. the 2 cabs sound completely different from each other. its cool.

 

[droptrd]

Doesn't Celestion make a different V30 for Mesa than the stock version or is that a myth?

Well some people will swear that is the case, but when I was in the Hollywood Mesa store last month, I asked about this. All three guys said they couldn't understand where that rumor came from; according to them, the Celestion V30s they use are no different than from any other cab company.

Mesa also says they dont relable/rebrand tubes

 

[9ball]

. V30s are really some of the best speakers out there for metal.

not just for metal either they can be very warm and do alot of low gain stuff good too

 

[SFW]

After a few years of floundering around after I sold my Recto Cab, I finally came back. I don't know if it's the V30s, the cab design or a combination of the two... but I will never sell this cab! Part of "that tone in my head" involves a recto cab.

 

[9ball]

After a few years of floundering around after I sold my Recto Cab, I finally came back. I don't know if it's the V30s, the cab design or a combination of the two... but I will never sell this cab! Part of "that tone in my head" involves a recto cab.

it's the 30's lol

 

[jmgman69]

I just picked up a well broken in Recto 412 and the V30s sound great!!!!

 

[racerevlon]

With the right head, they're awesome... with the wrong head, not so much.

 

[again with this]

Doesn't Celestion make a different V30 for Mesa than the stock version or is that a myth?

Well some people will swear that is the case, but when I was in the Hollywood Mesa store last month, I asked about this. All three guys said they couldn't understand where that rumor came from; according to them, the Celestion V30s they use are no different than from any other cab company.

Mesa also says they dont relable/rebrand tubes

Mesa does rebrand tubes. Period. Due to EPA regulations, vaccuum tubes are no longer made in the US. They have to get them from overseas. I have been told that they, do however, "cherry pick" the batches of tubes to be within their desired spec.

On the other hand, they do not stamp "Mesa" on the speakers like they do the tubes. so... Tubes rebranded, yes... speakers, no. At least, where the V30s are concerned. Not sure about the Black Shadows or whatever their proprietary speakers were.

 

[PeteLaramee]

For me - I had a love/hate thing with them. I loved them when dialed in perfectly. I don't think it's easy to do with every head.

 

[bbaug14]

I'd say I'm pretty happy with mine. I have an Egnater 4X12 with V30s and it sounds pretty good. It doesn't sound as good as my 2X12 but that could be that my amp is dialed in with my 2X12 and I don't change anything for the 4X12. That being said, I wasn't a fan of them in the 2X12 before I made the change. I know a lot of people on here say they only sound good in 4X12s and there may be something to that.

 

[JTyson]

I have some cabs loaded with them that sound great, I dont know if they are the best thing out there, I have not heard some others I would like to try. I cant reload 412's just to see, I would have to blow something up and have a reason to change them because of the cost factor

 

[Rogue]

I like them when they are good and broken in. Not so much when new.

 

[charveldan]

I've got two Carvin cabs that i loaded with V30's, for Metal, nothing finer, compared the my Marshall G12-80 & G12M Blackback Rola Celestons the V30's can be a tad brite with my JMP's, usually i turn the presence off when using the V30's, as the Celestions tame down some of the JMP's briteness.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

It depends on the cab but I still love them in my Bogner 4x12, not so much in my Soldano 4x12.

For Mesa/Boogie speakers my favorite speaker is their C90

 

[dass101]

mesa v30s even have a different product code
usually T4335B (8 ohms) or T4416B (16 ohms)
the old english and the chinese ones have T3903 (8 ohms) or T3904 (16 ohms)
marshalls had T3989 (8 ohms) or T3897 (16 ohms)

they're definitely not the same as regular V30s, but I never could make a comparison in the same cab to notice the differences

I made a comparison, with the same cab, even two cabs they are very different, Mesa's sound smoother and less agressive. If anyone is interested I think I have one of these comparisons recorded somewhere.

To the OP, I tried K100s, G12H30s, CL80s, Chinese V30s, UK V30s, Mesa V30s. Always got back to V30s, and I can honestly say that, after the Mesa V30s, the best one that I got was a brand new Chinese V30 that I got a couple of weeks ago, that just started to break in, and sounds absolutely great!

 

[petejt]

I used to swear by my V30s. But ever since I got another 4x12 cab and front-loaded a pair of EV 12S 200 watt speakers in them, with a C90 Black Shadow and a V30, wired up 16 ohms per side, I can't stand the V30s. I miss the deep, roaring punching tone I get with the EV speakers. The V30s sound harsh and annoying in comparison.