Celestion Blues 4 x12

[Jerry G]

Has anybody tried Celestion Blues in a 4 x12 closed back cab?

Does this work OK?

Sorry if this has been discussed before.

[VelvetGeorge]

I did, years ago. With a 45 it was heaven.

george

[Roe]

yes, the blues sound nice with jtm45s and ac30s.

[Jerry G]

Other than the expense, how come it's not a popular thing?

Or is it, and nobody wants to fess up?

[neikeel]

Other than the expense, how come it's not a popular thing?

Or is it, and nobody wants to fess up?

I tried it a while back, nice with lower powered amp (JTM45 or my AC30) but I was always worried about blowing it up with a 50w and only ever used a 100w with attenuator - both at home (15w x 4 = 60w max)

[Roe]

Other than the expense, how come it's not a popular thing?

Or is it, and nobody wants to fess up?

expensive, unpractical (will blow up) and not particularly flexible tonewise and ampwise. I really prefer g12ms and g12hs with plexis.

[Jerry G]

I have used a 2x12 open back with my Metro Plexi 100, with a Hot Plate, and I think it's a real nice sound.

A 4x12 with a closed back would be a whole lot different I can imagine.

I like the distorted tones (not heavy or thrash) that come from the 2x12 open back.

Does the sound change that much with a closed back?

How come you guys see at as more of a blues speaker?

[Jerry G]

Other than the expense, how come it's not a popular thing?

Or is it, and nobody wants to fess up?

I tried it a while back, nice with lower powered amp (JTM45 or my AC30) but I was always worried about blowing it up with a 50w and only ever used a 100w with attenuator - both at home (15w x 4 = 60w max)

I have read that Ideally you should have twice the wattage in speakers but I would think 60w worth of speakers with a 50w amp would be safe if you don't pin the amp. Not to mention if you are running more than one cab.

Am I wrong?

[neikeel]

I have read that Ideally you should have twice the wattage in speakers but I would think 60w worth of speakers with a 50w amp would be safe if you don't pin the amp. Not to mention if you are running more than one cab.
Am I wrong?

In principle you are right.

I think these Alnico speakers sound good in an open backed cab (like my AC30T) and have kept a pair of golds for that purpose. They give good spread of sound but tend to be mid focussed with a plexi, putting them in a closed back 4x12 seemed a bit of a waste to me. I have 5 4x12s slant and straight with G12M 25w 55Hz, G12M 20w 75Hz, G12H 30w 75Hz, G12H 30w 75Hz (all prerolas) and all sound better with a plexi, and different spec plexis sound better with each type of speaker

[shakti]

Yeah, matching cabs and amps is a fun exercise! Sometimes you stumble across a golden match. My 12-series was a touch screechy with a '69 1960A (G12M 75 Hz), but with a '70 1935B (G12M 55Hz) it is unreal! Chunky, fat, yet articulate, and impossible to get a harsh sound.

I've never tried a closed back 4x12 with alnicos...in theory it should sound cool, especially with a JTM45. Peter Green used one like that with John Mayall. However, in general I prefer alnicos in an open back. They tend to sound a little tubby when they compress in a closed back IME...I suppose that's what you guys refer to as sounding "middy".

[BaronGreenback]

All Marshall 4x12 cabs came with alnicos until late 1965. Marshall alnicos were basically the same as the vox blue but with different cosmetics. Pete Townsend used them in his 8x12's.

I think the main reason people dont use them as much as ceramics is probably the low power handling, and expense. Also a 4x12 loaded with vox blues just looks a bit weird too. People associate them with AC30's, rather than 4x12's.

[Jerry G]

All Marshall 4x12 cabs came with alnicos until late 1965. Marshall alnicos were basically the same as the vox blue but with different cosmetics. Pete Townsend used them in his 8x12's..

I thought that to be the case but I wasn't sure.

But they were open backs weren't they?

[neikeel]

All Marshall 4x12 cabs came with alnicos until late 1965. Marshall alnicos were basically the same as the vox blue but with different cosmetics. Pete Townsend used them in his 8x12's..

I thought that to be the case but I wasn't sure.

But they were open backs weren't they?

Top open, bottom closed - or is that just the reissues?

[BaronGreenback]

Yeah top open and bottom closed on the townsend 8x12 cabs, also on the 40th anniversary cabs which came with T652 alnicos.

I was lucky enough to own an 8x12 for a short while. A promotional cab used at trade shows when the 40th anniversary cabs came out. Admittedly I only tried it at bedroom levels but I did prefer the sound of the bottom (closed back) cabinet.

[Jerry G]

Yeah top open and bottom closed on the townsend 8x12 cabs, also on the 40th anniversary cabs which came with T652 alnicos.

I was lucky enough to own an 8x12 for a short while. A promotional cab used at trade shows when the 40th anniversary cabs came out. Admittedly I only tried it at bedroom levels but I did prefer the sound of the bottom (closed back) cabinet.

Very interesting, how much different are the T652 compared to the Blues we can attain?