Bit more DIY Beam Blocker

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JHorner
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by JHorner »

what's the acoustic foam for? the beam blocker is supposed to diffuse the high frequencies not absorb them?

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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Its for my 2x12 vertical Mesa cab (basically an oversized closed back cab), it just seems very bright and in your face at home with one speaker angled up at you. I stuck some foam on the front to test it and was amazed at how much better it sounded, really smoothed things out. The Mesa forum has a few threads where people have experienced the same thing with this cab being very directional and beam blockers seemed to be the answer.

I was hoping to swap out the V30's for Creambacks but this may be all that required.
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by sizzlingbadger »

JHorner wrote:what's the acoustic foam for? the beam blocker is supposed to diffuse the high frequencies not absorb them?
Its just packing foam, looking on the web at DIY beam blockers and some test videos it seems adding some foam helps. The original Weber blockers have a paper dome. I expect it helps diffuse the high frequencies more randomly rather than firing them straight back into the centre of the cone.
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by sizzlingbadger »

You can hardly notice them visually when fitted.
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by jeremyb »

I have to say, I think most of your amp issues could be solved by having an outlet to be able to turn the fuckers up loud!

Have you thought about joining a band?
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Don't have the time or skills to play in a band at present. I probably should have kept my Laney 1x12 as that was great at home. I was planning on a 1x12 when I bought the head but his 2x12 came up at a great price.
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by Polar Bear »

No one really has time to be in a band, just find some dude's to jam with! Beam blockers look good too. :)
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by Molly »

jeremyb wrote:I have to say, I think most of your amp issues could be solved by having an outlet to be able to turn the fuckers up loud!
Oh to crank the fuckers. Even though the Blankenship has a master volume there's nothing like turning it up. I swear it's steering my next house purchase.

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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by Basket Case »

Weird coincidence- I have the same cab and was just about to do a search for beam blockers for it. The other possibility I was looking at was replacing the top speaker with an Eminence Private Jack.

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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by Single coil »

Think I quite like this idea.
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Basket Case wrote:Weird coincidence- I have the same cab and was just about to do a search for beam blockers for it. The other possibility I was looking at was replacing the top speaker with an Eminence Private Jack.
The beam blockers really help but I reckon a couple of creambacks would be awesome in this cab.
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Re: Bit more DIY

Post by Basket Case »

sizzlingbadger wrote:
Basket Case wrote:Weird coincidence- I have the same cab and was just about to do a search for beam blockers for it. The other possibility I was looking at was replacing the top speaker with an Eminence Private Jack.
The beam blockers really help but I reckon a couple of creambacks would be awesome in this cab.
Trouble is, there doesn't seem to be anyone who stocks Celestions in NZ. I used to get them from Ryan :? These guys, however, have a pretty good range of Eminence http://www.livesound.co.nz/

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Re: Bit more DIY Beam Blocker

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Put 6L6's in the TC50 and the "in your face" mids have gone, sounds great now.
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Re: Bit more DIY Beam Blocker

Post by sizzlingbadger »

Despite the beam blocker and the 6L6's I still found the vertical 2x12 Mesa cab pretty harsh at home. The cab is a couple of years old but I don't know how hard or how much it was played in the past.

I know V30's take a lot of breaking in and do sound significantly smoother once they have. Yesterday I decided to give the V30's the Variac treatment. 20hrs later and they are a different animal altogether, even running them without the beam blockers now and they are so much better.
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Re: Bit more DIY Beam Blocker

Post by handsoffmatt »

Beam blockers seemed like a great idea to me a few years back. They certainly make the sound more palatable and "even". However, once I installed a (very) poor mans version (Gaffa tape) on one of my cabs a few years back - the results were fascinating. Whilst it made a HUGE positive difference to the "beaminess" of the 4x12 I was using..... it also REALLY screwed around with how the sound fit into the band mix. Whilst the sound SEEMED more pleasant by itself, it absolutely disappeared in the mix - and also I felt a huge TACTILE difference which I couldn't put my finger on - but it seemed to be screwing around with high-frequency harmonics.

Couldn't deal with or dial the amp in any more, so i took them off.

Essentially - I think they are a cool idea for solo playing - but I don't think I'll ever again attempt this concept in a live band situation again.

Also explains to me why cabs aren't built with these things in the first place.
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