School me on the Celestion Creamback Speaker(s)

[saarangnarayan]

Okay so I've heard multiple folks say this that as you mature, you realise that a Creamback is the way to go instead of Greenbacks or V30s. While I am not really giving up on the V30 anytime soon, I have begun to realise Creambacks are maybe more my jam than Greenbacks. I have only ever tried the Creambacks in the IR world, so I have no real-world experience to back this up, but I do think the Creamback fills in some of the frequencies that are (at least to my ears) missing in a Greenback. Buuuuut, I also realise that there are multiple kinds of Creambacks, both rating-wise (55 vs. 65 vs. 75, I think?) and also H and M magnets, and also a Neodymium version. I'd love to hear from more experienced folks about which version excels at what and basically what you like (or dislike!) about Creambacks.

P.S. The IRs I've tried are the Mega Cream in ML Sound Lab's MIKKO, ML Sound Lab's Zilla Cab Pack that has the H75 Creambacks, and York Audio's M65 Creamback pack. They all sound different to me, but they all sound great.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I have a 65 in my '76 deluxe reverb and a 75 in one of my 2x12s. Killer speakers, sound good with any amp it seems

 

[la szum]

I haven't tried the Neo Creamback..... but have been on the Creamback Wagontrain for a
good decade. It was love at first sound.

I have both the M65 and H75 in various cabs/combos. Also have the 10" Creamback in
my Vibrolux (thanks, @greatmutah !)

I just find them the perfect blend and balance of so many great speakers I have loved in the
past. My fave speaker before was the old Celestion Heritage 65s. I then loved the Warehouse
Guitar Speakers ET65s---which were inspired by the Celestion. I then tried the Creamback M65,
before also getting the H75.

I'd parse it the following way.... though both the M65 and H75 are more versatile than either
Greenbacks of Vintage 30s... they won't chug like a V30 in that Modern way. If I am using an
high gain Mesa and only thumping I would probably still want a V30. Being higher wattage
and with a stouter magnet I would choose the H75 if I leaned more V30, and would choose
the M65 if I was more of a Greenback guy. Both are great!

Also, the H75 is louder watt for watt (100dB) than the 65 (97dB0. The M65 can work in an amp/setup you
want to open up a bit more.

 

[bikescene]

I have Creambacks (G12M65, G12H75) and G12M25 Greenbacks in various cabinets.

I currently have an M25 in an open back 2x12, M25 in an AC15C1, M65 in a 4x12, and M65 in a Mesa Badlander. These speakers are very closely related under a mic or in IR form. I’ve mainly used these for Vox and Marshall-type sounds.

I think the higher frequencies of the H75 sounds more open than the M speakers. I think my H75 has more high mids/treble and the M speakers have more mid-mids if that makes any sense.

I had compared my H75 in IR form with other H30 speakers and found that they were very similar. Close enough that I didn’t bother to buy an H30 for my cabs.

 

[greatmutah]

The Creamback 10s are really something as they break in and sweeten up. And I still love my H75s but wouldn’t mind a set of M65s either. At the same time, I’ve been playing with some G12 65 IRs and I’m thinking I need those back in my life irl.

 

[newholland]

ive played 65s and 75s, and think the h75 is my favorite as an extended chord oriented rhythm player: its got a broad frequency range and a lot of stability, it doesnt blur out under dirt, and sounds open and full clean. its doesnt smear- but its also not unrelenting, modern OR vintage. its really just a great speaker thats kinda like a softer focus g12h30 anni with way more power handling, and probably a little less idiosyncratic.

 

[saarangnarayan]

sound good with any amp it seems

This is the sense that I seem to be getting as well. Sometimes I feel V30s can sound a bit dark while Greenbacks can be too scooped. Creambacks are perhaps riding somewhere in the middle of that.

 

[saarangnarayan]

Being higher wattage
and with a stouter magnet I would choose the H75 if I leaned more V30, and would choose
the M65 if I was more of a Greenback guy.

This makes a lot of sense! Might have to dive into the M vs. H magnet thing a bit more. I do seem to enjoy the M65 IRs I’ve tried more tho. The H75 feels a bit tinny based on what I’ve tried but I’ll definitely revisit them both with your observations in mind.

 

[saarangnarayan]

a great speaker thats kinda like a softer focus g12h30 anni with way more power handling

Well no wonder I really like it then. I LOVED the G12H30s in the EVH 2x12 Dynacab that was added in the Fractal stuff not too long ago.

 

[the swede]

The YA M65 is the only IR that I truly felt matched the sound in my head and works for everything.. I wonder if it's kinda neutral? I do fell that it has thick low mids compared to other IRs Ive tried. The YA Deluxe is great to but it doesn't like my pedals the way the m65 does.

 

[Frankencat]

I have several of these in different amps and cabs including a '68 Pro Reverb with a pair of G12M65 Creambacks and a Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb with the Neo Creamback. I have had these I other cabs and amp as well as other typical Celestions including G12M Greenbacks and V30s. I find the G12M65 Creambacks to have a softening effect which is why I like them in Fender amps, it's a good match if you rock it up a kitty and get them crunching. The Neo Creamback is a tiny bit stiffer which works better in some situations. Personally I think the Neo Creamback is one of their best speakers overall. But yeah, it's hard to go wrong with these.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I have a 2x12 that used to run a pair of old Greenbacks. However I nearly toasted them with a higher wattage amp so i replaced them with Creambacks M65s. I find that I miss the woody midrange from the Greenbacks and the Creambacks are darker. I’m not sure that i like the Creambacks.