Weber Beam Blocker?

Tele Sportsman · December 29th, 2007, 12:35 PM

Howdy Ya'll -
I recently traded for a DRRI and was wondering how well a Weber Beam Blocker will work with it? Love the DRRI tone, but it is somewhat sharply focused when your right in it's path. I am not new to tube amps, and have mostly always had 1x12 speaker combos before, just wondering if the beam blocker is worth using or if there are any pros/cons?

Music style: country/classic rock, w/Tele and Strat.

-Bill

ne4tt · December 29th, 2007, 01:59 PM

Bill,

You could use a circular piece of cardboard on the grille, as a substitute to check the effectiveness.

jamie

Freight Twang · December 29th, 2007, 02:35 PM

Bill, I have beam blockers in all my amps, and after you get used to it, they are great. If you are playing in close quarters, it takes some getting used to, because the treble will be more pronounced, but it is a more balanced sound, and if you play at gigs, you won't kill the people in the front row.

woodman · December 29th, 2007, 04:43 PM

when i heard about beam blockers, i slapped a piece of duct tape in front of my voice coil ... it seemed to work OK, so i just left it there. then, on TDPRI, come to find out Danny Gatton did the same thing. great minds thinking alike, or dumb luck on my part? hahaha!

Tele Sportsman · December 29th, 2007, 06:29 PM

Ok great, thanks for the info.

jhundt · December 30th, 2007, 02:18 AM

I put one on my almost-Deluxe Reverb. It works very nicely, and does what it says it will - eliminates the 'beam' that comes straight out of the speaker. I think the cost is pretty low (especially there in the States) installation is easy, and the results are worth it.

Duct tape on the grille works OK too.

tele_jas · December 30th, 2007, 02:45 AM

Duct tape or something similar works good..... but beam blockers disperse the highs a little better. I have them in both of my amps, and I'll probably have them in my next amp too. They are "cone shaped" facing the center of the speaker made out of the same material as a speaker, the highs spread a little better than just some duct tape but you get about the same affect/effect.... blocked highs. Now when you point it at your head (with beam blockers), you don't hear the sound so focused at your head and you can hear you amp a little better off to the side. I also think my mic'd sound is a little better or a bit fuller sounding with the beam blockers.

Tele Sportsman · December 31st, 2007, 01:02 PM

Well, it looks like I need to get one. I just went and did some playing with a couple various small items hanging over the top of the amp (down over the front of the grill) and liked the results. I can only imagine that the properly designed item will sound great. Thanks.

-Bill

mistermullens · December 31st, 2007, 04:27 PM

If it were me, I would cut a tennis ball or racquet ball in half and tape it to the grill. Probably works just as well

DavidP · December 31st, 2007, 06:23 PM

I got this constant complaining from our female singer about the "ice-pick" (in her opinion, not mine!) stage sound from the amp (on a stand pretty well adjacent to her)--the BB did a great job of diffusing the sound and the complaints!

Louthunder · January 1st, 2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermullens

If it were me, I would cut a tennis ball or racquet ball in half and tape it to the grill. Probably works just as well

yah, that would work alright, but it would look like @$$

Tele Sportsman · January 1st, 2008, 09:41 AM

Well, I checked the price and they are only around $18 to $20 on Weber's web-site. I just can't see spending time to take out the speaker baffle, taking off the speaker, and not putting someting good in there. I also would not want something to come loose (un-stick) and rattle around on the speaker cone for a paying crowd! Could you imagine that happening?

At any rate, thanks for all the inputs and suggestions.

-Bill

December 29th, 2007, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tele Sportsman TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Age: 43 Posts: 22	Weber Beam Blocker? Howdy Ya'll - I recently traded for a DRRI and was wondering how well a Weber Beam Blocker will work with it? Love the DRRI tone, but it is somewhat sharply focused when your right in it's path. I am not new to tube amps, and have mostly always had 1x12 speaker combos before, just wondering if the beam blocker is worth using or if there are any pros/cons? Music style: country/classic rock, w/Tele and Strat. -Bill

December 29th, 2007, 04:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,196	when i heard about beam blockers, i slapped a piece of duct tape in front of my voice coil ... it seemed to work OK, so i just left it there. then, on TDPRI, come to find out Danny Gatton did the same thing. great minds thinking alike, or dumb luck on my part? hahaha! __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

December 30th, 2007, 02:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
tele_jas Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Springfield/Mt.Vernon, MO Age: 36 Posts: 366 12 Photos	Duct tape or something similar works good..... but beam blockers disperse the highs a little better. I have them in both of my amps, and I'll probably have them in my next amp too. They are "cone shaped" facing the center of the speaker made out of the same material as a speaker, the highs spread a little better than just some duct tape but you get about the same affect/effect.... blocked highs. Now when you point it at your head (with beam blockers), you don't hear the sound so focused at your head and you can hear you amp a little better off to the side. I also think my mic'd sound is a little better or a bit fuller sounding with the beam blockers. __________________ *Dr. Z Stangray & Z 2x12 cab Dr. Z Mazerati * 2 tele's * Some pedals * ect...** Good deals with: tweeddeluxe, Lwilliams, Sunkidd www.markchapmanband.com www.myspace.com/themcb www.guitartest.moonfruit.com

December 31st, 2007, 04:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
mistermullens Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,580 56 Photos	If it were me, I would cut a tennis ball or racquet ball in half and tape it to the grill. Probably works just as well __________________ Jonathan - Demos@purevolume.com When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi All I need is my Esquire - MM

December 31st, 2007, 06:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
DavidP Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 465	Got one in my SFDR... I got this constant complaining from our female singer about the "ice-pick" (in her opinion, not mine!) stage sound from the amp (on a stand pretty well adjacent to her)--the BB did a great job of diffusing the sound and the complaints! __________________ too many guitars...

December 29th, 2007, 01:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
ne4tt Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,354 4 Photos	Bill, You could use a circular piece of cardboard on the grille, as a substitute to check the effectiveness. jamie

December 29th, 2007, 02:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Freight Twang TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montgomery,Al Age: 40 Posts: 93 2 Photos	Bill, I have beam blockers in all my amps, and after you get used to it, they are great. If you are playing in close quarters, it takes some getting used to, because the treble will be more pronounced, but it is a more balanced sound, and if you play at gigs, you won't kill the people in the front row.

December 29th, 2007, 06:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tele Sportsman TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Age: 43 Posts: 22	Ok great, thanks for the info.

December 30th, 2007, 02:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
jhundt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Age: 54 Posts: 2,679 9 Photos	I put one on my almost-Deluxe Reverb. It works very nicely, and does what it says it will - eliminates the 'beam' that comes straight out of the speaker. I think the cost is pretty low (especially there in the States) installation is easy, and the results are worth it. Duct tape on the grille works OK too.

December 31st, 2007, 01:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tele Sportsman TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Age: 43 Posts: 22	Well, it looks like I need to get one. I just went and did some playing with a couple various small items hanging over the top of the amp (down over the front of the grill) and liked the results. I can only imagine that the properly designed item will sound great. Thanks. -Bill

January 1st, 2008, 09:41 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tele Sportsman TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Omaha, NE Age: 43 Posts: 22	Well, I checked the price and they are only around $18 to $20 on Weber's web-site. I just can't see spending time to take out the speaker baffle, taking off the speaker, and not putting someting good in there. I also would not want something to come loose (un-stick) and rattle around on the speaker cone for a paying crowd! Could you imagine that happening? At any rate, thanks for all the inputs and suggestions. -Bill