Helping a friend build guitar speakers

[cuggie]

cuggie made a mistake.

[fastbike1]

www.billfitzmaurice.com Look at the plans for the XF212 or XF412 cabs.

As fas as speakers I like Celestion Vintage 30s (or others from the Vintage line).

[Ray Tremblay]

DISCLAIMER: Keep in mind that choosing "the best" guitar speaker is PURELY SUBJECTIVE. With that said.......

The Vintage 30 Celestion is the king. It is by far the most popular guitar speaker amongst the pro's. It's used in just about all the very high end cabs, and the top tier or flagship cabs of most manufacturers.

I've played guitar for over 20 years now. I've played through and have owned just about all the high end guitar speakers over the years. I agree that it is (subjectively) the best money can buy.

[killersoundz]

Vintage 30's are just kind of one of those things that become popular for no apparent reason other than it was a quality product at the right time and place (and still is). Saying that it's the best just because it's the most popular is silly though, that's like saying Lady Gaga is the best music ever because it's whats popular right now.

If you're putting out a product to make a profit you want to use components that have selling power, the Vintage 30 has just that, therefore it is perpetual.

I am the most neutral person to ever give a personal & professional opinion on guitar speakers and I will tell you the Eminence Legend V128 is a better product than the Vintage 30 any day of the week. I'm not saying it's a better speaker, in my eyes they're equal, but what I am saying is that it is a better value, half the price, and on par with it's Chinese made counter part (the Vintage 30). There is absolutely no excuse to sell a chinese made guitar speaker for $150 retail price. With that said, I still like Celestions but I really feel like Eminence beat them at their own game.

[killersoundz]

It's used in just about all the very high end cabs, and the top tier or flagship cabs of most manufacturers.


I just find it sad how people can think that makes it the best. It's only used because it is a good sounding speaker but more importantly to manufactures, it has selling power. It doesn't have anything to do with tone to the manufactures, just how many units they can send out the door. And we keep using them as long as they have that marketing power. It's a good speaker, but it's vanilla, meaning it covers all bases OK, and that's a good part about it but I encourage guitarists to search for their sound with other speakers.

[Ray Tremblay]

I just find it sad how people can think that makes it the best. It's only used because it is a good sounding speaker but more importantly to manufactures, it has selling power. It doesn't have anything to do with tone to the manufactures, just how many units they can send out the door. And we keep using them as long as they have that marketing power. It's a good speaker, but it's vanilla, meaning it covers all bases OK, and that's a good part about it but I encourage guitarists to search for their sound with other speakers.

I am very well aware of how sales and marketing works. It's my job.

I came to the conclusion that this is the best sounding guitar speaker, IN MY OPINION, after MANY YEARS of experimenting with MANY different drivers. I THINK I MADE THAT VERY CLEAR IN MY POST.

I made it VERY clear that choice of guitar speakers is subjective. It just so happens that the majority of pro guitar players, as well as myself like the sound of this driver the best. As a result, the cabinet manufacturers and Celestion spend more marketing dollars to make that fact well known.

If you don't think it's the best sounding guitar speaker, that's fine. State which driver in your opinion you like the best and move on.

Don't imply that the rest of us are idiots and are somehow blinded by marketing.

[Ray Tremblay]

Vintage 30's are just kind of one of those things that become popular for no apparent reason other than it was a quality product at the right time and place (and still is).

There is a reason for the success of this driver.......it's sound.

Do you honestly believe that guitar players don't try out different gear? Maybe the ones you know don't, but they ones I know, including myself, do.

[killersoundz]

Hey I don't know why you're personally offended. I understand it's highly subjective. I also said myself it's a good speaker multiple times in case you didn't see that. I should have made it more clear that my point was that from a value perspective, it's not a good speaker. Eminence will get you to the rodeo at half the price.

[killersoundz]

I am very well aware of how sales and marketing works. It's my job.


There is a reason for the success of this driver.......it's sound.

I don't understand how you could be in the marketing business and not understand that some things just become popular for no good reason. Look at viral videos on the internet, there is no telling which one is going to be the next sensation and it's often entirely coincidence and unexpected. This is kind of the same thing that happened with the Vintage 30.

You say that in your opinion and almost every other pro guitar players opinion, it's the best sound guitar speaker? It doesn't occur to you that the hype surrounding it has the power to severely skew your findings? If you're in marketing, then you should understand hype and how it can make a consumer think one product is better than another when in reality it's not.


It just so happens that the majority of pro guitar players, as well as myself like the sound of this driver the best. As a result, the cabinet manufacturers and Celestion spend more marketing dollars to make that fact well known.

I don't ever see Celestion pushing any advertisement for the Vintage 30, ever. That only further proves my theory that it's a sensation like a viral video. The thing with Celestion is they happened to be a company building speakers for radios at the time the electric guitar came around. Someone needed a speaker for their guitar amp, sought out the large flimsy paper cone woofers with weak motors and now that's the signature sound.


Don't imply that the rest of us are idiots and are somehow blinded by marketing.

I never implied that anyone is an idiot but I do believe in the power of hype. I've also found that the majority of guitar players don't know what they're talking about in regards to guitar tone and are susceptible to hype. Professional recording engineers are the only people I actually trust when it comes to guitar tone. Even in that situation, the Vintage 30 is popular but you won't see them swearing by it, because if you're a worthy engineer you can dial in a suitable sound through any decent speaker in a quality cabinet.


If you don't think it's the best sounding guitar speaker, that's fine. State which driver in your opinion you like the best and move on.

I think by labeling anything the best is very arrogant. Have you tried every single guitar speaker there is? No I bet not. Even if you do compare different speakers, it's absolutely pointless unless it's a blind test and you don't see that flashy gold logo on the back that shines 'Vintage 30'.

[Ray Tremblay]

Have you tried every single guitar speaker there is? No I bet not.

I will tell you the Eminence Legend V128 is a better product than the Vintage 30 any day of the week.

I've played guitar for over 20 years now. I've played through and have owned just about all the high end guitar speakers over the years.

Do you think I was just making this up? Yes, I own THAT ONE, too. In my opinion, this driver sounds horrible compared to the Vintage 30 Celestion. No comparison what's so ever.........not even close.

Do YOU actually own some Vintage 30 Celestions?

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/68LT1camaro/DSC027351.jpg

[killersoundz]

Do YOU actually own some Vintage 30 Celestions?


Only purchased and installed about 500 or so.


this driver sounds horrible compared to the Vintage 30 Celestion. No comparison what's so ever.........not even close.

That's absolutely ridiculous.