Eminence Red Fang

Alnico 30 watt 8 ohm speaker.Loaded into a hot rodded matchless spitfire clone tweaked and improved by John Delle Site.Pine cabinet open back 1X12 combo format.Replaced the Eminence Legend V12 that came with it.Nice speaker for the price; however felt the amp could sound better.Single channel amp that is extremely touch sensitive.Set pre vol., tone, and post vol. to 90% and work the guitar volume pot for clean chime to full out for singing sustain.Great amp for country,blues, rock and jazz.Use it mostly in the studio.15 very loud watts.The Red Fang sounds sweet and chimey for all applications.

When I first installed the speaker it sounded harsh. I observed the sound smoothing out over a week or so of playing.I was concerned until it started to break in and then it bloomed.It's been years since I played celestion blues and I can't honestly compare the two objectively,but I really like this speaker for this particular application.Clean notes breath and sustain with very little cone cry or ghost notes on high E above 10th fret.The more the speaker was played the better the overdrive started to sound.At first it was buzzy but fortunately thats completely disappeared.Teles ,strats les pauls,345s you name it they all sound great through this rig.

So far so good. I use the eminence legend V12 in some other amps and I have found them quite dependable. Hopefully the Red Fang is built as well.

Return emails quickly.The web site is informative and well laid out with aoudio samples and tech info.

This speaker is really a great deal and suits my needs perfectly.I wish I could have tried a Weber Blue Dog.I really like Ted Weber,he is incredibly helpful it just did'nt happen this time. I use his Mass attenuator and man did he come up with a brilliant solution to the whole power soak problem.The nass attenuator is also hundreds of dollars less than the other attenuators out there.I digress,as to the Jensen Alnico reissue,not impressed at all.If you are into country,rock,blues,chimey pop etc,check out this speaker.The V12 is good but the Red Fang takes it to a whole other level.Give it time to get broken in and prepare to hear all the nuances of your playing.

You've already read the features.

I received it this morning, dropped it into a large open back cab, played an hour. Took it out and soldered into a small pine Alessandro half-back cab (my favorite 1x12 cab), and played another 4 hours straight, using every style in my bag. Much better in the smaller pine cab, and it got better even after just 3 hours of break in; smoothed out. But I think all speakers need a couple weeks of playing to "relax".

My test axe was a Music Man Silhouette Special, stock p'ups.

Can't help being redundant here with what's already been said. It replaced a V30 in both the cabs I tried it in, and there's no comparison in tone, imo. The V30 is a perfect hi-fi gentleman, and at certain volumes, it really sings nicely. Comparatively, the Fang is an experienced salty dog. The most stunning surprise was that I could actually hear the nuances of my guitar and amp, and my fingers! Much more expressive than the V30 in tone and touch. Yes, it does compress, and that does add its own thing, but it seems a very useable compression, not excessive; at least not at bearable volumes in a house.

In the wide open back cab, the highs were causing ear fatigue due to the presence of an edgy top end (fondly called Brit jangle). This edge mellowed out in the smaller pine cab, and more so after 3-4 hours of play.

Bottom line for me, it's a keeper and will find a niche in the studio and jams.

Seems stout enought.

No idea.

I've been playing since 1962, paid dues and played full time for a long while. Now it's just for grins and some studio gigs.

This Fang seems like a great arrow for my quiver. It's alive, organic and expressive, and it lets your gear's own voice sing. That's a huge plus, imo. I'm pretty sure my V30 cabs will still get some use, but this will likely become my go-to speaker/cab.

Some combinations of speakers can work well together. I wasn't especially impressed with how the Fang plays together with the V30. The V30 has a way of dominating other speakers, not in volume so much, but in frequency coverage. I'll probably wind up getting another Fang to combo with this one in an extension cab. I think the tone of this speaker deserves its own voice and venue.

Too soon to tell for sure, but so far, I?m diggin this speaker a lot.

It's a speaker. Has a frame, cone, coil, cover etc. Lots of holes for different bolting setups, including retrofitting Celestion style.

12 inch, 16 ohms, 30 watt handling. You get two free picks and a nice emblem for your amp.

I replaced a Celestion Vintage 30 with this speaker (inside a Trace Elliot Velocette 12R - El84 based amp). Personally, I find the V30 to be harsh, too mid-range focussed, and not articulate or pleasant at higher volumes. I wanted something smoother, with better highs and earlier breakup. I didn't want to go to a Celestion Blue for moneys sake with this particular amp. I chose it however as it was recommended to me as a British voiced, Alnico Blue feeling speaker.

