noise5150

I am considering buying a new Marshall MG 2x12 combo and replacing the 2 speaker with 2 Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers. My first question is, does anyone think this will improve sound enough to make it worth the cost? and my second question is what the exact procedure would be? I appreciate anyones advice.

javier pintos

hi i tried my MG10 with a 4x12 cab and it did sound a whole lot better that with the 6 in speaker so your combo should sound better as well, the V30´s will sound much better than the standard speakers

procedure is simple take the old speakers out and put the new speakers in wiring them the same way the old speakers are wired, but watch out the impedance, the V30s i imagine will be 8 ohm, wire them in series to have a 16 ohm load to the amp but will reduce output power, wiere them in parallel and they are a 4 ohm load (the manual of the new MG series amps 102DFX, states the amp minimum impedance is 4 ohm), or get 16 ohm speakers and wire them in parallel for and 8 ohm load, depends on the amp min impedance

if i were you i would try the MG combo with an external cab and see if i like it, althoug the V30´s sound much better that the stock speakers they will also show the MG limitations on tone so you might end up with some excelent speakers with a not so good amp and therefore you might not be as satisfied as you want to

the MG100 2x12 new is a $550 amp, each V30 is like $100 so you´ll end up with a $700 amp, you couls get a used tube amp with that and probably be more happy with the tone or maybeone of the new Haze series for about the same prize, it will depend on your application, home playing, bad practice, live gig, etc

Webslinger

Exactly....I agree. (I think new V30s are actually up around $125 now) so even though it would be an tone improvement, it wouldnt make sense economically.

But if you came across a really good deal for a used MG100 and could pick up a pair or V30s on eBay, also for a good price, or even new Eminence speakers, then I'd say definatley go for it.

Scrap_Iron

I have an older series MGHDFX that sounds much better through my 2x12" Celestion Classic Lead 80s than it does through the stock MG 412A cabinet; the stock speakers for the MG line appear to be economy level.

I would assume you are seeking the convenience and versatility of a solid state combo.

But using the solid state is different than using valves and aiming for speaker distortion. With the solid state you have to work within the power levels, and so simply putting better quality speakers will improve the sound of the MG immensely. Weber signature or Eminence speakers can be had for good prices, and I would think be worth it.

Wilder Amplification

The problem with solid state and speaker distortion is that unlike a valve amp which is coupled through an output transformer and blocks DC current, the speakers on a solid state amp are direct coupled to the amp circuitry. If you clip the output circuit, you're basically direct coupling the speaker to the DC supply and sending straight DC current through the speaker at the clipped peaks of the signal. This will overheat the voice coil quicker than shit.

And no there's no way to retrofit an output transformer to a solid state amplifier...the circuitry is completely different from that of a valve amp.

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