Off Topic Your experiences with beam-blockers in front of speakers... ?

[Axilla]

Hi folks,

I recently got the idea of adding beam-blockers to some parts in my rig, because at rehearsal place, the problem of not hearing oneself or the others clearly is quite obvious when using 4x12" cabinets as the highs are just projected straight forward and don't disperse very well in the whole room.
I already installed one beam-blocker in one of my 1x12" 25 watts combos but unfortunately cannot test it at the moment as the output transformer went up in smoke some weeks back and Mick is currently looking for replacement parts.

What I'd like to know from you are your experiences with beam-blockers in 4x12" as well as 2x12" equipped cabinets.
Your experiences / recommendations ?!?

Thanks for sharing and cheers from Bavaria

Axel

P.S.: I'm currently building the blockers myself at home...

 

[beej]

I've used some makeshift ones (plexiglass), they work pretty well. Mostly I've been a fan of OB cabinets so I can hear myself easily, though.

 

[Axilla]

Thanks for the input, Jason.
Yeah, me too I tried some makeshift ideas like duct-taping the middle of the speaker on the grille but wasn't that satisfied with the results.
I don't own any openback cabinets at the moment and I'm afraid I need the closedback design for some extra punch in the sound (and no, I'm not a down-tuna ).
I do have to admit though, that when using my openback combo in small locations from time to time, I can hear myself much better. But the punch is missing in these cases, too.

The Marshall JCM800 1960a cab (original Celestion G12T-75s) from 1983 is a classic candidate for the cutting highs right in front of the cab.

The Hiwatt 4122 cab (original Hiwatt by Fane speakers) from 1973 is an originally ported design, but this only adds to the low-end response of the cab. The highs are sort of unidirectional like with the Marshall cab.

My latest 2x12" cab (2 Celestion V30s) is my first frontloaded cab. I haven't tried this cab yet, but from a testdrive with a quite similar Diezel cab, I had the impression of better dispersion of all frequencies... Let's see what the new cab brings.

...folks, keep some feedback and personal impressions coming !

Thanks in advance

Axel

 

[candid_x]

This is probably considered sacrilegious, but I solved that problem once by cutting 1 1/2" from the top and bottom (3" total) off the back of a quad cab. Worked great.

 

[Axilla]

Hehe, please excuse if I don't want to "cutdown" the back of my vintage Marshall cab

To give you an idea what's currently going on here:

This is the new cab I prepared (the Cel V30s are not yet installed):

...here with the homemade beam-blockers:

These li'l thingies were made of a solid strip of "Stabilit" plastic and 2/5 of a Styropor ball (12 cm ball). Black acrylic paint, a drill and here we go...

...c'mon folks - more input from your side, please !

 

[beej]

I've been playing with the little Badger ported 1x12, have to say I love it- can hear it everywhere, no "beaminess". Just picked up a Port City 2x12 on a whim, quite liking it for dispersion as well. Haven't been able to gig it yet, though.

I find 4x12s so tough to hear unless you're on a big stage ... some guys have no problems though.

Ted Weber has a good page about his Beam Blockers.

Rather than just blocking the dust caps, what about a plexiglass shield in front of the cab? That's what I was referring to earlier. You can crank up the amp and the sound really disperses well.

Edit- here's a picture of [EBMM endorsee] Joe Bonamassa's rig- he always uses the plexiglass shields in front of his cabs:

 

[Axilla]

Now I see what you meant, Jason !

So it's sort of full sized plexiglass screens in front of the cabs. Nice idea - why not !
I'll check with my local hardware store tomorrow, what the material costs will be. I'll definitely try out this option, too !

Well, Weber beam-blockers originally were what I wanted, but never had the chance to hear the effects of them and then again - they are just ridiculously expensive here in Germany, especially as I want to try the blockers on two 4x12" and one 2x12" in the same time. So I just sort of rebuilt them myself...

...nevertheless, you got me really curious about those plexi-screens !

The primary intention was, to improve the overall sound of two guitars in our rehearsal place, where the corners with the amps are insulated and the long sides of the big L-shaped room are not. For that purpose, the plexi-screen might become tricky as it would throw the soundwaves towards the pyramid-insulations on the walls and on the ceiling...
Well, we'll see about that. I'll try that one out, too !

Thanks again, Jason !!!

 

[Axilla]

...took the new 2x12" V30 cab with the selfmade beam-blockers for a ride last week. Have to say the sound ist just AWESOME now !
The highs get dispersed really well all thru the rehearsal place - just great !

...one thing that didn't go to well: The selfmade BBs cannot be fitted to the Celestion G12T-75s in my JCM800 cab. The speaker membranes are just not deep enough, respectively: the beam-blockers I built are too deep. The work fine with Vintage 30s though...

I'll be getting back my repaired combo next week and the V30 in that one also has a BB installed, but as the power stage was out of service I couldn't check the effect of the BB out, yet... I'll keep ya posted.

From what I tried out yet, I can only recommend you try BBs out - nice 3-dimensional sounds there !!!

Jason: I'm still in for a plexiglass shield from the hardware store and will try that one out for the G12T equipped Marshall cab...

 

[mynameistaken]

I have a Weber beam blocker and it works well. Cuts down on the treble beam and disperses the sound. A little pricey for what it is but it does work.