Celestion Alnico Shootout: Gold, Cream & Blue (in Dr Z DB4)
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- **New video including the Celestion Ruby: • Celestion AlNiCo Shoot...
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The last speaker swap video for a while...! Today, we'll be looking at the three premium alnico speakers from Celestion: the Gold, Cream & Blue. I'll be putting all three into my lovely Dr Z DB4 amp and seeing what tonal differences occur.
These speakers have very different power ratings - the Blue is only 15w. So, I'll be running the DB4 in half-power mode (18w) and not turning it up too high...we'll still be at the limit of what that speaker can handle, so hopefully it won't explode!
With the power differences, obviously these speakers are aimed at very different amplifiers. But it's often asked on forums what the fundamental tonal differences are...so let's have a look!
What do you think? Which is your favourite speaker (in this amp)? And why? Comment below!
Guitar is a Fender Tele with a Monty's Retro Wind bridge pickup.
jp@joeperkins.co.uk
Vector images by freepik.com
Excellent demo! Really like the Gold - smooth with headroom.
Just launched this vid - slightly more in-depth! ua-cam.com/video/gdqk1dSINJ0/v-deo.html
Great video. For me the Blue is the most iconic and nails that job that it is known for, but I do have a soft spot for the cream.
I've just put a new version of this vid out including their new Ruby, if it's of interest :-) ua-cam.com/video/gdqk1dSINJ0/v-deo.html
P.S. Have heard great things about your cabs! :-)
Incredible how the alnico cream brings all the vintage character. I think it will replace all my greenbacks.
Nothing sounds as good as the blue, particularly when it's pushed. However, I can understand people wanting to opt for the Alnico Creams, because 15 watts is a really low power rating and Blues are too expensive to risk blowing.
Great demo. The riff that starts from 4:17 did the thing for me and made me choose the gold. :)
I love the way the Blue brings out the true character of the Telecaster.
Gold for me - has the chime and clarity of the blue, but doesn't fall apart when pushed.
SUCH a good demo! I'd use them all. The blue is complex and classic with balanced dynamics, the cream is nicely "vintage" voiced in a beautifully relaxed yet compressed way, and the gold is totally clear with full dynamic range. I love how there doesn't seem to be any offensive upper harmonic content in the Gold. Might put one of those in my Tone King, hmm
Thanks Andrew :-) I'd agree with your analysis - they're all amazing speakers. To be honest, I'm running all three at once nowadays and the sound is unreal :-)
They all sound good honestly
Cream sounded the best, because of the smooth texture.
You might enjoy this video :-) ua-cam.com/video/3vAhzMWMBB4/v-deo.html
Well analyzed. The more I listen to these shootouts, the more the GOLD takes the gold, for what I need. It is just so much more dimensional than the other two. I have a 25 watt Weber 12A150 Alnico I want to slide into my '77 Deluxe Reverb to see ... how it do! If it don't DO, I see some GOLD in my future.
I’m surprised how close they got the gold to the blue. I have a Swart 2x12 with golds that is my favorite, but I’m looking for a 1x12 with blue or 1x10 Gold for low volume and home recording.
Blue all the way. The smoothest and most touch sensitive. Gold follows closely. Don’t care for the cream at all.
Wow, I can’t believe how much better the blue is. They all sounded good clean but the blue was definitely the most dimensional and “big” sounding. Overdriven there was no contest, the blue had that vintage Celestion alnico crunch while the Gold sounded muffled and the Cream lacked grunt. There’s a reason why the alnico Blues are a classic and have endured since the 60s
They really are spectacular speakers! One reason why it likely sounded 'bigger' though was that it was working really hard compared to its maximum power rating...the other two were only really ticking over, especially the cream. But yeah...it really does sound magic, especially with the cleans :-)
I liked the Blue best, and it can stand more abuse that one would think. In the mid 60´s I had a VOX AC 30 Top Boost, and at rehearsals we were putting both the lead
guitar and bass through the same amp, with very high volumes, and the speakers survived it. But it has less lowth, than the other 2.
I like all three. Damn.
Great video.
Thinking about trying the Gold in my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. 40 watt amp.
The G12 Gold Sounded great in my blues deluxe reissue!
'56 Les Paul Gold Top w/P90s, '09 Fender American Standard Strat and a Spanish Classical guitar with under saddle pickup.
They all sounded fantastic.
Go for it!
Top video thanks........they all sounded good..........my pick is the Blue........a speaker for all seasons except maybe in really high powered 1x12 combos, then one of the others will do just fine.
