I know, Vintage 30s, blah blah blah - but after hearing ProjectHamsterdam's comparison against the Eminence Governor, I have to say I really felt the Governor blew it away. Obviously there are tons of factors (mic choice, mic position, cab type, amp/amp settings, guitar, etc.), but still, the V30 sounded like what I normally expect it to, and hearing it compared to the Governor was really quite telling. I'm willing to accept that pretty much all the experts (both cab makers and those who use them, like Andy, Nordstrom, Bogren, etc. etc. etc. etc.) swear by V30s, but a part of me wonders if that's just because everyone before them swore by V30s and they never tried anything else. Really I'm just musing here; anyone have any thoughts on this?
Crisis of faith - Celestion
- Thread starter Metaltastic
- Start date
definitely agree. the vintage 30 is an amazing speaker, but by far is not the be all end all of speakers for metal recordings. i`m sure andy has tried other models of speakers, however I think it is possible to achieve comparable or better tones (runs and hides) with another speaker. It would suck if v 30 was the only speaker we would ever hear again on metal recordings.
It seems to me that the v30 is used so much because it is readily available and of consistent quality. and the tone aswell
It seems to me that the v30 is used so much because it is readily available and of consistent quality. and the tone aswell
i look at V30's like the 57 of speakers
they're cheap, they're plentiful, and people keep coming back to them because they know it'll get the job done
they're cheap, they're plentiful, and people keep coming back to them because they know it'll get the job done
Yeah, that's a good analogy Kurtz - the thing is, though, that while the 57 is undeniable standard mic for guitars, there are others that are still pretty well respected (MD421, Royer, i5, etc.), but it seems odd how the V30 seems to be ONLY option anyone ever mentions or any cab companies ever include for recording metal guitars (well, except the G12T75, but that's a speaker for niche I have no desire to be a part of ). I guess with so many other variables, it's nice to be able to have some constants, but I'd still like someone (other than me 
) to investigate other options. And I guess one could say that if so many people can still get great tone out of a V30, then I just need to get better at the art - but I seem to often see a lot of mention of people cutting a bit in the upper mids after they've tracked guitars; it sure would be nice to have a speaker that sounded good right from the get-go.
). I guess with so many other variables, it's nice to be able to have some constants, but I'd still like someone (other than me ) to investigate other options. And I guess one could say that if so many people can still get great tone out of a V30, then I just need to get better at the art - but I seem to often see a lot of mention of people cutting a bit in the upper mids after they've tracked guitars; it sure would be nice to have a speaker that sounded good right from the get-go.
ProjectHamsterdam
God of Emptiness
That might be true for the US, but for Europe. . . that's not the case.
Just check out the price of a single Celestion V30: 129 EUR (200.90 USD)
while a single Eminence Governor speaker goes for: 64 EUR (99.70 USD) Quite the difference, eh? I know that in the US you can buy a used Mesa cab with V30s for $500. Well, for $500 in Europe you can buy two V30s and then you'll have some change left to buy a carboard box to put them in.
That's not all: my Celestion V30 was made in China. The Eminence speakers I bought for half the price of the Celestion are made in the USA. The Celestion was a tough and reliable product, I didn't find any fault in it while I had it, but c'mon, how high can the production expenses be? I think their prices are supported by a bunch of hype, and the bastards are capitalizing on that like there's no tomorrow.
If I were in the Eminence marketing guys' shoes, I would turn their entire strategy around. Just look at how they advertise their Governor model: "Classic British Rocktone of the 60´s and 70´s". Not anywhere is there a mention that it is one of their best speakers for high-gain applications. (IMHO of course. And I think this Scott Splawn guy shares my opinion too but that's IMHO again.) Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
And I would also bribe Andy to track his clients' next platinum record using Eminence speakers only and make sure that's mentioned on the CD sleeve in big capital letters.
(I'll stop here coz I think the Eminence guys should be hitting me with cash already. . . Enough free advertising!)
That said, my dream cab is still a Mesa Standard (oversized) with 4 V30s. . . I just want one. . . badly!!
Too bad I can not afford it. (perhaps the above rant is a case of severely sour grapes, who knows?) PS: As I have mentioned before, another interesting model is the Eminence Swamp Thang - it is used by Rivera in their K-Tre combo (check out a video sample at their website - pick K-Tre Combo from the list) I doubt that Rivera will be cutting corners in a combo that costs $2399? Anyway, I'm planning to check them out too in the near future.
My advice would be to keep an open mind and experiment whenever possible. Not that I know anything about anything tho.
i don't know if it's the production expenses...especially if they're made in china - it might have to do with tariffs, taxation, etc.
of course that doesn't make a lot of sense if the eminence speakers don't get gouged like that...shit, who knows?
ProjectHamsterdam
God of Emptiness
Yea, possibly it's not down to the production expenses alone. I personally think it's just a matter of pricing policy (in some cases higher priced products do have more of a desirability factor, as sometimes people tend to think that more expensive automatically means much better) But what do I know about anything.
V30 are cheap in Europe, you just have to know where to look, shouldn't be that hard if you know Celestion is a UK firm
Check these prices:
http://www.lean-business.co.uk/
http://www.lean-business.co.uk/eshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_15&products_id=137
Cheaper then the Eminence govs here even...
