PA System. Any Ideas?

Haven't looked in to PA's in a long time... Any ideas... just for small gigs...Thanks

Go with the Bose L-1 system. It's great for all size venues, setup time is just a few minutes, and everyone, including yourself, will love the wonder sounds you hear.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

www.mackie.com

Hi beachbum

Like Gary and Donny, I like the ones I use. Only 23 lbs and I just tip them back and let the sound bounce off the ceiling so nobody gets blasted in the face and the sound travels well, plus you can easily hear yourself. IMO they cover about 98% of the gigs I do, and even the ones where I wish I had more power, invariably I am still asked to turn the volume down.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--JBLEON10G2

Scott

In case anybody's interested in a good price: http://cgi.ebay.com/2-JBL-EON-10-G2-SPEA...1QQcmdZViewItem

No, I'm not the one selling it. I would definitely talk to the seller by phone first.

[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 06-23-2006).]

Mackie SRM450, Martin Audio and Electrovoice (EV) PA all good stuff. Have a good shop around and buy what you can afford that's easily portable.

Assuming you're looking for a light as possible ez to transport & setup portable PA system, you first need to give us your definition of a SMALL gig:

1. Room size
2. Number of people.

Scott

I believe in one size fits all..

I have used my pair of Roland Keyboard Cube 100's for more than twenty years..

I have never played a job they couldn't handle...Gymnasiums..outdoors...loud rooms ...and quiet settings...

They do weigh 70 lbs each, but are on casters..

My choices are stay in stereo [90% of the time], or take one [mono]..Roland doesn't suffer from the mono thing like Yamaha..

I do keep a small amp[Roland Keyboard amp 60], for a house rehearsal or party and also as a stage monitor[if I need one]..

This is all the sound system I need..

The band [trio] I work with use a Yorkville set up...two 550 watt power speakers and a 600 watt sub woofer...We never exceed 1/3 of the power, and we play BIG venues...
I could easily do the same jobs with the Roland set up...

I would get a system that handles your largest jobs and don't worry about the small jobs[the volume knob turns both ways]..

That said, would you utilize a JUMBO screwdriver to turn a small screw or a sledge hammer to drive a finnishing nail?! Fran, I suppose now that Donny's sold his TRS-MS02's + Bose 161's, you suggest he now haul his 50 lb each Makie SRM450's around for even his smallest of nursing home gigs too?

TIME is MONEY ! For the smallest gigs (under 35-40 people) where in & out quick transport & setup is essential, I'm able to simply grab my 17 lb TRS-MS02 subwoofer (with conveniently fix mounted carrying handle) in one hand + add my 3.25 lb Bose 161's into a lightweight gig bag. Setup time: 15 seconds. To fill a larger rooms and/or with more people, I'll simply bring along my 38 lb Motion Sound KP100S. For larger jobs still (dance/banquet hall sized), I take my EV self powered PA system. The regularly gigging kb musician who plays a variety of different venues benefits greatly from being able to call upon the most appropriate PA setups suited for the specific venue. - Scott

Thanks for the thoughts guys.. Those JBl's might be nice.. Might have to wait a check or two to buy.. Finishing up CD 4 and thought I'd take a break and go back and do some gigs for a bit... I had beringers 300 but sold them about 2 years ago.. Boy, you want to talk about heavy.. looking for something lighter that covers everything really...
Thanks again..

Scott if I want to be skimpy...I will just roll a single Cube with my keyboard on top of it...Just two plugs and I am up and running..

Seriously , I still maintain my system is ideal for all venues...maybe I work out more than you, and a little[and I mean little] weight doesn't make any difference..
As for time is money...No one is as efficient as I.

What about jobs you are new to and don't know the room...Do you carry all three set ups?

I am prepared to do any job with one set up..

BTW..The Jumbo Screwdriver and Sledge hammer are to bigg to start off with...I don't own either one...my tools handle any job.

As with all of this, everyone has their own slant on this. I personally don't like messing with more than one set-up. In using the JBL's there is no need at all for something smaller, as these are only 23 pounds and sound great at a whisper or loud. It doesn't take any longer to set up than a 2.1 or 5.1 that's for sure and it covers the frequencies better than the midget satellites but a bunch.