First impressions were that it sounded smoother, clearer with better highs. Very touch sensitive and a breathy, organic feel. Less sterile than the V30. It broke up earlier and compressed quite heavily under load. It was more harmonic at high volumes and compressed in a useable fashion. Overall a richer, clearer and warmer sound.

The compression element is an individual user thing. To me, I find it ideal for indie rock, rock n roll, blues/jazz mainstream stuff. The attack on a note at higher volumes is better controlled with this type of natural compression - an example of that sound of volume squashing would be any of SRV's live sounds. However, for styles requiring massive clean headroom or say, pronounced mids etc, this speaker will not please you. In saying that, it's not designed to (like I read somewhere here about it compressing too much - wrong choice of speaker buddy).

Compared with my Weber Blue Dog, it seems to have better definition in the higher registers with earlier break up and compression. Not as creamy in the mids, but that wasn't desired for this amp. Similar in the fact that both speakers are very touch sensitive and breathy.

Test equipment for this review was a 1973 Stratocaster and a Gretsch G5127, guitar lead and a pick :)

I have been playing for 20 years, many styles, many guiatrs, many amps. Without being an arrogant SOB I would say my ears are well qualified.

Too soon to tell.

Well, I got mine from JIM Music, and I'm sure Jim would help with any issues.

I rate it highly because it achieves a number of things so far missed out by other manufacturers trying to emulate British voicing.
1. It breaks up early enough to give a true retro British tone
2. It has sparkly highs without dominent mids
3. Compression is useable and better managed than others
4. Price point - good value

Overall, a great replacement for a smaller valve combo where the above attributes are desired and the current speaker is simply not delivering. Great stuff eminence.

Celestion Blue rival from Eminence, 30/60 watts, 1/3 the price of Celestion Blue! Mine is 8 Ohms.

This is a GREAT speaker. I can't say that the Celestion Blue is any better. Just all around great tone. Very, very smooth with great compression. This speaker isn't supposed to be "brutal or tight" so don't expect that. But it does cleans very well and also does that Celestion Blue trademark tone with beautiful sweet highs and a nice round sound. Also, the 30/60 watt rating makes it more versitle than the Blue.

Eminence has a great reputation so I am not worried. They have been very helpful so far.

They get on the phone with you and answer any and all questions graciously.

Been playing 35 years. Would replace it immediately. This speaker has a certain vibe to it and should really be compared to a Celestion Blue type speaker. It doesn't sound like a JBL, EV, Jensen, or for that matter even a Celestion greenback. It sounds like an old VOX/Celestion Blue but at a fraction of the price. If you are looking for that sound, save your money and try the Red Fang. Celestion needs to be worried about this one. You can fool some of the people some of the time but, you can't fool all of the people all of the time. At $475 list for the Blue, I feel like I didn't get fooled or raped.

Red Paint. Paper cone. Alnico magnet. yadda yadda yadda

Some guy on here compared the Red Fang to a Vintage 30 saying that they are similar. Not even close, bud. I A/B'd 2 cabs out of the same head. One was loaded with the red fangs and the other was loaded with the V30's. It was night and day. The red fangs are so much warmer, tighter, richer, more harmonic and smoother than the V30's. The V30's were harsh, brittle, metallic and cold in comparison to the Red Fangs. I think that Eminence has made a great speaker here.

don't know yet

They just sound awesome.

brand new this is my third
Fantastic value in an alnico celestion type speaker

Installed in a 70's deluxe reverb amp
Replacing a Blackback H30 celestion

the Red Fang has a very musical tone less brash that the ceramic celestions with a sweeter articulate top end...

almost like a perfect blend of a real pre rola greenback and an alnico blue

very versatile speaker can be used for any type of music, like the alnico blue it is very responsive to the players touch and input.

In a well thought out rig any player could use it

have two others and have had no reliablilty issues

Unknown warrantee card with the product seems to indicate that the speaker can handle more power than they suggest (conservative ratings) I will not test this theory !!
company responed to one email question right away

playing 25 years, lots of great gear, this is my third purchase of this model
these speakers sound as good as any of my premuium 20-40 year old celestions & jesens ...

