WGS - Reaper HP or Retro 30 - opinions ? comments ?

[JohnK24]

I'm looking to replace a potential blown Vintage 30 speaker in my Hot Rod Deluxe (the tech is working on it this week, but blown spkr. was his first guess). I like the overall V30 tone, but I'm not paying $140 new for one.

I've had the WGS Veteran 30 in an old Blues Jr and it was great in that amp, but it was a warmer spkr, imho and I'm afraid it would be too warm lacking some clarity in the Hot Rod. So after looking at the higher wattage offerings from WGS the Reaper HP (50w) and Retro 30 (75w) both look promising. I want something for mostly clean playing, strat & P90 Les Paul using a Maxon OD9 for dirt.

Anyone with use comments, let me know. Thanks

[gulliver]

People are always swapping out V30s, you can get them slightly used for $60 all day.

I've never owned the reaper, but had G12H30s and found them too bright and peaky, especially with single coils. The HP may step it down a knotch, though, maybe someone will chime in. I now have the Scumback H75 with large dust cap and HP, what a great speaker, super well balanced with humbuckers or single coils ... but pricey.

If you want more of a fendery tone, the Emi Legend GB12 does a good job of maintaining the glassy chime while providing thicker mids than a lot of fender camp speakers. This will be quite different than a V30 in an all American way.