What to buy with $250 at GC?

what do you have already? that would be helpful.

If you dont have any kind of recording equipment that is what I would invest in - get everybody to pool 50 bucks a piece, add that to the 250 and you've got enough to get a small DAW and some nice mics.

I doubt you'll be bale to get cash instead of that card, btw.

 

8 track recorder.




/thread

 

$250 isn't really that much if you want to improve your PA. Here's a list of other things you could buy, and get decent quality stuff too:

- an effects processor (mainly for vocals)
- a 15-30 band graphic equalizer (for overall sound shaping)
- some kind of compressor (vocals, bass, guitar...)
- a mic or two (e.g. shure SM57's or 58's, for micing amps or for backup vocals)
- mic stands
- DI boxes (for bass, keyboards, acoustic guitars....)
- cables, preferably long ones - you can't have enough of them!

Some recording device could be nice to have, too. Perhaps a Zoom H-2 would be enough? (I'm thinking of buying one of those myself, sounds like a great product and the sound clips I've heard sounded great).

 

Radial direct boxes, upgrade your cables, a killer vocal mic, all good options.

 

do you have to spend it at GC?
guitar center SUCKS

 

+1 get a Zoom H2 or H4. My H2 has been the most used gear purchase next to my bass rig...

 

I think I know why your "vocals have a history of being nearly inaudible"...

Anyway, it sounds like you need a more powerful PA. Try to find active speakers in the range 300-500w each and a sub or two with at least 500 w, preferably 1000w. Or go for passive ones with separate amps. You could get a used passive system relatively cheap nowadays I think, as everybody seems to want active systems today.

 

Have you tried selling the gift card to someone for cash? A trade essentially.

 

if this were my band it would probably be pawned off for cash so we could fill the tank in our van twice lol.

 

No, I didn't mean you should keep two PA's, but one that is powerful enough for your needs. Or then keep the active speakers as monitors. It's always nice to have a few of those.

If you go for a passive system, this is what you would need:

- two amps: one for the sub(s) and one for the mains. The wattage should be 300-500 W per channel in 4 ohms for the mains and preferably a bit more for the subs.
- a cross-over, if the amps don't have low/high pass filters built-in.
- two passive main speakers that have an RMS rating at the same level as the amp or slightly higher.
- one or two or more subs, again with an RMS rating such that it can handle all the power the amp can provide. (My old band used to have two large and heavy subs (4 ohms each), but we replaced them with four smaller ones (8 ohms). The reason was that the first ones was a nightmare to carry...)

One small notice still about the wattage. Watts are not the same as decibels. Therefore, look also for the SPL value, expressed in decibels. A higher value mean more decibels per watt. So one speaker might need more power than another one might need to put out a certain volume (in dB's). Also be sure the speakers have the correct impedance (ohm) rating so you don't blow your amps (too low impedance), or get only half of the max effect out of the amp (e.g. if the speakers are 8 ohm and amp needs 4 to reach max effect).

This post have probably nothing to do with your $250 gift certificate to GC, but thought I should post it anyway...

 

i'd just buy something as close to 250 that i could, then turn around and sell it back to em. if nothing else works at least you'll get SOME cash for em. or just wait till someone goes to buy a nice amp/guitar/drums/etc. and right before they check out see if they'll swap you, it cant really hurt them right?

 

The thing with the subs is that they offer a better low end than the bass rig (mostly) does, and makes the sound more solid and powerful. It's the subs that get the chicks moving. Not the 120 Watt guitar amp.

Subs would be necessary also if you want to mic the bass drum. Anyway, a good mic for the bass drum is rather expensive so you'd need to consider that as well.

Look at the second-hand market. It should be crowded with great passive systems as everyone seems to want active ones these days. That should keep the prices on a fairly low level. Passive systems can be as good as active, but you just need to carry a little bit more stuff to the gigs. The amps are generally pretty heavy too. If you can cope with that, you should be fine.

 

Why not load up on sticks, picks, strings etc. If you have a lead singer get him a towel or something for wiping the sweat from his brow when he rocks hard!!! But seriously $250 does not go very far so why not take care of the basics for the band?

 

+1 on a Powered Sub.. or trade in your pa for something better altogether..