V30s & Thick grille cloth...

[petejt]

For those that dislike Celestion Vintage30s, particularly their harsh mid-spike sound....


Has anyone ever tried them in a cab with really thick grille cloth? Or with a slab of foam in front of the cab to soak up some that harshness, and help mellow the top end a bit while it still sounding aggressive?


I'm just wondering how effective it would be.

 

[madrigal77]

It might help a bit, but why bother? You'd be better off getting speakers you actually like than dicking around with foam and shit trying to make them sound good.

 

[petejt]

It might help a bit, but why bother? You'd be better off getting speakers you actually like than dicking around with foam and shit trying to make them sound good.

The odd thing is that I do like the sound of them, but not when used with other speakers or speaker cabs. They just tend to smother everything, even if other speakers in other cabs have a more richer sound.

I'm just wondering if laying a piece of foam across the cab grille would help dampen the screech of the V30s, if obtaining better speakers is not possible.

 

[supersonic]

This could work. It could also help dull the direction qualities of a v30 quad. Why not try draping something in front of your cab?

 

[The Hoff]

I think the majority of the people who find the tone of a V30 harsh/ice-pick like are playing speakers which aren't fully broken in. V30s definitely need to be broken in.

 

[threadkiller]

I recently covered my 212 cabs with a thicker grillcloth. It is the JTM type cloth from mojotone. The cloth on them before was see through and basically useless except to maybe keep a beer bottle from going through the speaker. Let me start by saying, I like v30's and I like the mid spike. Having said that, the cloth made a huge difference in the directionality of the cab. Before, it was loud and harsh sounding directly in front of the cab. at about 30 deg off axis it sounded perfect. As you moved to about 45 deg off axis or further it got more and more muted sounding. The grill cloth was effective in giving me a more uniform sound at different positions. It also did cut some of the "bite" off. If you like the basic voicing of the V30 you might like a thicker grill cloth. If you don't like the V30 sound in general I would try a different speaker. The warehouse Veteran 30 is similiar but a bit smoother sounding than the celestion V30. Also, it is not a cheap experiment. The grill cloth was ~ $40.00 per linear yard if I remember correctly.

 

[petejt]

This could work. It could also help dull the direction qualities of a v30 quad. Why not try draping something in front of your cab?

Thanks man. This is what I'm gonna do when I get back home (again...been back and forth within the last few days!)

 

[petejt]

I think the majority of the people who find the tone of a V30 harsh/ice-pick like are playing speakers which aren't fully broken in. V30s definitely need to be broken in.

True. I guess mine aren't fully broken in... It's just that the V30s only sound harsh and mid-spiky when used with other speakers. They shriek above everything and blot everything else out. It's like a screaming whinging kid that you can hear right through the din of a shopping centre. Otherwise the V30s sound quite good- I like their tight sound and bitey crunch. When compared in isolation to other speakers such as the C90 Black Shadow, I much prefer the C90 as it has a much richer, complex tone. I tried the speakers together in the same cab, and in different cabs and used at the same time- and it was horrid. I thought maybe the speakers were out of phase or the speaker cable was crap, but even after fixing them I did not like the overall sound. It was enough to turn me off and retreat to plugging my guitar into a Boss GT-5 and a pair of headphones!

 

[glip22]

For those that dislike Celestion Vintage30s, particularly their harsh mid-spike sound....


Has anyone ever tried them in a cab with really thick grille cloth? Or with a slab of foam in front of the cab to soak up some that harshness, and help mellow the top end a bit while it still sounding aggressive?


I'm just wondering how effective it would be.

I went through so many speakers and have come back to the Vintage 30's. It is key as some posted that they break in. Huge difference. Not sure about the thicker grill cloth. Allot of people buy 30's and immediately take them out withput giving them a chance. I am very much sold on the Vintage 30 and G12T-75 mix. I do not like the 12t's by themselves, but with the 30's they are really good. I have no desire to try anything else at least for now. A nice thick punchy tone with some give but still retains nice tight bass. The mids are not spikey at all in my FL Uberkab. Love this cab.

