Why do I like Celestion G12-65's but I don't really care for 25 Watt Greenbacks????????

  • Thread starter Thread starter harddriver
  • Start date Start date
see-that-thats-8534d31587.jpg


Sometimes you feel like a nut and sometimes you don't.
Dan........................... thanks for being you!:2thumbsup:
 
Any and every Celestion needs power behind them to shine best. GBs, even at 25w per sound crisp and tight when cranked. I have 4 quads of Pulsonics, and they go next level vs even the 77 T1511 BB cab which is also killer. 6402s pale to any of these vintage GBs. They're ok...but I'll put the EVH or 20w Heritage over them. I have some 6402s here for reference. I really don't understand anyone comparing them to vintage GBs of any kind. They aren't even close.

65s are amazing and perfect for any Marshall type circuit. The Heritage version is great but if you can score the brightest version, the T3120 those are the version to rule them all. In fact any 65 cab I've had, loved every Mesa/Marshall/EVH/SLO/Naylor I've owned.

As much as I love 65s the 80s Marshall Vintage speaker is now the king over any non Pulsonic GB. I have an 8 ohm cab from 1988, and a 16 ohm cab from 87. It's kinda like a 65 mixed with a non spiky V30. Perfect.
Are you referencing the Marshall early Vintage 30 speakers from1986-1988?
 
Yes sir!

A very different experience from any other V30. The first versions are not spiky like the 91-current versions, and are smoother.
I thought so, I believe SGTThump has a cabinet of those he said he absolutely loves, I think that's the cab he is using with his new Diezel VH-4 clips. I've heard great things about them from others as well. I think those were the speakers that everyone loved with the Silver Jubilee amps when those came out in 87.

I still love my 12H-30's best out of everything else I've tried over the years, it's just a preference, but there are always speakers ya haven't tried.......it never ends does it?...:LOL:

On a side note... my G12-65's are out for delivery from Sweetwater today so I may get them installed this week hopefully.:2thumbsup:
 
I was playing my combo amp that has a Heritage Celestion G12-65 this weekend and it just sounds killer, great punch, tight lows not wooly, great snarl nice mids and highs details and that jam session got my wallet into trouble.:LOL:

I've had some of the best Greenbacks made over the years(except real Pulsonic coned greenbacks), 1978 Blackbacks, 6402 variants, UK made greenbacks, Scumback M65's and I've played EVH cabs with the EVH Heritage 20 watters and I've always preferred my vintage and Heritage 12H-30 cabinets. I know the G12-65 was essentially supposed to be a higher powered greenback but I just hear the G12-65 as different and superior for whatever reason.

So much so I ordered 2 UK Heritage G12-65's to install in my V30 cabinet on top like the Friedman cabs do with the Greenbacks. Right now the V30 cab has the new 2025 UK V30's on top and two older Mesa spec V30's on the bottom. I'm thinking the G12-65's will play nicely with the UK V-30's and I'm going to pull the Mesa Spec ones out.

I know the vintage G12-65's are supposed to be the best but I really like these Heritage ones for what they are so I said" what the hey".\:D/

I've also owned plenty of greenbacks over the years including some of the vintage grail models, and I'll take a G12-65 over them any day of the week. I dig the vented early G12-75s too. They both seem to have increased bandwidth over a greenback and they don't start sounding uglier as you turn up the volume. I've yet to hear the heritage model 65s though.
 
I thought so, I believe SGTThump has a cabinet of those he said he absolutely loves, I think that's the cab he is using with his new Diezel VH-4 clips. I've heard great things about them from others as well. I think those were the speakers that everyone loved with the Silver Jubilee amps when those came out in 87.

I still love my 12H-30's best out of everything else I've tried over the years, it's just a preference, but there are always speakers ya haven't tried.......it never ends does it?...:LOL:

On a side note... my G12-65's are out for delivery from Sweetwater today so I may get them installed this week hopefully.:2thumbsup:
Yep!
They first came out in 85 I think; and went into the Artist 15/30 combos. Last I saw there was an 89 slant for sale on eBay, but not cheap...1600 if I remember right. They are harder to find than Pulsonics though.
 
I was playing my combo amp that has a Heritage Celestion G12-65 this weekend and it just sounds killer, great punch, tight lows not wooly, great snarl nice mids and highs details and that jam session got my wallet into trouble.:LOL:

I've had some of the best Greenbacks made over the years(except real Pulsonic coned greenbacks), 1978 Blackbacks, 6402 variants, UK made greenbacks, Scumback M65's and I've played EVH cabs with the EVH Heritage 20 watters and I've always preferred my vintage and Heritage 12H-30 cabinets. I know the G12-65 was essentially supposed to be a higher powered greenback but I just hear the G12-65 as different and superior for whatever reason.

So much so I ordered 2 UK Heritage G12-65's to install in my V30 cabinet on top like the Friedman cabs do with the Greenbacks. Right now the V30 cab has the new 2025 UK V30's on top and two older Mesa spec V30's on the bottom. I'm thinking the G12-65's will play nicely with the UK V-30's and I'm going to pull the Mesa Spec ones out.

