It’s a common question for guitarists using amp modelers: will changing your speaker cabinet significantly alter your sound? The answer is a resounding yes. The real question is whether that change aligns with your desired sonic direction.
The concept of “improvement” in guitar tone is subjective. When you switch to a linear, or Full Range Flat Response (FRFR) cabinet, your amp profiles are reproduced more faithfully. They will sound closer to how the profile creators intended them to be heard through studio monitors. You might initially find this different, perhaps even dislike it, but an FRFR system provides an accurate baseline. This accuracy allows for more informed and precise tone adjustments. You gain a clearer understanding of your sound’s true characteristics.
Think about listening to your guitar tone through a PA system at a venue. A quality FRFR cabinet aims to replicate that experience, offering a similar sonic profile to what the audience hears.
It’s important to clarify that a truly “flat response” cone, particularly in the context of guitar cabinets, is somewhat of a misnomer. The more accurate term might be Extended Range, Flat Response (ERFR). Achieving a genuinely flat frequency response across a wide spectrum (e.g., 70Hz to 17kHz) requires a combination of components. This includes a woofer for low frequencies, a tweeter for high frequencies, and a crossover to blend them seamlessly. Effective cabinet design and skilled implementation are also crucial. The variation in sound among different “FRFR” cabinets highlights this complexity.
For those intending to use the power amplifier section of a Kemper or similar modeling amp with a traditional Guitar Speaker Cabinet, compatibility is key. The cabinet must be passive, or it must allow for disabling its internal amplifier to avoid conflicts and potential damage.
For a high-quality passive option, consider a passive CLR cabinet. It’s often cited as one of the best performing cabinets in its price range for modelers.
Regarding low-frequency response, concerns about missing low end are often raised. However, the size of the speaker cone is less critical than the overall cabinet design in determining bass response. Well-designed 12″ FRFR cabinets, like the CLR, can deliver ample low-end frequencies.
Ultimately, exploring FRFR guitar speaker cabinets can open up a world of tonal accuracy and versatility for your amp modeler.
