To my ears the Greenbacks have more of a green note to it. With some back qualities. While the Blue Alnico has more of a blue flavor, letting the alnico really land on the final notes.
Wow... so the green speaker sounds like a green speaker. And the blue speaker sounds like a (wait for it)... a blue speaker. SURPRISE! What a great observation... 😂
That solo tone you dialled in at the end was very special on the blue. You’ve got other amps to thicken up the mids and define the bass tones. I’d go with the blue in a heartbeat and run it in dual amp mode. Great playing as always, Budda!
I thought the same. The crunchy blues lead in the end was totally convincing and left the greens far behind. Whereas I must admit the rhythm guitar was better and tighter with the greens.
I had an AC15c1x for 3 years, it is an amazing amp, the blue alnico is really special, and both inbuilt reverb and tremolo are really sweet .That being said, I would agree with you that people who are not going for that classic vox tone, and are just searching for a versatile amp should go with the greenback. Mick from 'That pedal show' once said that pretty much all they used at the 'Guitarist' magazine for testing gear was a greenback loaded ac15s because they just recorded that damn good. Thank you for the video man.
The greenback sounded much brighter to me. The alnico was a little warmer. Vox’s tend to be somewhat bright amps by nature, so I preferred the alnico blue. However, if I used a lot of warmer OD pedals, the greenback might be better in those instances. But for 90% of what I play, the alnico blue would be a better fit.
I play vox for decades and made some mix with green and blue (need to check sensibility that must match). It was working fine. Something that you must consider also is the fact that there is a different sound recorded and to your ears. when you play in a band, the direct sound is important too !! Today there the Cream that is quite amasing. Thanks for your demos..
Great demo! People talk about the vox sound vs the marshall sound etc, but this shows that it is really the speakers that dictate the most about the sound. Greenbacks are instant marshall. Have an AC30 with the blues, and was thinking about getting a marshall. Now I think I'll just get a cab with greenbacks.
Thank you for posting this up as it's helped me decide between which to get for my first amp. I think both sound great and agree with others that the blue has a more bright sound on the final notes but the green overall sounds better to me. Great video! Thanks!
For me, I preferred the Greenback for the heavier rock sound but the Blue Alnico for clean and light overdrive bluesy sound. I own a '65 Fender Deluxe Reverb RI with a Jensen speaker which would be closer to the Blue sound than Green. I've always wanted a Vox AC30C2 but after listen to the AC15 I'm going to consider one with a Greenback since I already have a great sounding bluesy amp.
@@BuddaGuedesI highly recommend Weber. They even broke my speaker in before shipping it. I don't believe in break in on modern hifi speakers but do believe it affects vintage speaker designs.
The difference is quite easy to state. GB= loose low end, barky low mids, balanced top end. BLUE: same low end, smooth mids, sparkly highs. The advantage of the blue is that you can use a tone control to shave off highs if they are too much. For the GB it is those barky mids that makes the character which is harder to dial out. Overall the BLUE coupled with the Vox is the tried and tested formula and actually more versatile than the greenback..
So the blue speaker is awesome for sure but I am so pumped about that greenback speaker I think I'm going to go buy the box ac15 right now with the greenback! Thank you!
I love your review, but seriously, you make me want both. There are things that the greenback does for most of my playin but that blue just sounds so sweet and jangly!
I agree with your thought about the Blue emphasising what makes the AC15 different. If I had your collection I'd want the Blue so that I'd have something really different from everything else.
I'd go with the blue. I'm all about the sparkle. As it turns out, I own one! Something you didn't really mention, and I don't have experience playing through the greenback...but the Blue has a *feel*. It is a VERY efficient speaker, and it just feels super touch sensitive. It's like it pushes back against your strings *less*. I really love that feeling, particularly for very delicate expressive dynamic playing. Nice video!
Thanks a lot. This was a lot of help. I'm selling my vox acc30 c2 and i didn't know what was the real difference beetween them. Now i'm awere of the difference in the soun more specifically
I just bought handwired version of this amp with a green back , however I am getting an extension cab made up with a blue Alnico in it . . I love them both .
I have both of those speakers and keep swapping them between my amps. I like the bite of the blue, but the green has more lows and smoother top. I think the best I've found so far is two cabs. One with a 12 inch green and one with a 10 inch alnico gold. Sounds awesome.
what you can do if you have the means is to get the amp with the green back, and get a second cabinet with the blue alnico, and you use the "external speaker" output (which disconnects the main amp speaker, and it sends the signal to the second cabinet's one).
Well. The ”Vox sound” is very much the sound from alnico elements. Greenback does not sound bad, but it doesn’t sound Vox. Greenbacks are for Marshall 😀✌️
It’s interesting, because they both sound great, but while the greenback seems more satisfying in isolation, the moment you play any of those settings through the blue, you can immediately hear how perfectly it will sit in a mix, like it emphasizes everything that is necessary to be part of the bigger picture in a full band setting.
Greenback covers a bit the Voxiness of the amp, bringing the tone into the Marshall zone. Alnico blue makes the Voxiness shine. Greenback = 50% Marshall 50% Vox Alnico Blue = 100% Vox
This is a great video. Thanks very much. Really helpful. The blue is interesting, but I feel like the greenback would work with more pedals in more settings without standing out too much
I have had a couple of AC15's both had greenbacks. I thought of changing, but I had never heard the comparison. It is time for the Blue... Excellent speaker!