That Lava Lamp - one of the most iconic studio decor items - has to be the friggin biggest Lava Lamp know to man. Bravo on your bold, Lava-ness, sir. Rocketh on...
Hah I know - I was surprised by the size when it arrived! Bloody thing takes about 5 hours to heat up!! heh
I really like all 3. Outstanding demo on a flat amp like that.
Thanks Henry :-)
I rarely say this ever but they all sounded perfect for the application.
These three are fairly close in sound to each other. But remember that the Blue is only 15W and in this demo it was in a 36W amp running at half power, so out of the three it's the one that couldn't be used. I made another video last year comparing these three to the new Celestion Alnico Ruby - which is a very different speaker altogether!!!
I had Blue in my Vox combo AC15HW1. I have Gold in my Marshall DSL40CR. Loved both speakers. Havne't tried Cream. Thanks for the video.
Kept the Cream in this amp...love it!!
You know, when you listen to audio comparisons over a set of questionable computer speakers, it's iffy at best. All things equal, each of these sound fabulous. I've always liked the sound of the Blue, but the low power rating would require 4 or more to safely handle a 100 watt amp. I bought 2 Celestion Gold speakers to go into a vintage 1980 Carvin 100 watt, all tube combo. The amp was equipped with Mercury Magnetics transformers and choke, and sounded great with factory speakers. Though pricy, It doesn't get any better.... Great sounding Telecaster, by the way.
Thanks :-) Yep, they're all amazing speakers. The Gold is now in my H&K Puretone combo and it's the best that amp has ever sounded!!
They all sounded excellent to me. I’m thinking about the Cream for a high power 1x12”.
That was super helpful. Thanks a ton! I've always used the blue and the gold - I think I'm going to try a cream now for what I'm doing now. (not Metallica in the 80s!)
Cream had the best texture to me, a tighter thicker core tone!
All three sound very good. I lean towards the Gold and Cream. based on this video the Blue sounds great for lower volume settings and similar to the Gold, but as you said it gets fizzy in the midrange when it was pushed.
I was tempted by the Cream but the Gold seems more present at lower volume...🔈🔔
I'd definitely agree!
Firstly, great review. Secondly, appreciate watching a fellow lefty guitarist doing said review. Thirdly, massive kudos for resting the guitar in your lap the correct way. Fourthly, Blue destroys everything else in this comparison (really high gain might have been a different matter).
Almost 1000 subs man! I just want to say that I absolutely love your videos! Keep doing what you're doing and you'll get there soon! Cheers
Thanks man! :-) Really do appreciate the kind words! I know...seems crazy that at this point last year I was on about...50 :P Shouldn't be long!
I own all three. The cream is by far my favorite when you turn it up. The treble in the blue and gold bothers me when turned up. I am currently using the cream by itself with a Marshall 20 SVc and it sounds amazing with the V jr. in the combo. The low midrange in the cream just sounds amazing the more you turn it up. The blue and gold have more upper midrange and get harsh and don't sound as full to me. Sold my blues and golds. Not missing a thing.
I think the Cream is my favourite also :-) That said, I run the other two in my other recording amps (I run all 3 together) and they compliment each other very well indeed!
What a reference.. LOL
I could only notice differences in sound while using the diagram. When I tried to use just my ear, I thought the differences in tone were just from your playing style. That being said, these all sounded very similar to me as a spectator and successfully give you a quality tone. I would have to guess that in the room, these speakers give you a different playing feel, and that is where this shootout would matter most.
Great video! You clearly demonstrated each speaker's different characteristics, and accurately summarized your findings at the end. Thank you!
Thanks mate - glad you enjoyed it! :-)
I think I’m going to go for 1 gold on an ac30 which has 2 greenbacks already, and see how they mix. I like how the blue sounds , until it starts breaking up. They both sound very similar. Way different and more voxie than the greens.
Great comparison thanks!
Great comparison, thanks. Will be interesting to hear the new Ruby, which is supposed to be between the Blue and the Cream.
Yeah, I'll definitely be checking it out once they're available! I think a 4-way Alnico shootout needs to happen ;-)
@@JoePerkinsMusic oh yeah!!
Here's the Ruby :-) ua-cam.com/video/gdqk1dSINJ0/v-deo.html
You can't end the series just yet. You'll need to put the forthcoming Alnico Ruby in the mix. :)
I've sent some emails seeing if we can make that happen...I'm doubtful it will though, unfortunately. Will see...we might be lucky!
