Vintage tone and rock attitude: Ali Handal’s formula with Celestion

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Ali Handal, the latest artist to join Celestion's Partners in Tone programme, explains how she recorded her new album, Slow Burn, and why a single Celestion G12M-65 Creamback speaker housed in a lightweight 1x12 cabinet has become the centrepiece of her live rig.

Ali Handal left behind a path towards a PhD in Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), to pursue a career in rock and roll. Since then, she has built her career on her own terms, with a playing style defined by her unwavering commitment to authentic, uncompromising tone.

Her journey to the stage began when she was a straight-A psychology student. "Ultimately, I was unhappy and realised I needed a change", she recalls. After putting the guitar aside for a while because of her own perfectionism, she began to notice a pattern in her life. "At the time, every guy I dated was a guitar player. Eventually, I realised I didn't want to date these guys: I wanted to be these guys. So I picked up the guitar again, committed to making it happen, and never looked back".

Slow Burn

Her sound is heavily influenced by the guitar tones of the 1970s, an influence that can be heard throughout Slow Burn, her album released in October 2026. The record was made at Mark Mothersbaugh's studio, co-produced with Grammy-winning sound engineer Seth Atkins Horan and mixed by five-time Grammy winner Ross Hogarth.

We experimented with different sounds and effects to create some really interesting textures. For example, we ran my guitar through an old Russian unit that combined distortion and tape delay, giving us a raw, gritty sound full of character. On another song, we removed the tube from a talk box and placed a microphone directly in front of its output to capture a very distinctive sound. And because we were recording at Mark Mothersbaugh's studio, we were able to use his impressive collection of vintage amplifiers fitted with Celestion speakers, including a 1957 Fender Tremolux loaded with a Celestion Vintage 30, Ali explains.

From Greenback to Creamback

Ali's first proper amplifier was fitted with Celestion Greenback speakers. "The sound of that amp was incredibly warm, with a smooth, rich overdrive. A beautiful, warm distorted tone that I absolutely loved", she recalls. "That was the first time I became aware of which speakers were in my cabinet and the huge impact they have on the sound. Since then, every amplifier I've used has featured Celestion speakers. To me, they represent the highest quality for professional rock guitarists".

Today, Ali frequently performs in clubs and theatres, so she needs a rig that is easy to transport without compromising sound quality. "All my research pointed directly to the Celestion G12M-65 Creamback", she explains. Installed in a lightweight 1x12 cabinet, it proved to be the perfect solution. "It sounds phenomenal and is easy to transport".

After years of international touring, Handal knows what it takes to achieve great guitar tone.

Tone ultimately comes from your hands and your body. That said, you have to bring your own personality to your gear and learn how to use it. Even with a simple setup, you can achieve a wide variety of sounds. My advice is to get to know your gear and find a speaker — like a Celestion — that faithfully reproduces and enhances your personal tone, she says.