Speaker Drivers
When it comes to electric guitar tone, there’s the big stuff and the small stuff. The former may include our choices of guitar and amplifier, while the latter includes valves, cables, pickups, plectrums and so forth. While every factor in the tone equation is undeniably important, guitarists often sweat the small stuff while failing to consider the big picture.
Given the enormous impact that speakers have on guitar tone, it’s surprising how little consideration they’re given. Studio and hi-fi amps and speakers are designed to be sonically neutral, but if you’ve ever tried playing guitar through a hi-fi, you’ll know how dreadful it sounds.
Guitar speakers are non-linear lo-fi devices and their response is engineered to de-emphasise harsh high frequencies and roll off unnecessary bass. More importantly, though, they’re voiced to enhance and accentuate specific midrange frequencies. Meanwhile, guitar amps are non-linear and designed to distort, which adds even more complexity and character to guitar tones. And since there’s no theoretical ideal to shoot for, this means that all guitar speakers sound different.
How Speakers Work
Readers with sound-engineering experience might be aware that