@@JoePerkinsMusic : Fingers crossed. Thanks for the reply.
The Ruby has landed! ua-cam.com/video/gdqk1dSINJ0/v-deo.html
Good stuff 😊 cream was creamy 🎸 and my favourite
Agreed!! :-)
Excellent video BTW
Wow the cream sounds very much like the blue!
It’s funny, the more gain added, the bigger difference I hear.
Yep - the more harmonics there are, the more the differences are exposed :-)
I noticed that your picking hand compensates for differences in tone to bring out the style of playing you want from each speaker. You can almost track which speakers have more highs and lows based on your hand placement.
I think it would sound better if you played right handed. The Blue>Gold>>Cream.
Mint Joe👍go to go with the blue myself
Thanks mate! The blue is a special speaker indeed! I'm thinking that I'll keep the Blue in my Cornell Tweed amp, then switch the Cream from my H&K into the Z, and then try one of the new Celestion Ruby speakers in my H&K when they're released......will see if I can afford the Celestion once they're shipping them! :P
Thanks so much cheers ! I like the blue for the chime in my ac 30
Gold for the gold, but all 3 are great.
Yes, I use the 12' Cream Alnico but I'd sure rather play a Blue...
Hello ... did you mix 2x12 with Alnico Cream + Blue? I have a VOX AC30 and I'm thinking of putting Blue with Cream :)
great demo mate ill take the cream for a marshall. Blue for vox. You might have to get your hands on the ruby and compare again for us. cheers Luke
I've sent some emails...doubtful that I'll get one on demo at the mo & can't really justify buying one as it wouldn't be ideally suited to any of my amps. But....fingers crossed! :-)
Cream sounded best, then Gold, then Blue. But then, the speaker is only one third of the chain, the next two being the amp and the guitar (which then breaks down into humbuckers or single coils). The speaker is always the most neglected part of the rig-people rave about CABS, but 90% of the time they're loaded with Vintage 30's! I went from a 4x12 cab with V30's to either a 2x12 with Neo Creambacks or a 1x12 with the Cream in this demo. Both sound more detailed and less hairy than the V30.
Agreed :-) This video might be of interest - the Alnico Cream vs V30: ua-cam.com/video/dksg-BvJesM/v-deo.html
What actually raised my attention here is his fashion style. Hard to describe what it is, but i would call it a Brit mix. A combination of Elton John's pants, Grand mom's self knitted pullover and a Hard Rock Café T-Shirt, haha... Ah yeah and regarding the speakers, got no clue which one i would prefere. I 'd need to hear them all in clean mode to decide.
I wear that as a badge of honour!! Heh (though it's an Effectrode t-shirt!)
Looks like my pajamas
A creamy thanks. Should be on its way :-)
Fantastic! :-) It's definitely my favourite speaker I've ever played through...absolutely awesome!
Cream one is creamier and the blue is most articulate. Gold seems in between. I think cream sounds best. But I like the warmer sound.
I was so disappointed when I bought the gold... haven't found any amp or guitar I like it with. The blue is an incredibly expressive and well-balanced speaker. Put a pair in a 2 x 12 cab (to handle power) and it sounds great with Fender, Marshall or Vox style amps.
I have a Voxac15 hand-wired. Was going to upgrade to Blue, as its a 15-watt amp. But as you pointed out, it will drive it right on that edge, whereas the gold will play cleanly with easy. I thought your Gold sounded better, but that maybe was the fact that it been used more. Has been scratched out?G reat video to find whilst in the middle of my high-class problem :-)
The Gold had had a bit more use, yeah. I guess it depends if you like the sound of speaker distortion or not? And also - what volume are you playing at? At low volumes, I'd wager the Blue would sound better as it'd be working harder - but cranked, it'll crap out sooner than the Gold would. Personally, I really hate speaker distortion so I always like to make sure there's some spare wattage! I run the Cream in the Dr Z now - so a 90W speaker in a 36W amp. Really love the dynamics of that...some people say it's not 'right' to do that, but it works for me!
@@JoePerkinsMusic ha! Someone who likes the same sound from a speaker. Most low volume. But I can crank it up due to the other volume control. It allows the tubes running hard at low volume. Even on the 7.5 watt setting. I play opening tuning blues. I don't nerd a speaker to sound like it's giving birth, about to die. I like a tiny bit of dirt, even the famous Vox ghost tones, but nothing more. The greenback it comes with is a 25w speaker anyway. The gold just will take longer to break in. I might have to get both 😂 The gold first thou
Getting both is usually the best solution ;-) heh
Would love to hear the cream against an American speaker or even paired with an American speaker.