I believe the differences between most speakers are minimal when played clean. But the greenback probably has the most rolled off treble of any Celestion speaker, which helps make high gain growly rather than fizzy. I believe this is what led to it becoming so popular for rock music back in the day, when the selection of quality speakers and pedals for shaping the sound was very limited. The Seventy 80 that is currently in my amp has an actual spike at high frequency that makes high gain sound too fizzy for my taste, so I'm considering either changing it out for a greenback or better yet getting a 2x12 cab with greenbacks if I can find a deal on one.
Hi - first time to the channel, nice job and I like your playing. I have an AC-15 with the Blue Alnico - got it for the Vox chime and the Blue gives you that very well. I agree with your approach - if this is your only amp get the Greenback, if it's for the true Vox chime sound as part of your tonal palette choose the Blue. Thanks
To me they were both distinctly Vox-y. I always think the difference is sorta like the Alnico Blue is recorded with a condenser mic and the Greenback with a ribbon mic. Like it’s the exact same amp recorded differently. That if you bought one or the other you could make them sound like each other by failing in as close as possible and picking the right mic.
I love my strat in an VOX AC. Having an AC15HW1, the greenback speaker gives me what I like : the full range of notes. While the Alnico blue is more focussed on highs, missing the growl of mids and lows.
If you did not get a blue speaker for that Vox I suggest you get one as soon as possible. That tone simply sung the perfect English rock/pop tone of the 60’s and 70’s. Better still have them both and mix and match... or use separately at your convenience. Great video comparison and some nice playing. Thanks.
I prefer the greenback, but the blue is cool too. Whatever speaker you go with, changing out the stock tubes is a must. JJ's sound great in mine. It was a huge improvement. Also, the stock reverb spring tank is not very good. There are great after market options and it's super simple to swap them out.
I own a blue alnico and combined with PAF hambuckers (I use BB2 and BB3) it's just a dream to play. Vox ac15's bass and treble knobs are super effective to adjust the tone exactly the way you want it.
@@wilhelmhagberg4897 Honestly I can't hear tonal difference between using the top boost channel with low/no gain and using the normal channel. I only use the normal channel sometimes when using my pedal board, and each pedal has each own knobs to adjust the tone more accurately than the eq section of the amp.
Mic placement (even millimeters) and point of listening (even centimeters) can yield VERY different results, so it is more than plausible that a comparison sounds exactly the opposite from the room to the recording.
It’s a bigger difference than I thought it would be. GB sounds a bit too bassy/muddy whereas BA sounds a bit to trebely and ”empty”. Both are probably great sounding if counteracted slightly with an EQ pedal.
Yep, Blue is amazing.......but not twice the price of the Greenback amazing. I've just ordered a Greenback, firstly because I can't justify the price of a Blue, and secondly, this is my only gigging amp, so the more "general purpose" nature of it may well suit my functions band needs better. I have to say, I really liked the Greenback through the Top Boost channel - it really came to life there. Great video, but it's obvious how much you prefer the Blue, which is fine :)
@@BuddaGuedes I don't think it was obvious what you liked at all...acutally I did find it funny how you kept being in doubt all the way through...and to me you were not still convinced in the end ;-) Great demo, enjoyed it a lot! Have you tried the AC30 with one Alnico Blue and one G12H30? Thats a nice combination as well
I had the chance to do this with my AC30 (Greens vs Blues) before I bought it. I preferred the blues for solo playing, but then I found that I disappeared in the mix with my group. Had a friend who brought his greenbacks and it really sounded better when played with the group. I still honestly prefer the recorded sound of the blues though, its a tighter response and doesn't fart-out on the bass notes (which is probably why it disappeared in the mix). This is why there is endless debate.
What I really liked with this review - is that it was not just an A-B comparison, but the personal thoughts of you right at that moment of a personal experience .. This is very special! I have a handwired VOX AC30 HW2 wo reverb but greenbacks, and I really dont like the sound, if I want to go for Marshall I go for Marshall, if Fender then Fender, if Vox then Alnico Blue (or Gold) .. Thought about selling mine, but guess will change to Blue Alnico .. Thanks a lot
Not a fair comparison IMO. I have the Monoprice version and it is a Jack of all trades, master of none and that makes is what makes it great. With the wgs speaker (which I like a lot) it made the amp a solid classic rock amp and if you put a Jensen in, it will get blues jr-ish. The Vox is its own sound, which we all love. As for the loudness, how much does it matter if you are mic-ing the amp? If I was playing live just me, a guitar and an amp, the Vox no contest. Playing in a band context mic-ing the amp, the Haley Benton is enough. But your are the guru here, love to see your decision on another video!
Great demo here too! I also do the same thing with fuzz pedals, I tame them with a king of tone or other overdrive...fuzz punches way better in a mix that way!
I have had and enjoyed both versions but I only kept the blue version in the hand wired ac15. There is a depth the greenback does not have. Also, my god that Telecaster sounds divine! Is it stock pickups in that ‘52 reissue? I have the AV’64 headed my way now. /thanks for this review
Get the blue Budda; you know you'll regret not having it. On the other hand, thanks for convincing me to keep the greenback in my AC15; it's my only amp for the moment.
