For this discussion, we turn our attention to simple physics. Smaller speakers can produce higher frequencies than larger speakers, which is why a tweeter is small and a woofer is large. So in the real world, a 10-inch speaker will generally produce a better “top end” than a 15-inch speaker. There is also a difference between an open-backed cabinet and a closed-cabinet design. Which is why certain amps, like a 4×10 Bassman with an open back will sound different than a 2×12 Bassman with a closed cabinet.

Many blues players swear by those old open-backed 4×10 Fender amps, as they can produce a range of tones from smooth to searing. If you want to sound like Jimi, you’ll likely want to plug your Strat into a Marshall with a dual 4×12 cabinet design. One well-known guitarist preferred four 4×12 cabinets, which may explain his current hearing problems – yikes, 16 12-inch speakers will definitely play loud, but the overall frequency response, if charted using sensitive labratory gear, will be totally different than that of our 4×10 example. Today manufacturers can custom tweak their amps by combining a certain size cabinet with a certain size set of speakers.