Help me make my new band happy.

[gary mitchell]

As most of you guys know, I use a SWR WorkingPro 700. I use a 4ohm cab, sometimes a 810 Peavey and sometimes my Schroeder 310212 both 4ohm. Its just me but I dont like running 8ohm cabs cause it cuts down on my wattage. They want me to do this and I understand so they can run me tru the monitors for the drummer, and other crap. Well thats fine we can hear us on stage good, but I got to crank to be heard out in front when we play outside gigs and we do alot here
in Texas. Are PA isnt able to handle me with all we have now. So I was thinking a Pre amp and stereo power amp something that would give me 700 to a 1000 watts each channel. I could run one side to my cab and they could have one side. What could I get to do this that has good sound and dependable, and I wont have give a arm and leg for. Are can you even do it.

[UncleFluffy]

Originally Posted by gary mitchell

in Texas. Are PA isnt able to handle me with all we have now. So I was thinking a Pre amp and stereo power amp something that would give me 700 to a 1000 watts each channel. I could run one side to my cab and they could have one side. What could I get to do this that has good sound and dependable, and I wont have give a arm and leg for. Are can you even do it.

I do something similar in the rehearsal studio. Carvin DCM2000L (overkill for me, perfect for you) with one side running bass -> bass pod and the other running vocal PA.

You probably don't need a pre amp, you can drive it from the SWR amp you're already using.

[gary mitchell]

That would be cool, because I really like my amp.

[mustbampeg]

Originally Posted by gary mitchell

As most of you guys know, I use a SWR WorkingPro 700. I use a 4ohm cab, sometimes a 810 Peavey and sometimes my Schroeder 310212 both 4ohm. Its just me but I dont like running 8ohm cabs cause it cuts down on my wattage. They want me to do this and I understand so they can run me tru the monitors for the drummer, and other crap. Well thats fine we can hear us on stage good, but I got to crank to be heard out in front when we play outside gigs and we do alot here
in Texas. Are PA isnt able to handle me with all we have now. So I was thinking a Pre amp and stereo power amp something that would give me 700 to a 1000 watts each channel. I could run one side to my cab and they could have one side. What could I get to do this that has good sound and dependable, and I wont have give a arm and leg for. Are can you even do it.

I'm not sure I understand your question. What does your stage volume have to do with running through the PA? If your stage volume is not loud enough, then add more speakers. Either run your head at 2ohms with both your current cabs ( not sure if your head can handle this), or trade them off for 8 ohm versions and run them together. Or get two completely different 8 ohm cabs to run together. Or if your issue is simply not enough PA support, then focus on some PA gear, your rig is fine. An inexpensive Carvin power amp and some pawn shop subs will go a LONG way in a PA setup. The pawn shops around here always seem to have PA subs in there. Currently at my local EZ pawn, they have some old 4x15 subs for $400. yes, thats FOUR 15 speakers in each enclosure, lolz.... things are massive, lol. Look cool as hell, though.
Good Luck!


Randy

[christw]

The way I understood this is that his 700w head isn't cutting it with the current cabs for outdoor use. If you bump it up to 1000w, you won't see much difference. It takes 10x the power to be 2x as loud. However, if you used both cabs with a power amp running off of the SWR pre into the second cab then there is no way you should have issues.

[Passinwind]

Spend the money on a better PA, seriously.

[markkoelsch]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Spend the money on a better PA, seriously.

This is it exactly. You need a bigger PA.

Secondly, most bands stage volume is too high, in my experience anyways. This makes running sound for them difficult as there can be a lot of bleed between instrument microphones, and makes it difficult to balance what is coming off the stage versus what is coming from the PA.

The best sounding bands I know locally are not running much stage amplification at all...except for the guitars, and they are running at pretty reasonable volumes. The bassists are using Sansamps, and the whole band is using in ear monitors. One bass player I knows shows to a gig with his rack, and 3 basses. He can make this in two very easy trips from his car. The rack is a power conditioner, Sansamps PSA 1, a tuner, and a compressor. The basses are a Jazz, a Precision, and a 5 string Ray. The thing is, they play mostly outdoors and have pretty serious PA support.

[gary mitchell]

I have talk myself crazy,trying to get them to spend a little money on some PA. Really all we need is some good speakers. We have a 24 channel Peavey board, 2000 crown and a 1000 watt QSC were not using. We have a Drummer a Guitarist and me. They are more worried about effects and double bass drum and crap. We have off the wall monitors I have never heard of with speakers made of toilet paper. Are Peavey PA speakers have mismatch speakers. I am to the point maybe firing my 2nd band.

[mustbampeg]

Originally Posted by gary mitchell

I have talk myself crazy,trying to get them to spend a little money on some PA. Really all we need is some good speakers. We have a 24 channel Peavey board, 2000 crown and a 1000 watt QSC were not using. We have a Drummer a Guitarist and me. They are more worried about effects and double bass drum and crap. We have off the wall monitors I have never heard of with speakers made of toilet paper. Are Peavey PA speakers have mismatch speakers. I am to the point maybe firing my 2nd band.

Just pack up your gear and walk away, man....
If the PA sounds horrible, then your band sounds horrible. Period. You can't invite the whole crowd up on stage where the sound might be decent. The sound needs to sound good out where the crowd is. The only way to do that is to have a decent PA and a decent sound person. Like I said, if the FOH sounds bad, then your band sounds bad, regardless of what you guys are hearing on the stage. And if the guys in your band dont think that FOH sound is a priority, then just walk away.
Just my .02

Randy