Celestion Blues

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:14 am

I am considering the purchase of new Celestion Blue speakers. My questions are as follows -

1. Does Celestion presently make the Celestion Blues or are they outsourced as they were for a time?

2. What is the quality control of the current Celestion Blue manufacturing process and does it equal that of the early days? Where are they presently made?

3. Ted Weber builds a fine speaker and has a British line modeled after the Celestion Blue. The reviews say wonderful things about his speakers quality and tonality. Has anyone tried the Alnico Blue, 15 Watt 8 Ohm speaker of Weber?

4. Does the current Celestion Blue reign King as far as this type of speak goes and if so, how do you know what speaker you are buying - new, NOS, or outsourced? The current prices range from $275 to 315 or so US.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 11:51 am

The Celestion Blue was made in England, but I have heard rumors that it is now being made in China. To find out for sure, email Ted Weber, or post a question on his speakers board. If they are made in China like the rest of Celestion's speaker line, they are in a factory owned and operated by Celestion, so they aren't outsourced per se.

The reissue Blues aren't quite the same as the vintage ones, but are VERY good and are as close as you will get unless you get an original. Most reports say that have a little more focused mids than the older ones. I have a pair in my AC30, but have never played originals. Most, if not all of the Celestion Blues (originals included)will ghost note/cone cry when pushed hard.

I've never played Ted's Blue copy, but have heard great things about it. Best thing it has going for it is that it gets a reported 80%-90% of the authentic Blue sound for a much lower price. Let me put it this way regarding my recommendation here. If my Blues went out in my AC30, I'd get them reconed or buy a new pair. If I was building my own project amp and wanted to use some, I'd get the Webers.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 12:47 pm

There are many unanswered questions about these pickups Greg. The title of this thread may turn out to be prophetic. I am inclined to go with Webers unless I can get some assurance that the new blues are the genuine article. I have no reason to dismiss out of hand Celestion spealers made outside of the UK, but I know nothing about the China made speakers. I would not feel good about $300 each for these speakers unless I know more about them.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 2:49 pm

There was a recent thread on the Weber speaker board concerning the Celestions UK vs the Celestions China, and one guy on there said they sound the same. They also tell you how to tell if one is made in China vs made in the UK. I think they are overpriced, especially since they got much cheaper production costs in China, the cost of the speakers should have gone down, but they didn't. Every Weber speaker I've ever heard has sounded fabulous, so you can't go wrong with them.

What amp are you intending to use them with? It makes a difference.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 3:38 pm

Looking at the Celestion site it looks as if the Celestion Blues may still be made in Ipswich, England. There are recent photos from the factory which look like they may be in England but they make no direct mention of the Blues being made there as far as I was able to tell.

bails · Post by **bails** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:09 pm

The above label does not actually state or even imply any country of manufacture, only the business address of Celestion International. This, however, is interesting in it's own right, as they used to print "Celestion Limited" on their speakers when they were all British made. I would think it both legal, and reputionally advantageous to use this label on Chinese made speakers, even though it can be misleading.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:16 am

I am with you on this Mark.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:12 pm

On the Weber speaker bbs thread, it said that if made in the UK, then it is stamped into the speaker frame, and if made in China, it isn't. I'll have to look at my Blues and see if they have it, since they're from '93.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:51 pm

Greg: I have heard from a number of Celestion "representatives" that the Blues are made in England. I don't know if to believe this or not. I have a number of Celestion speakers from early to mid 1990s that don't have any reference to England except on the magnet speakers. I will try to speak with the UK factory on this.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:30 pm

If you can get a straight story fromt eh factory, that would be great Peter! Everything I read about them in that post on the weber bbs was just what other people were saying. No facts for sure...

When you talk to them, see if you can find out if it is possible to get recone kits, and if so, where and how much, etc. The Blues in my AC30 have cone cry and might need a recone. Thats what I get for hitting them with a lot of power...
I'd prefer to recone them with genuine Celestion kits if possible.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:02 am

Greg: I spoke with the factory this morning and plan to do more research on these speakers. The bottom line is that the factory maintains that the Celestion Blues are made and have been made in the UK. While other types of Celestion speakers have been made in China, apparently this is not the case for Celestion Blues.

The reconing kits for the Celestion Blues are also made in England.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:59 pm

Additional discussions with the factory has revealed that there are indeed plans to manufacture the Celestion Blues in China.

There was no mention about a timeframe, but if you want a Celestion Blue from England there is probably no time like the present.

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:30 pm

Interesting. Is this to say the Bulldogs are of Chinese heritage?

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:39 pm

Peter, thanks for the info about the recone kits. Can I order them direct from the factory or do I have to find a dealer to get them for me?

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:46 pm

Greg: My understanding is that you find a dealer.

Stan: Not yet but eventually they will be.