But did you know guitar speakers actually account for a third of your sound?<\/p>\n
Yep. A third!<\/em><\/p>\n Yet, in the realm of the guitar world that we love so much, the significance of speakers often goes unnoticed. So today I\u2019m delving into the world of guitar speakers to show you just how important your guitar speakers are, difference between 1×12 and 2×12 cabs, why we choose the speakers we do here at Laney and the unmatched benefits of the Laney LFR speakers<\/strong><\/a> when it comes to putting together a digital guitar rig.<\/p>\n As Simon Fraser-Clark, tone wizard at Laney Amplification calls it, the speaker\u2019s contribution to your sound is part of a \u201ctone triangle\u201d. This tone triangle is made up of three key ingredients that reside in your amplifier:<\/p>\n Preamp>>Power Amp>> Speakers<\/strong><\/p>\n The way these elements interact with each other whether you\u2019re using an amplifier head with cabinet or combo amplifier creates the unique sound of the amplifier. Take one away and it changes everything. For better or worse\u2026 depending on your ears. That’s how important your guitar amp speakers are – they’re 33.33% of your tone!<\/strong><\/p>\n The preamp shapes your tone, the power amp amplifies it to a level to drive the speakers and the speakers are where the electrical signal gets converted to sound waves that we can hear. And as different speakers have different tonal characteristics, you get a unique sound depending on what elements you use.<\/p>\n This is why the team at Laney put so much effort into choosing the right speaker (and preamp and power amp) in your guitar amp or cabinet. It\u2019s all extremely important.<\/p>\n The main difference between 10\u201d guitar cabinet speakers and 12\u201d speakers (aside from the size) is that 10-inch speakers provide a tighter, more focused sound with a punchier midrange and 12\u201d speakers give you more low-end bass and wider midrange frequencies, as well as a \u201cfuller\u201d sound.<\/p>\n When it comes to the main difference between 1×12 vs 2×12 cabinets, or which is better – it’s all down to sound dispersion. On a 2×12 speaker cabinet, you\u2019re getting more speaker area, so the more sound dispersion you get, and the more \u201cfull-bodied\u201d your sound is. The more closed the amplifier cabinet is with a 10\u201d speaker, the tighter the sound. With a 2×12 you get more presence and impact, but with a 1×12 you get a tighter, more precise sound.<\/p>\n Because a 1×12 guitar cabinet offers a more focused sound, you\u2019ll probably want it for smaller venues or studio recordings. On the other hand, the 2×12 cabinet, with its larger speaker area, will give you more presence onstage and more impact overall, pushing the air around you a LOT more.<\/p>\n As Simon highlights, the type of stage also plays a role in which cabinet is better.<\/p>\n \u201cA hollow stage brings out more bottom end, while a solid stage makes a 2×12 cabinet more suitable due to its inherent bass richness.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Many renowned guitarists have their preferred cabinet choices. For instance, rock guitarists might lean towards 2×12 or 4×12 cabinets for their fuller sound and thicker bass response, especially in live concerts.<\/p>\n On the other hand, jazz or blues guitarists might prefer the clarity and focus of a 1×12 cabinet, especially in intimate settings or studio recordings.<\/p>\n The choice of cabinet can also vary based on the genre of music. Heavy metal or rock genres might favour the depth and presence of 2×12 and 4×12 cabinets, while genres that require a cleaner sound might lean towards 1×12. But as we always say \u2013 there are no rules!<\/p>\n If you’re running a digital guitar rig, the same applies. We’ve actually put together a comparison of the Laney LFR-112 vs LFR-212<\/strong><\/a> so you can see which size FRFR cab<\/strong><\/a> is best for you.<\/p>\n Either 10\u201d or 12\u201d speakers are \u201cbest\u201d for guitar amps as you can retain the most important elements of your frequencies, albeit you\u2019ll gain more tightness with 10\u201d but more low end with 12\u201d. This is why we use these sizes at Laney \u2013 they give you the full spectrum that guitarists need in a guitar amp!<\/p>\n 10-inch speakers, found in the likes of our Laney CUB series amps<\/strong><\/a> deliver a tighter and more focused sound which is ideal in a smaller-style amplifier. The tighter mid-range and focus make these amplifiers and their speakers perfect for styles that require precision and clarity, such as jazz or country. Or if you\u2019re playing smaller gigs and you need less sound dispersion or just need a good tube amp for home use!