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P.A. suggestions wanted


Storky
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My band plays social clubs and a few functions, Rock n roll/50s,60s through to some 80s stuff. It looks like I may need to source a new P.A., or at least a mixer. We put three vocals and keyboards through the P.A. I know very little about the various options so am hoping for some advice and suggestions.

thanks in advance

Ade

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Rcf, Yamaha, QSC all make good kit. But I'd have a think first about format before looking in to brands and models. 

A common solution for a gig worthy vocal PA would be 12 inch active tops, no subs. Keyboards add a different slant as they can occupy a fair bit of bottom end depending on what parts they play and how well trained you have him/her. 

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Our drummer just bought a new QSC rig. He plays in a punk covers band as well as our Glam Rock covers band.

He's covering all bases with it with 12" tops 215 tops and 18" subs. He can use individually or any combination of them to suit the venue. 

Using keys i would be looking for something that will take the low end quite easily.

I've seen some bands with just one sub and two raised 12's or 15's and that works for most venues.

We looked at Mackie, Yamaha, RCF but he knows people in the business and he got a great deal on the QSC 

Dave

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Thanks for the comments and advice. Budget is not fixed, but hundreds rather than thousands; I would hope to get something suitable for between £200 and £600. I’d spend more if I needed to though as I’ve had mixers in the past that have been cheap and only lasted a few years. Or I start again from scratch and buy a complete system for a couple of grand or so.

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I got a pair of alto TS212s the other day on a local group, after months (years) of dithering of whether I needed something better and if 12s would be enough etc. People will always say you need the yamahas and RCFs etc, and I am sure they are fantastic compared to what I have, but for me, it turns out they are great and better than what we had.. I am sure you can get something better but it was £300 local pickup to me with all leads, stands and padded bags and as I already had a behringer X mixer, I didn't need anything else.

My plan was to get a sub at some point, but I can't honestly say I have needed one.

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2 hours ago, JakeBrownBass said:

This.

this is the most important answer to your question.

Naming manufacturers as recommendations is pointless. 

People say “Yamaha” but is that a £150 MG series or a £10000 CL series.

 

60% of us want to recommend what we have, 30% want to talk gear porn, that just leaves 10% in the game for offering genuine practical advice and where's the fun in that?!? 

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9 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

I got a pair of alto TS212s the other day on a local group, after months (years) of dithering of whether I needed something better and if 12s would be enough etc. People will always say you need the yamahas and RCFs etc, and I am sure they are fantastic compared to what I have, but for me, it turns out they are great and better than what we had.. I am sure you can get something better but it was £300 local pickup to me with all leads, stands and padded bags and as I already had a behringer X mixer, I didn't need anything else.

My plan was to get a sub at some point, but I can't honestly say I have needed one.

Last band had Alto gear and it was pretty good. We put keys thru it too. Can't remember if it was 12's or 15's in the tops with subs as well.

Dave

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8 hours ago, mingsta said:

60% of us want to recommend what we have, 30% want to talk gear porn, that just leaves 10% in the game for offering genuine practical advice and where's the fun in that?!? 

At last, someone who understands what Basschat is all about.😀

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22 hours ago, mingsta said:

60% of us want to recommend what we have, 30% want to talk gear porn, that just leaves 10% in the game for offering genuine practical advice and where's the fun in that?!? 

Completely understand ☺️

I sell this stuff for a living and from personal experience, having a customer with a budget in mind makes things far easier to find the best solution for them.

 

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On ‎03‎/‎03‎/‎2019 at 22:32, Storky said:

Thanks for the comments and advice. Budget is not fixed, but hundreds rather than thousands; I would hope to get something suitable for between £200 and £600. I’d spend more if I needed to though as I’ve had mixers in the past that have been cheap and only lasted a few years. Or I start again from scratch and buy a complete system for a couple of grand or so.

At £200-£600, you're going to struggle to buy a decent complete system (especially new) that is any good. Personally, I'd steer clear of used PA speakers unless you know their provenance. They can be abused (usually by people trying to put kick drum, etc through them and often driving them into clipping with inadequate amplification). Used mixers and power amps are usually fine if you buy sensibly. At £200-£600, active speakers are probably out of the question. I note you refer to starting from scratch. Do you have some stuff already? If so, what is it? Might be that you can augment it.

Edited by Dan Dare
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