Hi Johan If you really like the green back speakers check out Loran to greenback clone their about 2 db ax different in the fequency www.melbournemusiccentre.com.au/lorantz-10-75w-8ohm-speaker-60025.html
I commented a while back about including a summary of your opinion at the end, thank you so much for including it in your recent videos, your expertise is really appreciated Johan, we all know you have a wealth of knowledge to share.
They sound totaly different, does not have the low end of greenbacks. But I think it sounds just as good, reminds me of the sensational G12-65 my second favorite after pre rola greenbacks. The problem with electric guitar is when it is in a mix it should not hog all of the low end from the bass guitar and kick drum. But when it is played by itself it might sound thin without the big fat bottom. HUGE bang for the buck.
I have played the square backs for years and have been a kept secret of sorts for me, I love brighter tones in general and have stuck these speakers in lotsa cabs over the years and always been satisfied with the outcome from clean snappy country to classic rock they have always been a fav of mine, awesome video Johan!!
Love the clarity of the Eminence. Used to have a '73 Fender Twin with one original blue Jensen and one Eminence square back, and that clean sound was the sound of angels.
I have to say I actually liked the squarebacks better on most, if not all of the comparisons. Not sure why, but the overall sound had a touch more clarity and some more midrange.
Ever since I moved from San Diego to Atlanta, I am in the wrong time zone to catch the live premiere with my schedule. It is sad because this is one of my favorite you tube channels.
nothing wrong with either Greenbacks much warmer with great mids..Eminence got a great low end punch, tones would cut though the mix for sure ...man the SG rocks
@@TheGuizmo11 They were about $50 when he made the video. People are asking $200-$250 now. I saw a stack for $350. (dunno what they're getting, I got a head for $100 - wouldn't have paid more) When prices jump on 30 year old stuff it's usually because of some sort of exposure.
The Square backs have more 'snap' the green backs have more 'earth'. Neither are better just different and damn good. Love to hear you do a comparison with some Fane and Tayden speakers.
I actually have really liked the Eminence Alnico speakers as well. These sound good too! I bet 2 greenbacks plus 2 squarebacks would compliment one another nicely
To my ears, the Eminence speakers sound brighter but in a good way. The Celestions have a bit more "bark" to them. I prefer the Eminence speakers from what I heard in your test. Well done again, and thank you for the consistent and interesting content.
They sounded great Johan! “Let’s Go”, to eBay to buy some right now, ha ha. You need to get a shirt printed with your head on it and that caption, “Let’s Go”! I’d buy it. You legend.
I played once in a store a Marshall TSL 100 through a Krank 4x12 with Eminence Legend 1258 speakers and I loved the sound! They sounded a lot like these you have in this video: Open and aggressive with more lows and highs. They make Celestions sound like they're under a blanket in comparison... Cheers!
I had an old fender combo that died (M80) I think, with the standard fender eminence (pretty sure it's a 1258) and an old Peavey Basic combo with the square magnet 12820PA. I tried switching out the 12820 PA with the M80 speaker and they sounded identical in that cabinet. I removed the head from the M80 cab and use it as an 1x12 extension cab.
I agree with you. Square backs have nice articulation. The greenbacks a very thick in the mids. Nice comparison. I would like to hear them in a wet /dry rig.
I actually preferred those square backs. Not what I was expecting. Thank you for showing us these speakers. I might have to consider a set of these for a beat up 4x12 I have sitting around.
@@JohanSegeborn I think reason why these seem so so so good, is because you have two variants. So in this clip, it's more like comparing say an H75 with a H65\H75 at the same time. You have two speakers with slightly different frequency curves that are really complimenting each other. My guess is that if you did just one pair in a 12 vs the greenback, it wouldn't be nearly as good. Food for thought. Pairing speakers makes a HUGE difference.
Yea but for that price you could get a pair of 1960 Jensen p12n with silk cones that are on all your favorite songs from David gilmour to jimi page used them in the recording studio
Wow the 12820s sound great! Normally I don't think anything hangs with the greenbacks, but these really do (though each has its own strength without a doubt). I ordered a pair for $60 not long ago, hope they're as awesome as these are.
I think the green backs have less tone and the squares have more tone and I prefer the green backs but since you have one can you post a demo of the squares but with the tone knob down a bit??
Thanks to Johan for putting this together. The Eminence speakers shown here aren't equivalent to Celestion Greenbacks, but they do have a voice all of their own and have been a hidden gem for many years ...
You are right the Emminence speaker are really clean the celestion speakers are muddy British sound.the sound is good on both but I like clean clean sound.both are good but the Emminence is very good clean n clear sounding.
