Bass guitarists employ various speaker sizes and configurations in order to achieve the sound they seek. Some prefer an 8×10 cabinet for their “bass stack,” while others opt for smaller cabinets housing one or more ten-inch speakers.
Musical instrument speakers (also called drivers) consist of a cone, voice coil and magnet. Altering their impedance may result in undesirable consequences and damage to an amplifier.
Size
Size can have an enormous effect on a bass guitar‘s tone. While some players believe larger speakers provide more bass, smaller drivers may provide tighter sound. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preferences and how each playing style requires different sounds.
12″ bass speakers are the most widely used, often found in amplifiers and offering a balanced balance of low, mid, and high frequencies. If a bassist desires an even stronger bass response then 15″ or 18″ speakers may be preferable.
Larger speakers typically cover more surface area and displace more air, enabling them to produce lower frequencies more easily than smaller models; however, amplifier design and cabinet construction offer solutions for working with smaller sizes as well. Furthermore, smaller speakers tend to be lighter and easier to transport – making them better at producing higher frequencies.
Not to be underestimated is a speaker’s sensitivity and voice coil which can affect its frequency response; however, these factors should be seen as less influential compared to overall quality of a speaker.
As with other aspects of bass speakers, their number and size can have a dramatic effect on tone. For instance, four 10″ speakers can displace more air than a 15″ driver while still producing the full range of frequencies; hence why many bass cabinets contain multiple speakers of various sizes; this can be especially helpful for bassists playing various genres who must tailor their tone according to each setting; for instance a small practice combo amp may feature just two 12″ speakers while more powerful stage cabinets might contain four 10″ speakers.
Design
Bass guitar amplifiers differ from regular amplifiers in that their speakers must move a great deal of air. If the speaker was not designed specifically for bass amplification, too much air might pass through it and cause issues; overexpansion could damage voice coils and cones if too much air passes through too quickly. To prevent damage to voice coils and cones, higher efficiency bass speakers are more adept at moving more air without overexpanding as quickly; they’re more capable of sustain longer without oversaturating and overexpanes without overexpanding voice coils or cones!
Musical instrument speakers differ significantly from hi-fi models in that they typically feature ridges lining the circumference of their cone, helping extend its useful frequency range. When low frequencies are played, however, only the whole cone vibrates while at higher frequencies no vibration occurs until a voice coil enters within magnetic field of first ridge – giving this first ridge more surface area for producing low frequencies while decreasing it when producing higher ones.
Bass amplifiers tend to use larger speakers than other musical instrument amplifiers due to the unique design. Furthermore, more speakers tend to be installed in bass amps than any other type of amp – as do collections of 4-6″ speakers instead of one 15- or 16-inch speaker as four 10″ speakers are more adept at displace air than one 15-incher.
In the past, 18″ speakers were often found inside bass cabinets. They were widely believed to produce enough bass power to communicate with elephants and whales! Nowadays, however, many equipment manufacturers prefer multiple ten-inch speakers in each cabinet as these have proven more agile and responsive in attack, making them suitable for bassists using techniques such as slapping or tapping.
Materials
Speakers come in an assortment of materials, and choosing one depends on the sound you prefer. Particle board does not add much to an amp’s tone, while solid wood cabs tend to resonant more. Each species and density affects how their material resonates differently, creating unique tones between cabs.
The natural resonance frequency of a cone (a paper-like diaphragm similar to drum skin) plays a large part in how bass guitar speakers sound. A lower resonance frequency yields a fuller and rounder sound while higher resonance frequencies produce mechanically generated harmonic overtones that can become harsh when the speaker is pushed hard. To control response of speakers manufacturers sometimes coat it with doping which limits excursion but reduces distortion but may produce less dynamic sounds.
Other components of a bass guitar speaker include its voice coil and magnets. A voice coil is an electromagnet that interacts with a plain magnet to push and pull on the cone, creating vibrations and sound waves. Cone materials may include plastic.
Speakers used in bass amplifiers must be rugged to withstand the intense vibration caused by bass guitar strings. Their voice coil must also be capable of withstanding high current levels without overheating, which could damage it over time. These speakers may also benefit from being protected with grilles to keep out dust and foreign debris; special Neutrik Speakon jacks may accept only specific locking speaker cables while other cabinets use regular instrument cable compatible jacks such as 1/4″.
Power
Bassists playing larger venues often utilize multiple speaker cabinets. Subwoofer cabinets may also be employed to deliver additional deep bass frequencies, and some models feature tweeters to deliver crisp and clear sound quality. Some speakers may provide all of the frequencies a bassist needs from one cabinet while others specialize in specific frequencies.
Power is key when selecting a bass speaker as it determines its volume output. Bassists looking to perform in large venues should look for speakers with at least 100 watts of program power; additionally, its sensitivity determines how much amp power will be necessary to drive it at full output.
Musical instrument speakers often incorporate ridges in their cone to allow more precise control of voice coil movement. These ridges prevent too much of its movement straying outside the magnetic field and thus compromising frequency response and distortion characteristics of the speaker.
Another crucial consideration in bass speaker power is how well it can withstand vibration. Too much vibration can cause components in an amplifier to loosen or rattle, decreasing performance. Therefore, when playing bass it is wise to play at lower volumes while protecting it with a protective cover.
Connecting a bass cabinet to an amp requires using speaker cables – these thicker than regular guitar cables and should feature at least 18 or 16 gauge rating. Furthermore, it is wise to regularly inspect any connections between bass head and speaker cabinet for loose or worn components that could compromise the quality of sound that your rig produces.
Adjustable Crossover Point
Bass guitar speakers often include an adjustable crossover point that allows users to ensure that only low frequencies reach your speaker, while high-frequency signals are either filtered out or sent directly to a separate subwoofer – giving you complete control of how your amplifier sounds based on your preferred playing style.
This technique can be especially helpful for players who use techniques like slapping and tapping as part of their bass playing, or anyone wanting their bass sound to stand out amongst the rest of the band. Furthermore, it helps prevent lower end sounds from sounding too muddy or overwhelming.
A crossover system typically consists of two audio pass filters with predetermined cutoff frequency and slope; their combination will establish the crossover point, which can then be altered by changing their respective settings – these details are found within your speakers’ technical specs or user manual.
Lower crossover settings produce a wider frequency range from your bass speaker, while higher settings filter out frequencies below a certain point, leaving only higher frequencies being outputted by your speaker.
Ideal bass cabinet crossovers should use a fourth order (-12dB/octave) crossover. This provides optimal technical accuracy while also minimizing harmonic distortion; however, careful tuning may be required in order to achieve desired results. Generally, third order (-18dB/octave) crossovers offer easier installation but still produce some distortion at lower power levels.