 

[petejt]

I went through so many speakers and have come back to the Vintage 30's. It is key as some posted that they break in. Huge difference. Not sure about the thicker grill cloth. Allot of people buy 30's and immediately take them out withput giving them a chance. I am very much sold on the Vintage 30 and G12T-75 mix. I do not like the 12t's by themselves, but with the 30's they are really good. I have no desire to try anything else at least for now. A nice thick punchy tone with some give but still retains nice tight bass. The mids are not spikey at all in my FL Uberkab. Love this cab.

I've had my V30 cab for a few years now. I've loved it ever since I got it, but over the last year now I've grown to dislike the speakers, particularly since I got another cab and put C90 Black Shadows and EV 12S speakers in it.

I tried putting a V30 speaker inside the cab with the EVs and C90s, and the V30 sounded annoying in comparison. I exchanged it for some Peavey speaker (it's an EV clone), and the tone of the whole cab has much improved. But yet if I run that cab with the full V30 cab, it sounds horrible! I checked for phase-cancelling and fixed it, but I still don't like the overall sound.
I like the V30 cab on its own. I LOVE the C90/EV cab on its own. I don't like both cabs used together, as they are.

 

[glip22]

I went through so many speakers and have come back to the Vintage 30's. It is key as some posted that they break in. Huge difference. Not sure about the thicker grill cloth. Allot of people buy 30's and immediately take them out withput giving them a chance. I am very much sold on the Vintage 30 and G12T-75 mix. I do not like the 12t's by themselves, but with the 30's they are really good. I have no desire to try anything else at least for now. A nice thick punchy tone with some give but still retains nice tight bass. The mids are not spikey at all in my FL Uberkab. Love this cab.

I've had my V30 cab for a few years now. I've loved it ever since I got it, but over the last year now I've grown to dislike the speakers, particularly since I got another cab and put C90 Black Shadows and EV 12S speakers in it.

I tried putting a V30 speaker inside the cab with the EVs and C90s, and the V30 sounded annoying in comparison. I exchanged it for some Peavey speaker (it's an EV clone), and the tone of the whole cab has much improved. But yet if I run that cab with the full V30 cab, it sounds horrible! I checked for phase-cancelling and fixed it, but I still don't like the overall sound.
I like the V30 cab on its own. I LOVE the C90/EV cab on its own. I don't like both cabs used together, as they are.

After you posted this I remember disliking them every other time I tried them and never gave them a good break in. Maybe it's the cab. I really like the Uberkab with the mix. I really liked EVM12l's with George Scholz speakers mixed to balance out the hifi aspect of the EVM's.

 

[Gooseman]

Not only do they need to be broken in, but you need to have a lot power and volume going to those speakers if you want a good sound. Yes, they have a pronounced midrange sound, but they also have excellent lows as well. I hear a lot about the top end being shrill with those speakers, but at appropriate volumes (and a broken in speaker), I never hear the the dreaded upper midrange honk in recordings. I like V-30s a lot, but I also love Greenbacks and Alnico Blues from Celestion too.

Celestion provides very good written material detailing how to appropriately get a new speaker mostly broken in. With the Vintage 30, I believe they suggest turning up the treble and bass on your amp and playing for a half hour straight at cranked volumes. Its been awhile, but I remember distinctly doing this at my practice space a long time ago. My ears hurt badly from the shit tones produced from my Roadster, but in the end, it was well worth it.

 

[glip22]

Not only do they need to be broken in, but you need to have a lot power and volume going to those speakers if you want a good sound. Yes, they have a pronounced midrange sound, but they also have excellent lows as well. I hear a lot about the top end being shrill with those speakers, but at appropriate volumes (and a broken in speaker), I never hear the the dreaded upper midrange honk in recordings. I like V-30s a lot, but I also love Greenbacks and Alnico Blues from Celestion too.

Celestion provides very good written material detailing how to appropriately get a new speaker mostly broken in. With the Vintage 30, I believe they suggest turning up the treble and bass on your amp and playing for a half hour straight at cranked volumes. Its been awhile, but I remember distinctly doing this at my practice space a long time ago. My ears hurt badly from the shit tones produced from my Roadster, but in the end, it was well worth it.

