Head for PA?

[Mroid]

So, I have joined a local band, that plays on various dancing events. We connect everything through PA system and speakers there are pretty decent. I've been playing there for a couple of months connecting directly to PA (or at least that's how I understood this from the words of our sound engineering guy) and then sound is sent to combo. It is quite old and crappy, so it makes weird noises and dramatically changes the tone, sometimes making it really unpleasant.
Therefore, I have decided to buy an amp to solve those problems.

So I'm not sure how does it work and I've tried to search for some information, but it seems, that everyone on forums just plays using their own amplification only without PA, so I could not find much info on the subject.
I have considered two options:

1) Buying a combo, like Fender Rumble 200, so that I can use it later on if I decide to join another band and would actually need loud amplification.
2) Buy a head amp (I assume that it would be better quality than combo for the same price) and then connect it to PA and some small cabinet ( and potentially buy bigger cabinet later on in the future)

Which option do you think is better? And can you recommend any heads/combos for those purposes?

P.S.: English is not my native language, so I'm sorry if the text is unreadable.

 

[Stumbo]

You need a DI out that sends signal to the PA and an amp. Some amps have them built in.

 

[Wasnex]

So, I have joined a local band, that plays on various dancing events. We connect everything through PA system and speakers there are pretty decent. I've been playing there for a couple of months connecting directly to PA (or at least that's how I understood this from the words of our sound engineering guy) and then sound is sent to combo. It is quite old and crappy, so it makes weird noises and dramatically changes the tone, sometimes making it really unpleasant.
Therefore, I have decided to buy an amp to solve those problems.

So I'm not sure how does it work and I've tried to search for some information, but it seems, that everyone on forums just plays using their own amplification only without PA, so I could not find much info on the subject.
I have considered two options:

1) Buying a combo, like Fender Rumble 200, so that I can use it later on if I decide to join another band and would actually need loud amplification.
2) Buy a head amp (I assume that it would be better quality than combo for the same price) and then connect it to PA and some small cabinet ( and potentially buy bigger cabinet later on in the future)

Which option do you think is better? And can you recommend any heads/combos for those purposes?

P.S.: English is not my native language, so I'm sorry if the text is unreadable.

You describe your signal path as: Bass > PA > Amp. This is backwards from the way most people do it. It gives the audio tech complete control over you signal.

Usually the audio tech does not have any direct control over the players amp. The signal path is typically one of the following:
1. Bass> (external DI) > Amp
2. Bass> Amp (internal DI)
3. Bass> Amp> Microphone
In other words, the PA is fed from either an internal or external DI, or a microphone.

Whether you buy a combo are separate amp and speaker depends on a lot of factors. You need to decide how much money you want to spend, the type of tone you want, the features you want, and how much volume you need. With this sort of information people can suggest different options. Of course since you are a none-English speaker, that may not be helpful since what we suggest may not be available in your market. You could ask for opinions on specific pieces of gear.

 

[G-Dog]

Hello, @Mroid! Welcome to TalkBass. I hope you get what you're looking for here.

So, I have joined a local band, that plays on various dancing events. We connect everything through PA system and speakers there are pretty decent. I've been playing there for a couple of months connecting directly to PA (or at least that's how I understood this from the words of our sound engineering guy) and then sound is sent to combo. It is quite old and crappy, so it makes weird noises and dramatically changes the tone, sometimes making it really unpleasant. . . . .

Yes, like @Wasnex said, this is an unusual setup for the PA to send your signal to a combo, but it is possible. Perhaps what you're calling a combo is really just a monitor speaker? That would be more common.

. . . . Therefore, I have decided to buy an amp to solve those problems.

So I'm not sure how does it work and I've tried to search for some information, but it seems, that everyone on forums just plays using their own amplification only without PA, so I could not find much info on the subject.
I have considered two options:

1) Buying a combo, like Fender Rumble 200, so that I can use it later on if I decide to join another band and would actually need loud amplification.
2) Buy a head amp (I assume that it would be better quality than combo for the same price) and then connect it to PA and some small cabinet ( and potentially buy bigger cabinet later on in the future)

Which option do you think is better? And can you recommend any heads/combos for those purposes?

P.S.: English is not my native language, so I'm sorry if the text is unreadable.

This question comes down to the same old question of "what is better, a combo amp, or a head and cab?" And the answer is always, "it depends!" If you want a one-box carry and simple connections, then get a combo. If a two-box carry is OK and you want to possibly switch out different speaker cabinets with the amp, or different amps with the speaker cabinet(s), then get the head and cab. But, of course, it's always more complicated than that.

No one knows all the details of your particular circumstances and, especially, your preferences better than you. So, it's really your decision to make and live with, or learn from.

Good luck whichever way you go.

 

[Mroid]

Thank you all for your replies. I indeed connect it directly to pa and then the signal goes back in combo(so basically it is used as a speaker). So I've decided, that I am going to buy a lighter combo.

This forum is so nice, I can hardly believe it. I mean I've obviously posted a newbie question and nobody said anything bad to me. I'm starting to like it around here

 

[Marty Forrer]

We're nice people.

 

[Stumbo]

Thank you all for your replies. I indeed connect it directly to pa and then the signal goes back in combo(so basically it is used as a speaker). So I've decided, that I am going to buy a lighter combo.

This forum is so nice, I can hardly believe it. I mean I've obviously posted a newbie question and nobody said anything bad to me. I'm starting to like it around here

We're here to help.

 

[Pat C.]

We're here to help.

Mostly.

@Mroid - can you share the specific make and models of the Mixer and Combo that you're using? There may be a way to optimize the use of your current gear before you buy something.

 

[Balog]

If you're able to take pictures of the equipment you're using, and exactly how it's connected that would be super helpful too.