Ted Weber of Weber VST is best known for guitar amplifier speakers. All different types of speakers. About 150 different types to be exact! What you may not know is how he got started, what his favorite guitar is and what he has planned for the future of Weber VST. In this Spotlight feature Ted talks about his early beginnings in electronics and how Weber VST came into being. He also explains the different aspects of guitar amp speakers and how they affect performance as well as commenting on some of his other products. Ted is very knowledgable and shares his knowledge openly in this Spotlight feature.
300guitars: Hi Ted please tell us a little bit about yourself. Do you play guitar or any instrument? Do you like music/what are some favorite types and artists?
Ted Weber: I was born in a small town in Indiana. I was always fascinated with mechanics, particularly motors, and music. I spent my high school days playing guitar in various garage bands at a time when after game dances on Fridays and Saturdays always had a live band. The money was great for the time. Back to my other hobbies. Of course, a speaker has a motor in it, so I was always experimenting with speakers, radios, and motors. After high school, I attended and graduated from a technical institute that focused on all areas of electronics and math. Having been an avid electronics experimenter and ham radio operator most of my life, that kind of schooling was exactly what I had an appreciation for. Right after graduating, before I even had a chance to look for a job, I got caught by the second draft lottery of the early 70’s. So, I joined the Air Force. I had a great time living everywhere from Omaha to Italy. I worked in long line communications. Telephones were another intense hobby of mine, so that worked out very well for me.
300guitars: What guitars and amps were you using in your high school days? What kind of music were you playing at the time?
Ted Weber: I had a small Harmony outfit that came from a catalog sales company in Chicago. I believe the name was Alden’s. Next, I got a ’63 Fender Jazzmaster, which I still have. For my first real amp, I bought a Gibson Mariner. I’ve never been able to find out much information on that amp. I do remember it had vibrato, 6BQ5’s on the output, and a single 10″ speaker. I later traded it in on a 65 Fender Bandmaster. During my high school garage band days, I used a SUNN 100S and also used a Fender Showman.
300guitars: What guitars and amps are you playing now and what are some of your all time favorites?
Ted Weber: Due to the nature of our business, I have a room full of amps now. From a pristine ’53 5C3 Fender Deluxe to most of the latest Fender reissues. I’ve never been interested in collecting amps and guitars, but seem to be acquiring an awful lot of them in support of our business. I have quite a few acoustic guitars I was given as gifts from the pro players we support, and have a few Tele’s and Strats also. I think we also have a couple or three LP’s tucked away somewhere around the shop. My favorite guitar is my Jazzmaster and I’ve played a lot of different guitars. It was considered a real clunker until Kurt Cobain was seen with one, now they are hard to find. If I was going to collect, I’d probably go for that one. My favorite amp was probably the SUNN. We’ve built copies of just about every major vintage amp in support of our amp kit business, and the one I prefer is the amp that resembles a vintage SUNN.
300guitars: What were you doing before you started Weber VST?
Ted Weber: I managed engineering labs for General Motors for 30 years, retiring at the end of 2005.
300guitars: When did you start Weber VST and what inspired you to do so? Was your son T.A. involved right from the beginning and is he a guitar player?
Ted Weber: I was on a dial-up service called Prodigy around 1984-85 and quickly found my way to the Jazz and Blues bulletin boards. On the blues board, they had a couple of topics about guitars and amps. So, that’s where I camped out, absorbing all of the jargon (modern and vintage) I could so I could participate. One common theme seemed to be “there aren’t any good modern speakers”. I started asking a lot of questions and I believe the assumption was that I was going to make speakers. At that point, there was no going backwards. So, I started calling around Chicago and other areas until I found companies that would sell me small quantities of parts so I could do prototyping. After building a few prototypes and testing them, I knew I was hooked. Not too long after that, Prodigy made the decision to start charging for the time we spent on bulletin boards. Suddenly, the cost of online time had the potential of doubling or tripling, which was unacceptable, not to mention they had slow loading ads at the bottom of the pages, meaning we were paying them 25 to 35 cents to tell us we needed a new John Deere tractor. So, I got on there one day and offered to write the software for and host a dialup bulletin board. Soon after that, we had a group of about 20 people who logged on to the system for almost 10 years. Talk about a focus group, I had all of these guys and girls at my disposal, on a private system, where I or anyone could ask any question without feeling dumb. It was fantastic and I learned more in that time that I could have anywhere else. We had the likes of Dr. Z., Mark Baier of Victoria Amps, Dave Funk, and many other guys who have become very good friends over the years. My son and I started Weber VST in September of 1996, so it was just a part time hobby for me until I retired. My son doesn’t play the guitar, nor has any technical education so we agreed that I would do all of the technical correspondence and product design, while he would be the business manager.
