BIG power, tiny cab: 300W 12" vs the legendary EVM-12 - and more!

Alex and Lewie spend some time with the Celestion G12H-150 Redback, BN12-300S, Neo 250 Copperback and the famous EVM-12 (this is a 300W 12S version from 1992 , not a 200W 12L as Alex says in the video).
We've heard so much about this revered speaker, and were excited to hear it up against some of our current favourite Celestion drivers.
Let us know in the comments what you think!
0:00 Intro
2:30 Redback vs EVM-12L vs Copperback vs BN12-300S (clean)
6:30 Redback vs EVM-12L vs Copperback vs BN12-300S (dirt)
12:53 Redback vs Copperback (clean w/FX + dirty)
15:45 Redback vs Copperback (heavy drop D)
17:19 EVM-12L vs BN12-300S vs Copperback (heavy drop D)
20:11 Lead guitar comparisons and final thoughts
celestion.com/product/neo-cop...
celestion.com/product/bn12-30...
celestion.com/product/g12h-15...
This is the vintage 12S version:
products.electrovoice.com/bin...
This is the current 12L model:
products.electrovoice.com/na/...

[@tiagoramalhais5493]

This is how speaker comparisons should be done, there's no point comparing speakers close-miced, each have their mic placement sweet spots and can sound completely different with the mic moved a few millimeters, doesnt make sense to do it that way, room mic is they way to go, really liked the EVM.

[@pageyjjj]

Please continue using this mic'ing technique on your guitar cab demos. Great demo.

[@BarefacedAudio]

Thanks! I think we've done this micing on almost all the cab demos.

[@nathanlewis8032]

i have been patiently awaiting the redback vs neo vs ev comparison, god bless. now i patiently await hearing what guitar sounds like through your signature bass drivers

[@lynette9021]

The Bass drivers may want representation in my array, what I want to see tested are some of the big AlNiCo motors, there are Jensen Blackbird 100s and Fane A90s, as well as the Celestion Cream. Hopefully the newest G12 100 will have a usable tone, at thirty Watt ratings and $400 each, it's going to cost like space travel to fill up the boxes. 🛰

[@BarefacedAudio]

I guess if you people are willing to pay the extra for a Barefaced 12XN we should see how it performs in our guitar cabs. Not sure they're tuned low enough as they currently are, but we shall see! They sound bloody marvellous in our bass cabs for certain guitar sounds (especially really heavy stuff).

[@ivonsmith4255]

Oooh. That’s MY EVM12S speaker based Reformer (NOT the 200W L as Alex mentions) with black front!! It’s a 300w speaker from 1992! So excited! Thanks Alex. Yes heading to here in Malaysia soon. Btw the guitar is a Kiesel Vader with Allan Holdsworth Humbucker/splittable pickups and various valve-based micro amps.

[@ivonsmith4255]

For the EVM12S I was hoping for a Santana smoothness plus Holdsworth fat edgeless sound (plus a bit of old Cream/Clapton woman tone) which it seems to be achieving very nicely. I like driven roundness and velvet tone. I usually turn my guitar tones off or very low. Thanks again Alex and Louis!

[@gcvrsa]

I'm watching this on June 1, after watching the most recent Redback/Copperback/EVM comparos, and I'm thinking the Copperback might make an excellent driver for a digital modeling rig, which is where I am likely heading in the future. I'm been experimenting with the Boss GT-1000Core that I've now owned for 2.5 years whilst using it only for reverb/delay/mod, and I'm happy with the idea of it being an all-in-one solution for me in the future.

[@mrfivethirteen8919]

Indeed quite nice comparison of four rather untypical driver, or better named: speakers for individualist tone hunters and connoisseurs. Pretty soon after had learned about Barefaced, I decided to purchased a Reformer. Alex recommended as an answer towards my by email communicated requirements the (standard) V30. But its growling, breakup tendency and less load than my amp made me to run through the specifications of all Celestion drivers available for choice at Barefaced. And the Neo 250 Copperback convinced me most among all loudspeaker. Order placed. Returning home from 'touring' Afghanistan the Reformer already had been shipped and waited for unboxing. The 7 kg of the whole cabinet is very worthwhile to mention, too. But it's the precise, clear articulated tone of the Neo 250 Copperback. Later I ordered a custom made cabinet with a 12" and a 10" speaker by a small manufacturer. For the 12" the Neo 250 Copperback was a must, the 10" became by tonal comparison the EVM-10M. Recording with a mic I don't need to EQ afterwards, the sound is like you hear it in the room directly. Thanks Celestion for having developed the Neo 250 Copperback.

