I have owned multiple cabs that came with them. They tend to sound honky in the mids and dull in the highs to me. I think they kind of suck. Many, many people have complained about the sound of Vintage 30's over the years, yet damn near every cab manufacturer uses them and has for decades.
I've never heard any speaker sound the way I want it until I apply some EQ, and drive, maybe a little compression... etc, etc, etc.
I think they suck too for what I do but they cut through the mix and sound tight with high gain for metal players is what I hear.
What I have heard often is that V30's can sound too 'middy' and fatiguing on the ear when used in a solo practice setting. But they cut through when used live, placing the guitar in its natural EQ range, helping to separate the guitar out in the band mix. The closest I have come to owning a V30 (i.e. not very) is the G12 Century Vintage I put in my 40CR. The G12CV is often cited as a Neo speaker aimed to be similar to a V30, but with the mids tamed somewhat. I believe the G12CV uses the same 444 cone as the V30 too.
I've had a V30 cab before and I thought it sounded great. I never noticed any ear fatigue or excessive mid range. But I'm not really a tone snob so maybe I'm missing something.
Vintage 30 is like anything else, some love them, some hate them and some don't care, but, there's more love/hate than there is "don't care" is all. I think they sound good. I've had them in the past, I'd have one now if I had a 12" cab, but everything I've got is 10" except for my 4x8 cab. Clean, they don't sound much different than any other classic Celestion, but, driven to mid and high gain, this is where their character and differences show.
I'm not a V30 fan either, just never liked them. I'm on the other side of the tracks, Greenbacks or bust. Classic Rock-high gain Metal doesn't matter they sound fantastic to my ears. Different strokes as they say.
How I understand it, he wasn't using Vintage 30's back around the AFD period. And I have read that Vintage 30's weren't even yet released at the point of recording AFD. Also, it seems that he was using a Jackson and a les paul copy back then, not a Gibson. And a modified Super Lead (extra gain stage and some component changes), not anything like any of the signature amps. Anyway, I never heard a Vintage 30 with highs like this and without the honk.