Found the square back speakers after picking up a 1979 Rickenbacker amp that was destroyed during hurricane Ida. I got the amp working for a while until the transformer died. The plywood cabinet and speakers survived the flood and mud of a hurricane. They sound amazing with my jtm 50 head
I have a pair of squarebacks that came in a Blackface Bassman speaker cabinet,I bought from Guitar Center for $120 a couple years ago, cork sniffers turn they're nose up at them , but they sound good to me, they were pretty much standard replacements for blown speakers in Deluxe Reverbs, in the seventies :)
They seem to have more lows and upper mids than the greenbacks. A little less smokey and less of that Celestion grind, maybe a bit more cut in the mix. They really do hold up exceptionally well! I bought a squareback for my vintage 60's Silvertone 1483 (old budget speaker for an old budget amp, sounds right to me!) after your last video. Compared to a G12H-30 Anniversary, it's a LOT less fizzy. Less highs and more lower mids. I can crank up the amp more now without that unpleasant fizz that seems to plague so many modern speakers. Cheers, Johan!
Hello Johan, I agree with you, Squareback Eminence speakers are really good sounding, they don' t have that " honk" in the mids and softeness in the highs that Greenback have, but overall they sound very " vintage crunchy", and the fact that they are more open on the treble side and scooped on the mids is not a flaw, it can even be sometimes a plus!
Much to the sorrow of my budget, I usually always prefer the more expensive gear in these comparisons - but not in this one. Those Eminences really rock.
The used gear market doesn’t run on the supply and demand principle since RU-vid, it’s more of a seller price gouging situation. Someone post a video and the sellers increase the price which just drops the consumer demand. It’s gotten crazy town! Sweet video Johan! Excellent tones, but I like the eminence speakers better!
The Eminence actually sounded "better" to my ears overall. Clearer, a bit brighter and tighter and seemed to let the amp's upper end sound come through more. The Celestion was "thicker" or "darker". I wonder if the power soak colored the frequency response of the Celestion though. I imagine that both will do the job with a tiny bit of amp EQ tweaking. Money-wise - WOW!! I love Celestions but I'd go with the Eminence on this one.
Let's see. What do I think of the Square backs? This is coming from a guy that has wheeled and deal'd his way into a lifetime supply of pulsonic cone Greeenbacks in Vintage Marshall cabs. One quad almost broken in. (For those that think old vintage speakers couldn't possibly sound like they did new, they do, amazingly so. Albeit a tad more broken in.) Okay, Squarebacks. Let me start with the video a couple weeks back of the Vintage Shin Ei Fuzz-Wah. I now own both the 6 and 8 transistor versions. Purchased at other worldly prices. Then there was the Marshall Lead 12 video...Now this. Luckily I searched everywhere for some SquareBacks and there are none to be had, anywhere, at any price. Phew! I got onto this Pulsonic cone kick in the first place by some guy patiently demoing every greenback ever made. What was that guy's name...?
Hi, Johan! I feel really ok with the square speakers, but Greens are just a little more bass. Maybe to put them together both? But the final solo sais me now: "GOOD GUITARIST" is the best way to get groove. I think, they are ok both, because you are to much stronger! ) C.Y. Zigfrid
Second riff really demonstrates how much clarity the Eminence speaker has over the Celestion....I like them...I am sure some will say they are harsh or treble enhanced ...some Eq-ing could tone that down
hi .great video. it took me a very long time to admit that classic marshall tone can be improved: the 100 watters are a bit congested as oppose to big fenders which are too open. so if you put a brighter speaker (greenbacks are bright but the squars are brighter ) it opens up the sound. i achieve something similar by swapping the first preamp tube (v1)to a classic fender blackface tube the ge jan 12ax7wa it also cleans the amp adds definition to the low notes and the breakup is later. if you would look at a tone graph it would be obvious.it also works the other way. take a bright fender like a super or a twin,swap the speakers to celestion or hook it to a closed back marshall cab...or put a mullard i63 (best biggest bass ever! )tube in the first slot and you get more preamp gain - earlier breakup (good for fender)much more low mid and a more balanced tone much better for drive and you don't need that stupid tubescreamer everybody uses. please use nos tubes i'll be happy to suggest. for this amp v1 mullard i61(jtm 45) v2 mullard i61 (jtm 45)v3 mullard i63(jmp). thanks!
