Celestion EVH compared to '90s and current G12M

[Racerxrated]

I have a Mesa Roadster 2x12 and I like the Mesa V-30's more than the Celestion Anniversary 12H-30 and regular V-30's although I hear the 80's V-30's are fairly good.

The H30 Annie’s are now back to being made in England; been that way for a few yrs now. They sound less top heavy and abrasive than the the MIC versions. For reference I had a pair of 1972 Pulsonic H30s in the same cab; at volume they sounded almost identical. But I sold all 4; just not a fan of the H30 high end.

 

[SFW]

I really like the EVHs. They have a nice sweet top end that other greenbacks that I've played do have.

 

[Cap217]

I’ve had 3 black back cabs; 2 with M25s and one with H30s. If you can put the screws to them they sound nice..but I felt they sounded pretty flat at lower volumes. At least compared to other cabs like the 74s I owned

The 77 ish blackbacks are my favorite speaker. I have a 72 and a 73 and then new friedman and mesa cabs but I just got another beat 77 cab with 25w blackbacks and its the sound Ive been missing. I had a blackback cab years ago and sold it and missed it ever since.

I find the blackback has more snarl and a tighter low end. Also a different mid than the 72 and 73. Its a little scooped but not in a bad way. Maybe its a lower mid that I am hearing. The 72 73 cab sounds great in the mids and it makes me want to push my mids more. But the 77 is the sound for me. I am using a lot of 2203 amps.

I will also say that the blackback sounds better to me in a slant. I like straights but a blackback in a slant is the sound that I always have in my head. In a straight they sound a little muffled.

 

[Cap217]

The 6402 I believe is that cone. Too bad they stopped making them. Although, I have read that the last British made M25s before the move to China, in 2001-2 used 1777 cones (I think) and sounded the same as the 6402s according to what I've read. I did have a 2000 BX cab with 6402s and that cab sounded nearly identical to the 74 Marshall slant with original cream backs.

Explain this because I didnt know there were different greenbacks in the 90/2000s. When did the change happen and was it dramatic?

I have a 1999 or 2000 BX that has 1999 stickers on the magnets. I have 1 terrible pic of the inside and can only see 3 cone stamps but its not 1777 or 6402 clearly. I dont want to take it apart to see.

The frames say 1221.

 

[Racerxrated]

Explain this because I didnt know there were different greenbacks in the 90/2000s. When did the change happen and was it dramatic?

I have a 1999 or 2000 BX that has 1999 stickers on the magnets. I have 1 terrible pic of the inside and can only see 3 cone stamps but its not 1777 or 6402 clearly. I dont want to take it apart to see.

The frames say 1221.

So, what I know is the first greenback reissue used the 6402 cone in the early 90s. This lasted until 2001-2 or so when most Celestion production moved to China. During this time you could also find 1777 stamps also; which by most opinions sound identical to the 6402. Either way, if you find a pre 2002 Marshall AX/BX or Classic cab those speakers should sound excellent and equal to my ears to the second best sounding GB I've heard(Pulsonics being no 1) the 1974-76 cream backs. After the stock 25M started being made in China, the next British made GB are the Heritage series which mimics a 20w GB from 67-68. They are completely different sounding than the 6402s.

 

[Cap217]

So, what I know is the first greenback reissue used the 6402 cone in the early 90s. This lasted until 2001-2 or so when most Celestion production moved to China. During this time you could also find 1777 stamps also; which by most opinions sound identical to the 6402. Either way, if you find a pre 2002 Marshall AX/BX or Classic cab those speakers should sound excellent and equal to my ears to the second best sounding GB I've heard(Pulsonics being no 1) the 1974-76 cream backs. After the stock 25M started being made in China, the next British made GB are the Heritage series which mimics a 20w GB from 67-68. They are completely different sounding than the 6402s.

Thanks. I opened up my 1999 bx and it has 6402 cones. I will say these are pretty dark but have a vintage vibe. They are also pretty quiet vs me blackbacks.

I have a 73 cab and will compare them next.