Just a fantastic speaker at a low low price !!
lots of musical fun

12" 16 ohm used in closed back cabinet with a monster EVM 12F.

I installed this speaker in my external cabinet for more flexibility in recording. We are working on our first album and I need more chime and bang in the guitar. Frankly I was amazed at the tone this speaker produces. I bought it based on the reviews I read here and I am not dissapointed in the least.

I play a stock Mexican Tex Mex Strat straight into a Traynor 20 watt tube ampwith JJ EL 84s, Groove Tube 12Ax7-C and a NOS 12at7 phase splitter.

The speaker took a week or two break in and it really loosens up nice nad is very responsive to an already very touch sensitive setup. The tone I was looking for is here. Dirt on command, clean and bangy quick decay with nice warmth and lots of overtones. this speaker really shows you what your amp and guitar really sound like. SO if you have lots of crappy effects and no clue about turning knobs and switches on your guitar...you might get crap from this speaker. I have yet to find any faults. for the price it is really a good value. I've only played Celestion Blues in shops and liked them but could't really make a direct comparision to my existing set up. Is a Blue...no it is a Red Fang. Amp makers could do a lot by loading low wattage tube amps with these affordable great sounding speakers. Not for every player or monster metalheads or gobs of effects. But if you want simplicty and flexibility at your hands then I say consider this Red Fang if you are thinking Celestion BLue, Weber BLuedog or TOne Tubby....

hear the speaker in action on the cut Spritual Mouthwash a nice little lead break in the middle that shows the nice tone this speaker is capable of here:


http://sonicbids.com/SoulAmp

Click on Audio and listen, the speaker was not broke in yet when we recorded this tune...but still sound great. SM-57 angled into the cone about 1.5" from the cone 3/4 the way to the upper left edge. Didn't have to touch EQ or add any effects....(not even compression) sweet...


I will be loading the combos I have with this speaker. I like it that much.

It's a speaker.

Can't relate.

Overall I have no reservations in recommedning this speaker. Every tone junkie should have a cabinet loaded with a pair of these. At this price there really is not a reason you can't...

sturdy construction, extended magnet housing (covered). 8 ohms, 30 watts handling.

i think it sounds like a slightly flatter governor. vintage 30 flavor, less highs, silky sweet distortion when pushed. interesting. not as good as the blue tho. nice try eminence!

built better than the blue i think.

none.

does not have the apparent volume of the blue (used with a class a amp) even tho twice the wattage. just no punch. if you want extended gain (distortion) this offers an interesting range. just not crystalline or chimey enough. not impressed. ran this with an sg/duncan custom and an orange ad30.

12 INCH GUITAR SPEAKER USA MADE bRITSH CONE, ALNICO MAGNET; CLONE OF THE LEGENDARY VOX ALNICO BLUE (CELESTION T530)
CONE LOOKS RIGHT AND CONSTRUCTION IS EXCELLENT, ALTHOUGH THERE APPEARS TO BE MORE "DOPE" AROUND THE EDGE OF THE SURROUND THAN ON A REAL T530.

I WILL ADMIT MY EXPECATTIONS WERE MODEST AS I THINK THE EMINENCE JENSEN BASSMAN CLONES ARE TERRIBLE (IE THEY DON'T SOUND REMOTELY LIKE REAL ONES)

I HAVE BEEN USING VOX ALNICO CELESTIONS FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE MANY EXAMPLES IN MY SELECTION OF GUITAR JUNK. BESIDES BEING THE PERFECT AC30 SPEAKER, THE ALNICO CELESTION MAKES A KILLER UNIT FOR LOW POWERED 12INCH EQUIPPED COMBO AMPS. DUE TO THEIR MONSTER EFFICIENCY 103DB AND LOW WATTAGE (30 WATTS RED FANG // 15-20 WATTS T530) THEY MAKE ANY DELUXE OR PRINCETON A RECORDING & GIGING MONSTER. MY FAVORITE AMP IS A 64 4 KNOB PRINCETON THAT HAD THE BAFFEL CUT FOR A 12 30+ YEARS AGO. ITS WORTH NOTING THAT I HAVE A GOOD SELECTION OF ALL MODELS OF CELESTION 12'S INCLUDING SEVERAL MARSHALL GREENBACK CABINETS.