Setting on the floor the have plenty of bass. If I do need a little more bottom, or thump thump. The sub from the Logitech z5500 at 188 watts RMS will knock out windows if you want. On the other hand even at low volumes and playing acoustic jazz or easy listening ballads it adds more realism to the bass.

If a little more omph is needed I use a Behringer UB802 mixer. It's surprizing how much that will add, and only cost me $42.

I'll have to admit the Bose L1 concept I like, I need to try them out for myself to see about the stereo phase thing and then see if it makes sense to spend that kind of money on a mono PA, or any PA for that matter.

Another option that I want to retest is the Peavey PR12's and the Behringer PMH880S. That's a lot of PA for $600-700. And, the speakers only weigh 29 lbs and the PA head only weighs 19 lbs. This interests me a lot.

I did test it for only a short period of time,(because it was way too loud for the music store employees to handle), I used the classic V shape for the EQ controls and some notes seems to drop out a bit probably because of the setting I used.

I think it was Don Mason that pointed that out to me. I really want to retest it set to flat and in a good sized hall if possible. A lot of this you just can't tell in a music store.

It's like Guitar Center. I know they have a Bose L1, but the room they are in is about the size of a large closet. What can you tell in a setting like that? Outside of the testing out the phase thing, not much.

Anyway, just wanted to add another opinion and options for those out there that may want to consider trying some speakers out.

Best
Scott
http://ScottLMusic.com

Interesting PA opinions............
http://www.svpworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7023&KW=all+bets+are+off

Scott,

If I recall, GC is offering a 30-day no questions asked return policy with the Bose L-1. The price, whether you buy directly from Bose, or GC is the same. The only difference is the 45 day return policy versus the 30 day. Give it a try, fire it up in a large hall, and run a dozen quality midi files through the keyboard and sound system. Walk throughout the venue listening to the sounds, A/B the Bose with your current PA doing the exact same procedure, then you can make a valid assessment based upon what you hear. If you don't like the sounds produced through the Bose, pack it up, take it back and go with the system you're currently using. For me, and a growing number of individuals throughout the industry, the L-1 provides unsurpassed sound quality. Personally, I don't need to hear anything in stereo, and even when I used a pair of Barbetta Sona 32Cs that were spaced 15 feet apart, most of my audiences didn't hear the stereo separation at all. I did a lot of investigation before purchasing the Bose L-1, listened to dozens of systems, and none provided the rich, clear, crisp sound quality of the L-1. As for phase cancellation, it has not been a problem for me or my audiences--they love what they hear.

Good Luck,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Gary, I actually got a better price from M. Friend by first getting a quote from Guitar Center. M. Friend matched it. I think it was $1699. for L1 and the sub, including free shipping and one-year no interest financing.
ScottL. Get in your car and come listen to my T2 through the Bose. I can hear no problems at all, nor can any of my customers, clients or fellow musicians. I use it for everything from Nursing Homes to outdoor concerts.
I actually hope nobody else around here ever gets one, because it gives me a great advantage!
DonM

Hey Don

That sounds like it would be fun. I'll have to see if and when that would be feasible.

Scott

Scott, your opinion when you see/hear it, Since I also use JBL 10's.

Thanks, John C.



[This message has been edited by bruno123 (edited 06-25-2006).]

Hi beachbum. I have found the Yamaha StagePAS a perfect combination for small nursing home gigs that I do (25 to 75 people) even in difficult sound locations. the keyboard sounds rich and vocals exceptionally clear. I also like the reverb effect, although I have seen some negative views on that too.

Also important to me, it is light and easy to set up.

Graham

This looks good, tho as for as I know, nobody around here has checked it out:
http://www.roland.com/products/en/SA-300/index.html

Thanks everyone for the feeback... Cool stuff... I think I'm going with JBL 10's.. want something light... I'm going to buy one first and see how I like'it then buy another...

Thanks again!

beachbum:

Your PSR3000 will not sound good going through one of the JBL or any other single speaker. In fact, it will probably sound downright bad. You won't be able to tell that way, you will need to try 2 speakers in stereo or the phase cancellation will make you want to send any one speaker of any brand back. (Except for possibly the Bose L1, which I personally have not yet heard, but is getting very good reviews by
some highly respected players).

Best
Scott

http://ScottLMusic.com



[This message has been edited by Scott Langholff (edited 06-27-2006).]

www.mackie.com