Does All Celestion V30 Sounds The Same Way? Video Comparison!

[Del Rei]

Hey...

I have two different V30 (2012 vs 2014). Bought the 1st on 2014 and the 2nd on 2015. Bought both new.

I suspected they sounded different from each other. So I decided to compare.

Kept same mic position (Isolation Cabinet + SM57).



So... What do you think?
I got really surprised.

 

[bill bokey]

Are they the same model ? What are the chassis codes ?

 

[FabioPol]

There is a thread in vintageamp forum ( should be there or in another forum, in any case there is!) that makes the vintage30 question clear....there are 3 production lines of this speaker, one for celestion, one for Marshall, one for mesaboogie...just look at the code on the magnet of each speaker( it started with a letter, a or b then four numbers) if they are different they should sound slightly different. I have two Marshall cabs loaded with V30, one quartet has different codes then the other, and I heard the difference just I played the cab before buy it, then checked the speaker, searched on the web and discovered why one cab sounds darker then the other....

 

[Kutt]

Good job on the video and thank you for posting this.

 

[Kris Ford]

Thanks for posting! (I prefer the 2012 version FWIW) but both do sound good.
Wonder which line the ones found in the Orange cabs... (guessing the Celestion line)


How would they sound together?

 

[soundboy57]

Wow, the first one is quite nice....that second one (2014) sounds horrid, IMHO.
I remember going through about 7 or 8 vintage 30s 10-12 years ago, all the same T number, and
picking out the good ones to mix with G12H anniversaries in a cab.
The G12H were the same story. Some were nice, some sounded harsh, with a thin midrange.
Maybe its manufacturing tolerance, but it was VERY noticeable between the same model.
This video just confirms that I wasn't imagining it...
I am listening through an upper end system with Dynaudio speakers, Parasound amps, etc.,
not a phone...and the difference is striking.
Thanks for doing this.

 

[FabioPol]

I must correct myself....the code started with a "t" and not all have the stick on the magnet, just checked a retired V30....

 

[30watt]

The earlier one was far more "open", the later one sounded compressed. This was apparent with a dirty sound, and really evident on cleans at the end.

Both are good, depending on what you're looking for. I'd use the 2012 model myself, because it seemed more natural sounding and more able to reach into the higher areas.

 

[Del Rei]

Thank you for replying, guys.

In fact, what I know about differen models of V30 is that there are also the 70W rated version, and these were used at Mesa's and Marshall's cabinets.

But as far as I know (by reading stuff on web) is that they are the same speakers, but measured by different wattage tests that results in different wattage. And Celestion uses a wattage test that gives 60W. Mesa and Marshall gives 70W.

But no one told me that... Again: stuff on the web.

 

[HotRats73]

is the playing time if the 2 spwakers very different?

 

[Scumback Speakers]

There are four different versions of the Vintage 30 that I know of. The original that came out in the mid 80's with the Marshall Studio 15 amp (had one of those), then the later versions Celestion made for sale, the Mesa, Bogner and Marshall versions. Some were rated at 70w, others at 60w. I guess that makes five different versions in total since 1985. Pretty sure the Bogner, Mesa and Marshall versions are made in the UK, the regular V30 has been made in China since 2003/2004.

 

[mickeydg5]

Look at the "T" numbers. There are at least four versions, maybe more.

The two T3903A in the video sound totally different. Chinese inconsistencies?
That does not even sound like break in to me.

 

[GIBSON67]

There are also the Mode Four V30's from Marshall that have a different T number than other Marshall V30's.

Marshall T3896/T3897 starting in 1985
T3903/T3904 from late 80's Celestion labeled
Mesa T4335/T4416
Marshall Mode Four T5321

I've also seen...
Relic 30 T5489
V30 T4297 from 1991

 

[rick16v]

Look at the "T" numbers. There are at least four versions, maybe more.

The two T3903A in the video sound totally different. Chinese inconsistencies?
That does not even sound like break in to me.

Manufacturing error or anomaly? Mislabled? They are clearly totally different speakers.

 

[voxman]

The 2012 sounds good - the 2014 sounds dreadful in comparison.

 

[wakjob]

Way too many factors. The SAME model speaker can, and will sound different one from another.

Watch the whole thing, or skip to 2:00 for the comparison.
But this is a Mesa 4x12 with their v30's. Each one sounds different.

 

[FabioPol]

There are also the Mode Four V30's from Marshall that have a different T number than other Marshall V30's.

Marshall T3896/T3897 starting in 1985
T3903/T3904 from late 80's Celestion labeled
Mesa T4335/T4416
Marshall Mode Four T5321

I've also seen...
Relic 30 T5489
V30 T4297 from 1991

I have a quad with the sticker on the magnet which says "T3897b", I've seen the same code in others v30 but without the "b" at the end....there is also a "revamp" sticker, don't remember if on the back of a speaker or on the cab....this quad has less high then others v30 I tried

 

[GIBSON67]

^^I have seen some T3897B from 2011 and I just assumed those were the same as all the Marshall T3897's, interesting.

Hellatone's use the T5321's just like the MF, and I have wondered if the MF sound different then the T3897's?