Celestion Alnico Cream Review - 90W classic - Not so Vintage after all! 

For me the Celestion Alnico Cream is the clear winner.

I even prefer the Alnico Cream to every combination of speakers. Great sound.

I’ve owned a 2/12 redback cab for 9 months now and in 40 years of playing and owning many different speakers and configurations. The Redback is the best speaker I have ever owned.

I liked the Alnico Cream...and in 2x12 combo comparison I prefer the Alinco Cream with Vintage 30... Great review...keep rockin 🤘

I am running the Alnico/V30 in an Engl 2x12. It's brutal!!! Creamback H/Alnico: Something is missing..hard to describe ;) Testing g12H30/Alnico . Nur I am in love with the v30 again as Combo speaker especially. Alnico Sounds great alone,using the treble boost on the 906 Sennheiser is perfect!

I've never liked the upper mids of V30's. That alnico cream sounds great

Man that alnico cream mixed with the G12k100 sounded really sweet...tightened the low end and the alnico midrange was coming through really nicely

Really liked the bright yet not harsh attack of the Alnico Cream. Though, I also liked the fatness of the V30. Killer in-depth video. Thanks for posting! :)

Wow! Thanks for for that; much needed. I was surprised how much I didn't care for the Alnico Clean...the combos are real ear openers!

That was GREAT! I really like the combination of the Alnico Cream and the V30.....I think I will do the same in my next cab! Thanks!!

BTW I have played in a stereo setup with Celestion Creams in 2x12 cabs for some time and they were a bit stiff at first but after 15 hours of band practice they mellowed and sounded great. I never really thought they were awesome enough to be that expensive and I reinstalled one G12H30 Anniversary and one Greenback (all well broken in) in each cabinet and I actually think the sound has improved. It's like the Creams were smooth and full but the Greenback/G12H30 setup is more - alive - somehow for the music I'm playing (ZZ TOP Tribute) and the volume levels we play seems to suit the smaller wattage speakers better

The coolest thing about this setup is now you can get the alnico sound with many amps in a 1x12 or even have a stereo 2x12 and use two 50 watt amps, could even have one g12h75 creamback and one of these and have a vintage delicious sound without two many cabs.

Thanks for this I was going to get h75 cream backs, the alnico cream back sounds amazing. Redback is awesome also.

Thanks for this video, the comparisons between other speakers were really useful. Great format.

Great info! I have been shopping speakers for a couple of cabinets and this was all the info I needed. Thank you!

the alnico has like a low mids thing going on that sounds just bassy enough without being that flubby bass! sounds great! Im sold lol!

I spoke just a little too soon with the comment I left on the Redback video just a moment ago. The AlNiCo Cream, like the AlNiCo Blue has got amazing treble extension, but without the harshness in the midrange of the Creambacks. The Redback seems amazingly neutral, almost high fidelity. The Vintage 30 has that definite mid pushed presence. I think of the combinations, I liked the AlNiCo Cream and Redback best, then the Cream and the Vintage 30 second. Really great demo! Now I'm having an ever harder time deciding between the AlNiCo Cream, the Vintage 30, and the Redback. Maybe I need a 3x12 with all three of them! :D

Anything alnico dominates. The blue back in an AC30 omg heaven on earth

Say, Adam - An excellent comparison! No doubt about it, my clear preference is for the appropriately-named Cream, particularly due to its smoothness, typical of AlNiCo's silken, non-gritty character. What I'd really like to hear now is Celestion's four AlNiCo models-in pairs, if possible, so the Blue can be included as a benchmark, in the configuration most familiar to guitarists. If you currently have access to only single units of any of them, hearing the Blue, Ruby, Gold and Cream "cone-to-cone" would be grand. Cheers!

Live in a gig situation. The Celestine ALnCo cream 90 is surprisingly amazing.

The Alnico cream will go beautifully with my DV-77. Cheers, Adam!. 😊

They are both amazing speakers to be clear

I have never seen professional studio engineers mic a speaker placing it on the cone. They always offset the the mic center to outer edge. Better tone!

Fantastic demo. Excellent.

Currently using red backs. Love these speakers. When the 30’s go to shit when hit with volume, the red back just gets bettter. It’s like a green back with endless headroom.

Alnico Cream, when your speaker costs more than your first Epiphone and Crate amp in 1998. Worth every penny though. Love mine. It tames obnoxious highs without robbing tone.

My amp Line 6 DTX25 combo amp speaker is a: CELESTION (backback) G12H-90, 12-Inch 90W 8ohm. My extension speaker cab is a: CELESTION G12H-75 Creamback, 12-Inch 75W 16ohm guitar speaker. Together they sound as good as any of the many different speakers I’ve used throughout the years. I also run that extension with a Mesa Recto-verb 25 and it delivers a thicker warmer all tube tone than even my 412 celestion greenies pushed by a vintage Ampeg VT-22 100watt. It sounds that good. The creambacks are excellent for classic rock and darker. Then turn around and get great warm jazz tones.