300guitars: When you first started how many products did you have and what were they?
Ted Weber: We started with the speakers, about 10 in all, and then decided to offer chassis products. Since that time, virtually every product we have brought out has been as a result of someone asking for it. Around 2000, we started carrying electronics components. Capacitors were first. Then I decided we should carry a line of transformers. We’ve taken it on the chin from a lot of internet retailers because most of our parts come from Europe, Taiwan, and China. On balance, though, we have received a lot of nice comments from our customers regarding those components.
300guitars: With the many choices of guitar amp speakers available what sets your speakers apart from other manufacturers?
Ted Weber: At last count, we had over 150 speaker models. Many of them are hybrids of other models. An example would be a speaker that has a cone from a lower powered, smaller voice coil speaker, mated with the magnet, voice coil, and spider from a larger voice coil speaker. For our vintage series, we use precision machined parts for very close tolerance voice coil gaps and very true concentricity of the pole and gap ring. That provides better control at higher power levels as well as a better tone overall.
300guitars: Generally speaking and not getting too technical can you explain how the cone, the magnet and the voice coil affect the sound and performance of a speaker?
Ted Weber: Generally, the shape, style, and mass (weight) of the cone determine its basic tone, texture, breakup power level, and overall frequency response. The voice coil can also have a dramatic effect on frequency response. A short, lightweight voice coil can be snappy, ‘fast’, aggressive, with strong highs. The longer coil will be smoother, warmer, later breakup, and less textured. The larger the magnet, the more energy in the gap, so for a given voice coil size, the larger magnet provides more sensitivity to the speaker. That’s why we offer in our MyTone Series several different sizes of magnets for a custom speaker.
300guitars: What is doping, what is it made of and what affects does it have on a speaker?
Ted Weber: Doping is a compound used as a vibration dampener on the surround of the cone, or anywhere extreme vibrations need to be kept under control.
It was originally used to extend the life of the cone (and hence the speaker) when cones were all paper. It was soon discovered that it also raised the power level at which the speaker would break into modes, or oscillations. We call that break up. Speaker designers call that anomaly “breaking up into modes”. So, many loudspeaker companies who used all paper cones experimented with various levels of doping on the surround, the back of the cone, and down near the dustcap. Transient signals are generally not a problem, it’s the sustained energy that causes the cone to break up into the modes. Most have seen that classic video of an ill-designed bridge that started oscillating due to sustained winds. It eventually tore itself apart and came crashing down. I think they could have used a little more vibration dampener devices. The compound we use for doping is clear and smells like model airplane cement. However, unlike cement, it remains flexible when cured. We offer various levels of doping on many of our speakers since it does affect the potential character and texture of the speaker.
300guitars: And what’s the deal with the neodymium magnets and hemp cones?
