beam blocker ?

titus · May 4th, 2006, 03:53 PM

Hi all,
I have a silly question.....

I have a bright sounding '76 Deluxe Reverb
and before I started messing with speaker changes
and spending lots of money trying to find "it", I
thought I'd try wiggling the knobs one week and see
how I feel. The next week I tried something I read here. I duct taped an X on the grill in
front of the speaker (to simulate a beam blocker).

Of course the guys give me a hard time for being a
gear geek, but as the evening goes on I'm resetting
the tone knobs....I'm surprised.....it works!
It's not as drastic as a new speaker, but hey, it's
noticable. It gets me what I need....tames the high end.

My question:
Is there any good reason I can't make a beam blocker
out of well secured, light weight material and avoid
spending 20 bucks? Does the Weber Beam Blocker have some special properties that I can't achieve?

I know......silly question, but still....

-Titus

Wally · May 4th, 2006, 05:01 PM

There's no reason at all that you can't make a blocker for your amp. Let us know how you go about it and what the results are, okay?

chickenpicker · May 4th, 2006, 06:23 PM

Not a silly question at all. My amp has a very directional high frquency sound - very trebly on-axis. I've never seen this beam blocker before, but having googled it, I'm about to make one (I'll use styrofoam or similar). As the original's a paper dome, you could make one using papier mache and a balloon!

ruger9 · May 4th, 2006, 09:13 PM

I gotta' say, everytime a Beam Blocker is mentioned, everybody goes on "making their own", like they are SOOOO expensive or something. The damn things are cheap, work great, look great. It's crazy what someone will pay for a pickup or a preamp tube, but $15-$23 for a Beam Blocker is too expensive or something?? I don't get it.

titus · May 4th, 2006, 09:46 PM

Quote:

$15-$23 for a Beam Blocker is too expensive or something??

Nah, fair price for it.....
I just try to keep a tight budget.

I like to save money on things I can make from junk around the house.
Looks like the beam blocker will work for me, so now I don't have to replace a perfectly good, yet beam-y, speaker.
More money saved.....

-Titus

Wally · May 5th, 2006, 01:13 PM

Titus, your plan on building a blocker got me to thinking....yeah, that's dangerous.. :)
Anyway, I envision a picture of a nicely-shaped and bikini-clad derriere..yes, a woman...mounted to an appropriate sized piece of cardboard and suspended by some slightly elastic band in front of the speaker's center and maybe a 1/4" in front of the grille. Move enough air and the bikini dances....you can save money and entertain yourself.

PhatTele · May 5th, 2006, 02:12 PM

The Weber beam blocker is a half dome of foam covered by some smooth black material. When you mount it, the dome's top is pointed toward the center of the speaker. You can also choose what size dome you want (diameter and depth).

I'm not sure how differently Weber's dome version of the Beam Blocker effects the sound waves when compared to a simple piece of wood in the shape of a disk or some tape in front of the speaker's center. I've seen both of those used and people seemed happy with the results. I have a Weber version in front of a 15" California and it sounds great. The VVT "Lindy Fralin" amps has a Weber beam blocker in front of its 15" as well.

niterail · May 5th, 2006, 02:22 PM

call me crazy.......

but i installed a weber beam blocker into a brighter deluxe reverb.........

and it made it brighter still!!!

don't know why!!!

Mike Fleming · May 5th, 2006, 05:41 PM

The beam blocker actually has a paper speaker dustcap mounted onto the metal bar -- I don't think it's solid foam under there, but I haven't looked at one in a while. I've got a couple around somewhere so I'll look, maybe I'm wrong.

The thing about brightness is they don't necessarily make a speaker less bright, but they block the most on-axis sound waves which are the brightest; so a beam blocker would make a speaker sound less bright if you were listening somewhere straight in front of the speaker.

Off to the side though you may be hearing more highs than before because the beam blocker may be reflecting some of those on-axis high frequencies in other directions.

