Tube Amp Archive

Hello,

I will be finishing off a stereo (2 amps in one combo really) by the end of spring and would like to find a second Celestion V30 to match what I have been using in my gigging amp to get the direct guitar sound as equal as possible from each speaker.

Is there a way, or a place to go to properly identify the V30 I have been using so far? This is a V30 that came out of an older Carvin combo amp that got alot of use. I have seen around that there are UK made, China made, and just thought it might be a good idea to keep the same source. I do have another V30 in the house that is barely used. It came out of a Bogner Alchemist and was never really used at all. If it was the same as the "Carvin combo' V30 I might consider putting in the up and coming stereo amp and just let time break it in, tolerating any differences in the meanwhile. Hell, this may not even be an issue at all for all I know and each of the two amps are fully featured with a plexi preamp. I suppose I could even use a spectrum analyzer and play with bright caps and EQ to get them moderately similar if needed until it broke in but, I might be making more of this than necessary. The amp will primarily be used for live gigging so, any difference may be lost in the translation of the room or venue.

Thanks for your input,
Best,

PJD3

Have you considered purchasing either two brand new speakers or two used speakers out of a 2x12 or 2x4 cabinet? Or even a used 2x12 loaded with your desired speakers? I believe any of these would be pretty well matched.

Alternatively I'd look for any date or manufacturers codes on your existing speaker and try to match those.

IMHO trying to use any components to match speaker characteristics is going to prove frustrating. Using passive components will mostly act like a crossover or filter (High Pass, Low Pass or Notch. I think what you would need would be more like a specialized graphic equalizer tailored to the speaker.

Not trying discourage, rather throwing out some alternative ideas. Good luck with this

There should be a code on the frame https://www.bygonetones.com/celestion-date-codes.html

If you want to match your current V30, check the speaker label or frame for a “Made in UK” or “Made in China” stamp, that’ll tell you the origin. UK-made V30s tend to sound a bit smoother and more mid-forward, while Chinese ones can be a touch brighter and harsher when new

Thanks everyone,

This totally verses me on how to look at, and look for V30's. I did watch some youtube vids on UK vs China made V30's and totally agree markh with your description.

Will definately see if I can match a new one to the one that I currently use on my regular 1 x 12" combo.

Thank you,
Best,
Phil D pjd3

Why do you think it is beneficial to have matching speakers? There are people who will make the case that a mismatch is a good thing. Why not try what you have? If you like it, you're done!

^ Mixing is good.

I was digging through boxes and I found a NOS in the box V30 made in Ipswitch (before the move to China) that I had to have put away and forgotten about back in the 90s. Only one speaker. I broke it in 24/7 for a solid week and it still had that icepick thing going on.

Instead of buying a new V30 to go with it in a 2x12 I decided to pair it up with an Eminence Governor. The Gov has a frequency response dip right where the V30 has it's annoying spike. They sound great together. The V30 presence is still there but in the cab with the Gov it's only half as loud in the icepick region.

apparenly, the icepick issue on MIC V30s have been resolved somewhat so that they sound closer to the UK ones

Thanks everyone,

it may not make any notable difference if I have two V30's made at different buildings but, since this is a stereo amp, ideally I would want the direct guitar sound to be near similar in order to preserve a good solid phantom center since each speaker will be miced and panned out the PA hard left and right.

Of course, this is just a matter of theory and a matter of "playing it safe" since I have no direct world experience on how speaker differences sound out front panned out wide in a PA.

I suspect any pairing of any V30 will work, and perhaps I or anyone else would never hear the difference.

Thanks,

Phil D

Roe wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 7:47 am apparenly, the icepick issue on MIC V30s have been resolved somewhat so that they sound closer to the UK ones

Everyone's ears are different. I have never owned a Chinese V30. I was referring to the original Ipswitch England V30 icepick, which I really find annoying. I only say this because I think more than one V30 in an array amounts to too much of a good thing. I prefer to blend them with other speakers. YMMV.

solderhead wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 12:26 am

Roe wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 7:47 am apparenly, the icepick issue on MIC V30s have been resolved somewhat so that they sound closer to the UK ones

Everyone's ears are different. I have never owned a Chinese V30. I was referring to the original Ipswitch England V30 icepick, which I really find annoying. I only say this because I think more than one V30 in an array amounts to too much of a good thing. I prefer to blend them with other speakers. YMMV.

the UK ones have upper mids yes but not so much 5k treble. They are not icepicky in the mix normally.

Blending works well. but adding more speakers (even v30s) gives a fatter sound with more phase cancellation in the highs