Metropoulos Forum

Was looking through local craigslist and saw one add for two 16 ohm Celestion G12C-30's out of a top hat amplifier. After doing some searching, it appears that the G12C-30 is the same speaker that is being used in the Hendrix cabs and vintage modern cabs. The guy selling them is advertising them as a G12H-30. Tonally, I guess that would make sense if you look at the description of a G12H-30 but at the same time if they were a G12H-30, then they would be labeled as such (or at least one would think).

Any idea what the differences of a G12C-30 is when compared with the other greenback variety speakers are? Checked Celestion's website, they don't list a G12C-30.

sixpakldp wrote:After doing some searching, it appears that the G12C-30 is the same speaker that is being used in the Hendrix cabs and vintage modern cabs.

Not so.

The speaker to which you are referring:


The G12C-25 speaker used in the Hendrix cabs:


More here:
http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=19283

Here is the pic this guy has posted. I saw the thread about the G12C-30's, at one point the conversation turned to the speaker being an "economical version of the greenback" and then the thread concluded with stating it was an awesome sounding speaker. The guy wants $70 a piece for these, which seems pretty reasonable. A G12H-30 goes for $100 to 125, just want to make sure it is comparable after the recycled magnet comments in the thread.

Got some more info from this guy: Both codes on the speakers appear to be 53 H1777, although the "5"'s could be 6, they are kind of smeared. On the frames are 29LKT4534/04 on one and 28LKT4534/04. The only other markings other than the sticker in the ad picture is the celestion stamp on the frame. I don't believe there is anything underneath the Tophat stickers signifying a model. If you need anything else let me know.

Looks by the codes that the guy is telling the truth, lead cone, and not sure of the T # but if you search it you pretty much get the G12H-30.

What I see is three different speakers in the pictures above. The top one has the the tiny magnet, the greenback has the M aka medium magnet, and the Top Hat one has the H or heavy magnet. My guess is the G12C on the Top Hat is not the same as the G12C on the greenback.

that is a H magnet on the top hat speaker.

the larger size magnet on G12H speakers is the reason for the extra 5 watts over the M magnet speakers, assuming they use the same cone and voice coil, because the larger magnet absorbs more heat.

the 'normal' G12C in the marshall cab will most likely be a 25 watt speaker because it has an M magnet.

I should have more info after Sunday . . . when I pick them up. If you look at Top Hats website they have on there somewhere about their custom G12H-30, which is probably this speaker. If I had to guess it's probably a G12C with an H magnet making a 30 watt version of that speaker. Nevertheless he's selling me the pair for $120, so it's pretty hard to turn that down assuming everything is in working order.

Hopefully I can get some clips up in the future with my metro 100 watt and les paul

Yes, T4534 was applied to the 16 ohm latter day G12H30 "70th Anniversary" RI models. The "53 H1777" cone is a RI part inspired by the original 75 hz resonance "lead" cone specs of the '60s and '70s, and used on RI alnico G12s, some greenback RIs

Just loaded them into my cab tonight. Awesome speakers and one heck of a deal!

Thought I would add another link from the Marshall Forum which discusses the Celestion Marshall G12C-25 and how it got it's name. It may give insight to the meaning of "C" in the label of this Celestion model . More information here: http://marshallvintagemodern.com/viewto ... w=previous" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ref: http://marshallvintagemodern.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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The G12C is modeled on an original G12M from 1966 to 67.

The G12C greenback's were referenced from a particularly fine set of mid 60s G12Ms.

The G12C is a G12M but voiced after a particularly nice vintage reference we had access to. We couldn't call it a G12M because that was already taken obviously, so we called it G12C which simply stands for G12 Ceramic. It is exclusive to the Limited Edition Hendrix and the Vintage Modern Series.

The G12C has been voiced to be the same as an original 'Golden Reference containing G12M's' we had which was absolutely beautiful - warm, balanced and woody.

On the difference between the G12M Heritage and the G12C: They are both versions of the original G12-Ms. They shouldn't really differ in punch, only voicing. They are both great speakers but the G12-C was specially devoloped to complement the Hendrix SUER100JH.

The G12-C is the speaker I developed with Celestion when I was doing the SUPER100JH. I couldn't find a current 'off the shelf' greenback that sounded 'right on the nose' for the early Hendrix sound (especially when a full stack of them was used) so I made some tweaks and tunings and finally arrived at what we eventually called the G12-C.

We couldn't call it a G12-M as that was already taken so we decided on G12-C which is what Celestion called their greenbacks before dividing them into Ms and Hs (The C stands for 'Ceramic' by the way which refers to the magnet material).

I decided to use the G12-Cs with the Vintage Modern range because it's fundamental tone is from that same period - 66 to 68.

SPKR-00095 = G12C with spade terminals and manufactured in China by Celestion’s OEM partner ‘GPE’ as used in the Vintage Modern series.

SPKR-00092 = G12C with solder terminals and manufactured in Celestions UK factory in Ipswich, as used in the Hendrix SUPER100JH 1982A and B cabs.

There is absolutely no sonic difference between the two at all.
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P.S. lovely speaker btw