GUITARSPEAKERTONECENTER
Shattering Speaker Pairing Misconceptions
Mixing guitar speakers is one of the most Another misconception is that a lower power
frequent topics I receive inquiries about. This speaker will break up too soon or a higher
tonal experiment gets a lot of hype, and for power speaker will break up too late. This is
good reason. It’s a lot of fun to experiment not always the case, and the power rating has
with various speakers, and I highly recommend nothing to do with it. Consider what contrast
it. If you choose wisely, you might unlock a full, different break up characteristics might add
detailed, complex tone that you never knew to the mix. Maybe you desire some speaker
existed. Experimenting is definitely the best break up, but you don’t want to lose all con-
way to find what works for your situation, but trol and have your tone turn to mush when
it’s not cost effective for most people to buy you really push the amp. You might want
a multitude of speakers just to find it. In most to mix one speaker with early break up and
cases, we’ve got to get it right on the first try. one with later break up. The density of the
cone and the relationship between the voice
coil winding height and the top plate thick-
ness (between the magnet and the speaker’s
frame) determines the speaker’s break up.
Eminence expresses the break up mode as
fast, medium and late for the Patriot and
Redcoat series in the “Guitar Tone Guide” at
eminence.com. Other manufacturers use simi-
lar methods or describe the break up in their
tonal descriptions of the speaker.
From a technical standpoint, choose models
that have SPL (or sensitivity/efficiency) ratings
within 2dB of one another. This ensures that
one speaker will not be significantly louder
than the other. Unfortunately this is the only
technical advice I can provide, as the rest of
the decision process is purely subjective, but
I’ll offer some suggestions that might make
selecting speakers a little easier.
Once you’ve determined the speakers you’re
considering will not be overpowered, forget
about the power rating. Do not use it for any
other consideration. If I get one point across, I
want to stop people from selecting their guitar
speakers primarily based on the power rating.
From Eminence’s perspective, it doesn’t mean
much, because it’s only intended as a thermal
power limit. A common misconception is that
you shouldn’t pair a higher wattage speaker
with a lower wattage speaker – we often
encourage it because of the contrast produced
in low and top-end response. As you compare
speakers, be sure to take notice of the voice
coil diameter. A higher wattage speaker typically has a larger voice coil diameter, which
provides a more defined low-end and less top-end extension. The converse is typically true
of lower power, smaller voice coil models. You
can achieve a full spectrum of tone, from top
to bottom, by using this principle.
You could also compare manufacturers’ frequency response curves, which represent the
output of the speaker at each frequency (SPL
in dB versus frequency in Hz). If you print the
curves and lay them on top of one another
you can easily compare them. Make sure you
line up their corresponding dB levels, as the
graphs may be scaled differently. Comparing
the curves gives you a basic idea of how they
might compliment each other within specific
frequency ranges. Keep in mind, this is a 1-watt
measurement and represents the fundamental
note with no harmonic content. And as we
know, guitar speakers are typically abundant in
harmonic content.
I’m often asked about mixing speakers
from two different product lines (Legends,
Patriots and Redcoats where Eminence is
concerned) or from two different manufacturers (maybe a Celestion and an Eminence).
It’s never out of the question if that’s where
the path to the Holy Grail leads you; just
remember that the same guidelines apply. It
may be difficult to compare multiple manufacturers’ SPL ratings because there is not
an industry standard method for representing the SPL. This occurs since manufacturers
calculate it using different methods. The SPL
rating is a useful spec in the sense that you
can accurately compare one manufacturer’s
products from speaker to speaker.
One of the easiest ways to find a good mix
is to start with a speaker that you really like.
Then, decide what characteristics you could
add that would improve the overall sound
or create more interest. Finally, narrow your
search to the speakers that exhibit these specific traits. I prefer combining a speaker with a
defined low-end with a speaker that emphasizes the top-end. I’ve even found that speakers
I thought were once too harsh or ice-picky on
the top-end sounded really good in a mix. The
other speaker seems to tame that harshness
and makes it a welcomed detail.
I can assure you it is difficult enough to recommend just one speaker to someone due to the
subjectivity of guitar tone. What sounds good
to me might not do it for you and vice versa.
We all have different preferences and different
ears. I receive positive feedback all the time
on speaker pairings that I would have never
thought about trying. The possibilities are nearly endless and you have the potential to dial in
a truly unique tone. I encourage you to open
your mind and ears to speaker mixing, do your
homework and have fun experimenting. I know
you’ll be surprised!
Anthony “Big Tony” Lucas
is a guitarist and Senior Lab Technician at Eminence
Speaker LLC, where he specializes in guitar-speaker
design and customer support. Big Tony has been with
Eminence for over 10 years and is responsible for many
well-known guitar speaker designs.