Ted Weber: We built all of the speaker frames, magnet circuits, etc. for the company that makes the hemp cone speakers. At the time, they were using our cones or their own. But, when they decided to use the hemp cone, we backed out. I wasn’t able to ascertain how much hemp was in it, so I wasn’t sure if it was just a marketing program. For instance, back in the 70’s and 80’s, the carbon fiber cone was all the rage. As it turned out, in many speakers there was only about 2% carbon fiber in the cones. Hemp has a very long fiber and is very strong. All of that information is available on the internet. However, the kapok tree also has very long fibers and in many cases will perform much better than hemp because of the way it can be slurried, treated, formed, etc. Apparently the idea for using hemp was because of its toughness due to the long fibers, so it would resist breakup. Generally, I have always designed speakers with the traditional vintage breakup characteristics, and then used cone treatment or doping to alter those characteristics to ours or a customer’s specs. To this day, though, I have never been able to find a reasonable explanation for the rationale of using hemp. Neodymium magnets were and still are an engineer’s dream come true. All we think about is efficiency and big energy from small packages. That’s neo. However, many speaker companies used a standard speaker formerly fitted with a ceramic magnet and put a neo magnet circuit on it. That was a bad idea. Way too sensitive, hard, harsh, and uncontrollable. After a couple of years, they got it together and redesigned them. Now they have some with great tone for guitar, particularly the products from Celestion and Eminence.
300guitars: How many prototypes did you build of your first speakers until you felt you got it right so you then could proceed with production?
Ted Weber: I built at least 50 before I was happy with the tone. I remember like it was yesterday calling a major cone company begging them to sell me just 100 cones of each model I wanted to prototype. They finally got tired of listening to me and sold them to me. I remember it was $2,850. Whew, that was a lot of money considering I also had to buy machine shop time and other parts.
300guitars: What are the main differences between the speakers manufactured in the 1950’s – 1960’s and the speakers today?
Ted Weber: Many companies are still having to design and build for high volume production. Eminence is one of the few high volume producers that has continued to build them like they were way back when as far as gaps, gap energy, cone material, etc. We build all of our speakers one at a time in what we call cellular manufacturing or focused factory settings. A single person builds the speaker from start to finish, including testing and delivering it to the shipping manager. So, I don’t consider us when I refer to high volume producers. In fact, I had more people than I can count tell me I was nuts for attempting to do what we were planning to do as far as method of manufacturing. The nice thing about it is that a person can order a one of a kind speaker complete with his or her own model number, and it doesn’t cost more than a regular speaker model. Honestly, that’s what makes this business fun. We are solvent, paying the bills, and are having fun. It doesn’t get any better than that.
300guitars: Besides your very wide array of speakers available you have many other products such as attenuators, cabinets, amp kits, parts and tools just to name a few. Was it your vision to become a sort of “one stop shopping” for guitar amp enthusiasts and manufacturers?
Ted Weber: I got a little carried away with that. After several years of selling parts and building our inventory, it dawned on me one day that all we needed was a cabinet and we could sell rather inexpensive complete amp kits. So, we set up a cabinet shop here locally, after failing miserably trying to use a cabinet maker in another state, and the rest is history. Unfortunately, we immediately took it on the chin from other amp kit sellers and amp techs because of our off-shore parts, but all in all it has been a lot of fun and it seems like most of our customers are happy with the results. We provide a lot of support on our bulletin boards and if a customer runs into trouble or ruins a part, I gladly send them replacements, no questions asked. Again, I really enjoy working with the customers, and I can just see the look on their faces when they fire up their very first build and it works.
300guitars: What are some of the most memorable moments or significant accomplishments over the years in business? Do you have any stories about celebrity artists?
Ted Weber: Because of security and other concerns, most people think celebrities don’t really have time or won’t take time to deal with the public once the concert is over. With very few exceptions, nothing could be further from the truth. Despite their 18 hour a day schedule, they have been nothing but gracious to me and our company.
Some memorable moments… hmmm.. Let’s see…. I went to Joe Walsh’s house a couple of times, and on the first visit I couldn’t resist asking if I could take a ride in his Maserati. Then I asked if it still did 185. He is a great guy, has very little to say, but when he does, he is hilarious. For my 50th birthday he sent me an acoustic guitar signed by all the Eagles. You asked about memorable moments. One of the most memorable was the day I was walking down the hall at my former job heading for a meeting and Joe called me on my cell phone to chat about a 15″ speaker. I’ve always been in awe of the Eagles, so that was something I will never forget.