Brian Cullen yeah, I would love to hear them too.
All of them sounded rubbish to me, but it was probably the tele and the amp. Would like to hear the same comparison with humbuckers and maybe a marshal amp.
My ears liked the cream at breakup, clean I like the Blue
Cream kinda sits behind, while Gold is front and center when pushed...
Blue and Gold. Cream sounded less good to me.
Hi! Great comparison! I have a 5 watts Epiphone Valve Junior amp. I would like to upgrade the speaker in the cabinet and am really hesitating between the 3 Alnicos. Given the fact that it is quite a small amp, would a blue be a better fit than a good from your perspective? Would be great to have your view since you have experienced the 3 speakers. Cheers. Yann
Personally I'd go for the Blue with that amp - sounds wonderful, and speakers generally sound better when they're being pushed relative to their power rating. The Cream would only be being tickled by 5W.
@@JoePerkinsMusic Hi Joe. I very much appreciate you taking the time to answer! Thanks a lot for the tip and congrats on the great content you produce.
waiting ruby vs cream...btw great demo.....
I've sent some emails...but I don't think the Ruby will be landing here any time soon, sadly :-( Glad you liked the demo!
Wait no longer! :-) ua-cam.com/video/gdqk1dSINJ0/v-deo.html
3:30 - Very reminiscent of Status Quo when playing that riff through the Creams.
Gotta love the Quo!
This video confirms my long-standing opinion that the Blue is still the best at *every* gain level, the Cream is the best alternative, and the Gold just fails to live up to the Celestion AlNiCo legacy. That being said, the Gold sounded better to me in this video than it has in many other videos.
The Blue just has the most full and even response across the frequency range, the Cream sounds slightly mid-scooped compared to the Blue, but that's workable. The Gold, however, is seriously lacking in treble response compared to the Blue and Cream, but it might be suitable in, say, a Marshall amp, which I always find to be insipidly weak in the bottom end. A driver weak in treble might help tame a Marshall and make it sound heavier.
Now, if you really want to hear something, pair an AlNiCo Cream with a Redback.
Blue then Gold and last cream for me. But my Supersonic 22 volume never goes above 3. I own a blue.
The gold doesn't respond the same way the blue does. I guess that makes sense if the blue is at its power limits as it's only 15w. The cream has its own thing going on.
GOLD..
Gold. Sounds more neutral.
Blue for leads and the cream for rhythm. Mmm
This video does blue backs no justice 😢
Definitely Gold!
Hey.. why are you running this demo in pyjama bottoms?
I guess I will get the Gold. Again.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Seems like cream is very similar to blue while gold has its own thing going
Hey @joePerkins I have a 35-watt blackface type amp and 35-watt Two Rock. I have one cab loaded with a Celestion Cream, What would you recommend the other cab speaker to be? Im looking to offset frequencies for a full sound.
Gold all the way
Team Ruby
Celestion speakers are so superior to and years ahead of all those speakers that try to convince you that they are better than the real thing. This results in guitarists wasting thousands of dollars on the promises made by speaker companies that their versions of Celestion speakers are so much better than the real thing.. Give me a break.. Save yourself the heartache and your bank balance will thank you..
...now you should test also new Ruby Celestion speaker. :)
Have to collect them all
Oh I'd love to...I've already approached Celestion asking if I can borrow one to compare them all! :P Fingers crossed I hear back!
@@JoePerkinsMusic I am thinking to upgrade stock ceramic speaker on my Tone King Imperial MK II amp. Mark Bartel last year personally told me Celestion Cream would be best, but is rated 90 W, new Ruby 35 W. :)
Sounds perfect!! That said, I run the Cream in my Hughes & Kettner Puretone....so, a 90w speaker receiving 25w. It sounds beyond amazing, so I don't think the power mis-match would be an issue for you with the Cream. But....that Ruby.....so much want!! :P
@@JoePerkinsMusicI just read in some forum Ruby sits right between Blue and Cream. What does it mean in practice?
Well, it depends. I heard them all and I have to say that between Alnico Blue and Gold his very very close to each other, they are good for more cleanish sounds but Alnico Cream is great for overdriven sounds, to my ears. Great demo! Keep it up ;) So Cream for crunch sounds, Gold for clean and Crunch and Blue for Clean
I'd agree :-)
My ear hears the cream would compliment a tweed amp. The gold/blue would compliment a blackface.