OK SO HOW DOES IT SOUND ??? WELL I SLAPPED A RED FANG AND A REAL T530 INTO A 2*12 OPEN BACK CAB, AND BROUGHT EACH OUT TO A SEPARATE JACK
I PLUGGED IN MY ES335 AN EXPANDORA AND MY OLD PRINCETON
THE TONE OF THIS SPEAKER IS MONSTEROUS, PROBABLY THE WARMEST THICKEST CELESTION SOUND I HAVE EVER HEARD
THE RED FANG SOUNDS LIKE MY FAVORITE 69 4/12 MARSHALL 100 CABINET
(G12H30 GREENBACKS)

I A-B'ED THE DRIVER WITH THE REAL T530, THE REAL ONE HAD MORE TOP END AND IN COMPARISON WAS BRITTLE (REALLY)
BOTH SPEAKERS SOUND LIKE VOX SPEAKERS BUT THE REDFANG SOUNDS LIKE IT'S IN A CLOSED BACK CABINET

I EXPECTED THE RED FANG TO BE A PALE IMMITAION OF THE VOX, INSTEAD THE RED FANG WAS THICKER BEEFIER AND WAY MORE COMPLEX THAN THE VOX

IN FAIRNESS THE VOX WAS LOUDER (SLIGHTLY), BRIGHTER, AND HAD BETTER NOTE SEPARATION.
THE RED FANG WAS SMOKEY COMPLEX, SWIRLY AND HUGE SOUNDING
DRIVEN HARD THE RED FANG EASILY COPPED BRIAN MAY'S (QUEEN) SOLO TONE (KILLER QUEEN) AND IN FACT NAILED IT BETTER THAN THE T530

SO TO SUM UP IT DOSN'T SOUND EXACTLY LIKE ANY OF THE T530'S I OWN
BUT IT DOES SOUND LIKE MY VERY BEST GREENBACKS ...
I AM NOT EASILY IMPRESSED BUT THESE SUCKERS ARE ALMOST LIKE "HOLLYWOOD" CELESTIONS WHERE THE CLASSIC CELESTION TONE HAS BEEN WORKED OVER BY A TOP PLASTIC SURGEON
A LITTLE EXAGERATED BUT STILL HIGHLY ENTERTAINING

I TOOK THE 2-12 BOX TO VISIT SOME GUITAR BUDDIES AND UNANIMOUSLY THEY ALL FLIPPED OUT WHEN THEY REALIZED THE "GOOD" SPEAKER WAS THE RED FANG, BY COMPARISON A VINTAGE 30 STOCK IN THEIR TEST COMBO SOUNDED THIN AND RASPY ...

BEST BET FOR A 4-12 STYLE PUNCH WITH CLARITY IN A SMALL COMBO AMP
EVEN IN A OPEN BACK IT SOUNDED BIG BIG BIG

WE DIDN'T BLOW IT UP T530'S LAST FOR YEARS IN THE RIGHT AMP
THEY TAKE ALL KINDS OF HEAVY DRIVE JUST RESPECT THE 30 WATT POWER LIMIT

A TRULY GREAT GUITAR SPEAKER IN THE CELESTION CAMP
BETTER THAN THE CELESTION GREEN REISSUE & VINTAGE 30


I WILL BE BUYING MORE AND WILL DO A FULL 2 OR 412 WITH THEM
FOR USE WITH MY MARSHALLS

Speaker with Alnico Magnet 30Watts RMS 8Ohms of impedance

Simply sounds very good. I used it on a DIY class A tube amp that uses two 6l6g (cathode biased) and a preamp circuit that is very similar to a Vox AC15. It sounds very close to the Celestion Alnico Blue. I made an AB test, unfortunately for lacking of time, on two different speaker cabs. Anyway at low volume are very similar. When crancked up Celestion is better, the highs are more pleasent and the overall sound is clearer. I think that this differences do not justify the huge price difference.
The thing that really surprise me is the loudness of this speaker. I had a Jensen P12R and it sonuds very very much more loud. Sensitivity is rated at 103db !!
Very good upgrade for small amp aruond 15-18 watts

I just buoght it.

There is a warranty, it last for one year, i think.
I don't know if it could be usefull for a speaker.
Do you think that in case of breaking i will be able to demonstrate
that it wasn't my fault??

It's 15 years that i play, i own an original 69 stratocaster and a strat 57 reissue made with warmoth parts and voodoo pickups.
If i would loose this speaker i shurely will buy it again.
A very high value respect to the price.