Listening through my I phone speaker and taking into consideration what you played and gear used I was leaning towards the blue. I actually own the greenback version and I love it in my opinion if you are a fender guy which I am you must own this amp I have a strat and tele they both sound amazing with or without pedals. Other guitars sound great also but I feel vox really pairs well with fender but that’s just the sound I like obviously. I’d of chose the blue but my ac 15 was gifted to me so certainly wasn’t complaining. I’m not an amp connoisseur of any kind I’d previously owned Marshall’s and orange but none of those models were an equivalent price of the ac15 so it’s not a fair comparison but all I know is it’s the best amp I’ve played by a mile
The Greenback sounds amazing--super clear and full and lots of character-BUT, also a lot harder to control (boomier lower mids and spikey upper mids) in a mix context. The Blue Alnico sounds amazing too, but also very affected--it sounds like only a blue alnico sounds, it's THAT sound. It's a great sound and it's much more controlled and contained, but it's a bit less versatile. But like you said, it's a color you're missing in your collection, and for that reason alone (if I were in the same position), I'd totally go with the Blue. Now if only I had your collection. lol Thanks for sharing, and for an awesome video.
The tone of the low E palm muting through the blue at 10:50 was very reminiscent of 'Communication Breakdown'. ...But then I'm listening to it digitised, compressed and though another set of speakers
Don't forget about room acoustics. That's why you're hearing differences on the mic. I don't care for the GB tone. It peaks around the boxy frequencies
Hmm. My guess is that the blue would sound clearer in a mix with a bass guitar, by itself I like the low end on the green but for recording you often have to cut the low frequencies on a guitar anyway, so ... I wonder if the blue projects over a band more?
Out of the dispute “which is more Voxy”. The blue sounds radio-ready, sweet, well balanced, familiar. Almost banal. The greenback sounds raw, bad beast, hard to ride. Way more interesting to me. Thanks for the comparison!
I prefer the Greenback over the Blue in the Vox AC15. I would like to hear the same two speakers compared using the Fender '57 Custom Deluxe. I own a '57 Custom Deluxe and have installed the Blue, but am now having second thoughts after hearing how the Greenback sounds in the Vox. Maybe the Greenback would be better in the '57 Custom Deluxe too.
How are you micing the amps? I don't see any microphones on either amp. It would be helpful to show on camera which microphones you used, and what was the mic placement. I'm definitely hearing what I perceive to be different mic placement. It sounds as if there is more presence and overtones with the greenback, than with the blue. If you're using room mics, then the directionality of each amp could drastically affect what we are hearing through the recorded sound. I have a strong feeling that what you are hearing in the room is different than what we are hearing through playback.
I used an sm57 with the same mic placement and I also use a room mic far distant. My main concern in every episode is to capture what I hear in the room. So what you’re hearing is the closest possible to what’s in the room
If I'm picking up this amp, it's specifically for that Voxy chime - which to me is the Blue. They both sound great though. Buy the head, and just get a Blue and Green cab for when you need one or the other. :)
So I noticed that 3:31 while playing the greenback speaker with some OD he gives the camera a big old cheesy smile! I'm not far into the video so far but I am digging the green back. I don't know how you call that dull. The blue speaker so far its highs are a little too sharp for me, just at the edge of unpleasant and not enough low end. To me the greenback has great highs that's easy listening and defined mids and lows. There's a warmth that's defined with those awesome vox chimes
Just got the greenback version ,havent tried it much yet ..which is what led me here i guess….after the first clean test i notice no difference (ipad pro w air pod pros), when u hit that king of tone ? The green back was sounding incredible.didnt think it possible for the blue alnico to improve on the tone…but somehow it did ,imo after the ine quick soumd bite it sounded like it removed some mid range overtones to make that improvement …which if i didnt hear it id say that makes no sense lol …almost like it added the bass parts to the tone or something …didnt have hi hopes this video would be to informative (beyond “i wish i could play like that “😬🤷🏼♂️) but i alteady am thinking down te line i might have to consider a new speaker …will continue on with the video and comment /reply further if things keep going like this 😬
Shit the 12 min+ mark with blue alnico you were giving a serious srv vibe/tone …dammit im a srv fanboy now im totally f’en tortured about wanting a blue ….so may e be buying the speaker at some point 🤦🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️
I know this is two years on but right at the end you mentioned you had an AC30 and I thought…why not just do the Brian May thing and put one Blue and One Green in the AC30 then you have it all and can mic either speaker. And it’d cost a fraction of the amp price to just buy a single blue alnico.
Would have liked to hear with a Stratocaster, and semi hollow with Humbuckers. For a jazzy sound which is best in your opinion ? I like smokey tones, and suspect thé blue is better for hot smokey jazz sound The Greenback is too harsh for that?
interesting that in the room you hear more rightness in the bass from the green, but in the recording the blue clearly has the tighter bass response. my least favorite thing about greenbacks is muddy low end.
I have an AC30 with 2 Greens and I think it sounds great. I'm on the verge of purchasing 2 Blue alnicos for an open cab as I have Bad Cat Jet Black on the way. The Bad Cat Jet Black is supposedly Bad Cat's version of a Vox. If the Blues don't sound good with the Bad Cat I'm going to put them in the Vox AC30. This was helpful and I agree with you, bring in something new and different.
Hard choice, both are distinct but both sound great in their own way. The greenback is one of my all time favourite speakers but the blue+vox combo is pretty classic. edit: Actually through the top boost channel with the greenback sounds not unlike like my old marshall 1974x - which make sense maybe, they both have el84s and are similar sized amps. That amp loves to be cranked.
