Redirecting sound from back of amplifier

Rick Nicklas · From: Verona, Mo. (deceased)

Does anyone know of the device that fits underneath your amplifier and has a back on it that captures and directs the sound from the back of your amplifier to the front through the bottom portion of this device.

I love the sound I get at home when my amp is close to the wall but when I'm playing out I lose the solid low notes and the tone texture that I had at home. I was informed that this device resends the sound out the front of the amp just like at home. I would appreciate any info or links to this device.

Don Poland · From: Hanover, PA.

http://www.soundenhancer.com/

I have one for my N112 and I love it Laughing

Mark Eaton · Posted 6 Mar 2007 2:06 pm

Don, do you have the "medium" size?

I watched the demo video and it's pretty convincing.

Aside from more money out-of-pocket, does anyone have a downside to these things?

I guess what I'm getting at is, why wouldn't amp companies integrate this kind of technology into their cabinets to begin with? Surely amp designers have considered these factors in the past.

I guess the skeptic in me would ask, why don't we see everyone from Eric Clapton to Buddy Emmons using these things?

I wasn't familiar with the product, and right off the top-it appears to be the greatest thing since sliced bread!
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Mark

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

The biggest drawback to me is the size and how awkward it would be to move around.
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David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Rick Nicklas · From: Verona, Mo. (deceased)

I think maybe I will try a couple of hinged plywood sheets about 3 foot high and just wide enough to overlap the back of my amp. They should fold down pretty small if cut properly. Anyway, it should be fun experimenting with different configurations behind the amp. I noticed the price range of the "Sound Enhancer" I need would be about half the price or more than my Session 1000.

Mark Eaton · Posted 6 Mar 2007 5:34 pm

These things run $200 and up, so if you can buy one for your local gig, then I guess you too, could afford a second mike for the back of your amp.

Okay, let's change the steeler from Buddy Emmons to say Gary Morse with Brooks & Dunn, or Bruce Bouton with Reba-since David responded in a literal fashion.

Anyone know of touring pros using these things?
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Mark

Don Poland · From: Hanover, PA.

Yes, mine is the medium, and the N112 fits quite well. Mine was donated to me by another steel picker that had it and didn't use it, because it was just another piece to lug around to the gigs. For what I use it for, playing here at home, it sounds great and makes a huge difference. The sound from the amp is much fuller, not just louder. Don't know exactly how to describe it. I would suggest that,if you know someone that has one, you try it out for yourself.

Mike Fried · From: Nashville, TN, USA

It seems to me that it wouldn't be nearly as useful to a player with a major touring act that is setting up on a large stage and mic'ing the amp(s) into a big p.a., such as is the case with acts such as Reba or Brooks & Dunn. I would imagine, though, that it does sound great in a small club-type venue or other situation that requires projecting the amp without sound reinforcement.
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Michael Strauss · From: Delray Beach,Florida

The difference in sound is more bass. The higher frequencies won’t make the turn. I used to have a folded horn cabinet, the speakers faced the rear, what this did was to expand the bass. One of my cabinets is a sealed 2-10 which I built myself. I tested the cab prior to mounting the speakers and all they did was buzz, that’s because the speakers were designed the be in a sealed cabinet. What I’m saying IMHO is before spending $200.00 on the Enhancer, check out a sealed cabinet design.
My gear is for bass, though I do have one open back combo, but my main is an Ampeg BXT-115 which is ported and a horn for the high notes and not much out of the back.

David Doggett · Posted 6 Mar 2007 11:16 pm

I'm with Michael. You might as well put your speaker in a closed-back bass reflex cabinet. When I took the chassis out of a Fender Vibrasonic and put it in a head cabinet, I turned the old cab into a bass reflex cab for the 15" Eminence speaker. I closed the back with a piece of plywood, and put a shelf below the now open chassis slot. I left about and inch space between the back of the shelf and the back of the cabinet, so the bass would fold up and out the front slot. The bass response was greatly enhanced. Any highs and mids from the back of the speaker are also reflected out the front. So the speaker is just generally more efficient. An Enhancer might be larger, with a little more low bass response. But I don't think you really need that for steel. In fact this cabinet is so dark sounding I prefer my 15" JBLs in smaller closed-back ported Marrs cabinets. They definitely sparkle more in the highs, but part of that is the different speakers.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I have heard that you can blow speakers by putting them into a closed or ported enclosure that wasn't designed for that specific speaker, something about additive sound waves or pressure or something - there are some complicated formulas for making enclosures. This Sound Enhancer looks like it's open enough that it wouldn't be a danger, in fact there is no specificity to speakers except overall size. One other thing it might do well is give you a more consistent effect than just putting your amp against a wall or corner, as reflectiveness varies so much. I didn't price them, but a couple of sheets of 3/4" plywood and a weekend....

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Mark Eaton · Posted 7 Mar 2007 9:43 am

O.K., scratch my Gary Morse and/or Bruce Bouton analogy. Sheesh! Laughing

How about someone playing club gigs or small theaters, that does it for a living-anyone use these things?