Yeah that Cream 90 watt with the Vintage 30 sounds great! I think thats going to be the ones I choose for my 2x12 Marshall cabinet. Now I need to start saving up $500 my wife doesn't see.

Alnico with the vintage 30 seems to be the ones I prefer. Thanks !

Alnico Cream sounds like a dream...so smooth.

I still think the v30 sits better in the mix for heavy tone. But for cleans the cream back totally wins for me

great review thank you, I am getting my dislike of the Vintage 30 confirmed yet again :-) My main speakers are Greenbacks and G12H30 Anniversary, they always end up sounding most natural to my ears. That Redback is even uglier sounding than the Vintage 30 but the Creamback G12H75 takes the price for sounding absolutely terrible!! I just pulled one out af a cabinet because I didn't like the way it takes overdriven sounds and I can hear why here

Super clear kommen

I got both AL90W & V30. Alnico for clean. For dist. V30 (UK made)...

Cream all the way.

Yep, 90 watter all the way. The fact that I'm already running this in an extension is clearly coloring my judgement - you could say my judgement is cream-colored (bad-dum tish)

Very informative, thank you

i liked the alnico cream with the g12k the most

Awesome video man

Gotta say, I actually like the V30 best for the metal tone you're using.

Man I wish I’d got here sooner. Been struggling with a new modded JMP I picked up and now I know why. I’ve got a Redback and in the comparison I can see why I’m struggling. It’s all hiss and no growl compared to the V30 and the Alnico Cream and that’s what I’ve been struggling with... such a useful and informative vid. Btw what amp where you using?

$299 for one ? , does this sound about right ? Great video so much good info, Peace !

I have 2..... 2x12 cabs, both fitted with a redback and alnico cream 🤘🏻

I like ceramic speakers and alnico pickups. I can always dial in the sound of an alnico when the amp has a ceramic speaker...but it's hard to get the chime and sparkle on the cleans when the amp has an alnico speaker. Alnico speakers are all about that mid hump response you get that overdive thick without relying on pedals. But hey....who doesn't have tons of pedals?

I have a Gold but I don't like it that much on its own and I'm limited to a 1x12 enclosure. I like the Cream a lot in this video, but I like that Redback too.

If you like the Alnico Cream, check out a Tone Tubby GMC. No affiliation.

2:33 I'm gonna have to disagree hard. Listen, I'm not listening with my wallet, but I got a 78 T1221 that is easily my best speaker. It's a recone, so not original, and I have no idea where they come from, by it wasn't the first recone speaker I've seen with a 1777 recone that is done locally. All I know is that it sounded better than the WGS Green Beret it came attached to, and like a million times better than the modern G12M that was in my Vox. When they were demoed at the electronics outlet A/B, I could EASILY tell which one sounded superior, and when I put it in my Vox, it was like my Vox sounded like I wanted. It pains me to listen to stock G12M's now. I haven't used a Pulsonic T1221 that's in amazing condition, but I have no doubt that my vintage T1221 is better than any other greenback I've heard. Not saying that some modern materials don't have their own thing going on vs classic paper cones, but I think it's safe to say that just because things have changed doesn't mean they're better.

For everything I've heard, I didn't like the cream for a high powered blue replacement....because it kinda of lacks that crang and boxiness and was a bit too smooth....well it seems with gain those non blue characteristics make it amazing, I love alnicos for low gain, never thought I would for high gain but here it slays the rest of them. Three years on I wonder if you could compare all the alnicos now offered.

Great video! I recently bought a Sheriff 22 from Victory (a JTM45 based amp). I coupled to a 1x12 creamback. I love the punchy cleans and clarity, and round midranges. However, I feel like when I move to high gain the top end is too spicky. Do you think that the Alnico Creamback would help in this regard? Thank you!!

Alnico Cream + Vintage 30 in a 2x12 combo is very good !

Best sounding speaker in this comparison

are you really recording in the center of the speakers? it gets really hard and trebly when I do that, I always end up a couple of inches from the edge about an inch inside the speaker

How’s that ‘58 LP special you got online?

You didn't include the G12H-75 in the combination section with the Alnico Cream. :(

I took off yammering about my crap below instead of adding: the Alnico cream and the vint 30 would be my choices. But...all are great. All a matter of taste. Great demo👍

With these work with a lower wattage amp? Like 25w head? Or do you really need a 100w head to push the speaker?

The music's in the midrange.

Wow, the alnico cream really shat all over the others. The v30's fared well but not the others. I just don't get the popularity of creamback 65/75's. They just sound terrible.

Can you do a video comparing the V30 with a Hesu Demon speaker?

Wonder what the 1x12 Alnico Cream would sound like in a Dumble style amp…?