I have felt the same about the Marshall crossover. I tracked with my Vox AC15 +Greenback, and several gear-head people were surprised when I told them which amp I used, they thought it was a Marshall. 🤔🤷♂️
They both sound great and useful but that blue just does the thing. That amp with the blue is what I hear in my head....now I need to spend more money....thanks.😂
To my ears the Greenback is brighter and more cutting all the way through, with more of a percussive Rock sound and pushed a more present treble sound for most things, and the Blue was a more of a great edge of breakup blues sound with some high end twang, also the flubby bass makes the Blue sound a lot like 70's Punk Rock Recordings, I think you could tweak the tone cut to tame some of the tightness and brightness of the greenback however, but you may not be able to get the bass tightness back with any pedal tweaks to the Alnico Blue ... Would be curious to run the Alnico Blue through one of those 'Treble Booster' Pedals
at home i'm using 2 greenback heritage 20 watters on openback cabs they are perfect for my 1974x and my bassman clone. at work on live gigs ive put an alnico cream 90w on a hrd dlx it's the best speaker ive ever heard. for a vox go for alnico it's a no brainer for other amps that need more power handling the alnico cream is the current king.
Thanks for the video! I believe the Greenback is better suited to a closed back cabinet and it definitely works better in pairs (2x12 or even better 4x12). Now, that fuzz is useless with an AC15, also because of the open back cabinet and single speaker. Just my opinion, of course.
To my ears the Greenbacks have more of a green note to it. With some back qualities. While the Blue Alnico has more of a blue flavor, letting the alnico really land on the final notes.
🤘🏻🤘🏻
Lol nice
😂 brilliant
Wow... so the green speaker sounds like a green speaker. And the blue speaker sounds like a (wait for it)... a blue speaker. SURPRISE! What a great observation... 😂
Head scratcher…this is a joke right ?
That solo tone you dialled in at the end was very special on the blue. You’ve got other amps to thicken up the mids and define the bass tones. I’d go with the blue in a heartbeat and run it in dual amp mode.
Great playing as always, Budda!
Thanks a lot
I thought the same. The crunchy blues lead in the end was totally convincing and left the greens far behind.
Whereas I must admit the rhythm guitar was better and tighter with the greens.
Thanks
I like the greenback and how it tames the high end, and adds bass. Would love to hear both together.
🤘🏻
I agree. Using an AC-30 with one of each, miking both speakers you could have an interesting stereo image.
I had an AC15c1x for 3 years, it is an amazing amp, the blue alnico is really special, and both inbuilt reverb and tremolo are really sweet .That being said, I would agree with you that people who are not going for that classic vox tone, and are just searching for a versatile amp should go with the greenback. Mick from 'That pedal show' once said that pretty much all they used at the 'Guitarist' magazine for testing gear was a greenback loaded ac15s because they just recorded that damn good. Thank you for the video man.
Thanks a lot
I love my greenback, but couldn’t unhear the undefined lows. The blue is amazing with that blues run toward the end. Thank you so much Budda
Thanks a lot
I prefer the Greenback. Thanks for the demo. Really good to hear the difference.
Thanks
Hey thanks man!!! Ive been searching for a video that demonstrates this specific difference for a while now. I know which Vox I want now, thank you!!
That’s great to know
The greenback sounded much brighter to me. The alnico was a little warmer. Vox’s tend to be somewhat bright amps by nature, so I preferred the alnico blue. However, if I used a lot of warmer OD pedals, the greenback might be better in those instances. But for 90% of what I play, the alnico blue would be a better fit.
NICE demo, and extremely tasty playing! Also a very precise and thoughtful way of sharing what you think and hear!
Thanks a lot
I play vox for decades and made some mix with green and blue (need to check sensibility that must match). It was working fine. Something that you must consider also is the fact that there is a different sound recorded and to your ears. when you play in a band, the direct sound is important too !! Today there the Cream that is quite amasing. Thanks for your demos..
Thanks a lot
Great demo! People talk about the vox sound vs the marshall sound etc, but this shows that it is really the speakers that dictate the most about the sound. Greenbacks are instant marshall. Have an AC30 with the blues, and was thinking about getting a marshall. Now I think I'll just get a cab with greenbacks.
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Your description on the two is spot on. In a 2x12 cab many would mix those two speakers. For a 1x12 Vox tone the Blue is perfect imo. Great demo !
Thanks a lot
Thank you for posting this up as it's helped me decide between which to get for my first amp. I think both sound great and agree with others that the blue has a more bright sound on the final notes but the green overall sounds better to me. Great video! Thanks!
Thanks
After watching this, I determined I can’t go wrong with either speaker. They sound quite different, but both good.
Agree 200%
For me, I preferred the Greenback for the heavier rock sound but the Blue Alnico for clean and light overdrive bluesy sound. I own a '65 Fender Deluxe Reverb RI with a Jensen speaker which would be closer to the Blue sound than Green. I've always wanted a Vox AC30C2 but after listen to the AC15 I'm going to consider one with a Greenback since I already have a great sounding bluesy amp.
Great to know that
If I bought an AC30C2 I would want one green and the speaker blue. The best of both worlds... Mod on gentlemen.
That’s a good idea
Preferred the greenback sound for the majority right until the last slow blues jam, the Blue sounded very clear and less muddy. Tough choice!
That’s my problem exactly
@@BuddaGuedesI highly recommend Weber. They even broke my speaker in before shipping it. I don't believe in break in on modern hifi speakers but do believe it affects vintage speaker designs.