The Celestions sound dull next to the Eminence. That particular Eminence speaker is very similar to the square magnet "CTS" speakers that came in 70's Ampeg cabs(I would actually say the same). The man who founded Eminence in 1966 originally worked as an engineer for CTS and Magnavox(who later owned Ampeg by 70/71). Eminence originally started to supply Everett Hull of Ampeg 18 inch speakers for the Portaflex. After the beginning of the 70's, many US guitar amps came with Eminence speakers. It wouldn't be surprising that many "CTS" or "Magnavox" speakers were made in Kentucky by Eminence(environmental laws and cheaper labor). In fact the company is still the OEM supplier for many US guitar amp and stereo companies.
Great job Johan . An excellent demonstration illustrating the power of speaker's to shape the character of an amp . You would struggle to get that level of tonal change from valve swapping, but with speakers it's quite different. Next to the clarity of the Emi,s I felt that the greenback,s were a bit subdued in the highs, but it does have me thinking... With two speakers from each maker in one of your 4x12 cabs it could make for some really interesting audio comparisons with the two you've already done :-) Okay, I know I'm being a bit cheeky here Johan but in my defense I bet I'm not the only one that's had this thought , not to mention that you do all of this better than anyone I know. Thanks and keep up the great work!
I feel validated. I got a 10 inch square back in a peavey amp and I ended up turning it into to a cab and I love it. I was thinking though do I just have bad taste or an untrained ear to love an old stock speaker from a combo amp. Nope I’m just tuned in 🎉
Another great alternative are the new Celestion Fullbacks - I was blown with 15" - in oversized 115 closed cab with Sunn Beta Lead, Model T or Hovercraft Dwarvenaut + '94 PRS Custom22 + Radial TwinCity Drag load adjusted it is one of the best and full guitar tones I ever heard.
Johan, fun comparison, at that price point the Eminence L7-backs are a clear winner. more clarity on the Eminence. However, the major difference I hear is really the Celestions have that percussive sound and feel on the attack, also more bottom end to my old ears. I would not hesitate to buy them. I also like the funky look too.
keep in mind if you feel like they're too bright you could always dust cap these things by buying about literally $5 worth of dust caps for the whole 412 on eBay and then just putting a piece of cardboard behind the grill suspending the dust cap above the speaker. This will cut the highs/ directionality and you'll be back in the Greenback territory. Killer.
Thanks for the advice! Should the dust cap be mounted on the speaker itself or behind the grill cloth as a beam blocker? I would love a «How to» on this.
@@magnusberger6762 Hey there Yes it's amazingly easy to do. What you want to do is if you're lucky enough to have a detachable grill cloth panel. You just detached that and set it aside. Now you're looking at your baffle with the speakers mounted in it right? So what you're going to do is take about a 3/4 or 1 in wide piece of cardboard strip across the baffle holes right in the center. Left to right. So now you've got this strip of cardboard either taped or stapled there in place going right across the middle of the speaker hole. What you're going to want to do is take one of your dust caps that you've bought. Depending on how bright it is is how big you're going to want the dust cap to be. If it's super bright you probably want like a three or three and a half inch dust cap or the biggest one you can find. Superglue the dust cap carefully to the inside of the cardboard strip, centered right in the middle of the speaker. When you've done this to all of your speakers. You'll find that the brightness is tamed and also that the speaker is much less directional. It doesn't feel like it's beaming in a small area at the audience. Now it's kind of resonating over the whole audience. It's much nicer. Enables you to hear it a lot better on stage too. Cuz it's not firing at your legs anymore it's more firing up at you and everywhere else.
@@magnusberger6762 Yes and it's surprising how wonderfully it works. I used it on an old cyber twin back when I was gigging a lot more In the early 2000s. That cyber twin was the most directional amp I had ever seen. The sound was like a 4x4 ft square on the wall. At almost 40 ft away. I stuck those dust caps on there. It didn't turn it into a resident miracle machine or anything. But it was much more resonant. Enough that I didn't have to sell it. It worked for the gig after that. Covered most of the audience
I had an Ampex with them. I dropped and busted one. The guy at the shop got me a round mag 'cerwin' from the same era that he said was basically the same thing. He would know, because he was the guy who basically invented speaker reconing in the early 50's at Speaker Repair of California. Sounded the same to me. Seeing that cab with 3 square and one round mag reminded me.
Honestly I believe I like the square back speakers best they had more mid and more crisper sound. Big difference..good demo. Thanks for the comparison..I have a 50s Gibson amp needs a 10inch speaker...great video.
I actually thought the squarebacks had more "mojo" in the high mids and highs. Wow, shocking considering no other speaker has touched the m25w 75hz geenbacks. Thank you so much. You are a genius with speakers and celestion should collaborate with you to make a new 65w speaker.
