Need some PA system advice

[Rowan]

Okay me and the guys I've been jamming with are looking to grab an all-in-one PA system for somewhere in the 5-6 bills range. We don't need anything amazing or super loud, it just has to be decent with enough volume to be heard. We won't be using it for gigs.

Our rehearsal space is very open. We used to have practice in a small, closed room and I would have to turn my 50 watt/4x12 rig to about 5 or 6. In this room my rig sounds louder and only needs to be at 3-4 if this information helps at all.

Right now I've kind of been eyeing this Yahama system but recommendations and advice are extremely welcome and appreciated.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Also check out this package: A Carvin 6-channel mixer amp (200w RMS/4 ohms) with a pair of 2-way monitors (10"); $499 US + shipping.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Need some PA system advice

If the budgets limited, chances are great it'll go much further if 'ya get some used gear. Maybe some EV cabs and an old PV or Crest amp with a separate mixer... even just a Smackie 1202.

PA watts aren't even close to guitar watts.

Might take 400-500 PA watts for vocals to hang with a 50 watt half-stack...

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Yamaha.Peavey, Carvin etc. all make powered mixing heads w/t a matched pair of speaker bins to fit your criteria. Which ever you decide? My best advice is to make the extra investment in speaker stands !! Once you get them bins off the floor, Even a low line P.A. (lower powered) will fill the room with sound. You will be able to hear yourself better.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Also check out this package: A Carvin 6-channel mixer amp (200w RMS/4 ohms) with a pair of 2-way monitors (10"); $499 US + shipping.

Hmm that looks like good stuff Ginormous! Would something like that be loud enough for band rehearsal? Sound quality isn't really an issue, as long as its decent and loud enough as it will only be for practices.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Need some PA system advice

How many mic inputs do you need? If you can get by with just six, I'd recommend a used Peavey XR600C-D-E-F. I'd bet that you could find one for less than $250. If you need one of the 8-channel versions, it will cost you a little more. The 600C will produce 300 watts into a 2-ohm load. They have such flexible patching: you can use the mixer, Graphic EQ, or power amp individually, or in any combination. They work as a bass amp; and they'll do the job for a guitarist who uses a modeling POD-type preamp.

And while you've got an eye out for a XR600C, keep the other one looking for older Peavey 112HS floor monitors. These use the 8-ohm Scorpion 12", and a pair of piezo tweeters into a horn, and an L-pad for controlling levels. You ccan sometimes find them with the excellent Black Widow 12". They handle 65 watts--about a perfect match for the XR600C. You can use up to four of them with the XR600C. I've seen these for as low as $65 used--and nice ones, too.

Add some good speaker cables and you've got a great little rig for a practice room--for dirt cheap. And the thing is, it is expandable. And if you ever gig, you find the pieces serviceable and reliable.

There are some small, decent systems out there for not a lot of money, but few have the flexibility of the XR600C, and most of them will cost you more money. Yamaha makes a nice unit, but I'd avoid Fender's Passport systems, Peavey's Escort, et. al. You're best bet is do some careful shopping and look for used gear bargains. For this kind of thing, Peavey usually offers the best value. They are hard to beat.

Happy hunting!

Bill

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Listen to the Moose here. Sounds like you are playing very loud. A tiny 200 watt PA with low budget speakers will most likely not keep up.

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Also don't forget money for speaker stands, speaker cables, mics, mic cables, mic stands and so on. It adds up quickly.

3-4 on a 50 watt half stack still seems pretty loud, but both of my amp heads are pretty loud.

I was fortunate to buy out PA off our old lead singer for pretty cheap. He spent almost $3k on it and I got the whole thing for $1400 (16 channel mixer, power amp, two mains, speaker stands, two monitors, and all cables). At practices we just run vocals through the PA. We have used it for a few shows and it keeps up just fine.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Craigslist is full of complete PA systems for very cheap these days. Lots of people giving up gigging, lots of people need cash fast.

Apart from the obvious savings you will end up getting all the "minor" stuff like quality cables, cases and assorted bits for free. The minor bits cost a lot of money if you have to bootstrap from zero.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Forgot to mention, I would defiinitely choose the Yamaha 500 system over the 300. I think these systems are better for a singer-songwriter act or an acoustic duo, than a full-tilt rock band.

Bill

 

[Rowan]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Thanks for all the advice guys, I really appreciate it. I just found a yamaha EMX68S powered mixer with yamaha speakers and stands for the price I was going to pay for the Stagepas new! I love Craigslist more than my own children


(I don't have any children)

 

[DLT]

Re: Need some PA system advice

Also check out this package: A Carvin 6-channel mixer amp (200w RMS/4 ohms) with a pair of 2-way monitors (10"); $499 US + shipping.

+1

If a band learns to work together, you do not need a huge pile of equipment and (I will probably catch crap for saying this) you do not need a sound person.

I saw Bill Kirchen play with the bare essentials/no sound guy and he blew me away! The band got all their equipment in a station wagon. I am talking small venues of course, but a couple of mains with 15" speakers, 2 monitors, a 6 to 12 channel powered PA and you are good to gig. Less time setting up and tearing down is what a band should keep in mind, especially at today's wages. If I did it again, no way would I play unless it was with a quick and easy set up / tear down.