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I need some sound PA recommendations!


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I get together with my buddies from time to time for some livingroom music. We play country, folk, blues etc. The instrumentation is acoustic guitars, fiddle, light electric, pedal steel etc. All high caliber players that can play with good balance. The only problem is that the vocals are getting strained and occasionally lost when things build a bit. I am looking for a small, high quality PA to help us out. Something like a couple of high quality powered speakers and an 8-16 channel mixer with reverb. I already have good mikes (Neuman KMS 505, AKG 535, Shure SM81, 57 etc.) so all we need is some good sound equipment.

 

Any recommendations? Oh yeah, something light as possible too.

 

Thanks

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Originally posted by PowerTool

I get together with my buddies from time to time for some livingroom music. We play country, folk, blues etc. The instrumentation is acoustic guitars, fiddle, light electric, pedal steel etc. All high caliber players that can play with good balance. The only problem is that the vocals are getting strained and occasionally lost when things build a bit. I am looking for a small, high quality PA to help us out. Something like a couple of high quality powered speakers and an 8-16 channel mixer with reverb. I already have good mikes (Neuman KMS 505, AKG 535, Shure SM81, 57 etc.) so all we need is some good sound equipment.


Any recommendations? Oh yeah, something light as possible too.


Thanks

Is this just for your own enjoyment,or for gigging? If it is just for getting together for your own enjoyment,I'd get monitor wedges for your speakers.And then probably a quality powered mixer. Peavey makes some really good models.

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I have to second the Fender Passport recommendation, and I'd go with the new Passport Deluxe; it has Bose speakers that are said to be a definite improvement over the standard Passports by everyone I know who's heard them. I've even heard an electric blues trio using a Passport in a small club for vocals, and it handled the job just fine.

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Originally posted by DaBender

I have to second the Fender Passport recommendation, and I'd go with the new Passport Deluxe; it has Bose speakers that are said to be a definite improvement over the standard Passports by everyone I know who's heard them. I've even heard an electric blues trio using a Passport in a small club for vocals, and it handled the job just fine.

 

 

Why does that sound unlikely.

 

I've seen a passport fail to amplify a classroom effectively.

 

Get a peavey powered head and a couple of speakers or something - anything's better than a passport

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Why does that sound unlikely.


I've seen a passport fail to amplify a classroom effectively.


Get a peavey powered head and a couple of speakers or something - anything's better than a passport

 

 

I don't care how it sounds - it's true. As I said, it was a small club, perhaps not much bigger than a typical classroom. I'm talking about the Passport 250, maybe you're referring to the 150? FWIW, the guitarist was playing through a Fender RI Bassman, obviously not cranked way up, but the sound was great.

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Originally posted by DaBender

I have to second the Fender Passport recommendation, and I'd go with the new Passport Deluxe; it has Bose speakers that are said to be a definite improvement over the standard Passports by everyone I know who's heard them. I've even heard an electric blues trio using a Passport in a small club for vocals, and it handled the job just fine.

I would have to disagree. I tried the 250 Deluxe once to use just as an onstage acoustic guitar amp,and it was very disappointing. A small 200-400 watt powered mixer and a decent pair of 12" cabs or wedges has far more output and a lot better tone,IMO.

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We make a passport type thing. Our's is called the Escort.

Escort

 

We use one for our quarterly engineering picnic, outside. We only put vocals through it, and it does fine. These guys are playing XXX's and 5150's, there's no shortage of big guitar amps around here. Of course, they aren't cranked to "11". Our neighbors wouldn't appreciate that.

 

SoundMan

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Originally posted by SoundMan

We make a passport type thing. Our's is called the Escort.



We use one for our quarterly engineering picnic, outside. We only put vocals through it, and it does fine. These guys are playing XXX's and 5150's, there's no shortage of big guitar amps around here. Of course, they aren't cranked to "11". Our neighbors wouldn't appreciate that.


SoundMan

Personally,I'd go with a 684 or 696 and a pair of decent 10" or 12" wedges. Those little Peavey powered heads are great.

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Originally posted by tlbonehead

I would have to disagree. I tried the 250 Deluxe once to use just as an onstage acoustic guitar amp,and it was very disappointing. A small 200-400 watt powered mixer and a decent pair of 12" cabs or wedges has far more output and a lot better tone,IMO.

 

 

The passport I've used was a 250 'donated' to my tafe (college) music course. It has been used to demonstrate basic PA's to the music business courses - and by our sound production lecturer to show just how bad a PA can be.

 

The rehearsal rooms use Peavey 200 watt (I think) powered mixers and molded 12" speakers and they do a far superior job.

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I'll second the JBL EON G2 speakers. I recently got a new Yamaha 16 Ch board for only a couple hundred (they also make one with built in effects).

That combination sounds nice, isn't ocerly expensive and is quite flexable.

The EON's will work sitting, on a stand OR will tilt back to be a wedge monitor.

You can get 10", 15" or Subs.

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I have the Passport PD250 and while I'll agree that it sounds very good, the Bose drivers have blown twice. The first time was after playing the system admittedly very loud for a couple of hours. One driver(of a pair) on each side blew. I had to wait 8 weeks for a replacement. Knowing that the drivers were delicate I used it for about 6 hours outdoors but not that loud and they blew again. The unit has been in the shop for over two months waiting for replacements. Granted there is a 3 year warranty but this is ridiculous. My needs are very casual but if I were doing this for money or prestige I would never rely on it. I have the Eon 2 in both 10 and 15 inch varieties. The 10's are a little harsh but the 15's haven't let me down. I've cranked those babies many times.

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