Kim Wilson calls me once in awhile just to talk speakers. He is exactly two weeks older than I am and his father worked for the same company I retired from. Kim could be anywhere when he calls, on the Staten Island Ferry, at a gig, or just about anywhere. One time he called me, and said, “Ted, where would the Draino be” He was in a grocery store near his home and needed some drain cleaner. You don’t normally think of the number one harp player in America going to the grocery store or cleaning their own drains, but that’s what I mean when I say how common they are.
When I take in a Brad Paisley show, he always refers to me as Mr. Weber, and tells his guys to make sure I am comfortable and have plenty to eat and drink. Now, here’s a guy who could buy half of Nashville with his pocket change, and yet he’s showing concern for one of a million vendors he has to deal with. I have found that to be true of all the Country performers we work with.
Some of the celebrities we have worked with are Maroon 5, Metallica, Joe Walsh, Kim Wilson, Boz Scaggs, Buddy Whittington, Oasis, Eric Clapton, Brad Paisley, and the guitar players for 15 to 20 different pro country music acts.
300guitars: Who are some of your favorite guitar players and bands? What kind of music do you like to listen to?
Ted Weber: Although in my high school garage band days I tried to copy EC, Jimi, Ted Nugent, and on and on, my preference is Jazz. That’s really all I listen to now, with a little blues thrown in occasionally. Pick any well known Jazz player from any decade and I’ll say he is my favorite. On the rock and roll side, when I do listen to it, it is mostly 60’s and 70’s music, and that would be Pink Floyd, Joe Walsh solo and with the Eagles, and a few others. Although I’ve always played guitar and no other instruments, I personally feel the Hammond B3 with a Leslie 122 is the most sonically intoxicating sound I have ever heard.
300guitars: What is a typical day like for you at Weber VST?
Ted Weber: I get up several times during the night to check emails since I do all of the technical correspondence. I usually arrive at the shop around 8 to 8:30am and continue the correspondence, while working on new designs or special products. Honestly, it’s the job dreams are made of. My son does all of the worrying, the business, handles the employee hiring, etc., handles all the money, bills, and other issues. I answer emails, design, and blow up things. I usually go home around 5pm, unless some new design is driving me nuts. In that case, I might stay all evening and then sleep on my couch in my office and lab.
300guitars: What are some of your interests outside of Weber VST?
Ted Weber: I like to watch the history channel, the Discovery channel, and the Biography channel. When I get a chance and have the time, I like to read biographies of inventors and other people involved in technology.
300guitars: What are some of your favorite products?
Ted Weber: I really like to listen to boutique amps when I go to NAMM and guitar shows. Every guy has his idea about the perfect tone, and I really like to hear the subtleties in their tone and response.
300guitars: How important is customer service in the industry these days?
Ted Weber: More than anyone will understand or admit, mainly because of the internet. Which, by the way, is a good thing in my opinion. The internet is about freedom of speech, and in a strange way, all about anarchy. Anything goes, including opinions on products, service, and company personnel. Some companies worry too much about it, not realizing that some of the really negative comments are posted by people who are well known in the internet and are essentially ignored. However, there is a wealth of information on the various forums, product evaluation websites, and mailing lists that can provide all of the feedback a company could ever ask for. Having been marketing on the internet for 11 years now, I am well aware of its value and I peruse many different forums on a daily basis to see what issues we need to address or new products we need to be thinking about.
300guitars: What plans do you have for the future of Weber VST?
Ted Weber: As we continue to grow, I believe we will expand our inventory of components to include some American brands of capacitors, switches, and jacks. We want our customers to have the ultimate shopping experience and to me that always involves choice. My son and I are too conservative to go out and borrow money or sell stock so we can grow quickly, so we have a “steady as she goes” growth plan worked out for the next 10 years. I can’t stop designing amp kits, and electronics kits in general, so I will be working on those, in addition to a few new speaker models. I also want to offer a line of generic chassis products so people with the proper tools can build an amp exactly how they want it and not have to settle for one of our pre-punched chassis.
300guitars: Great Ted. Thank you for taking the time for this Spotlight interview. I’m sure a lot of players will benefit from it.
Ted Weber: Thanks very much for considering me for your interviews. As I mentioned previously, I’m living a dream for a hobby and am always happy to share any information I have learned along the way.