Mike

3StringGuitar · May 5th, 2006, 06:03 PM

So how would these work with micing then? Should you mic in the center of the speaker maybe? I'm running a 4x10 with Jensen C10Q and altho I like the punch and brightness that they have some times it's just too much. I should be able to get away with just one beamblocker on the speaker that gets miced right? This is all new to me but if it does what it says I think it's just what I need.

ruger9 · May 5th, 2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3StringGuitar

So how would these work with micing then? Should you mic in the center of the speaker maybe? I'm running a 4x10 with Jensen C10Q and altho I like the punch and brightness that they have some times it's just too much. I should be able to get away with just one beamblocker on the speaker that gets miced right? This is all new to me but if it does what it says I think it's just what I need.

I wouldn't think a Beam Blocker would make any difference on a MICED speaker- I mean, speaker micing is all about mic placement; no Beam Blocker is needed. The Beam Blocker is designed for LIVE applications, for 2 reasons:

When standing in front of (or if you are in the 1st row, sitting in front of) the guitar amp, you won't get your head cut off with the high frequencies, and

When standing off to the side, you don't go all muddy, you don't lose the high frequencies (& clarity).

It basically makes the speaker sound the same from all angles. But i don't see where it would be any benefit from a micing standpoint. Either way, whether you use a BB or not on the speaker you're micing, it's all in the mic PLACEMENT.

3StringGuitar · May 5th, 2006, 07:37 PM

Ahh thank you much for that info. Maybe I should read up on micing then. I've always let the soundman set it up how ever they do, I've noticed they always set it to the side of side of the speaker reguardless of the amp or speaker, both on guitar and bass.

denny · May 6th, 2006, 02:17 PM

I came across these Visual Sound amps a few days ago. Interesting look, "Hubcap sound dispersion speaker grill (Pat. Pending)".

Visual Sound Website

Now, if you could only make them spin.

denny

trdlasvegas · May 6th, 2006, 03:41 PM

$20 will get you a roll of Gaffer's tape, enough to do 180 Super Reverbs or 4x12 cabinet's. It was good enough for Stevie...

-Tony

Joe-Bob · May 6th, 2006, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denny

I came across these Visual Sound amps a few days ago. Interesting look, "Hubcap sound dispersion speaker grill (Pat. Pending)".

Visual Sound Website

Now, if you could only make them spin.

denny

Yeah, we talked about those before. They also have a 2 x 12 version. What we couldn't figure out was if they kept spinning after you stop playing.

ruger9 · May 6th, 2006, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trdlasvegas

$20 will get you a roll of Gaffer's tape, enough to do 180 Super Reverbs or 4x12 cabinet's. It was good enough for Stevie...

-Tony

And how ATTRACTIVE!!

3StringGuitar · May 6th, 2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trdlasvegas

$20 will get you a roll of Gaffer's tape, enough to do 180 Super Reverbs or 4x12 cabinet's. It was good enough for Stevie...

-Tony

With the tape is it as simple as making an "x" over the speaker? I actually do have some gaffer's tape hah.

trag-o-caster · May 6th, 2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3StringGuitar

Ahh thank you much for that info. Maybe I should read up on micing then. I've always let the soundman set it up how ever they do, I've noticed they always set it to the side of side of the speaker reguardless of the amp or speaker, both on guitar and bass.

Most of the soundmen that I've worked with always put the mic right dead center of the dust cap, and when I move to my favorite spot (and all of my amps have a favorite mic spot for me) the sound man would move it back. I'd gotten into some big arguments with them over this. I always lost, and my FOH sound would always suck (if I happen to hear it back on tape). Embarrassing.

ruger9 · May 7th, 2006, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trag-o-caster

Most of the soundmen that I've worked with always put the mic right dead center of the dust cap, and when I move to my favorite spot (and all of my amps have a favorite mic spot for me) the sound man would move it back. I'd gotten into some big arguments with them over this. I always lost, and my FOH sound would always suck (if I happen to hear it back on tape). Embarrassing.

