Weber beam blockers.. anyone use them ?

[Bash_Man]

Using a 212 vertical cab, at times I am finding the sound from it to be directional.

Came across the Weber beam blockers.

Anyone else use them out there in their cabs ? And if so what are your findings ?

Looking for something to help disperse or spread the sound a bit more.

Thanks

 

[beej]

I've used the "Mitchell Donuts" approach (Google it or read the big thread on TGP)- sort of a more useful beam blocker implementation (since beam blockers don't actually do what you want them to). Cuts down on the beam issue somewhat, but overall doesn't solve the dispersion problem.

I've had much better results using a small angled plexiglass diffuser (https://toneshield.com/). It's been excellent for stage dispersion. I sometimes use 2 with a 2x12. You lose a bit of bass depending on where you're standing, but overall I can clearly hear myself anywhere stage, and so can the rest of the band. Folds up and goes in my gear bag when I'm done.

 

[psychodave]

I have a version from tone bra. They gave me a bunch like 10+ years ago. They have a foam center to diffuse the high end.

 

[8len8]

Over the decades I’ve tried them off and on. I always found they altered the speaker tone so much that they weren’t worth it. Just stand off axis.

 

[Bash_Man]

I've used the "Mitchell Donuts" approach (Google it or read the big thread on TGP)- sort of a more useful beam blocker implementation (since beam blockers don't actually do want you want them to). Cuts down on the beam issue somewhat, but overall doesn't solve the dispersion problem.

I've had much better results using a small angled plexiglass diffuser (https://toneshield.com/). It's been excellent for stage dispersion. I sometimes use 2 with a 2x12. You lose a bit of bass depending on where you're standing, but overall I can clearly hear myself anywhere stage, and so can the rest of the band. Folds up and goes in my gear bag when I'm done.

I like the concept of the Toneshield and the fact that it doesn't need me to disassemble the cabinet to install, but it just means more room taken in the jam studio and stage.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Beam blockers are based on the incorrect theory that the beaminess of speakers is because the treble comes from the dust cap area and the bass comes from the outside cone area. This SEEMS true, but it’s actually not the way it works. See the above post about Mitchell Donuts and plexiglass shields.

 

[texasslinger]

Beam blockers are based on the incorrect theory that the beaminess of speakers is because the treble comes from the dust cap area and the Bass comes from the outside cone area. This SEEMS true, but it’s actually not the way it works. See the above post about Mitchell Donuts and plexiglass shields.

This.

I tried them over 15 years ago when I didn't know any better. They didn't work.

 

[Rex Rocker]

I've honestly never been a fan of the concept, but I've never truly looked into it myself. Honestly, never been unconfortable with the fact that the sound changes depending on where you're standing from the cab. I always thought that's just how it is. I always dial in my tones to sound good mic'd, anyways and a good in-the-room sound is just a biproduct, TBH. Never found it works the other way around.

Wouldn't they make it difficult to mic a cab up, then? My guess is if you'd try to close mic a cab like that in the usual go-to sweet spot, it would sound like a phasey mess.

 

[Nigel]

Had Mitchell donuts. Ultimately found it was a combo of nickel plated steel strings, too much resistance / not enough load on the bridge, power amp x-over odd order harmonic distortion, and the wrong speakers / cab that was the problem, not the “beam.”

 

[beej]

I've honestly never been a fan of the concept, but I've never truly looked into it myself. Honestly, never been unconfortable with the fact that the sound changes depending on where you're standing from the cab. I always thought that's just how it is. I always dial in my tones to sound good mic'd, anyways and a good in-the-room sound is just a biproduct, TBH. Never found it works the other way around.

Wouldn't they make it difficult to mic a cab up, then? My guess is if you'd try to close mic a cab like that in the usual go-to sweet spot, it would sound like a phasey mess.

For me, it's less of a tone problem and more of an issue of hearing enough of myself on a small stage. If I'm too loud, I kill everyone in front of me. If I'm the right volume out front, I can't really hear myself. I can put some guitars through the monitor, but that's not great either. With the shield, the sound disperses all around the amp, so I can hear it no matter how close I am to the cabinet. Running the cabinet off to the side would do it too, but I find this easier to work with.

With beam blockers or the donut you can still run a mic to wherever you like. Tougher with the shield/diffuser. Personally I use an IR loader from my speaker out (more reliable than futzing with a mic), so then it's a non-issue.

 

[PBGas]

Tried them in a 2x12 but didn't like them all that much. It almost sounded like a weird phase thing going on. Probably due to them shiftingthat high end in front of the speaker away.