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... 😂
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.
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.
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 😀✌️
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 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..
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 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.
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
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 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 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.
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 have stopped playing my Vox AC15 C1 with stock Greenback speaker. Its too grainy for my taste. Should I sell it and get a Quilter Superblock UK or get a Blue Alnico for my VOX and sell the Greenback?
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!
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.
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 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.
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
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 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.
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 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
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.
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?
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 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.
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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
@@BuddaGuedes yours is a RI Greenback made in China. Those sound good, too, but the 12m 20 watt heritage (exact same as the EVH Greenbacks, just with EVH label) sound more “vintage.” Very woody, smooth top, excellent sound when driven. You should check one out.
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!
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.
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 🤦🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️
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
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. 🤔🤷♂️
The Blue back every time..............That wide open, your going to hear me sound is the sound in my head and when listening to vintage music. The Green back is more of a modern rock sound that's thick and full and distorts smoother..........Where the blue back is harsh, open, and unapologetic. For clean tones, it's blue back every time as it has a bell top end chime and stays clean and crisp.............Green back gets fluffy when pushed clean.
The Alnico sounded a lot nicer with the fuzz. Clean, I slightly preferred the fuller sound on the Greenbacks. Overdrive, liked them both, just different flavours. Would depend on the track, Greenbacks again fuller in the bass, maybe flatter, Alnico more focused in the upper mids and bite. For most people, honestly I think the Greenbacks is very good for the accessible price and generally really good. You're right about that Telecaster sounding amazing with that amp, it exagerrates the Vox thing. Especially with the blue Alnico. I really like my ES-335 humbuckers with Vox too, where it does the opposite, balances out. Not such a fan of Strat, or Les Paul. Something either very pointy in the treble, or very full across the spectrum is better; in between is nowhere. Jazzmaster might sound nice too maybe? For your guitar, definitely the Blue, because it's pure character. And you have other amps and guitars so ... your Vox AC15 doesn't have to be all things to all guitars.
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.
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
Gotta say...love the Greenback. I have an AC15HW and I got a blue for it, and while I love Celestion blues, I found the greenback just works better, sounds fatter, and works better with pedals.
Yep- the same. I think the Greenback was amazing. I have an extra Ruby laying around so I might try that. Hearing that this is a great choice for AC amps@@BuddaGuedes
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
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?
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!
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. :)
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.
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.
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 whole time I was like "oh yeah the Greenback crushes the Blue" and then you played the part seeing how well they clean up with the guitar volume knob, and wow, the Blue blows the Greenback away there.
Funny how I prefer the Greenback only with the King of tone pedal, but with Vox natural distortion I like the Blue better, both sound great though, you can't go wrong with either of them.
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 ?
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
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
I prefer the Greenback. Thanks for the demo. Really good to hear the difference.
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 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
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
After watching this, I determined I can’t go wrong with either speaker. They sound quite different, but both good.
Agree 200%
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
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
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
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
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
I've got a Vox AC30 from 79 years...with blue alnico.....the rest is HISTORY
Wow
NICE demo, and extremely tasty playing! Also a very precise and thoughtful way of sharing what you think and hear!
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.
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
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
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 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 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!!!
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
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
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!!
For me, the alnico blue sounds too "empty" and "thin" and the greenback has a "fuller" "round" warmer tone, I prefer the greenback
🙏🙏🙏
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
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.
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
I love the blue. I've learned I love mids and highs. Blue alnico wins.
Me too
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 have stopped playing my Vox AC15 C1 with stock Greenback speaker. Its too grainy for my taste. Should I sell it and get a Quilter Superblock UK or get a Blue Alnico for my VOX and sell the Greenback?
The blue is really sparkly sounding . There’s nothing like it. I kept the blue
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
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
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
Best AC15 speaker review. I'd go with the Greenback. Nice playing man.
Thanks a lot
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 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!
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
🤘🏻
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
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
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 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
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.
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 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
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
Brilliant thanks , the Blue is tighter and has more definition to it 👍🏻👍🏻
🙏🙏
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 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.
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Both sound great, but i dig the clarity of the alnico. You cant go wrong with either speaker really.
That’s true
Nothing beats the Blue!
Thajks
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.
Which Greenback is this? Not all sound the same. I’d go for a 20 watt 12m before all the rest. Those sound the best, imho.