Check these prices:
http://www.lean-business.co.uk/
http://www.lean-business.co.uk/eshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_15&products_id=137
Cheaper then the Eminence govs here even...
Manicompression
doing it for the kids
Im with you dude, I finally now own a cab with vintage 30s (fender supersonic 4x12) and while it sounds much better than my old one with celestion stock cheapos (it sounds like someone removed a blanket off my old one) I cant help but wonder how some of these other guys stack up. A while back I was thinking about picking up some of those Swamp Thing speakers or some Govs, but the lack of any real evidence one way or another held me back. Also would like to know how some of those super expensive celestions stack up, you know, like the blue one or the one that looks like it has a spinner rim stuck to the back of it.
The V30 is definitely not the be all end all. Hell, Andy did "Dead Heart..." with a Marshall 1960B loaded with the original 75w Celestions. Personally, I like the 75's better for what I do. I also like Sheffield's and the old-school EV Black Shadows quite a bit. I think it's all a matter of what you are doing. It's all about experimentation and what's best for that particular mix. I've mixed Mesa cabs with Peavey cabs. Marshalls with Kranks, Madison's with old-ass, Jaguar-loaded Randalls... You never know what's going to work the best.
Wha....? Are you sure about this dude? I've read in a lot of older threads that he prefers V30s, and while DHiaDW may have been before he got the Recto cab, I'd think he'd use a 1960BV back in the day
Got this from the Nevermore Thread....
Originally Posted by Noise101
DEAD HEART IN A DEAD WORLD:
Custom Built 7 String Guitar loaded with EMG 707 pickups. The guitars were routed into a Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer that was used as a signal boost. The settings on the TS-9 were:
Drive: 9 O'Clock
Tone: 10 O'Clock
Level: 12 O'Clock
This was fed into the amp that was used on all of the rhythm and leads. The amp used was a Mesa Boogie (2 Channel) Dual Rectifier that was straight from the box. The Mesa Recto was routed into a Marshall 1960B 4X12 Cab with the stock 75 Celestions they have. Settings on the Mesa Recto were:
Silicon Diode Setting
Bold Setting
Red (Modern) Channel
Treble: 11.30
Mids: 10 O'Clock
Bass: 11.30
Gain: 12:30
Presence: 12.30
Master: 10 O'Clock
There were 4 tracks of rhythm, with 2 tracks being panned 100% left and right, and the other set being panned 80% left and right. There was no compression, limiting, etc only a slight touch of EQ used. Two Shure SM-57's were used for recording, one on the center of the cone about an inch away. This was the approximate's denoted by Andy Sneap previously.
ProjectHamsterdam
God of Emptiness
viggen66, tks for the eye-opener. I don't plan to buy any more 'stand-alone' speakers, the next V30s I'll buy will be in a box with Mesa, Engl or Diezel written on it, but thanks for letting me know what's up.
I was checking the Celestion website and the Celestion G12H-30 sounds very intriguing for high gain indeed. Does anyone have any experience with it? And also what is the difference between it (the G12H-30) and the G12H Heritage (except for the price)?
Interesting thread! Thanks!
I don't plan to buy any more 'stand-alone' speakers, the next V30s I'll buy will be in a box with Mesa, Engl or Diezel written on it, but thanks for letting me know what's up. I was checking the Celestion website and the Celestion G12H-30 sounds very intriguing for high gain indeed. Does anyone have any experience with it? And also what is the difference between it (the G12H-30) and the G12H Heritage (except for the price)?
Interesting thread! Thanks!
Melodeath
Moonbow
TravisW
Member
viggen66, tks for the eye-opener.
I was checking the Celestion website and the Celestion G12H-30 sounds very intriguing for high gain indeed. Does anyone have any experience with it? And also what is the difference between it (the G12H-30) and the G12H Heritage (except for the price)?
Interesting thread! Thanks!
What I do know is that the G12M (with the EVH sticker applied) was used on the latest Testament.
Another good-sounding speaker is the old G12-65 (precurser to the Vintage 30). A buddy of mine has a couple of them from the early 80s, and they sound amazingly open and woody--somewhere between a Vintage 30 and a Greenback.
viggen66, tks for the eye-opener.
I was checking the Celestion website and the Celestion G12H-30 sounds very intriguing for high gain indeed. Does anyone have any experience with it? And also what is the difference between it (the G12H-30) and the G12H Heritage (except for the price)?
Interesting thread! Thanks!
you're welcome.
Curious about those G12H-30's too, Chris Broderick uses those i've read somewhere on this forum.
Honestly, my favorite Celestions to record with are this set I have in spare. They came in an old Crate cab, and used to get loaded into the old-school ADA upright 2x12 cabs... Celestion G12S-50's. 50 watts each, and more punch than I've ever heard from a Celestion, or just about any other guitar driver. They are discontinued, but as soon as I get them loaded into a new cab (the Crate fell apart), I'll do some comparison samples between them, the V30's, and the 75 watt G12's. It'll be a month or so, but I'll get it done, and we'll see what everyone thinks.