I do play loudly Maybe that's it.

 

[Gooseman]

Not only do they need to be broken in, but you need to have a lot power and volume going to those speakers if you want a good sound. Yes, they have a pronounced midrange sound, but they also have excellent lows as well. I hear a lot about the top end being shrill with those speakers, but at appropriate volumes (and a broken in speaker), I never hear the the dreaded upper midrange honk in recordings. I like V-30s a lot, but I also love Greenbacks and Alnico Blues from Celestion too.

Celestion provides very good written material detailing how to appropriately get a new speaker mostly broken in. With the Vintage 30, I believe they suggest turning up the treble and bass on your amp and playing for a half hour straight at cranked volumes. Its been awhile, but I remember distinctly doing this at my practice space a long time ago. My ears hurt badly from the shit tones produced from my Roadster, but in the end, it was well worth it.

I do play loudly Maybe that's it.

I'm sure you do play loudly, but are running enough power to the speakers? That could be the issue too. I push the hell out of my Vintage 30s, almost to the brink of their capacity. I used to run a lower wattage amp, cranked, through the same cab that also wouldn't really sound as good. I chalked the difference to mostly the speakers, although the amps in comparison were vastly different from one another. Just something to contemplate.

At the end of the day, you are probably right. I trust Pete Thorn's judgments on a lot of gear given his profession and openness about gear, and I am pretty sure he doesn't use V-30s either. I think he is all about Scumbacks or something. Aren't those V-30s, without the "honk."

 

[glip22]

Not only do they need to be broken in, but you need to have a lot power and volume going to those speakers if you want a good sound. Yes, they have a pronounced midrange sound, but they also have excellent lows as well. I hear a lot about the top end being shrill with those speakers, but at appropriate volumes (and a broken in speaker), I never hear the the dreaded upper midrange honk in recordings. I like V-30s a lot, but I also love Greenbacks and Alnico Blues from Celestion too.

Celestion provides very good written material detailing how to appropriately get a new speaker mostly broken in. With the Vintage 30, I believe they suggest turning up the treble and bass on your amp and playing for a half hour straight at cranked volumes. Its been awhile, but I remember distinctly doing this at my practice space a long time ago. My ears hurt badly from the shit tones produced from my Roadster, but in the end, it was well worth it.

I do play loudly Maybe that's it.

I'm sure you do play loudly, but are running enough power to the speakers? That could be the issue too. I push the hell out of my Vintage 30s, almost to the brink of their capacity. I used to run a lower wattage amp, cranked, through the same cab that also wouldn't really sound as good. I chalked the difference to mostly the speakers, although the amps in comparison were vastly different from one another. Just something to contemplate.

At the end of the day, you are probably right. I trust Pete Thorn's judgments on a lot of gear given his profession and openness about gear, and I am pretty sure he doesn't use V-30s either. I think he is all about Scumbacks or something. Aren't those V-30s, without the "honk."

Oh Shit! You are now on Jim Seavals shit list You just started something. Where are you Jim? Yes I do push them and they sound great in my FL Uberkab.

 

[Gooseman]

Not only do they need to be broken in, but you need to have a lot power and volume going to those speakers if you want a good sound. Yes, they have a pronounced midrange sound, but they also have excellent lows as well. I hear a lot about the top end being shrill with those speakers, but at appropriate volumes (and a broken in speaker), I never hear the the dreaded upper midrange honk in recordings. I like V-30s a lot, but I also love Greenbacks and Alnico Blues from Celestion too.

Celestion provides very good written material detailing how to appropriately get a new speaker mostly broken in. With the Vintage 30, I believe they suggest turning up the treble and bass on your amp and playing for a half hour straight at cranked volumes. Its been awhile, but I remember distinctly doing this at my practice space a long time ago. My ears hurt badly from the shit tones produced from my Roadster, but in the end, it was well worth it.

I do play loudly Maybe that's it.

I'm sure you do play loudly, but are running enough power to the speakers? That could be the issue too. I push the hell out of my Vintage 30s, almost to the brink of their capacity. I used to run a lower wattage amp, cranked, through the same cab that also wouldn't really sound as good. I chalked the difference to mostly the speakers, although the amps in comparison were vastly different from one another. Just something to contemplate.

