Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
- Thread starter Satch1222
- Start date
baritone
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
The treble is kind of shooting straight forward. When you stand off to the side, you can hear the treble, but it isn't pointed directly at your ears. The bass sounds spread out in different directions, especially traveling through solid materials. Yeah, guitar speaker enclosures can be rough on the ears when standing directly in front of them.
The treble is kind of shooting straight forward. When you stand off to the side, you can hear the treble, but it isn't pointed directly at your ears. The bass sounds spread out in different directions, especially traveling through solid materials. Yeah, guitar speaker enclosures can be rough on the ears when standing directly in front of them.
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
Guitar speakers are notorious for "beaming". Weber came out with the "beam blocker", but they really had the principle mislay-ed. Jay Mitchell has done amazing research into this phenomenon. His designs work very well and are used by many musicians, at all levels.
Good Luck
http://jay-mitchell.com/dirmod.html
Guitar speakers are notorious for "beaming". Weber came out with the "beam blocker", but they really had the principle mislay-ed. Jay Mitchell has done amazing research into this phenomenon. His designs work very well and are used by many musicians, at all levels.
Good Luck
http://jay-mitchell.com/dirmod.html
loudriver23
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
This is really what I love about this forum. One user asks a specific and technical question, another brother posts with some great information.
This place has really helped me grow my knowledge about guitar gear big time.
This is really what I love about this forum. One user asks a specific and technical question, another brother posts with some great information.
This place has really helped me grow my knowledge about guitar gear big time.
SlyFoxx
Glossless
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
I am so checking this out.
I am so checking this out.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
Wow! Most interesting!
Wow! Most interesting!
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
For the same reason fire is so hot when you have your hand in it.
For the same reason fire is so hot when you have your hand in it.
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
I can only play if I'm in front of my amplifier (well, when I'm at home anyway). Anywhere else is almost false. I like to hear what's real so I don't get a false impression. That way you can tell what your tone needs and you'll always have a bichen and rather trademark tone.
I can only play if I'm in front of my amplifier (well, when I'm at home anyway). Anywhere else is almost false. I like to hear what's real so I don't get a false impression. That way you can tell what your tone needs and you'll always have a bichen and rather trademark tone.
Last edited:
korovamilkdud
WhoDatologist
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
because treble frequencies, unlike bass and warm-midrange frequencies, are unidirectional. Duct tape helps with this problem too if you want to go ghetto wit' it.
because treble frequencies, unlike bass and warm-midrange frequencies, are unidirectional. Duct tape helps with this problem too if you want to go ghetto wit' it.
Frazer Stockton
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
I agree with Inaver09, I Love that trebly punch .... Its the sound i aim for.
I like my guitar to cut through my bass player and mix nicely.
I agree with Inaver09, I Love that trebly punch .... Its the sound i aim for.
I like my guitar to cut through my bass player and mix nicely.
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
Guitarists always have to deal with club owners and people in the audience complaining about us playing to loud. Usually we are playing to loud!
We put our amp/speakers on the floor of the stage so that the speakers are aimed at the back of our knees, and it sounds fine to us.
But that's with the speakers aimed at the back of our knees.
To the audience in front of the stage that speaker is at ear level (not knee level) and loud as hell.
Guitarists always have to deal with club owners and people in the audience complaining about us playing to loud. Usually we are playing to loud!
We put our amp/speakers on the floor of the stage so that the speakers are aimed at the back of our knees, and it sounds fine to us.
But that's with the speakers aimed at the back of our knees.
To the audience in front of the stage that speaker is at ear level (not knee level) and loud as hell.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
I got so I would often aim my speakers at the drummer. This way it was off axis to the audience and myself. I prefer off axis myself anyway. The drummer really liked this actually, as it helped him hear the guitar better in the mix and he usually found that a problem. It was originally his idea. If its too loud for the drummer then its too loud for sure! But if it's not loud enough for the drummer to hear clearly, it's probably being buryed in the overall mix a bit.
I know of a guitarist that will often start out a gig with his cab turned backward or toward a wall, and then only turn it around after the audience has grown more used to the bands natural volume. This virtually eliminated complaints about him playing too loud at first and then not loud enough after their ears had adjusted.
I got so I would often aim my speakers at the drummer. This way it was off axis to the audience and myself. I prefer off axis myself anyway. The drummer really liked this actually, as it helped him hear the guitar better in the mix and he usually found that a problem. It was originally his idea. If its too loud for the drummer then its too loud for sure! But if it's not loud enough for the drummer to hear clearly, it's probably being buryed in the overall mix a bit.
I know of a guitarist that will often start out a gig with his cab turned backward or toward a wall, and then only turn it around after the audience has grown more used to the bands natural volume. This virtually eliminated complaints about him playing too loud at first and then not loud enough after their ears had adjusted.
Ninja Monkey
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
Duct tape is also great for achieving southern rock and country tones.
Duct tape is also great for achieving southern rock and country tones.
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
If you like the speakers and do not want to change them, you might want to try something like Beam Blockers !
I hear they are real effective.
If you like the speakers and do not want to change them, you might want to try something like Beam Blockers !
I hear they are real effective.
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: Why do speakers sound so harsh when you're in front of them?
Dan from the Black Keys plays his amp at a 90 degree angle to the front row a lot !
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beezeebeebee/2533765563/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jberg/2497499442/
Dan from the Black Keys plays his amp at a 90 degree angle to the front row a lot !
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beezeebeebee/2533765563/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jberg/2497499442/
