Which high-power driver will come out on top? Redback, Copperback or the V30?

For this driver comparison video, Alex welcomes Davey in front of the camera for the first time. This time they are comparing the G12-150 Redback, the Neo Copperback 250 and - our stock driver - the Vintage 30 in our Reformer 112 guitar cabs. Apologies for the playing slip-ups, first-time nerves!
Room audio when playing is being captured with the JM47 and speaking audio is the Rode VideoMic Pro+, mounted on top of the camera.
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The cab:
barefacedaudio.com/collection...
The drivers:
celestion.com/product/neo-cop...
celestion.com/product/vintage...
celestion.com/product/g12h-15...

[@roscius6204]

Thank you for quoting Zappa....it's such a great quote You look to be have fun too 🤗

[@roscius6204]

All the cleans were simply different voicings to me, like you could possibly just EQ your way around them. But the Redback bolted away when the drive kicked in. V30 close behind The Neo crashed and burned at that point. I wonder how many fizzy amps would benefit from this speaker. V30 liked the humbuckers though...... You could spend an hour on one pickup with the 2 speakers and just hit them differently with EQ and Boost. I'd watch.

[@gcvrsa]

In every direct comparison of the Vintage 30 and AlNiCo Blue I've heard, the Vintage 30 is the closest thing to the Blue that Celestion makes, with the possible exception of the AlNiCo Cream. Neither of them sound exactly like a Blue, but they are pretty close, and the higher power handling seals the deal for anyone using only one or two drivers in a 50 W or greater amp. I guess with the Copperback, I now have four favorite Celestion guitar drivers.

[@kf9879]

I would love to see a video on a low sensitivity speaker, maybe Jensen C12R at 93db vs. a high sensitivity speaker, insert anything above 100db. With the main question being. Would a low sensitivity speaker be better for home use?

[@what1864]

liked the redback the best in this comparison , when are you guys going to make a combo amp ?

[@gcvrsa]

The more I hear of the Copperback, the more I am convinced that it's going to be a great driver for a digital modeling rig. Better to have too much treble in a modeling driver than too little, as you can always roll it off with your EQ. But the Vintage 30 continues to shine in a conventional rig (glad that's what I chose for my Mesa/Boogie F-50, as the stock driver is their Black Shadow 90, a custom version of the Classic Lead 80). And as I've said before, pairing the Copperback with a midrange forward driver like the Vintage 30 should result in a great balance across the frequency spectrum, especially if you are using them in stereo/dual mono with two different amp models, and miking them both so the PA/recording engineer can mix them to suit the scenario.

[@AbeldeBetancourt]

The Copperback is less brighter than you think. At least the one I have. Although it sounds miles more open than the one displayed here.

[@JGStonedRaider]

Can we get a Redback vs G12-65 Heritage vs V30 shootout please guys?

[@Emily_M81]

Thanks for sharing, gents! No one ever has love for my beloved, the Celestion Midnight 60. I heard it against a V30 and immediately forgot the V30 exists. Is the G12N-60 just discontinued? It's not even on your site :( I do love Redbacks, though. Yes I do. :D

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

Redback!

[@danielkosmider8715]

Redback for the win!

[@josearjona3728]

Redback sounds way better

[@Lauchmeister]

Sell me that 1x10 with an EVM!

[@eddieharris9592]

When you do these very helpful videos could you please include the type of amp you're using or at least it's power rating?

[@BarefacedAudio]

It’s an Egnater Tweaker - just 15W, so we’re not pushing anything hard. We did another video with a JCM800 cranked (and there’ll be more to come). We’ve found the Egnater to be remarkably versatile for demoing speakers.

[@mrfivethirteen8919]

I proudly ordered once my Reformer 112 deliberatedly with the Neo 250 Copperback against Alex' first recommendation towards the stock V30. Later I combined that particular driver with a EVM-10M (10") in a custom made cabinet. It's literally a brillant speaker, which gives the amp the most space for colouring the input signal. But for a proper auditive assessment you both should be minimum in the double distance of the height of the box to the cabinets - or e. g. 4m - shouldn't you? The mic is on a suitable position.

[@BarefacedAudio]

Yes it’s a great driver. I’m not sure what you’re saying about needing to be a certain distance away based on a multiple of the height of the cabs?

[@mrfivethirteen8919]

@@BarefacedAudio I learned that, to allow the waves to get proper into your ears, you should be minimum double the height of the respective cabinet away from the cabinet. And another rough distance is 4m. I experienced, that - especially with 10" speakers in an improved construction like yours - standing aside the cab, you could listen less highs than being in the general beam area. With 12" speakers the listenable loss of highs is way lower.

[@BarefacedAudio]

@@mrfivethirteen8919 - all speakers and cabs will behave differently as will all rooms. So I prefer to move about whilst listening analytically. I think learning to listen well is an underrated skill for musicians - listening for sound, not just notes.

[@hoboroadie4623]

Shure SM-7?