Best replacement speakers for a Marshall cab?

[philosi]

The speakers in my mid 70's Marshall cabinet are in need of replacement. Which speakers would you recommend?

Thanks,

[Fletcher]

Weber VST.

They made a version of a Celestion "Greenback" for me that takes a measure more power and sound like a million bucks even after having had them for a few years [with the amp I use with that cabinet most of the time the Celestions had a life expectancy of about 6-8 hours of use before they'd start to go soft and need to be replaced... it was costing me a fortune!!].

[TheSweetener]

I'd always recommend Vintage 30s for closed back cabs, especially if you go for distortion!

[msrecprod]

What amp are you using it with, and what overall tone are you going for?

[orange]

what speakers are in the cab now ?

do/did you like the sound of them ?

what's wrong with them ? (recone ?)

so many questions so little time.

[Blast9]

If you're in the UK,

How 'bout the Heritage series G12H 30 with the low resonant freq response (55Hz) Smoother than the V30, with a big tone.

I have 2x12 with V30s (The modern Chinese made ones) and they're detailed and aggressive sounding with a thundrous bottom end... They cut through very well, and a re LOUD. I'm not too keen on the off-axis response --- very trebly and fatiguing. But when you hear them at ear-level they sound great! I understand the Heritage range doesn't suffer the same off-axis problem.

If you're in the states, definitely the Weber VSTs always get rave reviews, as do the Scumback version of the G12H30 and other models --- All very smooth apparently!

[UXB]

Don't be afraid to mix/match as well. It can do a nice "widening" to your tone while minimizing hot spots in front of the cab...

Off the cuff, I like the sound of Celestion 30's and 25's mixed, though the sound of the Fane speakers sounded great in a Hiwatt cab I used (if memory serves).

Best,
h

[Blast9]

Agreed on the mix n match thing!

I had an amazing 1969 Fane loaded Hiwatt cab with 22 watt speakers. They sounded deep and fat in that cab.

The modern Fanes are apparently smoother/darker than the Celestion equivalent.

I have a 100 Watt Alnico Fane (Axiom?) which sounds incredible!

[C/G]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Weber VST.

.

I would say anything that doesn't have Celestion printed on it, but I would probably get kicked in the nuts for saying that so ignore it. Weber VST make bloody fantastic speakers at great prices. The Thames is a sweet one if you want a "British" sounding speaker ala Fane. Fanes are sweet but the old ones are a bitch to find and are getting expensive as hell.

[softwareguy]

I think it depends on the head you are using and, for lack of a better handle, the "era" that you are going for.

For a Marshall head & sound:

Classic stuff (Plexi to JMP) is greenbacks or (my preference) g12h 30's

80's and onward is V30's

There must be something that those 75's are good for, but I haven't found it yet.

Mixing is also highly recommended. You do get a better spread for live, and the cab is more flexible for recording because you can focus in on one type of speaker or the other if you want.

Mesa Rectifier stuff needs V30's to sound right, IME.

Fanes are amazing for Hiwatt, but they have a very specific sound, sort of a "here comes the end of the world" thing that just doesn't sound right to me with a Marshall. I also have one of the modern Fane alnico's and I agree that they are amazing, but I'm not sure they're a day-in day-out sort of thing.

I also agree that the Weber stuff is great sounding, better-made equipment for any of the celestion-type uses. If you want the sound of an old Fane, I personally don't think there's any replacement for a real one, unfortunately. The Thames is a really great and worthy speaker, it just doesn't have that completely unhinged mojo of the originals.

Best of luck with your choices, speakers are a lot of fun.

[philosi]

The amp is a Marshall JMP Lead Mk2 50watt and the speakers in there now are celestion G12M 25w 16 ohms. Each speaker sounds completely different and only one of them is "good" sounding.

Although we do set it to a clean sound sometimes, its main use is for heavy distorted les paul and tele. We have other amps that usually cover the clean sounds much better.

[orange]

The JMP Lead Mk2 50w is my favourite amp EVER , also I'm a big fan of the old G12M.

I'd certainly keep the one decent sounding one. Still might be worth a recone on the others.

Ps what country are you in ?

[C/G]

Originally Posted by softwareguy

If you want the sound of an old Fane, I personally don't think there's any replacement for a real one, unfortunately. The Thames is a really great and worthy speaker, it just doesn't have that completely unhinged mojo of the originals.

Best of luck with your choices, speakers are a lot of fun.

You are right. I bought a Thames to replace a blown 75 watt Fane that was in my Hiwatt cab and it was close, but not close enough so I bought another and put them in a Fender silverface. Huge improvement over the stock Eminence or whatever was in that old Quad Reverb of mine. Oddly enough the closest thing I found that sounds like my Fane's in the Hiwatt cab was a Peavy Sheffield. Strange but true.

[waxnsteel]

http://www.southbayampworks.com/index.html

This guy commissioned Weber to recreate Vintage Pre-Rola celestion Greenbacks. If you're after the Classic Marshall tones, these seem to be where it's at for better power handling.

I'm a big fan of Celestion G12M 20 watters.

I have no idea how that "thumbs down" icon got there. It wasn't intentional, and I can't get rid of it.

[softwareguy]

Oddly enough the closest thing I found that sounds like my Fane's in the Hiwatt cab was a Peavy Sheffield. Strange but true.

Thanks for the info! I have to try one of these. If they're "close enough" I might get a pair to go with my pair of old Fanes, so I could fill a quad cab. The old ones have gotten really crazy expensive, and it doesn't even seem to matter what condition they're in.

Back on topic, sounds like those greenbacks are probably the sound you're looking for, especially if you like the 1 (out of 4) that you've got!

[fonman]

Alot of people diss Eminence, but thier GB12 is a great speaker in a closed back. I prefer it way more than Celestion V-30.

[philosi]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm leaning toward the Weber VST. Which model of Weber, the ceramic Silver Bell, the 1230? They have many choices.

And by the way I'm in New York.

Thanks again,

Phil

[el cochino]

A friend of mine loves Electro Voice EVM 12Ls - I've never tried them, but he swears by them and so does Zakk Wylde.

[Chunky Karma]

Another vote to check out Scumbacks:
http://scumbagamps.com/scumbacks/speakers.html
Sound clips here:
http://southbayampworks.com/speakers.html

[crypticglobe]

Celestion G12H-30's. Nothing better for rock. I have been using them for a good while now... I know Michael Wagener started using them recently too with great success.

[84K]

Heritage 30s are the shit

[stagefright13]

I had to pull apart my vintage marshall 1960a cab to repair the jack yesterday. It doesn't have the later "Deep well" socket to protect it. I noticed all the speakers said Marshall on them made by Rola Celestion. It is early 80's. And sounds fantastic. I didn't go crazy and research the whole thing. But this is a perfect match for an old 2204 50 watt.
EV doesn't make a great guitar cab speaker as far as I have heard. Celestions were cheap speakers back in the day and can be overloaded easily. Is what they got famous for. If ya like the sound of your cab recone them! I would have them reconed personally...
There is no replacements available that will sound the same. recone them! maybe someone has a suggestion as to how to do that?

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by Colin Gaucher

I would say anything that doesn't have Celestion printed on it, but I would probably get kicked in the nuts for saying that so ignore it. Weber VST make bloody fantastic speakers at great prices. The Thames is a sweet one if you want a "British" sounding speaker ala Fane. Fanes are sweet but the old ones are a bitch to find and are getting expensive as hell.

Naw we are not gonna Kick you but i cut teeth on Celestion Greenback, i have the 70s model 25 watts and i have been using them for25 years...Love em, sometimes i dirft off but always come by to my Greenbacks.