The difference is quite easy to state. GB= loose low end, barky low mids, balanced top end. BLUE: same low end, smooth mids, sparkly highs. The advantage of the blue is that you can use a tone control to shave off highs if they are too much. For the GB it is those barky mids that makes the character which is harder to dial out. Overall the BLUE coupled with the Vox is the tried and tested formula and actually more versatile than the greenback..
I’m loving the blue
Does this mean on marshall jubilee combo what has a greenback g12m I should have the mids at 12 o clock or more?
There’s never a rule. Play with the controls and learn what they do. Then use it as you please
So the blue speaker is awesome for sure but I am so pumped about that greenback speaker I think I'm going to go buy the box ac15 right now with the greenback! Thank you!
You’re welcome. It’s a great amp
I love your review, but seriously, you make me want both. There are things that the greenback does for most of my playin but that blue just sounds so sweet and jangly!
That’s was exactly my problem!!!
I agree with your thought about the Blue emphasising what makes the AC15 different. If I had your collection I'd want the Blue so that I'd have something really different from everything else.
That’s what iVe picked up!!!
I'd go with the blue. I'm all about the sparkle. As it turns out, I own one! Something you didn't really mention, and I don't have experience playing through the greenback...but the Blue has a *feel*. It is a VERY efficient speaker, and it just feels super touch sensitive. It's like it pushes back against your strings *less*. I really love that feeling, particularly for very delicate expressive dynamic playing. Nice video!
I ended up keeping the blue because it has a thing and a magic to it
I put the blue in mine and placed the greenback in a cheap Palmer extention cab. Great combo and no need to choose
That's also a great option for sure
Thanks a lot. This was a lot of help. I'm selling my vox acc30 c2 and i didn't know what was the real difference beetween them. Now i'm awere of the difference in the soun more specifically
Great to know that
I just bought handwired version of this amp with a green back , however I am getting an extension cab made up with a blue Alnico in it . . I love them both .
Uuhh! That’s so great!!
Best AC15 speaker review. I'd go with the Greenback. Nice playing man.
Thanks a lot
I have both of those speakers and keep swapping them between my amps. I like the bite of the blue, but the green has more lows and smoother top. I think the best I've found so far is two cabs. One with a 12 inch green and one with a 10 inch alnico gold. Sounds awesome.
Thanks for sharing
I've got a Vox AC30 from 79 years...with blue alnico.....the rest is HISTORY
Wow
what you can do if you have the means is to get the amp with the green back, and get a second cabinet with the blue alnico, and you use the "external speaker" output (which disconnects the main amp speaker, and it sends the signal to the second cabinet's one).
I know that. That’s why I kept the blue, because I already own greenback cabinets
Well. The ”Vox sound” is very much the sound from alnico elements. Greenback does not sound bad, but it doesn’t sound Vox. Greenbacks are for Marshall 😀✌️
Agree
YES thats what I;m thinking
It’s interesting, because they both sound great, but while the greenback seems more satisfying in isolation, the moment you play any of those settings through the blue, you can immediately hear how perfectly it will sit in a mix, like it emphasizes everything that is necessary to be part of the bigger picture in a full band setting.
The blue is very different from all I have
Brilliant thanks , the Blue is tighter and has more definition to it 👍🏻👍🏻
🙏🙏
Greenback covers a bit the Voxiness of the amp, bringing the tone into the Marshall zone. Alnico blue makes the Voxiness shine.
Greenback = 50% Marshall 50% Vox
Alnico Blue = 100% Vox
That’s right
This is a great video. Thanks very much. Really helpful. The blue is interesting, but I feel like the greenback would work with more pedals in more settings without standing out too much
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Excellent demo my friend. Excellent pickin' too.
Thank you kindly!
I love the blue in your video with my bose ear buds. You make a good point if the amp is your only amp. Vox = Blue. Just love the tone much more.
🙏🙏🙏
I have had a couple of AC15's both had greenbacks. I thought of changing, but I had never heard the comparison. It is time for the Blue... Excellent speaker!
Thanks. That’s the one I kept
@@BuddaGuedes Weber makes a great Blue Dog series...
I know but celestion is the original….
Blue for me, every day of the week. It just has something special to it.
Yes it does
I believe the differences between most speakers are minimal when played clean. But the greenback probably has the most rolled off treble of any Celestion speaker, which helps make high gain growly rather than fizzy. I believe this is what led to it becoming so popular for rock music back in the day, when the selection of quality speakers and pedals for shaping the sound was very limited. The Seventy 80 that is currently in my amp has an actual spike at high frequency that makes high gain sound too fizzy for my taste, so I'm considering either changing it out for a greenback or better yet getting a 2x12 cab with greenbacks if I can find a deal on one.
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Hi - first time to the channel, nice job and I like your playing. I have an AC-15 with the Blue Alnico - got it for the Vox chime and the Blue gives you that very well. I agree with your approach - if this is your only amp get the Greenback, if it's for the true Vox chime sound as part of your tonal palette choose the Blue. Thanks
🙏🙏🙏
Best overdrive comes from pushing the tube amp itself not a pedal into a clean amp.
It all depends
@@BuddaGuedes I guess some people might like spikey thin irritating solid state clipping to natural warm thick tube overdrive.
To me they were both distinctly Vox-y. I always think the difference is sorta like the Alnico Blue is recorded with a condenser mic and the Greenback with a ribbon mic. Like it’s the exact same amp recorded differently. That if you bought one or the other you could make them sound like each other by failing in as close as possible and picking the right mic.
