C90 V V30

[espmaster1]

I want to hear your opinions people!

I play a lot of rock/fusion stuff and I've heard a lot of good things about V30's, I've had C90's in my Mesa 2x12 recto because that's what it came with but is it worth the switch? What are the tonal characteristics of the two?

 

[screamingdaisy]

The C90 has more bass and a fuller midrange.

The V30 has less bass and a more focused midrange.

Both are very cab dependant.

For example, in a 1x12 theile cab the C90 has a bottom end that hits like a sledge hammer and a sizzly top end with bit of a scooped midrange, but in a 1x12 open back cab the bottom end gets a little loose and the speaker produces a strong midrange emphasis.

On the other hand, the V30s in my Orange 4x12 produces a faster attack, more emphasis on the pick attack, and a strong bass range that sounds great with some amps yet borders on muddy with my Mesas. Comparatively my V30 loaded Recto slant 4x12 produces less top end sizzle, a smoother, fatter overall midrange with a de-emphasis on the pick attack and a cleaner, clearer bottom end.

 

[Steve@Russo]

I would suggest an X pattern in 4x12 or 1x1 in 2x12• I plan on doing that with my marshall cab

 

[konstantine RK]

I like to water the screaming daisy often.... pay attention to this user... loads of good detailed knowledge with Mesa gear!

Im trading a V30 slant for a C90 slant mesa cab.... I will have a report soon!!

 

[screamingdaisy]

Im trading a V30 slant for a C90 slant mesa cab.... I will have a report soon!!

Looking forward to the comparison. If I had one more C90 I'd reload my 4x12 and try it for myself... but I don't so I can't.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

Anyone try the V30 in the combo?

I'm running my combo with a EVM 12L-loaded Thiele. I like how this set up sounds, but I sometimes wonder if it would be improved with a different speaker in the combo.

 

[pilgrimx]

I replaced a blown C90 with a V30 in my LSC combo. I feel like it tightened up the bottom-end, which was too loose with 2 C90's, and allowed me to lay on a little more gain without entering Flub City. (Honestly, I liked the sound of the one C90 better than the other 2 variations.)
If you're considering just replacing one of the C90's, I think what you'll get is an emphasis on your midrange, and lose a little bit of bass. It makes for a nice, balanced tone that doesn't get too muddy. If you like the fat ass the cab probably already has then don't change a thing. Though I've heard others bad mouth it, I think the C90 is a great speaker. The V30 is also one of my favorites and I don't think you'll be disappointed, regardless of what you choose.

 

[Ploki]

i HIGHLY prefer CL80 to both.
i tried playing (all in half open back) V30, CL80 and C90 from my Mark V and i find it too harsh on C90 (except cleans, cleans are awesome), the V30 never really did it for me, but the CL80 does it buttersmooth.
of course its all subjective

 

[MesaManBoogie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF3x94XpA38

 

[kdorsey]

I run C90s in my classic Boogie 2x12 HB cab and love them. Stock, it had the C90 on top, cab open and the EV in the closed bottom, Theile. It was a very big bu bright sound that thundered under load. Ultimately it was too bright for my style (hard rock/power blues). But then I snagged the C90 from another Boogie cab and put it in the bottom. ironically, the sizzle disappeared and became very "Marshall 1960"-ish. I run both cabs live and mic the top C90.

In a related note, I have an old Fender Bandmaster 2x12 cab that is even bigger than my Boogie 2x12s. I put G12M70s in it years ago but never spent any time with it. Now that my Boogie cabs are located at our practice grotto, I use the Fender cab with my Twin II with pedals for home practice. IMO, the Boogie cab w/ C90s sounds very much like the Fender 2x12 w/ G12-70s. If I were so inclined, I could actually gig with this rig and be very happy...though nowhere as flexible as my MkIII.

If I had V30s to compare, I'd put them in the other cab. But if I actually buy speakers, they'll probably be Greenbacks.