Combining a hemp cone specifically chosen for its tonal character and a medium-weight ceramic magnet, the G12M-50 Hempback represents an exciting new development in Celestion’s never-ending pursuit of outstanding tone. Distinctive and well-defined, the Hempback delivers a balanced low end, plenty of mid-band character together with smooth, silky highs.
Targeted for use in American voiced amps, for example in combos such as a Deluxe Reverb® or Blues Jr.®, to deliver true American-flavoured tone and cleans that are second to none. Load up a Hempback for a sweet and smoky sound that’s musical and responsive, and let your hemp tone shine through.
Tube-Town's Quick-Test (as of Feb 2023):
Speakers with hemp cone have been around for years, but somehow they never really caught on. To our European ears they usually sound a bit muffled, sometimes even dull and also a bit lifeless, which is why the expectations for the Celestion Hempback were not particularly high, but the surprise was then all the greater.
The Hempack was tested in an open 112 REX powered by a TT JC18. The guitar used was a Tele with hot pickups. In this configuration, the speaker delivered wide and balanced sound right out of the box, no overemphasis or annoying frequencies.
The bass was clear, the Tele's low strings came through strong yet defined, the mids were round but not overbearing, and the highs were convincing with a pleasant yet restrained presence. And even at gain setting 10 there was no cause for complaint (as long as you didn't turn the treble control on the amp too far to the right). The sound was round and without sawing highs, but still had its own character and enough bite to assert itself in a band context.
Conclusion: In the environment specified by Celestion (open cabinet or combo), the Hempback can convince with a balanced sound image, and that with both clean and heavier sounds. It is fun to play it. The 50 watts of the speaker are perfectly sufficient for a variety of amplifiers and a sensitivity of 99 dB is not exactly little either, and the weight of 3.5 kg makes itself felt positively especially with combos, especially if you have to move them often.
So all in all: thumbs up.
General Specifications
- Nominal diameter: 305mm / 12in
- Power rating: 50W
- Rated impedance: 8Ω or 16Ω
- Sensitivity: 99dB
- Chassis type: Pressed steel
- Magnet type: Ceramic
- Magnet weight: 0.9kg / 35oz
- Voice coil diameter: 1.75in / 44mm
- Voice coil material: Round copper
- Frequency range: 75-5000Hz
- Resonance frequency, Fs: 75Hz
- DC resistance, Re: 6.17Ω & 12.95Ω
Mounting Information
- Cut-out diameter: 283mm / 11.1in
- Diameter: 309mm / 12.2in
- Magnet structure diameter: 150mm / 5.9in
- Mounting hole dimensions: 7.9mm / 0.31in Ø
- Mounting hole PCD: 297mm / 11.7in
- Number of mounting holes: 8
- Chassis depth (inc gasket): 91mm / 3.58in
- Magnet depth: 39mm / 1.52in
- Overall depth: 130mm / 5.1in
- Unit weight: 3.6kg / 7.9lb