Blue all the way. Be interesting to blue vs creamback test.
The blue will get you that 60s/70s British garage sound… Sweetness!
That’s the one I picked
I love my strat in an VOX AC. Having an AC15HW1, the greenback speaker gives me what I like : the full range of notes. While the Alnico blue is more focussed on highs, missing the growl of mids and lows.
Eh! Eh!
Both sound great, but i dig the clarity of the alnico. You cant go wrong with either speaker really.
That’s true
If you did not get a blue speaker for that Vox I suggest you get one as soon as possible. That tone simply sung the perfect English rock/pop tone of the 60’s and 70’s. Better still have them both and mix and match... or use separately at your convenience. Great video comparison and some nice playing. Thanks.
I kept the blue
I prefer the greenback, but the blue is cool too. Whatever speaker you go with, changing out the stock tubes is a must. JJ's sound great in mine. It was a huge improvement. Also, the stock reverb spring tank is not very good. There are great after market options and it's super simple to swap them out.
Funny!! I like mine a lot!’ I kept the blue
For me, the alnico blue sounds too "empty" and "thin" and the greenback has a "fuller" "round" warmer tone, I prefer the greenback
🙏🙏🙏
I own a blue alnico and combined with PAF hambuckers (I use BB2 and BB3) it's just a dream to play. Vox ac15's bass and treble knobs are super effective to adjust the tone exactly the way you want it.
👌
To bad there is no Eq for the ”normal” channel though.
@@wilhelmhagberg4897 Honestly I can't hear tonal difference between using the top boost channel with low/no gain and using the normal channel. I only use the normal channel sometimes when using my pedal board, and each pedal has each own knobs to adjust the tone more accurately than the eq section of the amp.
@@andresvillacis7769 Thanks, that’s good to know. I’m a big fan of the AC clean sound but not so much of the overdriven sound.
@@wilhelmhagberg4897 You're welcome. I love the overdriven sound of the amp actually, but it's just a matter of personal taste.
I picked up a hand wired AC30 with two alnico blue speakers in 2015. It’s my favorite amp hands down. The greenbacks sound awesome though.
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Play both my Swart and Fender through both in separate cabs. Never stuck with a rig this long. 👍🏼
🙏
Mic placement (even millimeters) and point of listening (even centimeters) can yield VERY different results, so it is more than plausible that a comparison sounds exactly the opposite from the room to the recording.
I also have Room mics. I think it has more to due with proximity effect of the mic.
It’s a bigger difference than I thought it would be. GB sounds a bit too bassy/muddy whereas BA sounds a bit to trebely and ”empty”. Both are probably great sounding if counteracted slightly with an EQ pedal.
It’s very different in feel
Yep, Blue is amazing.......but not twice the price of the Greenback amazing. I've just ordered a Greenback, firstly because I can't justify the price of a Blue, and secondly, this is my only gigging amp, so the more "general purpose" nature of it may well suit my functions band needs better. I have to say, I really liked the Greenback through the Top Boost channel - it really came to life there. Great video, but it's obvious how much you prefer the Blue, which is fine :)
It wasn’t actually obvious to me but I ended up getting the blue, because I already have greenbacks
@@BuddaGuedes I don't think it was obvious what you liked at all...acutally I did find it funny how you kept being in doubt all the way through...and to me you were not still convinced in the end ;-) Great demo, enjoyed it a lot! Have you tried the AC30 with one Alnico Blue and one G12H30? Thats a nice combination as well
I wasn’t convinced at all by the end. I’ve ended up keeping the blue alnico.
Nothing beats the Blue!
Thajks
Great Video,Friend.i do like the 💙 blue bull Dog.i just purchased a Cambridge v15 1959
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Dang hard to choose, they both sound so good…
Totally agree
I had the chance to do this with my AC30 (Greens vs Blues) before I bought it. I preferred the blues for solo playing, but then I found that I disappeared in the mix with my group. Had a friend who brought his greenbacks and it really sounded better when played with the group. I still honestly prefer the recorded sound of the blues though, its a tighter response and doesn't fart-out on the bass notes (which is probably why it disappeared in the mix). This is why there is endless debate.
You’re right. There’s no right answer
What I really liked with this review - is that it was not just an A-B comparison, but the personal thoughts of you right at that moment of a personal experience .. This is very special!
I have a handwired VOX AC30 HW2 wo reverb but greenbacks, and I really dont like the sound, if I want to go for Marshall I go for Marshall, if Fender then Fender, if Vox then Alnico Blue (or Gold) ..
Thought about selling mine, but guess will change to Blue Alnico ..
Thanks a lot
That’s a good idea. Changing the speaker will change the amp’s tone completo
Not a fair comparison IMO. I have the Monoprice version and it is a Jack of all trades, master of none and that makes is what makes it great. With the wgs speaker (which I like a lot) it made the amp a solid classic rock amp and if you put a Jensen in, it will get blues jr-ish. The Vox is its own sound, which we all love. As for the loudness, how much does it matter if you are mic-ing the amp? If I was playing live just me, a guitar and an amp, the Vox no contest. Playing in a band context mic-ing the amp, the Haley Benton is enough. But your are the guru here, love to see your decision on another video!
I hate the sound of a mic’ed amp in the monitors so I need volume to listen to my playing. That’s why volume is important
Great demo here too! I also do the same thing with fuzz pedals, I tame them with a king of tone or other overdrive...fuzz punches way better in a mix that way!
