Celestion Blue VS G12H30

[joek86]

Have any of you compared the two? What are the sonic differences?

Comments please.........

 

[GAT]

Blue: Different midrange, thicker and more low mids, highs that sparkle when clean and retain chime when pushed. 15 watts. Same efficiency (I believe).

G12H30: More bass and high end, slightly scooped mids. Can be bright when pushed. Cuts well in a band mix. 30 watts.

They sound great together, each offer things the other doesn't so together they seem like one great big speaker. I'm using them in a Bruno 2x12 cab and it sounds real cool.

Anyone else? It's hard to describe speakers because they sound different through different amps.

 

[riffmeister]

being a 15 watt speaker, the Blue compresses much earlier than the G12H and if driven too hard will get a little flubby in the bass. The G12H has a much more solid, deeper low end than the Blue. Both speakers have a good degree of top end "chime"

 

[joek86]

Thanks for the responses guy's! The speaker would be installed in my Carr Mercury, which is an EL34 based amp, 8 Watts. I just tried a G12h30 last night and it sounded way better that the stock Eminence King Pin 60. It is way BIGGER sounding, glassier, more bite, bass, and just thicker! I put the KP back in and it sounded like a transistor radio! Gave the amp more of a Brit tone........

 

[riffmeister]

If you can get your hands on one, try a Blue in that amp, too......perfect match power-wise!

 

[bobbymack]

I have both in my new Bob Burt V Front, and have one of Dr Carl's speaker switching jack gizmos installed so it's VERY easy to A/B speakers...

The G12H30 is my favorite alltime speaker, sort of my tonal benchmark. They just sound great imho, and I have them in alot of amps and cabs.

The Blue, while not fully broken in yet, seems brighter to me, though in a pleasant way. I'm not certain I agree that the G12H30 has scooped mids, rather smoother highs.

I'm not certain of your guitars and or musical tastes, but you probably won't go wrong with either of these. You can get a G12H30 from Avatar labelled Hellatone 30 for about $85 bucks though, so you may want to start there...

 

[joek86]

Originally posted by bobbymack
I have both in my new Bob Burt V Front, and have one of Dr Carl's speaker switching jack gizmos installed so it's VERY easy to A/B speakers...

The G12H30 is my favorite alltime speaker, sort of my tonal benchmark. They just sound great imho, and I have them in alot of amps and cabs.

The Blue, while not fully broken in yet, seems brighter to me, though in a pleasant way. I'm not certain I agree that the G12H30 has scooped mids, rather smoother highs.

I'm not certain of your guitars and or musical tastes, but you probably won't go wrong with either of these. You can get a G12H30 from Avatar labelled Hellatone 30 for about $85 bucks though, so you may want to start there...

bobbymack,
Thanks for your thoughts! I have a Hellatone that I had in another amp that I tried with the Merc last night. Huge improvement over stock! I really don't want to spend the $229.00 for a Blue if the G12h is real close to it!
BTW, I play classic Rock and Blues.......

Joe

 

[Red Planet]

Carr Amps are great but those Kingpin speakers sound like a good speaker with a blanket over it. Dont know how you could like em.

Good luck with what you find for it.

 

[GAT]

I had a Carr amp once and hated the kingpin speaker, lud, harsh yet muddy. Celestions worked much better.

 

[Amplite]

Hey Joe!
I'm glad you found a good replacement speaker for the Mercury - I still can't get myself to commit to a replacement for my Merc... yet!

 

[joek86]

Originally posted by Amplite
Hey Joe!
I'm glad you found a good replacement speaker for the Mercury - I still can't get myself to commit to a replacement for my Merc... yet!

So far I am really happy with the G12h! FYI-There is a guy posting on Steelbender that has a good handle on tubes for the Merc and is going to try various speakers and report in.

I have ordered new pre tubes which should arrive today. I got a couple of Mullards and one Philips base on Norm on Steelbenders findings.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

If you can find one, Mojo makes a G12H30 clone that rocks...the British Vintage BV30H.

I've got the "Greenback", V-30 & 2 12H30 clones & all 3 are fantastic American made speakers.

They've gone up in price since I got mine, but they're still a little less than a new Celestion, esp. if they're Chinese.

 

[macmeda]

being a 15 watt speaker, the Blue compresses much earlier than the G12H and if driven too hard will get a little flubby in the bass. The G12H has a much more solid, deeper low end than the Blue. Both speakers have a good degree of top end "chime"

I just got my 65 Amps Lil Elvis 12 Watts. Will the 12watts be to much for the blue, compress too early/ get flubby? I got a great deal on a 1x12 cab with a Gold (supersoundmusic.com)but this amp doesn't drive it very easy.

 

[coldfingaz]

I just got my 65 Amps Lil Elvis 12 Watts. Will the 12watts be to much for the blue, compress too early/ get flubby? I got a great deal on a 1x12 cab with a Gold (supersoundmusic.com)but this amp doesn't drive it very easy.

I use the blue with 3 different heads ranging from 7- 18 watts. I'm never disappointed. Just give the speaker plenty of time to break in.

 

[LB Rock]

I use the G12H30 with a V30 in a mojo 2x12 cab...
the G12 is an awesome speaker!

 

[schwa]

I'm also in the midst of a search for a replacement for the Kingpin in my Mercury. I have an EV SRO - but I'm pretty sure it won't fit in the cabinet.

I'd be careful about the Blue as well, it may not fit in there either - it's pretty tight in there.

As to Celestions, I have been looking at the Heritage series - g12m and g12H. I have some more confidence these will fit based on the measurements I have been able to find on the 'net.

Here's a thread talking about them:
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/133676

 

[JimmyR]

Blues, Golds and G12Hs are my favourite speakers. Having said that I feel that the G12H is probably the most versatile - it sounds great in any amp I have ever put it into, including a lot of tweed style amps. I prefer them over the Jensens and Webers, etc in tweeds.

Blues are some of the most beautiful speakers ever produced for guitar amps, but don't necessarily work with all amps. For example I don't particularly care for them with JMP or 800 style Marshalls, whereas G12Hs sound perfect. But a blue in a 5E3 is as good as it gets. I have even tried Golds and Blues in Bad Cat amps but prefered the G12H.

I have also tried the Heritage G12H and while it sounds warmer and slightly fuller than a regular G12H I don't think it's better, just different. In fact I actually prefer the regular (now Chinese) G12H in a lot of amps. It's a little crisper in the low end which I like. I cannot hear any difference in a Chinese Vs UK-made Celestion, BTW. I have a few UK G12Hs and some Chinese and they sound the same to me.

 

[zoooombiex]

+1 to a lot of comments

Blues - thick but chimey, clear present high end. G12H30 a bit more scooped, deeper less flubby lows.

The Blues also start to break up and compress VERY early. I think they are great for low volume playing, even though they are relatively efficient, because they break up so early. The G12H30s will break up later and thus can stay punchy a higher volumes.

They pair beautifully together.