Hard to believe these so-called "soundmen" get paid to do this for a living, eh? Takes all kinds, I guess...

trag-o-caster · May 7th, 2006, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Hard to believe these so-called "soundmen" get paid to do this for a living, eh? Takes all kinds, I guess...

Oh yeah! I've been stuck with some of the worst! That's why, in smaller rooms, I'll just tell the soundman "take the mic off, I'm a-puttin' 'er on 10. Stand back".

I hate miking up the amps unless it's absolutely necessary. Just turn it up and let it do it's thing!

3StringGuitar · May 7th, 2006, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trag-o-caster

Quote:

Hard to believe these so-called "soundmen" get paid to do this for a living, eh? Takes all kinds, I guess...

Oh yeah! I've been stuck with some of the worst! That's why, in smaller rooms, I'll just tell the soundman "take the mic off, I'm a-puttin' 'er on 10. Stand back".

I hate miking up the amps unless it's absolutely necessary. Just turn it up and let it do it's thing!

I totally agree, I've had a few that will absolutly not unmic an amp. The place we normally play, pretty popular with the teens, they mic everything, drums, bass, guitar all that jazz then end up just blasting it thru the PA like no other. Not much you can do other then put up with it or not play there :?

trag-o-caster · May 7th, 2006, 02:04 AM

I must apologize. I forgot that this is supposed to be a thread about beam blockers - not incompetent soundmen!

Sorry!

I'll be reaching for the roll of duct tape at my next gig.

trdlasvegas · May 7th, 2006, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruger9

Quote:

Originally Posted by trdlasvegas

$20 will get you a roll of Gaffer's tape, enough to do 180 Super Reverbs or 4x12 cabinet's. It was good enough for Stevie...

-Tony

And how ATTRACTIVE!!

the coat ? or the Gaffer's tape?

-Tony

ruger9 · May 7th, 2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trdlasvegas

the coat ? or the Gaffer's tape?

-Tony

Now that you mention it, BOTH!

Jack Knife · May 8th, 2006, 07:02 PM

Back to the question about micing an amp with a Beam Blocker installed...

I use the same amp at home for recording and practice as I do playing out. If I put a Beam Blocker on it, does it change the way you mic the speaker?

May 4th, 2006, 03:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
titus Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 146	beam blocker ? Hi all, I have a silly question..... I have a bright sounding '76 Deluxe Reverb and before I started messing with speaker changes and spending lots of money trying to find "it", I thought I'd try wiggling the knobs one week and see how I feel. The next week I tried something I read here. I duct taped an X on the grill in front of the speaker (to simulate a beam blocker). Of course the guys give me a hard time for being a gear geek, but as the evening goes on I'm resetting the tone knobs....I'm surprised.....it works! It's not as drastic as a new speaker, but hey, it's noticable. It gets me what I need....tames the high end. My question: Is there any good reason I can't make a beam blocker out of well secured, light weight material and avoid spending 20 bucks? Does the Weber Beam Blocker have some special properties that I can't achieve? I know......silly question, but still.... -Titus __________________ 52ri>57Deluxe-mmm!

May 4th, 2006, 09:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
ruger9 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 1,726	I gotta' say, everytime a Beam Blocker is mentioned, everybody goes on "making their own", like they are SOOOO expensive or something. The damn things are cheap, work great, look great. It's crazy what someone will pay for a pickup or a preamp tube, but $15-$23 for a Beam Blocker is too expensive or something?? I don't get it. __________________ "I've got callouses, from all those nights, spent playin' a Telecaster, 'till my fingers bled Bud Light" - Travis Tritt

May 5th, 2006, 02:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
niterail Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 138	call me crazy....... but i installed a weber beam blocker into a brighter deluxe reverb......... and it made it brighter still!!! don't know why!!! __________________ www.niterail.com The new EP "Back and Forth" is available now!