That’s right
I have had and enjoyed both versions but I only kept the blue version in the hand wired ac15. There is a depth the greenback does not have. Also, my god that Telecaster sounds divine! Is it stock pickups in that ‘52 reissue? I have the AV’64 headed my way now.
/thanks for this review
Mine has Lindy fralin blues special tele pickups because the original died on me
Get the blue Budda; you know you'll regret not having it. On the other hand, thanks for convincing me to keep the greenback in my AC15; it's my only amp for the moment.
Eh! Eh!
I have a Orange 2 12 cabinet open back. I have a WSG greenback and a Celestion Blue in it. A great mix, and the problem you have will goes away.
That’s a spot idea too, but I’m looking for a combo
I put a 75w Creamback in mine & it sounds killer!
Grreat
I couldn’t quite hear what you said, what pedal combo gave you that really crunchy fuzz around 5:15? Thanks
Around 5:20, rather
It’s the drive and fuzz together
Were those last couple minutes of side by side comparison with no pedals? I thought they both sound great in their own way.
I don’t remember anymore
Listening through my I phone speaker and taking into consideration what you played and gear used I was leaning towards the blue.
I actually own the greenback version and I love it in my opinion if you are a fender guy which I am you must own this amp I have a strat and tele they both sound amazing with or without pedals.
Other guitars sound great also but I feel vox really pairs well with fender but that’s just the sound I like obviously.
I’d of chose the blue but my ac 15 was gifted to me so certainly wasn’t complaining.
I’m not an amp connoisseur of any kind I’d previously owned Marshall’s and orange but none of those models were an equivalent price of the ac15 so it’s not a fair comparison but all I know is it’s the best amp I’ve played by a mile
It’s a great amp
The Greenback sounds amazing--super clear and full and lots of character-BUT, also a lot harder to control (boomier lower mids and spikey upper mids) in a mix context. The Blue Alnico sounds amazing too, but also very affected--it sounds like only a blue alnico sounds, it's THAT sound. It's a great sound and it's much more controlled and contained, but it's a bit less versatile. But like you said, it's a color you're missing in your collection, and for that reason alone (if I were in the same position), I'd totally go with the Blue. Now if only I had your collection. lol Thanks for sharing, and for an awesome video.
Great!!
Blue is just special!
That’s right
The tone of the low E palm muting through the blue at 10:50 was very reminiscent of 'Communication Breakdown'.
...But then I'm listening to it digitised, compressed and though another set of speakers
It also sounded like that to me
Can someone please explain what the 'Blue' is exactly please? Company, specs etc...
Celestion Alnico speaker
Thank you. Yeah, Googled it also...Thanks.@BuddaGuedes
Don't forget about room acoustics. That's why you're hearing differences on the mic. I don't care for the GB tone. It peaks around the boxy frequencies
🙏
Hmm. My guess is that the blue would sound clearer in a mix with a bass guitar, by itself I like the low end on the green but for recording you often have to cut the low frequencies on a guitar anyway, so ... I wonder if the blue projects over a band more?
I think the main difference is the high-end. It reminds me the Gretcsch high-end, so unique.
I have a blue and a G12H in my 2x12 18W TMB. They work well together. I also have a blue in my 5e3.
The blue in my 5e3 was the option
Out of the dispute “which is more Voxy”. The blue sounds radio-ready, sweet, well balanced, familiar. Almost banal. The greenback sounds raw, bad beast, hard to ride. Way more interesting to me. Thanks for the comparison!
Thanks for your comment
I prefer the Greenback over the Blue in the Vox AC15. I would like to hear the same two speakers compared using the Fender '57 Custom Deluxe. I own a '57 Custom Deluxe and have installed the Blue, but am now having second thoughts after hearing how the Greenback sounds in the Vox. Maybe the Greenback would be better in the '57 Custom Deluxe too.
Do you mean a fender
@@BuddaGuedes Yes, It would be nice to hear how a Fender ‘57 Custom Deluxe sounds with a Celestion Greenback vs. a Celestion Blue.
How are you micing the amps? I don't see any microphones on either amp. It would be helpful to show on camera which microphones you used, and what was the mic placement.
I'm definitely hearing what I perceive to be different mic placement. It sounds as if there is more presence and overtones with the greenback, than with the blue.
If you're using room mics, then the directionality of each amp could drastically affect what we are hearing through the recorded sound.
I have a strong feeling that what you are hearing in the room is different than what we are hearing through playback.
I used an sm57 with the same mic placement and I also use a room mic far distant. My main concern in every episode is to capture what I hear in the room. So what you’re hearing is the closest possible to what’s in the room
@@BuddaGuedes thank you for the response, and your transparency!
You’re welcome
Ho Guedes, o medo amigo não me atinge , 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 nice video ❤
If I'm picking up this amp, it's specifically for that Voxy chime - which to me is the Blue. They both sound great though. Buy the head, and just get a Blue and Green cab for when you need one or the other. :)
Eh! Eh! I prefere combos
I'm thinking an AC15 212 with both the Greenback and Alnico Blue?
That’s a great idea
I feel like the green makes more sense in a band mix. For you, I think you're right get the blue for a different sound
That’s what I did
if I got the AC15sc2 twin, would 1 greenback and 1 alnico blue be the best of both worlds? are they compatible together? Great demo.