The green back had a nice growl to it with a bit more body. The eminence sounded better on the high end though. It would be interesting to see what the specs of the speakers are. I did a search and couldn't find much on them. Johan, maybe compare the eminence with a vintage 30 if you have one laying around?
Huh, maybe I should pick up a set of these for my old 4x12 cab. *Looks inside cab at back of speakers for the first time ever* Oh... Nevermind. Edit* they're great for bass guitar too.
Thanks for uncovering this hidden square gem. Great sounding indeed, a little brighter than the greenbacks, but I agree that may be a pro in some cases. Definitely used to be a great bang for the buck, now the prices are gonna go through the roof ;-) Rock on Johan!
Now you got me on eBay looking up all kinds of cheaper and mid priced vintage speakers! If you could do a video on those that would be awesome! For example CT’s, Rola, Utah, magnatone magnavox,, etc , etc These pea eyes sound great! Thanks!
With that guitar and amp, I like those better. The scoop gives them better definition and takes away some of the excessive low-end. Pretty dope, man. Cheers
Just ordered a 1973 75w eminence squareback from an Ampeg vt 22 combo. Gonna put it in a 2 x12 plywood custom closed back cab with a 1980's marshal vinatge 30. Cant wait. Just worried the sensitivity on the emi might be too low. Fingers crossed
Deffo more chime on the Eminence. The Eminence would make great speakers for playing pre-Hiwatt The Who. I think the Celestions would come into their own with a touch up on the amp treble. But I realize that the point of the comparison isn't to change EQ. Another home run Johan. What would we do without you?
I like the Eminence myself.... I like bright tones though so that for me is nice... Can always Eq in some more as need.... Always seems harder to take out than put in
Johan, you should pick up a couple of Celestion VX10 pulled from Vox AC4 10” models & the Vox AC10C1. I think you will be surprised how much it sounds like a greenback
Eminence, all the way! Howdy, Johan, checkout the used list on Guitar center from time to time - I found "1970s," Fender bassman, 4x12 for $133 and it had 4 alnico speakers that sound beautiful. The following year I found another "1970s", Bassman cab 2x15 by fender and bought it for 199$. They take anything I throw at them - they've NOT yet farted out ONCE. I drive them with a Mesa Boogie DC-10 with the bass slider, 80hz, eq @ +12db. I have yet to see if the 2x15 is original.
These speakers have been a known item to me for a while.. Since a friend showed his VTX classic.. he had 3 different ones like a mace and a deuce or something one of them was old VT and had these.. It just naturally had a slope like the Amptweaker tight metal does with the High Pass filter. The fundamental comes through without flub and the upper harmonics sing loud and clear. So confusing to me. As a DJ tech in the late 90s these weren't my favourite speaker at all.
The Emi’s have a far better clean tone, imo. The Greenbacks will always be the king of late 60’s/early 70’s rock tone. The Celestine Lead 80 and the Eminence square mags are similar to me, great for modern rock/metal and mid heavy amps. Any 5F6/5F8 based amp will sound great with these Emi’s.
The Celestions sound completely different to me, much more low mid clarity. I don't know if its much of a substitute. You make the point that the Eminence are more scooped and not suitable for chords, but I think 80% of the use of this sort of tone is for a rocking rhythm guitar sound
The Eminence sound great but it's kind of apples/oranges to compare them to a G12M or H. All sound great, but the Eminence is not that similar to the Celestions. Totally worthy speaker, though. In a band mix it'd be great to have them both involved. Thanks again, Johan.
Cheap has the crunch sounds brightly & the expensive has the low end lite crunch as well CHEAP has more balls to hear down the hallways as it echoes🎸👌🎼😎👍 keep rocking with tones too noticed
Just got a '72 10" square magnet CTS for VHT Special 6 (blackface Champ 600 circuit with a raw switch to pop it into tweed mode.) 6 years after Eminence appeared...
I like that the sqarebacks seemed to have a bit more grit and attitude. The greenbacks are really smooth and even in the midrange, but the eminence has a "throatier" sound. Also seems like the eminence compresses the signal a bit more. To me I prefer that because it's reminiscent of the thick and chewy bluesbreaker sound, which is personally my ideal tone
i got a pair of these from a peavey classic, i learned to play guitar on back in the day tube ouput SS pre..i wore out then got fender all tube amps ..i got 8 of these in a 4-12 peavey columns like on lynyrd skynrd album 'one more from/for the road'...but once you play a Jbl d120f i can't go back to these for guitar.but tempting man, recreate my youth ..but that would take me back to my homegrown yrs, hehe
I got to say they did sound good but I would really like to be there to hear them wow I take your word for it because I know what up amp and cabinet Guru You Are
