Hi Lloyd, to answer your question, I have heard the older version GH with the extra layer of ebony. Unfortunately, at the time, the ancillary gear wasn't up to the standard of the GH's and so in this instance they didn't sound that great. As we all know, in this hobby the sound will only be as good as the weakest link in the chain, and on that day, coming to a conclusion regarding the speakers was not possible.
OTOH, I would be VERY VERY surprised IF the older model could beat the sound I am getting from my newer model GH.
BTW, as I have posted on several other occasions, I much prefer the original GH's to the newer Memento's and even in most ways to the new Evolution's.
One of the more interesting observations on the web about the GH's, is that Franco himself probably never knew initially how great the GH's could sound, since he apparently listened and designed them utilizing the Sf Musica integrated amp