<\/p>\n Above: The Laney CUB-SUPER10<\/strong><\/a> is a boutique style ALL-TUBE amp with 10″ custom speaker.<\/p>\n When it comes to guitar amps, 12-inch speakers are the most common size you’ll find. The main benefits of a 12\u201d speaker are that they provide the most balanced sound with good low-end and midrange frequencies, making them suitable for a wide range of music genres from blues to rock to metal \u2013 they\u2019re your go-to size of speakers. What’s great about 12-inch guitar cab speakers is their versatility – they can handle both clean and distorted sounds easily and will be able to handle the sound and pressure of a cranked tube amp or solid-state amplifier at high volumes with ease.<\/p>\n Above: The Laney GS212IE 2\u00d712 Cabinet<\/strong><\/a> features 2 HH 12\u201d drivers specifically designed by HH for Laney.<\/p>\n Here at Laney, we take the tone triangle extremely seriously. We have fun, but it\u2019s a serious job getting the RIGHT sound!<\/p>\n Fortunately, we have an entire lab dedicated to speakers!<\/p>\n \u201cEach element of the tone triangle has inherent tonal qualities,\u201d<\/em> says Simon. \u201cWhen we\u2019re creating a new amp, or testing out different combinations, we can try a Celestion Vintage 30, or any number of speakers and test it within each amp combination. We have a sound wall, with every speaker you can imagine set up, so we can run your amplifier through each speaker and say we like \u201cthis\u201d, but we wish it had more of “that\u201d. To ensure the sound adheres to this equilateral tone triangle, we design every speaker to accentuate the exact frequencies within that setup – it’s about having the absolute best speaker for the tonal characteristics of the amplifier. Even down to the bead of glue placement \u2013 everything makes a difference.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s that attention to detail that makes Laney one of the world’s best guitar amp brands<\/strong><\/a> – we bring these intricacies and features to the design of every amplifier and guitar and bass cabinet<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n We build the amps around the speakers. And if we can\u2019t find one we like, we design our own custom-voiced drivers. That\u2019s how dedicated we are to the perfect tone and that’s how important your guitar amp speakers are to us.<\/p>\n \u201cWe bring the best speaker possible for the amp design and work closely with the speaker designs to ensure our amplifiers are getting the best sound possible. Whether we\u2019re using a Celestion 30 or we\u2019re designing our own custom drivers, the speaker you get is the best possible speaker for the sound of that amplifier.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Whether you choose the Laney Supergroup LA412 with 4 x 12\u201d Celestion G12H loaded speakers<\/strong><\/a>, Laney LA212 with 2 x Celestion Greenback G12M-25 speakers<\/strong><\/a> for that 60\u2019s and early 70\u2019s sound made famous by Black Sabbath or the Celestion 30 speakers in the Laney Lionheart L20T-212<\/strong><\/a> you\u2019re getting the absolute best sound humanly possible from your cabinet.<\/p>\n Our custom-designed speakers such as the Laney GS Series guitar cabinets<\/strong><\/a> which include a range of HH drivers have also been produced to provide players of all levels with a lovely warm low-end, a creamy rich vocal mid-range and a sparkling, beautifully detailed top-end suitable for any guitarist who values quality tone.<\/p>\n For the metal heads, we\u2019ve created a range of Laney IRONHEART cabinets<\/strong><\/a>, suitable for the IRF-LEADTOP<\/strong><\/a> and IRF-DUALTOP<\/strong> <\/a>amplifiers, including the GS212FE cabinet<\/a><\/strong> which is loaded with a pair of custom-designed HH 1260 drivers delivering 60 Watts RMS @ 8 Ohms.<\/p>\nThe Tone Triangle – How does a speaker contribute to guitar amp tone?<\/h3>\n
Difference between 10-inch vs 12-inch guitar speakers<\/h3>\n
1×12\u201d cabs vs 2×12\u201d cabinets \u2013 which is better?<\/h4>\n
\u00a02×12 or 1×12 guitar cabinet? What size guitar cabinet should I get?<\/h3>\n
What size speaker is best for guitar cabinets?<\/h4>\n
The benefits of 10 Inch Guitar amp Speakers<\/h4>\n
![\"laney](\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/laney-cub-super-10-10-inch-tube-amp-guitar-speaker.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBenefits of 12 Inch Guitar amp Speakers<\/h4>\n
![\"Laney](\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Laney-GS212IE-2x12-Cabinet.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nLaney designs amps based on speakers<\/h3>\n
So how does Laney choose speakers for their amplifiers and cabinets?<\/h3>\n