May 6th, 2006, 02:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
denny Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North of Dallas Posts: 454	Got hubcaps? I came across these Visual Sound amps a few days ago. Interesting look, "Hubcap sound dispersion speaker grill (Pat. Pending)". Visual Sound Website Now, if you could only make them spin. denny

May 6th, 2006, 03:41 PM	#14 (permalink)
trdlasvegas Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lost Wages, Nevada Posts: 205	The 1st Beam Blocker $20 will get you a roll of Gaffer's tape, enough to do 180 Super Reverbs or 4x12 cabinet's. It was good enough for Stevie... -Tony __________________ www.trdpartsonline.com www.thermalrelief.com

May 4th, 2006, 05:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	There's no reason at all that you can't make a blocker for your amp. Let us know how you go about it and what the results are, okay?

May 4th, 2006, 06:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
chickenpicker Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,060 14 Photos	Not a silly question at all. My amp has a very directional high frquency sound - very trebly on-axis. I've never seen this beam blocker before, but having googled it, I'm about to make one (I'll use styrofoam or similar). As the original's a paper dome, you could make one using papier mache and a balloon!

May 5th, 2006, 01:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,212	Titus, your plan on building a blocker got me to thinking....yeah, that's dangerous.. :) Anyway, I envision a picture of a nicely-shaped and bikini-clad derriere..yes, a woman...mounted to an appropriate sized piece of cardboard and suspended by some slightly elastic band in front of the speaker's center and maybe a 1/4" in front of the grille. Move enough air and the bikini dances....you can save money and entertain yourself.

May 5th, 2006, 02:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
PhatTele Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 756	The Weber beam blocker is a half dome of foam covered by some smooth black material. When you mount it, the dome's top is pointed toward the center of the speaker. You can also choose what size dome you want (diameter and depth). I'm not sure how differently Weber's dome version of the Beam Blocker effects the sound waves when compared to a simple piece of wood in the shape of a disk or some tape in front of the speaker's center. I've seen both of those used and people seemed happy with the results. I have a Weber version in front of a 15" California and it sounds great. The VVT "Lindy Fralin" amps has a Weber beam blocker in front of its 15" as well.

May 5th, 2006, 05:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mike Fleming Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 378	The beam blocker actually has a paper speaker dustcap mounted onto the metal bar -- I don't think it's solid foam under there, but I haven't looked at one in a while. I've got a couple around somewhere so I'll look, maybe I'm wrong. The thing about brightness is they don't necessarily make a speaker less bright, but they block the most on-axis sound waves which are the brightest; so a beam blocker would make a speaker sound less bright if you were listening somewhere straight in front of the speaker. Off to the side though you may be hearing more highs than before because the beam blocker may be reflecting some of those on-axis high frequencies in other directions. Mike

May 5th, 2006, 06:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
3StringGuitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 623	So how would these work with micing then? Should you mic in the center of the speaker maybe? I'm running a 4x10 with Jensen C10Q and altho I like the punch and brightness that they have some times it's just too much. I should be able to get away with just one beamblocker on the speaker that gets miced right? This is all new to me but if it does what it says I think it's just what I need.

May 5th, 2006, 07:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
3StringGuitar Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 623	Ahh thank you much for that info. Maybe I should read up on micing then. I've always let the soundman set it up how ever they do, I've noticed they always set it to the side of side of the speaker reguardless of the amp or speaker, both on guitar and bass.

May 7th, 2006, 02:04 AM	#22 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,631	I must apologize. I forgot that this is supposed to be a thread about beam blockers - not incompetent soundmen! Sorry! I'll be reaching for the roll of duct tape at my next gig. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

May 8th, 2006, 07:02 PM	#25 (permalink)
Jack Knife Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 383	Back to the question about micing an amp with a Beam Blocker installed... I use the same amp at home for recording and practice as I do playing out. If I put a Beam Blocker on it, does it change the way you mic the speaker?

May 8th, 2006, 07:33 PM	#26 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003