Beam of a V30

[BahamaDada]

I truly apoligize for this super noob question, but I am *just* back into the real amp/speaker world after 10+ years of playing modellers and 5w practice Blackstars.

I bought this used Laboga 2x12 with V30s in it.

Put it on 2 chairs to lift them from the ground a bit so now they are like 50 cm/19,685 inches fronthe ground in horizontal. The "beam" is horrible. If I stand the sound is very bassy and muffled, if I sit on a bar stool it gets better, but right in front of the box (like 50cm/19inch) with my had I can clearly hear all those highs and the clarity I am missing.

So now please take me back into night school: Is.it right this way or is my cab some kind of damaged?

One thing I have to disclosd: I only played it in "advanced" bedroom volume. No band volume. So I guess that would also contribute to another sound, no?

Are there solutions for that? Different speakers, that have less beam? Slanted 2x12?

 

[Orvillain]

This is how it is, it is what speakers do.

 

[BahamaDada]

This is how it is, it is what speakers do.

Damn, this is what 10 years of headphones, "FRFR" monitors and plugins do to a boy :-(

 

[laxu]

Beam blockers and diffusers exists. These range from "just a plank of wood in front of the cone" to fancier ones like Mitchell donut or just a dome shaped object in front of the cone.

If you want to try this, the simplest would be to e.g take the lids of a empty jam jars (or any roughly speaker cone sized round object) and tape them to your speaker grill cloth in front of the speaker. If you like what that does, then you can start considering better solutions.

But realistically what you are experiencing is something that speakers just do. You might be happier with their sound with the cab on the floor, or you could try putting the cab vertical so that one speaker is higher and the other lower.

If it sounds bassy and muffled, maybe you are standing too close to it? If you have the space, try different placements for the cab. Avoid corners, and if you can get it away from the walls that also helps.

 

[BahamaDada]

If it sounds bassy and muffled, maybe you are standing too close to it? If you have the space, try different placements for the cab. Avoid corners, and if you can get it away from the walls that also helps.

Sadly I am next to a wall (no corner luckily), but I guess I'll put it down and place it vertically. I am standing ca. 1,50 m to 2 m from it.

I have to do some recordings now so I can really hear how it sounds. Sadly I only have a 58 here, no 57.

 

[Byrdman]

May sound better on the floor especially if it's tile or concrete. Time remodel your home to accommodate that cab, so dont be a slacker

 

[la szum]

I'd never want to be that close to V30s in a small room. EVER! They are some of the beamiest of the beamers.

That said, I'd just trying place some gaffer tape in an X pattern directly over the Cone. It can help, in a pinch.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I'd never want to be that close to V30s in a small room. EVER! They are some of the beamiest of the beamers.

That said, I'd just trying place some gaffer tape in an X pattern directly over the Cone. It can help, in a pinch.

Yeah, my 4x12 with Vintage 30s does seem to have 4 beams directly in front of each of the speaker caps. Is it the angle of the cone? Is that even different from other speakers?

I’ll try the tape trick, thanks.

 

[la szum]

The Tape Trick has quite the history. Pretty sure I stole it from someone way smarter
and far more accomplished than I. Which also goes for anything else I may or may not know.

I'd look at the direction I am usually playing in relation to the Cabinet/Speakers/Cones, and then
try and apply some tape to alignment with that direction. If you are not directly in front of the
4 x 12 then it might be silly to apply the tape directly in front of the Cones.

 

[BahamaDada]

So I wanted to freshen this abused cab anyways. Cleaned it, lifted it off the chairs, put some small wheels under it and placed it in horizontal.

I like it much more now. If it's just psychologic or if the sonic features actually changed... I don't know. It's ok now. Thx everybody.

 

[HotRats]

That's what I do.

Is not perfect, purists will tell you all sorts of things but it just works.
Does it alter the sound? Yes.

You need to experiment with the dimension of the area you cover.

 

[BahamaDada]

That's what I do.

Is not perfect, purists will tell you all sorts of things but it just works.
Does it alter the sound? Yes.

You need to experiment with the dimension of the area you cover.

View attachment 47520

Is that centered to the cones of the speakers or is it really just trial and error / what sounds good?

(If the first: How did you manage to get the exact center of it? Flashlight and good eye?)

 

[HotRats]

Is that centered to the cones of the speakers or is it really just trial and error / what sounds good?

(If the first: How did you manage to get the exact center of it? Flashlight and good eye?)

Yes is placed over the center of the cone, I used the phone flashlight and a marker to mark the spot, I did it with the cab placed on the ground facing up, the phone placed over the grill shining inside. There's a mark in the center of each cone and also 3 small guiding marks on the edge of the cab, one for the vertical* line, 2 for the horizontals*. (*vertical and horizontal to the ground with the cab in vertical position)

Then I placed the tape using the marks.
I did few experiments with the length of the cross arms and settled to the one in the picture.

Nothing scientific and don't need to be that precise. Every few months tape needs to be replaced.

This old trick works for me at home and works at band rehearsals. Bass player is the one in front of me and is happy to have the beam reduced.