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Tone
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== Cab/Speakers ==
=== Speakers ===
The main influencing factor on the tone of your speaker cabinet is the speaker(s) it has. While there are many brands and models of speakers, the biggest name in speakers for guitar cabinets is ''Celestion''. Here's some of their most popular brands and the defining characteristics:
* T-75's - This is the popular choice for Marshall 1960 cabinets, with a sharp, bright high-end for a very raucous, slightly nasal sound.
* Vintage 30's - A popular choice for a modern voicing (despite the name), they have a strong upper-midrange response, great for cutting through the mix. Used in the popular Mesa/Boogie Rectifier (oversized) cabinets.
* Creambacks - Great for a warm, vintage tone, rich in midrange.
* Greenbacks - Similar to the T-75's with a nasal snarl, but a stronger midrange and low end response.
Celestion lists frequency response graphs for their speakers on their website, but you need to hear them to truly appreciate the differences. I recommend listening to them in the same cabinet, as the cabinet will affect the tone.
Most high-end cabinets come stocked with Celestions; there are many other brands, but a lot of them are simply trying to replicate Celestion tone. Others tend to a be a bit stiff or bright. That's not to say they aren't worth researching or will be "worse"; I'm just not familiar with them.
Also, keep in mind that brand new speakers have to be "broken" in to lose their stiffness before they truly represent their ideal sound - some brands will break them in before selling them while others ship them as soon as they're finished being manufactured.
=== Speaker Wattage ===
Speakers are typically rated in wattage, beyond which they will start to exhibit distortion. Some may find it appealing, but I find it difficult to control and too rough sounding. That said, it's rather difficult to achieve. A 4x12 cabinet with 30 watt speakers will require 120 watts of power to distort, while most amp heads provide only 100 watts. Furthermore, even if an amp is run full open, it is not necessarily outputting a full 100 watts.
=== Cabinet Back ===
Another huge impact on tone is the construction of the back of the cabinet. The back of the cabinet is important because as the front of the speaker pushes air outward, the back of it is pulling air in the opposite direction. Without a cabinet at all, the back
Typically, there's either open back, half-back, 3/4 back, or closed back.
== Gain Staging ==