Seriously, if 300-500 watts won't cut it onstage, you will soon be suffering some hearing loss without ear protection. Let the PA fill the house.
John
John
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high-powered heads
- Thread starter Dan Molina
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thats why I have custom earplugs 
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not to mention the fact that sometimes there is no house. I've been in situations where the house miced everything but the bass, just relied on me to crank it up.
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not to mention the fact that sometimes there is no house. I've been in situations where the house miced everything but the bass, just relied on me to crank it up.
socalpyropunk said:thats why I have custom earplugs
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not to mention the fact that sometimes there is no house. I've been in situations where the house miced everything but the bass, just relied on me to crank it up.
Amen. Not every city has clubs like the ones your used to in your home turf. Here in Rochester, there's seldom a place where you dont get PA supprt (somehow in this rinky-dink city). But I've been to places in New York that have NOTHING to support the instruments whatsoever. I'm surprised they dont demand the vocalist to simply sing with no PA sometimes. These are places with almost a 500person capacity, at my estimation! Seems ridiculous to me.... but ya never know.
I saw a band in Syracuse at a club that was DEFINATELY big enough to have a PA system... but they hardly had jack. The bass player was playing through an SVT3-Pro and an SVT610. Sounded fabulous...... when my ears could hear him through the Dual Rect. half-stacks. To be honest... he wasnt completely drowned out, but I think he lacked a little bit. The 3Pro's 450W are loud for 450W. Plus... if the bass was louder, I have no idea how I'd have heard the drums... because even they werent mic'd.
Also... genre of music typically matters quite a lot. In the type of music I listen to and play.... I use ear plugs when we practice. I just like having the power at hand just in case. Will I ever need it on a regular basis? pff... I'd better not! Who knows... you could even get shafted at an outdoor gig. I know if I was outside, I'd like to have a kilowatt and a 1x15 on my side at the very least.... especially after what I've been hearing from the experiences of others that have played outdoors.
There you have it...
Spend your $0.02 wisely
ya I agree. I do have a bad habit of not wearing my earplugs when I should but I wear them much more often at practice then at gigs.
Most all of our local venue have pretty good PA, one of the smaller sports bars is one of my favorite places to play, small place but with an awesome PA they mic and DI the bass.
My band played on the Warped Tour this summer on a few different stages.
One "stage" was just a tent, PA covered the guitars, drums, and vocals. I borrowed an SWR 8x10 when playing there and with 1000 watts it cut through pretty well. That was with everything else pretty maxed out cause we had a lot to compete with and it is outdoors. my SVT4x10 wouldn't have come close to cutting it.
Most all of our local venue have pretty good PA, one of the smaller sports bars is one of my favorite places to play, small place but with an awesome PA they mic and DI the bass.
My band played on the Warped Tour this summer on a few different stages.
One "stage" was just a tent, PA covered the guitars, drums, and vocals. I borrowed an SWR 8x10 when playing there and with 1000 watts it cut through pretty well. That was with everything else pretty maxed out cause we had a lot to compete with and it is outdoors. my SVT4x10 wouldn't have come close to cutting it.
TheChariot said:Amen. Not every city has clubs like the ones your used to in your home turf. Here in Rochester, there's seldom a place where you dont get PA supprt (somehow in this rinky-dink city). But I've been to places in New York that have NOTHING to support the instruments whatsoever. I'm surprised they dont demand the vocalist to simply sing with no PA sometimes. These are places with almost a 500person capacity, at my estimation! Seems ridiculous to me.... but ya never know.
I saw a band in Syracuse at a club that was DEFINATELY big enough to have a PA system... but they hardly had jack. The bass player was playing through an SVT3-Pro and an SVT610. Sounded fabulous...... when my ears could hear him through the Dual Rect. half-stacks. To be honest... he wasnt completely drowned out, but I think he lacked a little bit. The 3Pro's 450W are loud for 450W. Plus... if the bass was louder, I have no idea how I'd have heard the drums... because even they werent mic'd.
Also... genre of music typically matters quite a lot. In the type of music I listen to and play.... I use ear plugs when we practice. I just like having the power at hand just in case. Will I ever need it on a regular basis? pff... I'd better not! Who knows... you could even get shafted at an outdoor gig. I know if I was outside, I'd like to have a kilowatt and a 1x15 on my side at the very least.... especially after what I've been hearing from the experiences of others that have played outdoors.
There you have it...
Spend your $0.02 wisely
Thats pretty much my deal, i'm playing house parties. I get no support whatsoever. The only thing we have for vocals is my 60watt roland guitar amp.
House Parties.... sounds pretty rough with no PA.
I was lucky enough to receive a Mackie PPM 808 powered mixer when I got my whole swarm of equipment. I didnt realize it upon receiving it... but that thing is friggon sweet. Two 600W power amps. I have two 8ohm speakers, so they get 300W each. It's not gonna fill a whole music hall, but it'll get the job done at a place that doesnt even have PA for the vocals. I could always add speakers, if need be, as well.
You could possible look into one. Maybe have your bandmates chip in. I think the 808 is about $700, but there is a smaller version of it... and it'd be leaps and bounds better than a guitar amp. Plus, it would serve as a good recording tool. I know mine does for me.
I was lucky enough to receive a Mackie PPM 808 powered mixer when I got my whole swarm of equipment. I didnt realize it upon receiving it... but that thing is friggon sweet. Two 600W power amps. I have two 8ohm speakers, so they get 300W each. It's not gonna fill a whole music hall, but it'll get the job done at a place that doesnt even have PA for the vocals. I could always add speakers, if need be, as well.
You could possible look into one. Maybe have your bandmates chip in. I think the 808 is about $700, but there is a smaller version of it... and it'd be leaps and bounds better than a guitar amp. Plus, it would serve as a good recording tool. I know mine does for me.
