What’s your favorite Celestion pre 90? (G12-80, g12 m25 blackbacks, vintage greenbacks, etc.)

[mooncobra]

What is your favorite Celestion made before 1990, and why?

Any of you guys ever played the g12-80s from 79-81, 79 they were labeled with Marshall on back. I am talking about these Rola Celestion g12-80s this dude is playing.





Here he puts the g12-80 up against the g12 m25 blackbacks.

 

[braintheory]

Basically asking: What’s your favorite Celestion back when they were good? White voice coil gb’s & ‘60’s blues. After going through all these rabbit holes it’s as obvious an answer as the sky being blue. Every other speaker they made (except maybe the gold) really doesn’t need to exist imho. The next best after that imo are brown voice coil pre-rola/pulsonic cone 25w GB‘s & bass cone blackback 25’s (just depends which flavor you prefer). The vented T75’s & 65’s are sorta like higher powered GB’s, but the quality of tone is markedly worse (even when they’re pushed with volume)

The best formula imo is really quite simple: white voice coil gb’s or blues for tone & JBL’s or Crescnedo’s for power and about as good tone as you’ll get from higher powered speakers. The right combo of the 2 gets the balance (depends also on playing to the cab’s strength). Higher powered celestions imo don’t do that job as effectively. No Celestion moves air or has the extended bottom end of those. Celestions excel at their midrange, which is IME unmatched by other brands, so the lower powered ones play up most to their forte

 

[mooncobra]

Basically asking: What’s your favorite Celestion back when they were good? White voice coil gb’s & ‘60’s blues. After going through all these rabbit holes it’s as obvious an answer as the sky being blue. Every other speaker they made (except maybe the gold) really doesn’t need to exist imho. The next best after that imo are brown voice coil pre-rola/pulsonic cone 25w GB‘s & bass cone blackback 25’s (just depends which flavor you prefer). The vented T75’s & 65’s are sorta like higher powered GB’s, but the quality of tone is markedly worse (even when they’re pushed with volume)

The best formula imo is really quite simple: white voice coil gb’s or blues for tone & JBL’s or Crescnedo’s for power and about as good tone as you’ll get from higher powered speakers. The right combo of the 2 gets the balance (depends also on playing to the cab’s strength). Higher powered celestions imo don’t do that job as effectively. No Celestion moves air or has the extended bottom end of those. Celestions excel at their midrange, which is IME unmatched by other brands, so the lower powered ones play up most to their forte

Yes, I suppose the question is what is your favorite celestion back when they were good.

 

[braintheory]

Yes, I suppose the question is what is your favorite celestion back when they were good.

I do think for their current made stuff the Alnico Gold & heritage 20w GB’s are quite good, but some the best speakers they had in the ‘60’s really were exceptional imo. I also left out the 1st version V30’s. They’re very good, I just don’t need them for my purposes since I’ve got white voicecoil GB’s & JBL’s. The white voice coil H25’s are literally the only H mag Celestion’s that sound great to me despite the more hollow sounding H magnet. This G12-80 I still have to try admittedly, but my expectations aren’t too high

 

[Rex Rocker]

Marshall V30's were pretty cool back then too.

 

[mooncobra]

Anyone else!?

 

[Geo]

Yes, my favorite speaker. Bought a cab from my old guitar teacher who had a cover band in the early 80's. He used to dime his JCM800 through them. Just nothing else sounds right to me now.

 

[mooncobra]

Yes, my favorite speaker. Bought a cab from my old guitar teacher who had a cover band in the early 80's. He used to dime his JCM800 through them. Just nothing else sounds right to me now.

Which speaker?

 

[Geo]

Which speaker?

The CL80-12. Don't know cone #'s or anything. Silver label Rola 15 ohm. 4 in a cab.

 

[mooncobra]

The CL80-12. Don't know cone #'s or anything. Silver label Rola 15 ohm. 4 in a cab.

Cool. I saw one for sale. A 1982a in near mint condition with Marshall labeled g12-80s

 

[Geo]

Cool. I saw one for sale. A 1982a in near mint condition with Marshall labeled g12-80s

Saw that on ebay, def worth it. You won't be disappointed

I buy them when I can. I have 2 in mint shape for backups.

 

[Geo]

I should have bought it, it sold for $125.

 

[ZEN Amps]

Not sure where to start, so many great options! And of course depends on the amp and the sounds you're going for, but some favourites:
- G12M Pulsonic 75Hz for classic rock
- G12H 75Hz blackback for aggro 'Let There Be Rock' type crunch
- G12 65 lead cone for bright amp/guitar combinations (e.g. Strat > 2203)
- G12T-75 before they changed the voicing for the worse, perfect 80's rock/metal speaker.

 

[psychodave]

I have quads of those G12-80's. They are great speakers. I also have quads of blackback H30's as well.

 

[mooncobra]

I have quads of those G12-80's. They are great speakers. I also have quads of blackback H30's as well.

Whoa. Nice. I’ve heard you speak of the blackbacks before. Is that your favorite?

 

[psychodave]

Whoa. Nice. I’ve heard you speak of the blackbacks before. Is that your favorite?

I like H30's the most. The blackbacks are definitely up there... Not sure I have a favorite. I have a ton of different speakers though.