I don’t know what it is but it’s the new one 25 watts
@@BuddaGuedes yours is a RI Greenback made in China. Those sound good, too, but the 12m 20 watt heritage (exact same as the EVH Greenbacks, just with EVH label) sound more “vintage.” Very woody, smooth top, excellent sound when driven. You should check one out.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll look it up
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….
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
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
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
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
🙏🙏🙏
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
Alnico all the way
thanks
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
The Blue back every time..............That wide open, your going to hear me sound is the sound in my head and when listening to vintage music.
The Green back is more of a modern rock sound that's thick and full and distorts smoother..........Where the blue back is harsh, open, and unapologetic.
For clean tones, it's blue back every time as it has a bell top end chime and stays clean and crisp.............Green back gets fluffy when pushed clean.
I'm thinking an AC15 212 with both the Greenback and Alnico Blue?
That’s a great idea
The Alnico sounded a lot nicer with the fuzz. Clean, I slightly preferred the fuller sound on the Greenbacks. Overdrive, liked them both, just different flavours. Would depend on the track, Greenbacks again fuller in the bass, maybe flatter, Alnico more focused in the upper mids and bite. For most people, honestly I think the Greenbacks is very good for the accessible price and generally really good. You're right about that Telecaster sounding amazing with that amp, it exagerrates the Vox thing. Especially with the blue Alnico. I really like my ES-335 humbuckers with Vox too, where it does the opposite, balances out. Not such a fan of Strat, or Les Paul. Something either very pointy in the treble, or very full across the spectrum is better; in between is nowhere. Jazzmaster might sound nice too maybe? For your guitar, definitely the Blue, because it's pure character. And you have other amps and guitars so ... your Vox AC15 doesn't have to be all things to all guitars.
I ended up keeping the blue. It’s pure magic
Blue Alnico to my ears
🙏🙏🙏
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.
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
Gotta say...love the Greenback. I have an AC15HW and I got a blue for it, and while I love Celestion blues, I found the greenback just works better, sounds fatter, and works better with pedals.
I have an AC15Hw TV and it comes with a blue alnico. I don’t really love it with that speaker . But I’m the case of the AC15 C1 i like it a lot
Yep- the same. I think the Greenback was amazing. I have an extra Ruby laying around so I might try that. Hearing that this is a great choice for AC amps@@BuddaGuedes
I know Brian May (of Queen) ueses Vox for the most part of his career. Does he equip his amps with Alnico Blue or Greenback speakers?
I’m not sure, but he uses old AC30 and fully cranked up. The older amps were way darker
He actually pairs an Alnico blueback with a Celestion G12H30 70th anniversary, they are a perfect pairing!
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
Blue is just special!
That’s right
Great Video,Friend.i do like the 💙 blue bull Dog.i just purchased a Cambridge v15 1959
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
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.
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
The greenback just stands out more to me. More of a natural beautiful tone.
👌
I thought the blue sounded better with the fx channelled through. But was it worth £400 more 🤔
Dang hard to choose, they both sound so good…
Totally agree
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 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
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.
Play both my Swart and Fender through both in separate cabs. Never stuck with a rig this long. 👍🏼
🙏
Prefer the blue, greenback sounds a bit more dull to me
I love the blue
In ur demonstration I actually like the green back better! Seems to roll off the high end better.
Thanks
Get the Blue it is a beautiful sounding speaker
That’s what I got
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!!
Greenback = Rhythm
Blue Alnico = Lead
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Greenback is almost every example given. I've had both...and I'm a greenback guy.
Thanks
The whole time I was like "oh yeah the Greenback crushes the Blue" and then you played the part seeing how well they clean up with the guitar volume knob, and wow, the Blue blows the Greenback away there.
I choose the blue because it’s way different from all I have
Celestion Alnico blue >>> Greenback. Great video.
🙏🙏
I put a 75w Creamback in mine & it sounds killer!
Grreat
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
Wasn’t expecting such a huge difference. Love the punch of the blue alnico, unfortunately for my wallet.
Me too
A brighter tone from the Blue with a tad more detail than the Greenback.
🤘🏻
Excellent demo my friend. Excellent pickin' too.
Thank you kindly!
Funny how I prefer the Greenback only with the King of tone pedal, but with Vox natural distortion I like the Blue better, both sound great though, you can't go wrong with either of them.
I kept the blue