[@BarefacedAudio]

I'm wondering about trying some 10+12 mixes in our cabs too...

[@mattpinder2656]

Wow great comparison!

[@gcvrsa]

Now that I know the Copperback fits in the tiny Upsetter cab, I want to here the Copperback in every size Barefaced cab, for comparison.

[@josearjona3728]

Great comparison! For me, Redback always delivers, my favourite no doubt

[@BarefacedAudio]

It's such a great speaker! We'll try to do some demos of a single Redback vs a 412 with a big head - I think there's so much potential to make a JCM800 a far better live amp for normal gig use (i.e. smaller venues and no roadies).

[@jublaim]

You are great guys! Very interesting; did not at all like the EVM12L and was surprised liking the Copperback which I have not liked in other comparisons on YT.

[@BarefacedAudio]

The AVD cabs definitely gets more out of guitar speakers than other cabs - it just makes them sound better. But a lot of it comes down to how close-miking is a poor representation of the sound of a speaker in a room. And if you like the room sound of a speaker then you'll always be able to find a close-miked solution that works, through mic positioning, mic selection or both.

[@paintaway2349]

they used the 12S not the 12L

[@hoboroadie4623]

I wear pretty heavy ear protection and I don't record anything, but my impression is that the EVM12L is crispier and more clean than the EVM12S. It could just be settings or the amp because I have them in separate rigs. 🤔 I need to get a speaker switcher and a phone holder so that y'all can fight this out on my KZbin channel

[@dalehamon4295]

Would these high powered speakers work with a Fender Princeton reverb

[@BarefacedAudio]

Sadly not, as the Princeton takes 10" speakers and not 12" ones! Check out this video, where we look at some gnarly 10" drivers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaSkeaCLfNJ4i9k

[@dgentrydensley4867]

I’d be curious to hear a 50-100 watt head cranked through those. The EVM never sounds good to me in a low wattage situation but are amazing when pushed.

[@BarefacedAudio]

Ok, we shall see if we can do that!

[@dgentrydensley4867]

@@BarefacedAudio If possible, try to get the 12L - a world of difference!

[@gushutchinson8758]

Are you selling any of these? Are they priced somewhere... I adore these babies!!

[@BarefacedAudio]

All the prices are on our website - differences in shipping, tax and then all the options and customisations make them far too complicated to explain here!

[@kylebarton6498]

S= short throw l=long throw ;)

[@BarefacedAudio]

What do you mean by "throw" in this context?

[@kylebarton6498]

On the evm12l.. l stands for long (how far the voice coil moves in and out) the evm12s doesn’t have as much travel before it bottoms out ;)

[@kylebarton6498]

I take that back! I must have read that somewhere.. I can’t find any difference in the literature. They do however have different frequency curves.. my mistake! Appreciate you guys’ educational material and state of the art technology :)

[@gushutchinson8758]

A bass sound like Holger Czukay please.. Guitars sounding like WIRE. chairs missing, pink flag... Clear spot, doc at the radar station... Decals... Shiny beast, ice cream slits NEWTOWN.. Sniffin televisino taking footbalino Penis envy. and jioan Armatrading... They are already in this area to my ears nux gives. 7 hrs internal battery Busking kinda precludes powered up speakers.. What now? You meditate and 3 costed suggestions pop out your head like a toaster Monday Monday?! Love.. Gus x

[@MrPinkStrat]

RED BACK 1st COPPERBACK 2nd Did not like the other Two At ALL !

[@gushutchinson8758]

Dust caps? really?

[@gushutchinson8758]

Hello again... My favourite company. Still dreaming... A small one please.!!!... My amp is a bigger desk top NUX mighty space 30 w with line out to speaker..preferably , like the NUX be able to handle bass and guitar.. I'm going to try to get vocals.. Too..! . I was then thinking.. My flat... Solo Busking... Practice with band with drumkit.. AND.... WE HOPE GIGS.. SMALL TO MEDIUM VENUES.... SO JACK OF ALL YET MASTER OF ALL...! sorry but IF I DON'T ASK. Looks I like especially the light cloth front .... I would love a fairest low price!!! It's going to be a project amassing the small fortune.. So a guide price to aim for ASAP... Please.. You're wonderful humans.. Did I say lately how gifted I feel you people are...?

[@drewmcdowell1622]

I will never understand the love for the breakup sound of EVM speakers.... just awful....

[@BarefacedAudio]

Maybe we'll find a way to make it shine in the next video... stay tuned!