I know the vintage G12-65's are supposed to be the best but I really like these Heritage ones for what they are so I said" what the hey".\:D/
Depending on amp and style it always depends as well as ones approach IME :dunno:
 
Hope you enjoy, G12-65's are one of if not my favorite Celestions ever. I have four vintage 55hz G12-65's in a Marshall Bass 4x12 that sound amazing. I've also got my son's Lead cab here with four vintage 75hz as well, but like the 55hz a little more.
I have one of those bass cabs too. Sounds nice but maybe a little scooped.
 
I thought so, I believe SGTThump has a cabinet of those he said he absolutely loves, I think that's the cab he is using with his new Diezel VH-4 clips. I've heard great things about them from others as well. I think those were the speakers that everyone loved with the Silver Jubilee amps when those came out in 87.

I still love my 12H-30's best out of everything else I've tried over the years, it's just a preference, but there are always speakers ya haven't tried.......it never ends does it?...:LOL:

On a side note... my G12-65's are out for delivery from Sweetwater today so I may get them installed this week hopefully.:2thumbsup:
Yes! I have four Marshall "Vintage" speakers in the 16-ohm version made in 1990. I believe these are the first year offered in 16-ohms. I LOVE THEM. :)

I have two in my 2x12" and that's what I was using in those live Diezel videos.
 
Initial report is... I like the cabinet more( it's a Marshall 1960 slant cab) with the Heritage G1265's on top with the UK V30's on the bottom more than I liked it with all V30's in the cab. The cab now has a bit of that greenback chew to it but none of that wooliness I have always attributed to 25 watt greenbacks. I also realize that I really really prefer straight cabinets but I snagged this cab for $400 bucks so I can't bitch too much.....:p:LOL:

That was with my Cameron 50 watter going though it, Next up is my Splawn Modded 79 2203 and well see how that one sounds later today.
 

Attachments

  • DSCF8170[1].JPG
    DSCF8170[1].JPG
    1.4 MB · Views: 31
Just curious how would the celestion 65 compare to the EVH celestion speakers
 
Just curious how would the celestion 65 compare to the EVH celestion speakers
Since we all hear things differently, the only way to know for sure is to buy a couple and put them side by side and see what your own ears tell you. :yes:

The only reason I got these was because I was playing my combo amp and I was really digging how the G12-65 sounds in that amp and I was like damn..... I haven't tried those in a 4x12 cab yet...............So far I really like them.
 
Just curious how would the celestion 65 compare to the EVH celestion speakers
They don’t IMO. The EVH is a weak, polite version of the G12M Reissue. Quieter, softer, looser, and less high mid cut. It has a wooly sounding low mid “honk” to me. Also farts out at moderate volumes in a 4x12 with a real M circuit amp.

The 65 is tighter. Even though the 65 is dark to me overall, at least it holds together and has a little presence to crunch on top. The EVH is just wimpy and soft to me. Don’t get why people like them.
 
That’s what I’m experiencing with my EVH celestion 5150III 4x12 cabinet
 
Would the celestion V30 or the celestion greenback be more aggressive and cut better then the EVH celestion
 
Would the celestion V30 or the celestion greenback be more aggressive and cut better then the EVH celestion
The current UK greenback is miles better than the EVH if you are using any amount of preamp gain and playing at volume (IMO). Not a fan of V30’s in general but always keep a few around.
 
They don’t IMO. The EVH is a weak, polite version of the G12M Reissue. Quieter, softer, looser, and less high mid cut. It has a wooly sounding low mid “honk” to me. Also farts out at moderate volumes in a 4x12 with a real M circuit amp.

The 65 is tighter. Even though the 65 is dark to me overall, at least it holds together and has a little presence to crunch on top. The EVH is just wimpy and soft to me. Don’t get why people like them.
Well... I just got done logging 2 hours with the Splawn modded Marshall set up all the ways I set it up. I ran it in my Dime mode with a JB guitar and my Duno L500XL guitar with a VFE standout and Fortin Zuul+ up front ala Dime and the G12-65's really sounded great for that application, kinda like his 12M-70 tones but better IMHO.

Your description is almost spot on to what I hear EyesoftheSouth. Yes, the G12-65's a bit dark but that can be compensated for, bit more treble, presence....What I like is there is this crunch( PRESENCE as you describe it) with just a bit of chewiness that rides on the chording yet they are composed and tight still with all that gain. When this cab was all V30's that crunch was not that apparent riding the chords. They also really chugged great with a nice low end punch yet tight with Pantera type riffs and the new UK V30's on the bottom blended alot better than I had hoped for.

My Splawn modded Marshall always has had this big lowend,low mids built into the circuit and it can get woofy at times especially with Greenbacks but everything was tight and controlled with the G12-65/V30 mix. My 12h-30's don't reproduce as much of that woofy lowend as the greenbacks tend to do IMHO.

I then ran it in classic Marshall modded plexi mode and that crunch was still there riding the notes/chords yet tight and composed... which I liked, almost as good as my vintage 12H-30 cabs which are still my favorite but this cab would work for those tones where the all V30's kinda didn't, at least to my ears. All in all, the G12-65's have met and possibly surpassed what I wanted to hear. I am pleased I tried them out.:2thumbsup:

Makes me wonder what the actual vintage 80's G12-65's sound like now???? It never ends.......:LOL:
 
Last edited:
Back
Top