At the end of the day, you are probably right. I trust Pete Thorn's judgments on a lot of gear given his profession and openness about gear, and I am pretty sure he doesn't use V-30s either. I think he is all about Scumbacks or something. Aren't those V-30s, without the "honk."

Oh Shit! You are now on Jim Seavals shit list You just started something. Where are you Jim? Yes I do push them and they sound great in my FL Uberkab.

Huh? Definitely not trying to start anything!

 

[glip22]

Not only do they need to be broken in, but you need to have a lot power and volume going to those speakers if you want a good sound. Yes, they have a pronounced midrange sound, but they also have excellent lows as well. I hear a lot about the top end being shrill with those speakers, but at appropriate volumes (and a broken in speaker), I never hear the the dreaded upper midrange honk in recordings. I like V-30s a lot, but I also love Greenbacks and Alnico Blues from Celestion too.

Celestion provides very good written material detailing how to appropriately get a new speaker mostly broken in. With the Vintage 30, I believe they suggest turning up the treble and bass on your amp and playing for a half hour straight at cranked volumes. Its been awhile, but I remember distinctly doing this at my practice space a long time ago. My ears hurt badly from the shit tones produced from my Roadster, but in the end, it was well worth it.

I do play loudly Maybe that's it.

I'm sure you do play loudly, but are running enough power to the speakers? That could be the issue too. I push the hell out of my Vintage 30s, almost to the brink of their capacity. I used to run a lower wattage amp, cranked, through the same cab that also wouldn't really sound as good. I chalked the difference to mostly the speakers, although the amps in comparison were vastly different from one another. Just something to contemplate.

At the end of the day, you are probably right. I trust Pete Thorn's judgments on a lot of gear given his profession and openness about gear, and I am pretty sure he doesn't use V-30s either. I think he is all about Scumbacks or something. Aren't those V-30s, without the "honk."

Oh Shit! You are now on Jim Seavals shit list You just started something. Where are you Jim? Yes I do push them and they sound great in my FL Uberkab.

Huh? Definitely not trying to start anything!

Jim's coming to get you

 

[glip22]

Not only do they need to be broken in, but you need to have a lot power and volume going to those speakers if you want a good sound. Yes, they have a pronounced midrange sound, but they also have excellent lows as well. I hear a lot about the top end being shrill with those speakers, but at appropriate volumes (and a broken in speaker), I never hear the the dreaded upper midrange honk in recordings. I like V-30s a lot, but I also love Greenbacks and Alnico Blues from Celestion too.

Celestion provides very good written material detailing how to appropriately get a new speaker mostly broken in. With the Vintage 30, I believe they suggest turning up the treble and bass on your amp and playing for a half hour straight at cranked volumes. Its been awhile, but I remember distinctly doing this at my practice space a long time ago. My ears hurt badly from the shit tones produced from my Roadster, but in the end, it was well worth it.

I do play loudly Maybe that's it.

I'm sure you do play loudly, but are running enough power to the speakers? That could be the issue too. I push the hell out of my Vintage 30s, almost to the brink of their capacity. I used to run a lower wattage amp, cranked, through the same cab that also wouldn't really sound as good. I chalked the difference to mostly the speakers, although the amps in comparison were vastly different from one another. Just something to contemplate.

At the end of the day, you are probably right. I trust Pete Thorn's judgments on a lot of gear given his profession and openness about gear, and I am pretty sure he doesn't use V-30s either. I think he is all about Scumbacks or something. Aren't those V-30s, without the "honk."

Oh Shit! You are now on Jim Seavals shit list You just started something. Where are you Jim? Yes I do push them and they sound great in my FL Uberkab.

Huh? Definitely not trying to start anything!

All in fun. Jim at Scumback hates Vintage 30's.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I think V30's record great and additionalyl sound good when mic'ed and pumped through a PA system. I am not a huge fan of them standing in front of them, but recording and hearing them on tape, I quite like them and plan to pick one up for recording purposes. The rest of the time, Greenback type speakers are your friend