Maybe I'm answering my own question, which might be no, because of the space these things occupy. A lot of bands that eke out a living in smaller venues might travel in a van towing a trailer, and there could be a lack of room to be able to haul these things around. Or if they have a bus, it would seem likely that the storage comparments would be pretty full for a road trip. So it could be the province of the home player or weekend warrior, which is me.

My acoustic amp is a Carvin, 100 watts, 12-inch speaker with tweeter. It's a sealed back, bass reflex port design. Three channels: 1)guitar 2)bass 3)vocals with XLR or keyboard.

A pretty repectable amp for smaller to moderate rooms. Can't say that I've ever thought about sound not "leaking" out the back because of the design, I'll pay more attention now.
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Steve French · From: Roseville CA

I have an Enhancer and use it frequently, but only when my amp will be miked. Most sound guys love it, because there is no leakage out the back of the amp, and you'll tend to play softer when those speaker cones are aimed at your head. I suspect that's why you see them all over the stage at the Opry -- to control stage volume. I have the medium, which fits a Deluxe Reverb perfectly. But a Twin fits pretty well, too.

It does add some low end thump -- I bet that NV 112 sounds even better than usual sitting in the Enhancer.

Downside: they are kind of bulky to carry around. Not heavy (it's injection molded, synthetic material of some sort), but bulky. And it seems pricey for what you get. But a great tool in the right situation.

Steve

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Rick, and David, if you do that (hinged plywood), I'd be eager to know what results you get! That's an idea I've been "meaning to try" for years!!!

Maybe I'll get off my duff and finally do it myself!

Rick Nicklas · From: Verona, Mo. (deceased)

Brint, I will post my results as soon as I try this out on a gig. Right now I have another immediate problem. My Session 1000 is breaking up badly. This is what happened to my Session 500 also and I had a local guy do some expert service on it. I traded it for the 1000 for different reasons. I think now I am going over to the current topic here to see what everyone is saying about their favorite amp (If you know what I mean).

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

These things have come and gone since the 70's. I've seen dozens of different ones, many at NAMM over the years.

The reason you don't see them used much is they don't work very well - at least all the time.

With many amps, there are overheating issues; you also have problems with phase cancellation, which will vary by the venue and distance to back walls...also volume levels and tone controls can make the things sound downright horrid. The size of the area *behind* the speakers has a significant affect on the volume. phasing, and tonality.

For low-volume practice they sound kind of cool - but turn them up, and all sorts of anomalies can happen.

IMO the snake-oil department needs more shelf space.
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Steve French · From: Roseville CA

I've not experienced any of the problems Jim mentioned. As I said, I would only use it if you were miked and looking to reduce stage volume. This stand will aim your amp's speakers about 45 degrees up -- not good if you're relying on your amp to reach the back row. And if it's aimed at your head, you will almost certainly play at a substantially lower volume.

if you watch the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights, you will see several of these stands on-stage. I'm sure it's to reduce stage volume and give the sound guys more control over the sound out front. Several visitors to this forum perform on the Opry. It would be interesting to hear their take on the Enhancer.

In the right situation, I love mine. I can get a tone I like, loud and full enough to make me happy, and no grief from the sound guy about being too loud. How good it sounds out front is up to him....

Steve

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Sometimes if I'm on a real big stage where there is a lot of distance to the back wall, I like to take my Sho-bud case and set it down behind the amp (handle up), usually about 18" or so.. It might be my imagination but that seems to bounce or scatter the sound around laterally a bit more so it sounds 'better' on stage.

I don't think it makes any difference in the way it sounds out front, it's mic'd with an SM-57 on the grill.

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

FWIW
Many of the cabinet designs started with the open back because players would put the amp in front and stand or sit behind it. What came out of the amp was their sound. The knobs were meant to be twiddled from the back side. The open back amps had a good balance of stage and audience volume.
As posted above, if you have an open back amp, be real careful about having enough air circulating. Recently, an open back tube amp, was placed on a chair in such a way as to prevent ventilation. The smoke set off the alarm at a fancy penthouse gig Embarassed

Gary Walker · From: Morro Bay, CA

I've been using the Enhancer for three years with my Webb. I love it and it does add another dimension and uses wasted bass off of the rear of the speaker.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I wouldn't worry about heat with a SS amp, but there's still a phase cancellation issue no matter what you do. A mic in front of it is at a fixed distance and may be fine, but at certain points in a room listeners will likely experience a phasing problem. You don't notice when playing it, usually - but walking around listening to one that's unmiked is weird - the sound seems to go away at times.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I've been trying something with a FSK amp recently that seems to work for me. I taped a thick piece of cardboard across about 90% of the back of my Fender Steel King to try to move more sound out the front. I left enogh room to get the cord in and out. I used black duct tape along the sides of the cabinet. Speaker is a 1501BW. I can really hear a difference, especially in the low end. Heat vents are on the top of the FSK.

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