They are compatible but I’m not sure how will they sound together
So I noticed that 3:31 while playing the greenback speaker with some OD he gives the camera a big old cheesy smile! I'm not far into the video so far but I am digging the green back. I don't know how you call that dull. The blue speaker so far its highs are a little too sharp for me, just at the edge of unpleasant and not enough low end. To me the greenback has great highs that's easy listening and defined mids and lows. There's a warmth that's defined with those awesome vox chimes
They are really both great and this is a super great amp
I am happy with the Greenback in mine.
They are both very good
In ur demonstration I actually like the green back better! Seems to roll off the high end better.
Thanks
I thought the blue sounded better with the fx channelled through. But was it worth £400 more 🤔
Hey! A fellow Portuguese gear nerd! Subscribed! Saude!
Thanks a lot and welcome to the family
Just got the greenback version ,havent tried it much yet ..which is what led me here i guess….after the first clean test i notice no difference (ipad pro w air pod pros), when u hit that king of tone ? The green back was sounding incredible.didnt think it possible for the blue alnico to improve on the tone…but somehow it did ,imo after the ine quick soumd bite it sounded like it removed some mid range overtones to make that improvement …which if i didnt hear it id say that makes no sense lol …almost like it added the bass parts to the tone or something …didnt have hi hopes this video would be to informative (beyond “i wish i could play like that “😬🤷🏼♂️) but i alteady am thinking down te line i might have to consider a new speaker …will continue on with the video and comment /reply further if things keep going like this 😬
You were relaying the exact opposite of what i was hearing …wierd,maybe my old man ears are worse than i thought
I see you edited and now i feel better about my ears lol ..
Shit the 12 min+ mark with blue alnico you were giving a serious srv vibe/tone …dammit im a srv fanboy now im totally f’en tortured about wanting a blue ….so may e be buying the speaker at some point 🤦🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️
Eh! Eh! They are both great speaker options
I know this is two years on but right at the end you mentioned you had an AC30 and I thought…why not just do the Brian May thing and put one Blue and One Green in the AC30 then you have it all and can mic either speaker. And it’d cost a fraction of the amp price to just buy a single blue alnico.
I’m showing the amp not only for me to play with. The ac30 is big loud and heavy. So I’m looking for smaller quieter amps right now
Would have liked to hear with a Stratocaster, and semi hollow with Humbuckers.
For a jazzy sound which is best in your opinion ?
I like smokey tones, and suspect thé blue is better for hot smokey jazz sound
The Greenback is too harsh for that?
I don’t like this amp for clean jazzy tones. With that said, John Scofield plays ac30 amps
@@BuddaGuedesyes, and Scofield has for me the perfect sound for modern style jazz groove funk blues
interesting that in the room you hear more rightness in the bass from the green, but in the recording the blue clearly has the tighter bass response. my least favorite thing about greenbacks is muddy low end.
I kept the blue and love it
I have an AC30 with 2 Greens and I think it sounds great. I'm on the verge of purchasing 2 Blue alnicos for an open cab as I have Bad Cat Jet Black on the way. The Bad Cat Jet Black is supposedly Bad Cat's version of a Vox. If the Blues don't sound good with the Bad Cat I'm going to put them in the Vox AC30. This was helpful and I agree with you, bring in something new and different.
Great to know that
Hard choice, both are distinct but both sound great in their own way. The greenback is one of my all time favourite speakers but the blue+vox combo is pretty classic. edit: Actually through the top boost channel with the greenback sounds not unlike like my old marshall 1974x - which make sense maybe, they both have el84s and are similar sized amps. That amp loves to be cranked.
Thanks for your help.
I have felt the same about the Marshall crossover. I tracked with my Vox AC15 +Greenback, and several gear-head people were surprised when I told them which amp I used, they thought it was a Marshall. 🤔🤷♂️
They are cousin amps for sure
@@BuddaGuedes I’ll
I love the blue. I've learned I love mids and highs. Blue alnico wins.
Me too
They both sound great and useful but that blue just does the thing. That amp with the blue is what I hear in my head....now I need to spend more money....thanks.😂
To my ears the Greenback is brighter and more cutting all the way through, with more of a percussive Rock sound and pushed a more present treble sound for most things, and the Blue was a more of a great edge of breakup blues sound with some high end twang, also the flubby bass makes the Blue sound a lot like 70's Punk Rock Recordings, I think you could tweak the tone cut to tame some of the tightness and brightness of the greenback however, but you may not be able to get the bass tightness back with any pedal tweaks to the Alnico Blue ... Would be curious to run the Alnico Blue through one of those 'Treble Booster' Pedals
Thanks for sharing
15:30 best tone ! Great video! For vox you gotta have alnico blues
I love the blue
I notice quite a difference in levels between the greenback and the alnico blue. I'd like to get access to the raw audio, if possible.
There’s no level difference because I level matched them
at home i'm using 2 greenback heritage 20 watters on openback cabs they are perfect for my 1974x and my bassman clone. at work on live gigs ive put an alnico cream 90w on a hrd dlx it's the best speaker ive ever heard. for a vox go for alnico it's a no brainer for other amps that need more power handling the alnico cream is the current king.
Thanks a lot
Thanks for the video! I believe the Greenback is better suited to a closed back cabinet and it definitely works better in pairs (2x12 or even better 4x12). Now, that fuzz is useless with an AC15, also because of the open back cabinet and single speaker. Just my opinion, of course.
I agree except for the fuzz thing. I use fuzz with various open back amps and it sounds incredible!!
Have to agree on the fuzz. Not a good sound with either speaker, but that may be I just don't like that fuzzbox like I do my throback.