I don’t hear much difference except the gold is duller than the other 2.
2:30 BMTH riff.
what's your favorite alnico(s)?
For me...the Celestion Blue; Fane A60 and the Scumback S75-PVC :-)
anyone else noticed the hand shadow that´s reflected in the mirror? scary
try other tube amps
What about Ruby? Are they not worthy of lining up with these three?
Here you go: ua-cam.com/video/gdqk1dSINJ0/v-deo.html
@@JoePerkinsMusic 😎
Nice video! which one you would suggest for a vox ac15?
Personally I'd go with the Blue - but I think they'd all sound pretty sweet. The Cream is _maybe_ a little overpowered for a 15W amp but could still sound ace :-)
@@JoePerkinsMusic seen that I already have a cabinet with 2 celestion vintage 30 which I use with an orange ad 30, I followed your suggestion and I ordered the blue to replace the speaker on the ac 15. Thanks :)
The cream and blue were the best sounding
Gold
hey Joe how are you doing? nice vid
Hey mate! Yeah all good thanks :-) How about you? Any new fuzzes in your life recently?!?
@@JoePerkinsMusic hey man yeah i am good also. i did get a swollen pickle fuzz for my b day. sounds good. have any new fuzz demos coming? nice to chat with you for sure!
Ooh nice! How is it?!?
I've got the Analogman Peppermint and Williams MkI Tonebender to demo soon...but I'm working on a new track at the moment which is crammed with fuzz pedals! Hopefully it'll be out in a month or two...just waiting for my mate to come play bass on it! There'll be a video series documenting the whole thing :-)
@@JoePerkinsMusic good luck with the project. waiting on the fuzz demos...yeh the pickle cuts the mix well. i might do a video. peace
Hey Joe, I have stageright 15 watt tube amp. I want to put a blue or a gold into it. Should I go with the gold for the higher power rating?
Being a 15W amp you could run either; personally I'd go with the Blue, but it depends if you might want to put the speaker into a higher powered amp in the future!
@@JoePerkinsMusic thanks man! Yeah gonna probably go with a blue. Great demos and playing!
The cream sounds dead. Ideal for bedroom players, absolute shit for professionals on stage. AMEN. Blue and Gold is the way to go.
Can I put a gold and my blue in a 2x12 cab and run my vox ac15htv1 through it? Would they go together well and or would I risk blowing something
AC15HTV1 is a 15W amp, and the blue on its own is a 15W speaker; so running the two together won't blow anything in that sense. You'll have to make sure the impedance is correct (I'm not sure what outputs that amp has) depending on whether the speakers are wired in series or parallel, but in terms of wattage you'd be comfortably within that. I'd say it might possibly be better pairing something else with the Blue though, as the Gold is voiced fairly similarly to it; so pairing it with a different speaker might have more of a sonic difference. That said though, the Dr. Z Z-Wreck is my favourite amp, and the 2x12 cab that pairs with the head version has a Gold & Blue wired in series...so that pairing can certainly work!
Joe Perkins would you suggest the blue and a ruby? Or the blue and the gold?
@@justin0185 The Ruby would have more sonic difference - and might pair brilliantly with the Blue for a more full-frequency sound overall - but I'm no big fan of that speaker on its own. Personally I'd go Gold & Blue, but that's just because I like a lot of clarity in my sound....all personal preference :-)
Cream sounds more greenback likeish
Like Cream & Blue.
Don't like Gold, very generic to me.
I thought I wanted the gold but after watching this it doesn’t seem to have as much definition as the others.
Lol
Man i cant tell
I am so done with speaker reviews that jam the recording mic right up to the grill. That's not how I listen to guitar amps.
The Fig-8 ribbon mic picks up a lot of room sound as well as the direct - and, the room mic (you can see it on the floor to the right of me in the playing footage) is always blended in pretty high too. I try to give the most accurate representation of what the amp/speaker/guitar sounds like in the room by balancing the close & distance mics.
@@JoePerkinsMusic I can appreciate the effort, but honestly I'm better off with just the sound picked up by the video mic because it's at a better distance for what I'm listening for.
I need to know how well a speaker spreads its sound around in a live-playing situation. I've encountered different speakers, both sounding great close up, but sounding very different from the other side of the stage. As in, one was clear and the other was almost inaudible. I now take that effect into account when trying out guitar amp speakers.
I have the blue and it seems really dark.
Don't they have barbershops where you live? Grandma's hair style isn't working for you.
Timesamps! Amateur.