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Post by bubs42 on Feb 13, 2022 15:58:25 GMT -7
I used Hellatones years ago, they were the first aftermarket speaker I ever purchased. I was using a 2x12 Mesa Boogie Recto cab and one of the speakers started making noise. When I popped open the cabinet, I found two Greenbacks. I blew a greenback and needed a replacement but a higher output speaker. So after searching around I bought an Hellatone 30 and that set up sounded amazing right up to the point I blew the other Greenback. So I went back to Avatar and purchased a Hellatone 60, and that set up was fantastic with my Rectifier 50 watter. I remember it being a very pleasurable experience.
So when I was going through speakers recently looking for a Greenback to go in one of my Z Cabs I was going to buy another Hellatone, but ended up finding two more Greenbacks like the one that I had. I had explained to Dave what was special about the Greenbacks that I was using and he said it sounded very much like the Hellatone 25 would be a good match. I just added a 3rd Z 1x12 and was going to pair it up with my RT66 that has a good amount of Bass and could shred a Greenback if I got too wild with it. So I ponied up tonight for a 50 Watt Version of the their Hellatone 25. It should be in route tomorrow. This should for all purposes one of the last speaker purchases I will freaking ever have to make, so I hope it was a wise choice. If it doesn't work i'll go back to using the V Type for that amp, but I really like using 2 Greenbacks with the RT66.
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 15, 2022 16:03:59 GMT -7
The cabinet arrived today, another 19x19 and I put the V Type in it until the other speaker arrives. The V Type sounds great with the Z28 and it sounded great with the Galaxie but with the Route its too much headroom. I'm a touch worried that i'm just going to have to bite the bullet in the end, and get a 2x12 loaded with Greenbacks. We will so though.
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 17, 2022 18:39:26 GMT -7
Its here, more tomorrow.
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 19, 2022 5:24:45 GMT -7
THE REVIEW:
The first thing I noticed that the 50 had a touch more clarity than the 25, but not in the way the G12H30 does. I rolled the highs on my Z28 back like a half a number, I did the same on my Sexdrive (always on) . I was totally shocked that it felt as well as sounded as close as it gets to the Greenbacks that I already have. I usually run 2 1z12s with the Greenbacks, and this 1 cab now does all the work and sounds amazing. The plus is you get a touch tighter bass and touch more sparkle but the mids are still there and the speaker still gives you that perceived gain a Greenback does but holds together better.
So you would think a 50 watt Greenback would have more headroom, feel a little more muscular, and would be able to take a little more than you standard Greenback and I must say this absolutely does it in spades.
Its not darker, its not more compressed, its really does sound like the late 90's/Early 2000 Greenbacks I already have. Mad Props to Dave and his crew, to me they really nailed the voicing of this speaker.
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 19, 2022 6:30:00 GMT -7
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Feb 19, 2022 7:09:55 GMT -7
Thanks for the review bubs. Have been a fan of Avatar for years. Dave is a great guy as well.
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Post by nick0 on Feb 19, 2022 11:11:59 GMT -7
Sounds great! I may have to check those out. Thanks for the info!
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Post by helmi on Feb 20, 2022 10:25:03 GMT -7
I am interested in a Hellatone 25 or 50 for a non-Z, 15-17 watt amp I have. I have read that some people find the 25&50 to be closer to a h-30 then the greenbacks. I know it’ supposed to be a cross between the 2. Are the highs and lows more dominant then the mids? I have a mid heavy amp, that’s not strong in the highs or lows. was thinking this might work.
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Post by bubs42 on Feb 20, 2022 10:39:47 GMT -7
I am interested in a Hellatone 25 or 50 for a non-Z amp I have. I have read that some people find the 25&50 to be closer to a h-30 then the greenbacks. I know it’ supposed to be a cross between the 2. Are the highs and lows more dominant then the mids? I have a mid heavy amp, that’s not strong in the highs or lows. was thinking this might work. The Review that Dave posted on the website is mine. So if you haven't read that short review please do it will give you a frame of mind I'm starting from. Now, I'm not a Greenback Nut, nor is the G12H30 close to my favorite speaker. That being said, If I had sat someone down and said, "Hey, the Greenback just gives too much in the bottom end and can be shrill with a lack of focus on the top end when using it by itself. The G12H30 doesn't sound like a higher output Greenback because it is too sharp yet focused on the top end, the lows are punchier but don't a touch too tight. and where did the mids go?". The Avatar 50 you get a tighter bottom, a more focused, clear top end that is tame enough not to pierce your ears. Then lets say you are holding a rhythm in A, putting the hammer down Malcolm Young Style the it sounds full and give you the bit of grunt or give that makes a Greenback feel good. I really think its a great mix of both speakers, kind of like you had them mixed in a 2x12. Oddly enough is kind of how I tried Avatar Speakers years ago, one 25 and one 30 in a 2x12. I sent you a PM.
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Post by bubs42 on Oct 28, 2023 13:25:37 GMT -7
Bumping this back to the top to give props again to Avatar for making a great speaker. I just bought another Ghia and was going through my hit list of speakers and I wasn’t hearing what I wanted out of the Ghia. The amp sounds great, it was finding a speaker that would translate what I wanted to hear. The Greenback didn’t allow the bottom to be a firm as I liked and I wasn’t feeling the TT40/40 with the Ghia. So I went digging and pulled out the Avatar 50 and it just hits the mark. IMHO it really sounds like you mixed a G12H30 and a Greenback. You get more definition, a touch firmer bottom and but it still has a little grit to it like a greenback. I don’t feel like it sounds like a Creamback 65.
Update from the previous posts above: I purchased a 25 a while back to try out and IMHO the 50 is where it is at. The 25 still sounds a lot like the 50 and doesn’t come along faster or get grittier so I wasn’t what I was looking for. They are virtually identical Weight, Cone, Basket, so it must be something internal that makes it different. I was expecting a lighter magnet and more similar to a Greenback output in nature.
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Post by helmi on Oct 30, 2023 4:55:31 GMT -7
I have the Hellatone 25 and 50 also, and agree they are great speakers.
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