Oh my god the Cream absolutely destroys the V30 as far as I’m concerned. Which is perfect because I’ve been looking for an alternative speaker for my Mark IV combo to complement the EVM-12L. 6:03 sweet jesus listen to that chime! Sounds three dimensional compared to the others.

Sounds amazing. But so expensive.

When you were combining speakers at the end was it @ 8 or 16 ohm ?

Wich Combo you Like best for Metal/Rock. Alnico Cream + v30/g12H30/Greenback 25M China or creamback H? 😀 Getting a used alnico two years old for 200€ Euros!

vin 30 seems better overall in mix and I like the mix of both best

I’m thinking of replacing my Greenback 1x12 with a Alnico Cream to go with my Friedman Runt 20, my Greenback is a bit too harsh and lacks low end warmth, do you think the alnico cream with warm and smooth my tone up? Great video’s btw, thanks.

Great sounding speaker. Might not be worth the price upgrade if your amp has tone controls. I feel like the only guitar player that knows how to use tone controls.

Good work lad,,nice and concise in this context...i have a alnico cream back,it never disappoints, your viewers might want to check out the celestion 15" (linebacker ?) Loads of fruity growl...

thanks for your time!!!! this was a great video...I have two alnico cream, and love then so much because I can play in lower volumes with quality! ZERO BEE SOUND....hahahahahaa

Celestion Red and G12 both appear to have scooped mids,.... the Vintage 30 a bit less. The Alnico Cream comes off as high fidelity.

Ooh my pants! Damn, that is nice!

Can you fit one of these on a Vox AC30C2 without damage to the amp itself?

Has anyone compared the different impedances 8 vs 16 ohms in sound?

Yes development has pressed on. But the harmonic richness comes at the expense of an over-saturated bass region. which suits heavy mixes but not so much other genres. The problem with all alnico based speakers is the articulation in the bass region, The transient detail exhibits less clarity, hence makes it more difficult to perceive low level detail and dynamic range. Two variables that are of no importance for higher gain genres but count wherever you need 'depth' to be perceived. So yes, some genres benefit from the progress made but other genres seek a different types of improvements. My point is that it is not easy to generalize and embrace new technology as an universal improvement. Further, as sound engineer you are obliged to care about pure 'audibility' and the "compression range" a given audio track offers you. The Vintage 30s are easier to compress because they appear to sound more transient, hence offer you more headroom as compared to the pre-compressed alnicos. In the audio world an increase in dynamic range and everything that comes with it is usually conidered 'progress'. The addition of 'crunch' or 'harmonic distortion' is something that usually originates from 'preamps' which are either to be categorized as transparent or coloring. Their transformers, capacitors and resistors are the main reason we are looking at a clearer audio picture today. which again is something not everybody appreciates. Science does what it always has done, it moves ahead which does not necessarily mean progress. But thanks for your review and point of view !

great comparison. next time please include clean tone. cheers!

try the cream with aG10 gold

In a 2x12 all of the other speakers subtracted from the Alnico Cream, so 2 Alnico Cream would be best.

how do these compare to the wonderful Fane Ascencion A90 ?

Underneath, somewhere, drowning under those effects, once was a guitar sound!

One other question... A bit late I know, but what amp did you use for the demo?

All the promising explanation...then fuzz. What's the point of demo'ing the speaker if you're hearing over the top distortion?

""...and understanding of speaker design is light years ahead of what it was..." Sorry, where the heck did you get this ? Material choice is definitely better but the science is pretty much the same. What has changed in design is that computer modelling has made it faster and easier/better. But the understanding/science is pretty much the same, i.e. Thiele/Small parameters remain the staple of speaker design.

alnico cream was way more organic wow

super cream

With Alnico speakers we never know what kind of magnet is used to manufacture them. It's just incomprehensible! When you buy a guitar pickup you always know if it's an Alnico 2, 3, 4, 5 or 8, but unfortunately never for a speaker... why? On the other hand, the Vintage 30 has nothing to do with the sound of Alnico speakers. It just sounds lifeless!

Alnico cream CREAMS all the other speakers. There's simply no comparison.

The G12H is a lot duller sounding than the rest in this review.

What amplifier did you use ??

Very interesting. I liked the Cream Alnico best, and the G12H Redback least. Combined: 2 Cream Alnico best, and Cream Alnico/V30 second best.

05:33 05:53 06:30 06:49

Your alnico cream has a hole in it?

Wow, these sound very good, but once again, you're paying big bucks for the ALNICO. These seem to be running $299.00 presently, doing a quick check online.

5:53

8:46 . 9:00

my ears must be jacked alnico cream and vintage 30 sound the same to me , ugh !

I listen to your voice and I want to poke my eyes out!

AlNiCo

Vintage 30 is more 80's style

Hearing the spike in the 30 is enough to make you want to get as far away from it as possible. Never ever been a fan.

need some American speakers