Are V30's really that good as people say

[JamesD]

What is all the harshness people talk about with V30's? I see praise like crazy for them from tons of people and then once in a while someone says they are harsh?

 

[disassembled]

What is all the harshness people talk about with V30's? I see praise like crazy for them from tons of people and then once in a while someone says they are harsh?

Someone's opinion of harsh may be totally different than yours. Don't go by reviews to make a definite decision for you. V30's can sound good or bad it depends on the player's tone, guitar, amp, but more importantly the listener.

I have read several reviews where V30's fart out then I read a couple of reviews saying they don't. So which is it? I don't know, honestly. It probably depends on how much bass is needed I guess.

V30's seem to be the safe haven for many guitarists because it doesn't take much debate among the masses. I like my Gov so there isn't a reason to look for anything else right now.

If you have any way to try them out before you buy then please do so but I don't think you will be disappointed by them if you do decide to get some V30's.

 

[JamesD]

Yeah. I am going to try to get down to this guitar shop, its about 1 hour away but it is the only mesa dealer anywhere near my area. So i am going to try to get down there and hear them for myself. I also understand what you mean by it's in everyones own opinions on what is harsh, was just looking for characteristics of what they meant by it. Thanks for reply

 

[3SpeedChicken]

Here's something different....when I bought my Roadster head, I planned on replacing the Celestion 'NeoDog' neodymium speakers in my Vox cab out with V30's.

But to be honest, I have no reason to. Those speakers sounds fantastic....and are light as hell. I don't think they are cheap, but they are really smooth and have tons of tight low end.

 

[JamesD]

awesome, thanks..Another speaker to check out

 

[t0aj15]

Do they make V30's in 10? I'm thinking of changing speakers on myHartke 4x10 it has celestion speakers, don't know which model?

This iis as close as you can get to a V30 in a ten inch speaker: http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/products/classic/detail.asp?ID=31

 

[jr3d]

Here is my experience with vintage 30's my friend has a mesa DR roadster 2x12 that HAD V30's in it I thought for the longest time that they were 30W speakers, when we discovered they were 60 watt speakers, he bought a set of greenbacks and I installed them and fired the amp up with my guitar plugged in to it. My immidiate reaction was as I had expected, the speaker began to bleed out at a lower volume. for the type of music we play they really fit the bill better than V30's they sound as punchy and harsh, a trait I like in a speaker, but sound crunchier then the V30's at the same volume.

 

[ytse_jam]

It's a very interesting speaker that sounds a bit different in each amp I play it in. I have a 16ohm version (which might have something to do with it) in my Orange and it acts like a completely different speaker than in my Mesa cab. It sounds different with a stiletto and a rectifier, etc. It handles tremendous low end without farting out, the midrange doesn't get muddy unless you're not EQ'ed properly, and the highs are clear and clean. It's not extremely articulated or detailed but then again.. use the right tool for the right job.

That being said, as Russ put, the black shadow is a hell of a speaker. I think your decision needs to be based mostly on how they sound in your rig to YOUR ears, and also pairing the right speaker to the right type of music you're trying to get.

interesting... so could you or anyone tell me more about the tonal differences between 8 and 16 ohm models?and what's the technical reason for which there is such sounding difference?

 

[ylo]

I personally think the V30s sound great in a 4x12 cabinet, but they sound a little dark and lifeless in a combo. Mind you, tone is very subjective and depends on your amp, guitar, guitar cable length, effects etc., so this is just my own experience and opinion with my rig.

Check out the Eminence line of Patriot and Redcoat speakers. Eminence gives good descriptions of the sound of each model speaker on their web site, and they publish the frequency response curves, so if you know that you want a slightly brighter or darker speaker than what you have, you can narrow down the choices to one or two possibilities. The prices are reasonable too.

Here's an example. I just replaced the Mesa C90 in my LSS with a Patriot Red White and Blues, and I think it sounds great -- just a little bit brighter and less muddy than the stock C90 speaker, but not fizzy or buzzy when reproducing distorted tones.

 

[Guitarzan]

I've heard good things about this line of Eminence...

 

[eldi]

When you compare them to a speaker like the Celestion G12-75T, the V-30's , in my opinion, sound better. They do have more midrange, and have a warmer sound. When you hit them halfway hard they purr like a kitten. While the G12-75T's have a nice presence to them, they seem to have a colder sounding low end growl to them. I have a v-30 loaded Marshall 4-12 cab that sounds great with a variety of different heads.

 

[cant play pool with a rop]

I agree about the G12-75s I didn't dig them at all. I struggled for a while with liking V-30s that I had in Traditional cab. In my opinion they were way too harsh especially with my Ace so I tried out other cabs and discovered they were'nt nearly as harsh in a Recto 4X12.My Roadster clean channels sound much better too and the Ace doesn't burn your flesh off with mid-range.However; It's bassier but I've had luck EQing that down.I realize I do like V-30s in the right cab.I did a lot of switching speakers last couple of years and came back to V-30s and have ended my search.