• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Advice needed - Playing an outdoor party

Bassbubble11

Bassbubble11

Apr 15, 2010
1,255
936
Long Island, New York
#1
Hey Folks, The drummer in my band is having a pretty sizable outdoor party over the Memorial Day weekend and wants us to play a couple sets of music. I have never played outdoors so I was wondering which of my 2 amps I should use.

I have a 180 watt 1x15 Ashdown combo and a 350 watt Hartke 3500 head with 2x10 and 1x15 cabs.

We are not playing thru the PA (vocals only). What should I use? The Ashdown combo or the Hartke rig?
 
#5
What is your P.A. used for?

How about stacking your 1x15 Ashdown with the 1x15 as extension cab? You'll move enough air and get good dispersion and hear it on stage. I've heard many a bass player with a combo at knee level, unable to hear themselves, put out so much bass you could hear it a block away.

If the guitar is not mic'd, have the guitarist use an extension speaker on the opposite side of the stage since guitar cabs are so directional.

Be sure to do a sound check (go wireless or use a long cord) so you can go FOH and hear the mix from different parts of the venue.

Another thing I've done is to add a couple of extra mains and angle them to the right and left of the band out to the venue so you get more dispersion for the P.A. This can work really well if they have their own amp so the cabs cab be blended well with the rest of the P.A., especially if it's an odd shaped yard or their are tables off to one side or the other.
 
#9
I'm going to say that for 3/4 of the party goers, if not more, they'll want to hang out and talk with friends rather than just sit and listen to the music. In fact they'll probably be annoyed if you play loud enough that they can't talk comfortably. So you've cut your power requirements pretty significantly right there. I'd guess the Ashdown will be enough, and the Hartke will be overkill. With that said though, the Hartke is more modular and can always be turned down. Take the Hartke.
 
#10
Stumbo said:
What is your P.A. used for?

How about stacking your 1x15 Ashdown with the 1x15 as extension cab? You'll move enough air and get good dispersion and hear it on stage. I've heard many a bass player with a combo at knee level, unable to hear themselves, put out so much bass you could hear it a block away.

If the guitar is not mic'd, have the guitarist use an extension speaker on the opposite side of the stage since guitar cabs are so directional.

Be sure to do a sound check (go wireless or use a long cord) so you can go FOH and hear the mix from different parts of the venue.

Another thing I've done is to add a couple of extra mains and angle them to the right and left of the band out to the venue so you get more dispersion for the P.A. This can work really well if they have their own amp so the cabs cab be blended well with the rest of the P.A., especially if it's an odd shaped yard or their are tables off to one side or the other.
Click to expand...

The PA is just gonna be used for vocals because we just wanted to keep it simple (I may change this).

The Ashdown has an output for an extra cab and I was thinking about adding the 2x10 to it and going that route. I never thought of going with the extra 1x15. I don't know if the Ashdown will be powerful enough for 2 15's. I think I will just go with the entire Hartke rig.

I have a wireless system so I will do a sound check fo' sho'. We want to keep it simple so we can just hang out and get drunk without having to do so much work. LOL.

Thanks for all the advice. I really appreciate it.
 
#11
Bassbubble11 said:
The PA is just gonna be used for vocals because we just wanted to keep it simple (I may change this).

The Ashdown has an output for an extra cab and I was thinking about adding the 2x10 to it and going that route. I never thought of going with the extra 1x15. I don't know if the Ashdown will be powerful enough for 2 15's. I think I will just go with the entire Hartke rig.

I have a wireless system so I will do a sound check fo' sho'. We want to keep it simple so we can just hang out and get drunk without having to do so much work. LOL.

Thanks for all the advice. I really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

The Ashdown gets a boost in power and will move a lot more air with two 15's. Matching/stacking the 15's should sound pretty good even though the cabs are not exactly the same. I suggest not adding the 2x10. Matching 15's will do more for you and save some cash!:hyper:

Also, think about setting your rig a bit further back of the drummer. There's no echo so he'll be able to hear you straight away.

If you can, put a mic on a pillow inside the kick drum to get a bit of it in the P.A. Nothing massive so as to not hurt the P.A. but just enough to add to the mix.

Let us know how it goes.
 
#12
Depends on how loud the drums and PA are. I prefer to use as little volume as necessary, but you always need to make sure you bring enough, especially outdoors.

Without knowledge of your band or your gear, I would say bring the Hartke rig to be safe. But you know your band better than any of us. If you can get away with a lower "stage volume," I'd do that. I generally use my smaller combo for everything unless it's a venue where the drums are going to be mic'd.
 
#17
How big a party? I had a rather large (60+) cookout Memorial Day weekend in my back yard and I had my band play. I used a Kustom 400w PA with 2 1x15 mains and 2 1x10 monitors. Just vocals and keyboards in the PA. I used my Markbass LMIII into a single GK Neo112. We were loud enough to be heard several houses away. I'm quite sure using anything even remotely larger with more power will suffice.

 
#18
DWBass said:
Click to expand...


Hmm. Kind of proves my point from another thread that you can have a "vocal" only pa and still sound good. (I know you had some keys in there, but that is besides the point.)

Sounded good to me. I could hear all the instruments and the vocals. Good job!

You don't need aThousandCanKillYaWatts to sound good people! And I'm betting DWBass's neighbors did not hate him at the end of the day.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back