Powered PA speaker instead of amp?

[seamonkey]

If the gig already has a PA set up, great, this approach is quite viable!

But what if it's a small club that doesn't have a PA? Now the band has to supply the PA. So does the band supply enough PA to handle the bass too, when in reality the PA could handle just vocals if the bass player had a bass rig of his own? If the band-supplied PA has to carry bass as well as vocals, then the PA cabs are now larger and heavier...nothing has been gained.

Take a good PA speaker to play through it, and the singer can sing through it at the same time.
Less to carry.
Cheap PA's that just handle vocals are 95% crap and not good enough for vocals
Powered PA speakers are lightweight these days and a very good value.

 

[nashvillebill]

Oh, I agree that there are some very nice lightweight PA speakers, and I also agree that with a powered sub, mixed well, even a gig in a small club can sound fantastic. But not all of us have the option of purchasing new PA stuff or having a dedicated sound man to mix their sound, and sometimes we have to use crappy bar-supplied PA's.

Believe me, I'd love to be able to show up to a gig just carrying a bass and a tuner! But to me, it makes sense to have a good rig or two ready to go, just in case the PA isn't going to be up to the task, which seems to be typical around here.

 

[modulusman]

Oh, I agree that there are some very nice lightweight PA speakers, and I also agree that with a powered sub, mixed well, even a gig in a small club can sound fantastic. But not all of us have the option of purchasing new PA stuff or having a dedicated sound man to mix their sound, and sometimes we have to use crappy bar-supplied PA's.

Believe me, I'd love to be able to show up to a gig just carrying a bass and a tuner! But to me, it makes sense to have a good rig or two ready to go, just in case the PA isn't going to be up to the task, which seems to be typical around here.

Where I live almost all our gigs we have to supply the PA and I'm the bands soundman. If you are in a band where nothing is miced except vocals then having an adequate bass rig is the way to go. If the band you are playing in though mics the guitars and drums then you should be in the PA also. If you are trying to carry the room with just your bass rig in a situation like that then chances are you are the loudest thing on stage.

 

[SteveC]

Where I live almost all our gigs we have to supply the PA and I'm the bands soundman. If you are in a band where nothing is miced except vocals then having an adequate bass rig is the way to go. If the band you are playing in though mics the guitars and drums then you should be in the PA also. If you are trying to carry the room with just your bass rig in a situation like that then chances are you are the loudest thing on stage.

I believe there's also something to be said about everyone coming from the PA - even if it isn't for more volume. It just sounds better if everything is coming thru the same source.