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Post by Seńor Verde on Jun 5, 2020 4:48:39 GMT -7
I bought a Hellatone 60 (partially broken in Vintage 30) to use with my Therapy a couple years ago. I gigged it pretty steady for the past 2 years and have a love-hate relationship with it. Always had to turn the bass way up and it still sounds thin, but sometimes sounds good if it's really cranked up.
A couple months ago, I found another Chinese made Vintage 30 that I didn't know I even had. This speaker sounds great! very full, yet clear sounding at any volume.
So, wanting to have a good backup, I found a used Mesa UK Vintage 30 and thought I'd give it a try. This one sounds somewhere between the Hellatone and the other.
I know there are differences between Chinese, UK and Mesa Vintage 30's, but I'm wondering why the Hellatone and other Chinese speaker sound so different. I wouldn't mind buying another Chinese V30, if I knew it would sound like the speaker I didn't realize I had.
I have a WGS Retro 30, but it isn't very clear on the pick attack and I understand the Veteran 30 is even less clear.
What would you do if you were in my shoes, buy another Chinese V-30 and hope it ended up sounding good?
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bigez
New Member
Posts: 46
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Post by bigez on Jun 5, 2020 5:16:03 GMT -7
Check this video out, inconsistencies even between China models:
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Post by Seńor Verde on Jun 5, 2020 7:06:49 GMT -7
Good heavens! I hadn't seen that video. Thanks for sharing. Guess I'll be avoiding new production V30 speakers.
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Post by Seńor Verde on Jun 5, 2020 9:11:16 GMT -7
I checked the date the good sounding one was made. June 7, 2013. If I am buying anymore, I'll make sure to get one made before then, just to be safe.
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bigez
New Member
Posts: 46
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Post by bigez on Jun 5, 2020 16:11:03 GMT -7
Yeah, the difference is really stark.
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Post by wraparound (Steve) on Jun 19, 2020 20:06:59 GMT -7
I’m not surprised, I had the same experience with the G12-T75. I had a quad of those in an 80’s Hiwatt cab and then 2 more in a JCM 800 combo. All of those sounded great and then a newer one not made in Ipswich that was not even closely related sound wise. But I now wonder if it has anything to do with where it is made and more to do with subtle changes in the tolerances of the materials used where the results over the multiple thousands made gives these results. I mean they’re not making components to ISO specs, and it’s probably close enough in the grand scheme of things to market them. Let’s face it, no matter what the label is you need to like it in what you are running and almost forget about what someone else likes. It can be the ultimate rabbit hole.
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Post by Seńor Verde on Jun 20, 2020 18:04:54 GMT -7
It can be frustrating though. Someone buys a new specific speaker because they had one years ago and liked it, or because of recommendations based on an old version of a speaker. Then they're very disappointed because the new speaker sounds terrible. Makes me more likely to buy a Celestion clone, as they seem to be more consistent over the years. My Retro 30 sounds very close to the 2005 Vintage 30. From what I've read, the early Chinese V30 sounded identical to the UK version. Maybe the Retro 30 is a better clone than people give it credit.
Anyway, I'm still diggin' the 2013 V30 with the Therapy. Was the Therapy released in 2014? Maybe the V30 Doc used was a 2013. That would explain why I like that specific speaker with the amp.
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