Celestion G12-65, what to expect?

[blackba]

I am looking to get more info on these G12-65's. If you have used them, whether you liked them or not, please chime in.

What type of music are they good for?
Do they like closed or open back cabs?
I have heard them described as a high power greenback is that correct?

I am thinking of getting a pair of weber clones, but I am not sure the doping to get or how they compare to the celestions.

For reference here is my ranking of celestions in general:
Alnico gold
Alnico Blue
Classic Lead 80
G12H30
Vintage 30
G12T-75
G12M-70 (Modern Lead 70).

I haven't tried the greenback enough to rank it.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I like them a lot. They are smooth sounding and make a bright amp sound better. The bottom end is nice and tight, but not as big as the 75's. I think the mids are close to a greenback 25's but remain clearer due to the higher power rating. I have not tried them in an open back cab, but I would have to expect that they would sound pretty good. Jim Ansel had them in a Mesa half back cab and said he like it a lot…but he has since got rid of it. I have 2 quads… one quad in a Marshall straight and one quad in a Marshall slant. They sound very different in these cabs. The slant has less bottom end, but sounds clearer. The straight sounds big and dark.

+1

couldn't have said it any better

 

[thegame]

Do the 65s have any midrange grit, like 25s and V30s do ? For reference CL80 have a clean midrange, no grit.

 

[blackba]

I sent Jim a PM. Not sure if he is on Rig Talk yet.

Anyone have any experience with the Weber versions?

 

[Lexicon Devil]

Early 80's metal tones, as these were used in late JMP and early JCM 800 Marshalls. I think the Highs and mids are much more pronounced with these than the T-75's. The LF isn't as pronounced as the T-75's as well. They're good for that early 80's metal Buzzsaw sound, so lots of midrange grit and breakup. --They're also a much nicer sounding predecessor to the M-70's that Marshall briefly used in the mid 80's.

As a downside, I think that they sound harsh and tinny with a 50 watt Marshall in an open back cabinet, but sound much nicer with a 100 watt Marshall in the same cabinet.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Do the 65s have any midrange grit, like 25s and V30s do ? For reference CL80 have a clean midrange, no grit.

Yup...they have some midrange grit, similar to greenbacks

 

[blackba]

I got a Weber 1265 in. I put it in my marshall 1936 copy cab, with a CL80 on the other side. So far it sounds very dark. Not much highs, particularly compared to the CL80. Not sure I like it right now. I am using it my Marshall 2553. Here is a related thread...
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20118&hilit=

I am wondering if it might work better in my marshall 1922 cab, which is not a great cab, and on the bright side most of the time.

 

[J.B.]

Somebody just told me last night that the 65's remind him of a very nice broken in V30. I'm curious.

 

[blackba]

The Weber 1265 is definetely lower in sensitivity than the CL80.

I am liking it more and more though. Once I switched to my strat especially. I was using my strange dark Dual humbucker tele. With my strat which is bright by nature, the 1265 smooths out the high end and doesn't seem overly dark. I actually like the mix of the CL80 and 1265, so I think that is what I will go with for right now.

JB, I am new to 1265's, but the 1265 is definetely smoother and has no ice pick highs like I get sometimes with V30's. A V30 can be a harsh speaker, I don't see a 1265 as harsh at all...

 

[danhops]

The Weber 1265 is definetely lower in sensitivity than the CL80.

I am liking it more and more though. Once I switched to my strat especially. I was using my strange dark Dual humbucker tele. With my strat which is bright by nature, the 1265 smooths out the high end and doesn't seem overly dark. I actually like the mix of the CL80 and 1265, so I think that is what I will go with for right now.

JB, I am new to 1265's, but the 1265 is definetely smoother and has no ice pick highs like I get sometimes with V30's. A V30 can be a harsh speaker, I don't see a 1265 as harsh at all...

Glad it looks like it is working out for you. I find the Weber 65 a touch smoother than its Celestion counterpart. Then again the Celestions I am comparing to are much older.

 

[blackba]

Glad it looks like it is working out for you. I find the Weber 65 a touch smoother than its Celestion counterpart. Then again the Celestions I am comparing to are much older.

I am probably going to pickup a 2nd one, at some point, so if you have another one available let me know.