Rethinking Stage-Run PA Support & Subwoofers

[Jefenator]

I have always despised unnecessarily elaborate band PA setups, so I have always just just used my bass amp whenever I've played & run sound. (PA = vocals only, no muss, no fuss...)
I recently got a drummer buddy to take over that duty with a Salsa band, and his approach has been very different. He immediately started borrowing, then renting mains with subs so he could really pump that dance floor. (He gets an employee rate and the band sells plenty of tickets, so it pencils out.)
I would have never done that myself but I have to admit, it has been nice to be able to ease off the stage volume, blend more with the horns & percussion and let the mains do the heavy lifting out front.
I liked that result so much that I actually tried it myself with another project. Rather than bring the usual 800 watt Class D head for an outdoor party, I used my 50 watt tube amp with a DI. Even through my own deliberately small system I was enjoying the overall effect; the tube amp just has so much more character.
It was a little thin, though. (Used the HPF on the mixer to protect my 10" powered speakers.) So that got me thinking: instead of getting a higher wattage tube head and/or more amp cabs for louder gigs where I run sound, what if I got a subwoofer for my PA instead? (Nothing too massive - some of the smaller powered units seem pretty manageable for my application.)
Has anyone else gone this route? Did you regret it and ditch your PA subs as quickly as possible, or are you hooked for life? I'd like to hear your impressions.

 

[JimmyM]

I have always despised unnecessarily elaborate band PA setups, so I have always just just used my bass amp whenever I've played & run sound. (PA = vocals only, no muss, no fuss...)
I recently got a drummer buddy to take over that duty with a Salsa band, and his approach has been very different. He immediately started borrowing, then renting mains with subs so he could really pump that dance floor. (He gets an employee rate and the band sells plenty of tickets, so it pencils out.)
I would have never done that myself but I have to admit, it has been nice to be able to ease off the stage volume, blend more with the horns & percussion and let the mains do the heavy lifting out front.
I liked that result so much that I actually tried it myself with another project. Rather than bring the usual 800 watt Class D head for an outdoor party, I used my 50 watt tube amp with a DI. Even through my own deliberately small system I was enjoying the overall effect; the tube amp just has so much more character.
It was a little thin, though. (Used the HPF on the mixer to protect my 10" powered speakers.) So that got me thinking: instead of getting a higher wattage tube head and/or more amp cabs for louder gigs where I run sound, what if I got a subwoofer for my PA instead? (Nothing too massive - some of the smaller powered units seem pretty manageable for my application.)
Has anyone else gone this route? Did you regret it and ditch your PA subs as quickly as possible, or are you hooked for life? I'd like to hear your impressions.

Of course you should get a sub for the PA. I've done a lot of vocals only PA gigs in my day, and they can work well, but they work best for bands with low volume. In your case, I'd get a powered sub and give it a shot and see what you think in the long term. You can always leave it at home if you don't think you need it.

 

[walterw]

So that got me thinking: instead of getting a higher wattage tube head and/or more amp cabs for louder gigs where I run sound, what if I got a subwoofer for my PA instead?

it's not even a question, get subs if you want the whole band to sound bigger and better

think about it; if you have a weak PA with no low end and try to make up for it with a big giant bass rig, what happens to the drums? if you have overwhelming bass guitar but nobody can hear the kick drum then what have you accomplished exactly? also, what kind of blasting stage sound will your bandmates be trying to put up with while you try to carry the whole room with your bass amp?

your bass rig should be as loud as the drums but no louder, anything beyond that is the job of the PA. subs will allow the bass and the drums to be heard cleanly with real low end out in the audience.

as a side benefit, adding subs lets you take the low end out of your tops, making them sound louder and clearer too